But presidential approval also became a surrogate measure of national unity and patriotism.

Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of election law typically resides with partisan officials, many with public stakes in the election outcome.

First, his job approval ratings have been trending down for many months, a trend that has accelerated in recent weeks as the war on terrorism has been supplanted in the public's mind by corporate scandals, stock market declines, and a growing sense of economic insecurity.

With the parties at virtual parity and the ideological gulf between them never greater, the stakes of majority control of Congress are extremely high.

America is an outlier in the world of democracies when it comes to the structure and conduct of elections.

A healthy degree of party unity among Democrats and Republicans has deteriorated into bitter partisan warfare.

Beer soothes the upset soul.