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Hot Topics: Election Campaign 2008

An election year always impacts Wall Street and the business world. This year with the Iraqi war dragging on and rising national debt, soaring healthcare costs and millions of Baby Boomers retiring what impact will national elections have on the economy? The articles below focus on the economic issues and how they impact U.S. elections.

Selected articles

Due to contractual arrangements, access to some articles may be restricted to the Stanford community, and subscribers of the "Library Databases" offered through the GSB Alumni's Lifelong Learning Program. Inclusion below does not imply University endorsement of the ideas expressed.

 

McCain and Obama Trade Jabs Over Economic Strategies KQED, 6/10/08
Presumptive presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain offered contrasting approaches to mend a sluggish economy this week, with Obama emphasizing an active government role in providing assistance and McCain calling for lower taxes and spending cuts.
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Game on: McCain v. Obama on economy CNNMoney, 6/4/08
Barack Obama's emergence as the presumptive Democratic nominee on Tuesday sets the stage for a sharp partisan debate over the issue weighing most heavily on voters: the economy. View article

The Recession Weapon Bloomberg Markets, 4/08
Wall Street economists say a recession is likely this year. Does that mean the Democrats, no matter who runs against the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, will win the White House in November?
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It’s an Election, Not a Revolution New York Times, 2/17/08
This election is certainly important. But based on the historical record, it isn’t likely to result in a major swing in economic policy. Fundamentally, democracy is not a finely tuned mechanism that can be used to direct economic policy as a lever might lift a pulley. The connection between what voters want, or think they want, and what ultimately happens in the economy, is far less direct.
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2008 Election Issues: Economy NPR, 2/4/08
Last fall, as the subprime housing crisis intensified, the economy replaced the war in Iraq as the top concern for Americans. It's quite possible that the economy will remain the top issue until until the general election in November. That's because the bad debts generated by the subprime debacle have caused a credit crunch that, along with record high energy prices, appears to be dragging the U.S. economy into recession. There are even fears of a global downturn.
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Election-Year Economic Ratings Lowest Since '92 PEW Research Center, 1/24/08
With the economy slowing and the stock market reeling, there is greater agreement among Republicans and Democrats that strengthening the nation's economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress in the coming year. By contrast, partisan differences over the importance of other domestic issues have all increased substantially over the past year.
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U.S. Economy Grows as Election Issue Marketplace, 1/16/08
New York Times economics columnist David Leonhardt says candidates would be well-advised to pay close attention to the economy in this year's elections -- especially if they want to connect with the American middle class. He talks with host Bob Moon.
Read the interview

Executive Power Reaches a Limit at the Economy New York Times, 7/21/07
It’s not the economy. That may sound like an unusual way to begin an every-other-week column on economics and politics, but this is a pretty unusual election.
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How to Make Money on the 2008 Campaign Real Money, 6/29/07
If the current election is anything like the last two presidential elections, there will be plenty of excitement for political junkies, and there is much at stake for investors.
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A Blueprint for National Prosperity: What the 2008 Election Should be About...and How to Make it Happen Brookings Council, 5/23/07
We stand on the eve of a remarkable juncture in American history, the first presidential election since 1952 when no incumbent president or vice president will run as the nominee for either party.
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Candidates' Quest for a Machiavellian Economist
Wanted: Policy wonks with a winning aura; must be savvy in cutthroat circles Market Watch, 4/27/07
In an election year that got started far earlier than ever before, each of the candidates has carefully selected economic advisers in search of the perfect mix of shrewdness and expertise.
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Obama Is Google. McCain Is GM Slate, 4/21/07
Here's Slate's handy guide for political investors, identifying which prominent stocks the top presidential candidates most closely resemble.
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Page updated by: Helen Losch