October Surprise

Indecisions 2000 and 2004: Final Days Remembered

John Wihbey | Posted 12.03.2008 | Politics


John Wihbey

Whatever happened to the bad old days of October surprises? The last lap of campaign '08 has seen its share of twists, but perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that no big shoe has dropped.

Should the Los Angeles Times Reveal the Khalidi Videotape?

Alan Dershowitz | Posted 11.29.2008 | Politics


Alan Dershowitz

The LA Times has made its decision, whether one agrees or disagrees with it. But more importantly, the Obama campaign has played no role in the decision made by the paper.

Obama Is Dominating in the Polls, but Four Things Keep Me Awake at Night

Mitchell Bard | Posted 11.28.2008 | Politics


Mitchell Bard

As a lifelong Democrat who has seen my party lose winnable races, I can't help thinking about how things can go wrong this year. These are the four factors that keep me up at night.

Trick or Treat: National Security as the October Surprise

Scott Payne | Posted 11.16.2008 | Home


Scott Payne

In the fall of 2004, a video hit the airwaves that brought back America's fear of terrorism and helped seal John Kerry's fate. No, not the Oct. 29th v...

October Surprise Update: What McCain May Be Planning and What Obama Can Do to Ruin It

Arianna Huffington | Posted 11.13.2008 | Politics


Arianna Huffington

As the one arrow left in McCain's quiver -- other than appealing to racists -- national security becomes the likeliest playing field for an October Surprise.

SOS: McCain to bin Laden -- Where is that Video You Promised Me?

Sherman Yellen | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Sherman Yellen

Experience tells us that it is in Osama bin Laden's best interests to assure a McCain presidency any way that he can.

Clarke: Al Qaeda May Try To Tilt Election To McCain

US News | Posted 11.02.2008 | Politics


John Kerry believes that the so-called al Qaeda Halloween videotape released days before the last presidential election in the United States affected ...

AP: What Will Be 2008's "October Surprise"?

AP | GLEN JOHNSON | Posted 11.02.2008 | Politics


BOSTON — Heading into the final weekend of the 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry was feeling good about his chances of winning the White Ho...

There Will Not Be an October Surprise

Matt Littman | Posted 10.30.2008 | Politics


Matt Littman

No, this campaign is going to come down to Obama vs. McCain, mano a mano. And right now, momentum is going Obama's way.

The October Surprises Waiting for Obama

Johann Hari | Posted 10.29.2008 | Politics


Johann Hari

In five weeks, I hope look back on this column with a wry chuckle at my paranoia. If the system works, Barack Obama will take the White House. So why am I worried?

Here's My ''October Surprise'' Prediction -- What's Yours?

Patt Morrison | Posted 10.29.2008 | Politics


Patt Morrison

Big drop in gas prices just before the election? Been there, done that. Sudden administration announcement about a new terrorist threat right before we vote? Where's the surprise in that?

October Surprise? How Are InTrade's Investors Positioning For an Osama Capture

Max Keiser | Posted 10.26.2008 | Business


Max Keiser

Every time I turn on the news I see something going down at the Afghan-Pakistan border, so I'm thinking the October 2008 Surprise might just be a big one.

Israel's October Surprise?

Jamal Dajani | Posted 10.20.2008 | Politics


Jamal Dajani

It's been several months since a war of words erupted between Iran and Israel, raising speculations that a possible Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear f...

Enter The Comeback Kid

Steven Weber | Posted 10.11.2008 | Politics


Steven Weber

There may be a looping left coming out of the fog (the one the media's generated) and its name is Hillary Clinton.

The October Surprise May be Coming

Dan Kovalik | Posted 10.03.2008 | Politics


Dan Kovalik

While the media and blogosphere have been preoccupied with the maternity issues surrounding Sarah Palin's family, a much more important news developme...

War Is Over (If Maliki Wants It)

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.24.2008 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Without a microscopic examination of the seething cauldron of Iraqi partisan politics, it's safe to say that Maliki knows which way the wind is blowing. The Iraqi people want to know -- "when is the U.S. leaving?"

John McCain and Charlie Black's October Surprise

Joseph A. Palermo | Posted 07.04.2008 | Politics


Joseph A. Palermo

If they really see political gold in another 9-11, what would stop them from being delighted if Bush attacked Iran if the timing were right, say in mid-October?

The G in GOP Stands for Ghoul

Mary Lyon | Posted 07.03.2008 | Politics


Mary Lyon

Charlie Black gave away the mindset -- the same chilling, dreadful policy-making mentality under whose influence we've already suffered for almost eight years -- of the McCain campaign.