For the Republicans, the 2012 presidential primary race was expected to lay bare the fabric of the Republican party. How to deal with the surge of the Tea Party and the voter realignment apparent since December 2010? Ideological shifts have played a part in these changes, as well as the rules of this very complex game: the American presidential primary.
Our Books and Ideas dossier on the American presidential elections will make no forecasts - instead it will look back on four years of Democratic leadership at the White House and four years of right-wing radicalization inside and outside of the G.O.P. Whoever wins will have to deal with the Tea Party, and the record shows it will not be easy for anyone.
The expression the “war on women” has been circulating among political discourse and mainstream media on both sides of the political spectrum for almost two years now, ever since the 2010 midterm elections, and has gained momentum in the last months. Does this expression reflect any sort of reality? Or are we simply in the presence of efforts on the part of the conservative wing of the Republican party to attack Obama whenever it can? The answer to both questions would appear to be “yes”.
