Crossfire Over Hillary's Cleavage

The former rivals are easing into their new alliance

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have put the bitter presidential campaign behind them to form a solid partnership. They support each other, meet regularly and even joke about their status as 'frenemies.' “We’ve developed, I think, a very good rapport, Clinton said recently. “I see the president when I need to see him; I talk to the president when I need to talk to him,” she tells the New York Ti mes. More»

It's the agenda, stupid: Goodman

(NEWSER) - This election showed a female candidate won’t automatically draw women’s votes if most women disagree with her on the issues, Ellen Goodman writes in the Boston Globe: “It’s not the gender … but the agenda.” With women traditionally putting economic issues—and more governmental control—atop their list, the female vote has long been Democratic. Sarah Palin really didn't have a chance of upending that trend. More»

Many pundits ruled out Obama victory early

(NEWSER) - With the election over, what's more fun than calling out all those whose predictions were off—way off. Der Spiegel lists some highlights:

• "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win." Hillary Clinton, on Barack Obama
• "We'll win Florida." Rudy Giuliani
• "Virginians are really getting fired up for this ticket of McCain and Palin." George Allen
• "Romney for the Republicans, Hillary for the Democrats." Ann Coulter, on the nominees

High-end duds totally at odds with GOP target (or Target) audience

(NEWSER) - That the GOP dressed up “a no-frills hockey mom” for her star turn is fine, but that they dressed her up in Neiman's, Saks, and Barneys is “mind-boggling evidence of a tin ear for the symbolism of popular culture,” style maven Robin Givhan wails in the Washington Post. It doesn’t take much fashion knowledge to know a $10,000 handbag represents “exclusivity, success, and classiness”—not Jane Six-Pack. More»

GOP distracting from issues with 'Swift Boat politics,' Dem charges

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama fired back today at a McCain campaign ad claiming he smeared Sarah Palin, calling the tactic "phony outrage and Swift Boat politics," the Washington Post reports. Obama used the phrase "lipstick on a pig" to describe John McCain's policies during a campaign stop yesterday, which the McCain camp criticized as a sexist reference to Palin. More»