Mandates are rarely won on election night. They are earned after Inauguration Day by leaders who spend their political capital wisely, taking advantage of events without overreaching.

It's a bit unfair to accuse Obama of dividing the nation when the facts show that it already is.

A presidential debate is a job interview. And voters look for certain traits in people applying to be president.

I'm hearing echoes of Bill Clinton, circa 1996, in President Obama's reelection rhetoric.

A concrete agenda and landslide victory might not even guarantee a president his mandate in a capital as polarized as Washington.

Republicans would have preferred the court overturn the health care bill, an act that would have underscored Obama's biggest liability - the perception among voters, including those who like and trust him, that he has been ineffective.

Don't underestimate questions from the crowd; technology has made voters more informed than ever.