Amy Walter
Amy Walter
Amy Walter is an American political analyst, currently serving as national editor of The Cook Political Report. Before this, she served as the political director of ABC News, based in Washington, DC...
real kids bully
The real problem with Donald Trump is, if you engage him, it will only make things worse. It's like - it's a little bit what you were taught as a kid to not engage the bully, because they will continue to pick on you.
opportunity issues giving
If you're Chris Christie, who is governor of New Jersey, a state that obviously was impacted by 9/11, this gives you an opportunity to talk about how, as governor, you had to deal with terrorism and security issues.
position senate
The ones who are in the Senate have to have a position.
skills iraq answers
When Jeb Bush came on the shows and couldn't answer questions about Iraq, and when he looked like he was unsteady, it absolutely solidified the concerns that they had had all along about his skills.
strong race numbers
It was very clear, even from long before Donald Trump got in this race, when he would talk to Republicans, the number-one concern they had about Jeb Bush was whether he was too rusty for this, and whether he was going to be strong enough to stand up to Hillary Clinton.
children lines problem
The only problem with the "children of Reagan" line is it reminds you that Marco Rubio is the young candidate.
two differences numbers
The difference there is that the [Donald] Trump number on change is so much larger than the lead that the other two have in their lanes. And that's going to be the challenge for those other two going forward. The other challenge for Marco Rubio, and this assumption that you're just going to get all those Bush and Kasich voters.
winning thinking voters
I think you still have a problem here when you're going and you're looking not just that Trump is winning, but he's winning in a broad swath of voters. It's not just that he's got this one lane, oh, he only wins when there's low turnout, he only wins when conservatives, he only wins in these kinds of states. He wins enough across a broad array.
admit beyond delay goes tom wrong
It would be a big distraction because then you admit there is something wrong that goes beyond Tom DeLay.
border certainly changed control guard inherent jobs last male national sorts ultimate voters whether women
Certainly things have changed in the last 20 years in voters' perceptions whether women can do the job. But there's still an inherent nervousness on the part of voters to put women in as the ultimate decision-maker. Control of the National Guard and border security, those sorts of traditionally male jobs that's where I think voters consciously or unconsciously have difficulties with women candidates.
certainly confidence district issues polished shows talking tenure terms
Gard is certainly the most polished of the bunch, and he's had a long tenure in the Legislature. That shows in terms of his confidence in talking about the district and issues and the race.
ability break experience gives instant sword views
Their experience gives them instant credibility and the ability to break out and get their views heard. But it can be a double-edged sword if they get pigeonholed as one-issue candidates.
discipline fiscal gas healthcare message ripe upset voters
If voters are upset about $3 gas and healthcare costs, they're ripe for a message that emphasizes fiscal discipline.
advantage giving helpful terms woman
Being a woman is very helpful in terms of giving a different look to the party, and she has an advantage there.