The Shape of the Race to Come  —  I've spent a fair amount of time the last couple of weeks with conservatives of all ages and leanings.  Call it my very own listening tour.  —  It began with a series of conversations with a group of Weekly Standard subscribers.

Clinton strategist left mark, message  —  Mark Penn's exit from his role as Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief strategist likely will portend no dramatic shift in message for the campaign in coming weeks but will bring satisfaction to scores of Clinton loyalists who have wanted the controversial image-meister sacked for months.