By Matthew Hayward In the intricate dance of political strategy, the story of Michele Caldier's 26th legislative campaign in 2014 serves as a compelling case study. Tasked with the formidable challenge of unseating a Democratic incumbent who had held the seat for 14 years, Caldier's campaign was a testament to the power of strategic pragmatism in action. Despite criticisms of her moderate stance, Caldier's consistent support for Republican leadership in the House underscores a nuanced understanding of political realities. An ideologue supporting a moderate is a strategic choice, prioritizing the advancement of broader political goals over strict ideological alignment. This narrative is not merely about the outcomes of a single campaign but illuminates the broader implications of strategic voting in swing districts. My experience managing Caldier's campaign highlights the delicate balance between principle and pragmatism, a balance that is necessary in having success in...

By Matthew Hayward Why is it that the only people I've heard say they like Chris Christie and think the GOP should consider him and move toward moderates are all Democrat strategists? Am I wrong, or should we believe that Chris Matthews is genuinely trying to aid the Republican Party in becoming competitive again? It's often said, in every campaign school you'll hear it, that you must move to the middle and go after those swing voters. If the Republican Party moves toward the middle of the spectrum, that means moving away from the left toward the right. The Republican Party has long ago moved past the middle toward the left. While I’m not a "Tea Party" person, I respect that those who are understand how far left the Republican Party has gone. Most of my friends on the left believe the Republican Party has never been more to the 'right,' and they think the Democrats have moved too far to the 'right.' But let’s look at right and left in simple te...

Did the Tea Party really shut down the government? With the last federal shutdown behind us and the possibility of another one looming in the months to come, there is a lot of misunderstanding and blame-shifting going on. I hope to clear up the smoke and mirrors both parties, and the media throw up. Please understand there is a big difference between political theory and political reality (most of the time). I’m going to save us all time and myself some embarrassment by leaving out, for the most part, political reality. I’m not going to get into political reality because it is rarely taught in college or high school, and most people who are involved with politics or follow it closely are truly clueless about how things work. Let’s not pretend we are an informed public; instead, let’s ensure we all are on the same page with how things are supposed to work. In theory, how our government was designed to function “of the people, by the people, and for the people” is much b...