Gwen's Take

The Obama Victory – The Good, The Bad and the Potentially Ugly

Posted: November 8, 2012 at 8:31 pm

Late into the evening on election night, as we were waiting for Mitt Romney to concede and President Obama to accept victory, striking images began dominating our television screens.

One moment we saw the Romney crowd in Boston, some of them leaning on each other as if for support –- most of them white, many of them older, all of them apparently quite depressed.

Then in a flash, we saw the Obama crowd in Chicago, dancing, smiling and –- strikingly –- full of young, often brown faces, all of them quite jubilant.

Hopes, Fears and Democracy on Election Day

Posted: November 5, 2012 at 7:08 pm

Gwen Ifill covers Rev. Jesse Jackson in the 1988 presidential campaign

A friend of mine who just moved to Mexico City emailed me recently to remind me of the importance of the work we do here at the NewsHour.

The friend, a reformed political junkie who once worked in network news, wanted me to know that she ran into an acquaintance whose work and professional life forces her to shuttle back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico.

Reading Between the Lines

Posted: November 1, 2012 at 6:31 pm

Both presidential candidates have been campaigning hard with under a week to go until Nov. 6 (Photo: CNN)

The days tick down to a precious few, and partisans on both sides of the political divide are asking the same essential question: What’s gonna happen?

Election Countdown: By the Numbers

Posted: October 25, 2012 at 6:58 pm

I’ve got to admit I could not contain my excitement when an aide to a Massachusetts Senate candidate shared with me her campaign survival secret: an app that counts down to Election Day.

Regardless of whether it’s 25, 14, 12,or 10 days, hours, or minutes -- what’s not to like about knowing the end is in sight?

And in an election year where no outcome is certain, hard numbers provide a certain comfort, or at least the illusion of control.

Why Binders and Big Bird Don’t Matter

Posted: October 18, 2012 at 5:53 pm

Gwen Ifill interviewed Massachusetts senate race candidates Scott Brown (R) and Elizabeth Warren (D) earlier this week in a segment for Newshour.