When you add in states that have voted five out of the past six elections for one party or the other, the Republican picture gets a lot better, but so does the Democratic side.
And Morsi, as an Islamist who can't seem to manage the economy, can be hard to defend; the constitution under which Egypt is operating is messy (it doesn't seem to have an obvious process for removing Presidents between elections, for one thing) and the Brotherhood's protestations about true democracy may raise some doubts.
The case for IRV also is compelling for replacing plurality (e.g, non-majority) voting elections for "one-winner" offices.
The politicians here have a lot in common - they were all elected at the last election for one thing - but everyone is still a little wary as they chat politely about their past jobs and their families.
As a result, Mr. Chavez's term of office was expanded from five to six years, and a ban on sitting presidents seeking immediate re-election for one more term was removed -- creating the possibility that Mr. Chavez could remain in office until 2013.
Kashish is hoping to stand in the next national election for one of the parliamentary seats reserved for "minorities".
The point is that not even the most seasoned Westminster watchers feel confident enough to call the election for one side or the other.
Five candidates are likely to spend a total of about $2 million trying to win the Democratic nomination - and almost certain election - for one of two Manhattan surrogate posts.
Still, one Democrat questioned whether Mr. Silver would be able to hold back a possibly growing sentiment in a situation in which Mr. Pataki, citing the crisis in New York City and the overwhelming popularity of Mr. Giuliani, could argue for delaying the election for one year.
One plausible theory is that Navalny was released on bail at the prosecution's request – and for that read, with the Kremlin's approval – because Sobyanin, having called a snap election for one of the most high-profile public offices outside of the presidency, required a credible opposition foil to claim a veneer of legitimacy.
Price, whose years of struggle and sorrow are beautifully catalogued in her song "Hands of Time," had a deservedly big year, and I saw her play at the beginning and the end of it — on January 20th, in a small, knockout gig at Union Pool, in Brooklyn, and in November, a week after the election, for one of two sold-out shows at the Bowery Ballroom.
