Craig Charney makes the argument that although the Taliban is entrenched in Helmand province, where Marja is situated, its grip is slipping in the rest of Afghanistan as President Barack Obama’s 30,000-troop surge unfolds.

A year after Barack Obama’s inauguration as president, Massachusetts voters sent the Democrats a wake-up call yesterday. This year is starting to look like a “wave” election. In this Politico article, Craig Charney outlines 4 steps Democrats should do to reverse this trend.

When advocates argue, politicians vote, and organizations campaign, they say they are trying to shape or respond to political will. So what then is “political will”? Craig Charney analyzes the significance of political will and how to measure this.

America’s fast-growing minority and immigrant urban populations are increasingly tipping the electoral balance of power in more cities and states. In an article for Politics Magazine, Craig Charney shares insights on how to reach these diverse groups and outlines the challenges and opportunities ahead in political campaigning.

In the wake Obama’s victory, the Bradley Effect was shown to have become history. In a New York Daily News column, Craig Charney explores the reasons for why people who should’ve known better had motives to insist the Bradley Effect was alive and well.

In a New York Daily News article, Craig Charney states that although Joe the Plumber may be at the heart of John McCain’s campaign, the blue-collar whites who matter now aren’t Joe and the boys. It’s working-class white women who are likely to wind up handing Obama the keys to the White House.

In a Campaign & Elections article, Craig Charney makes the argument that as John McCain’s campaign lost substance, it gained ferocity — turning voters away from the angry old man.

Craig Charney concludes that the pundits were wrong about the VP debate. In his Campaign Insider blog, Charney points to evidence indicating that Palin cost the Republicans votes.

To weaken Palin’s popularity among independents without risking backlash, Craig Charney makes the case that Democrats should focus on her ideological extremism and not her inexperience. Moreover, show her respect and have women lead the charge.

In his Campaign Insider blog, Craig Charney describes the paradoxical public response to John McCain’s designation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his Republican vice-presidential running-mate. Despite halting the post-convention ascent of Barack Obama, Palin appears to be the weakest VP nominee in the past 20 years.

Craig Charney reports in the Campaign Insider blog, that the first post-conventions polls suggest a significant if moderate bounce for Barack Obama.

In his analysis of Hillary Clinton’s Democratic Convention speech, Craig Charney reflects on whether it successful heals the painful wounds of the Democratic presidential primaries.

On Politico.com, Craig Charney makes the case that Barack Obama is laying down a new map for Democrats in the future — one where victory may not depend on big Eastern states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida.

Craig Charney reports in this oped from New York’s Daily News on the key swing group in 2008’s Democratic presidential primaries: white men!

A decade ago, Indonesia’s economy collapsed during a financial crisis that hit Asia. Today, Indonesia is back: a working, if imperfect, democracy and a recovering economic tiger. The emergence of a solid democratic regime has quelled regional separatism and Islamic militancy. Indonesia has achieved something unique in the region and the developing Muslim world: stability and growth on democratic foundations.

Craig Charney discusses the most common errors pollsters make, and how they can be avoided.

As the Taliban and NATO spring offensives grind on, many people’s perceptions of Afghanistan are pessimistic. Some say our Western efforts have changed nothing, so we will fail: The ongoing abuses against women, corruption, and warlordism are opening the door to the Taliban. Others say unless we change nothing, we will fail: Steps towards gender equality and democracy are disturbing a male-dominated, ultra-conservative society and reviving Taliban support. These perspectives miss the real grounds for hope in Afghanistan: Afghans themselves are changing their society, with Afghan women playing a leading role.

Charney Research polling highlights new thinking on marketing urban redevelopment. Our research indicates that although New Yorkers are not anti-development in the Atlanta Yards Brooklyn project, they feel that developers need to do more listening and outreach. Our poll results underscore the value of offering affordable housing and jobs as a bargaining chip in community-benefits agreement negotiations to win public support.

A nationwide ABC News/BBC World Service survey of Afghans conducted by Charney Research last month reveals that Afghanistan’s problems are real and deepening but hardly catastrophic. The Taliban, while active, lacks popular support. Though Karzai’s honeymoon is over, he retains majority backing. Unlike Iraqis, Afghans favor the U.S. and allied military presence. They demand major military, reconstruction and diplomatic efforts before dashed expectations turn into active discontent.

In a new article, Craig Charney notes that the congressional power shift in the 2006 elections only became possible because of another, less-noticed change: the Democratic Party’s shift toward the center. The blogocracy, activist networks and bicoastal elites had limited relevance in an election largely fought and decided in the “flyover states.” The electorate did not swing left; Democrats in swing seats met the voters in the center.

Craig Charney discusses how a recent Fox News poll gets at the disturbing truth: A majority of Democrats say they want to see the president fail. Such deep hatred is bad news for the country at a time when America needs to bridge the partisan divide. It’s also bad news for the Democrats, who risk repeating the Republicans’ mistakes of a decade ago, driving away the centrists they need to regain power or going too far if they do manage to win.

New evidence indicates that renewed US efforts have started to change Muslim minds about America. Government and corporations are re-tooling US public diplomacy in the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, with encouraging results. Still, America's overseas communication efforts remain paltry compared with private-sector marketing campaigns. Realizing that anti-Americanism is bad for business, the private sector has chosen to be involved. Puppet diplomacy can help, but restoring America’s image will take much more.

Afghanistan Watch interviews Craig Charney on the findings from the most recent polling on Afghanistan for ABC News. Despite the resurgence of Taliban attacks, his poll concludes that most Afghans say that the country is headed in the right direction, have a positive view of President Hamid Karzai, and view the U.S. positively. The survey provides evidence of the gradual consolidation of democracy and the beginnings of economic recovery as well.

America can regain the ground it’s lost in the Muslim world, writes Craig Charney, but only if it adopts a humbler tone, focuses on respectful partnerships with local initiatives for development and democracy, and makes a sustained effort.

It’s what America wants: A moderate Muslim country moving toward democracy. But Bush’s policies have so enraged Moroccans that urgently needed reforms are seen as a U.S. plot. Craig Charney reports on the results of a Charney Research study in Morocco...

Results from our survey indicate that Indonesia offers America some rare good news from the Muslim world: Democracy is taking root in the world’s largest Muslim nation, and US aid is helping. With supportive local partners, voter education programs, and a sympathetic public, nation-building can make a difference — and earn kudos — too.

Our survey showed that nearly three years after U.S. troops launched the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, Afghans want democracy. They are looking forward to their first free presidential election, scheduled for October. Learn more about the results of this survey...

View transcript from Craig Charney's online discussion with readers of the Washington Post regarding the Afghan poll.

No matter what the flaws of Karzai's government, Afghans prefer it to those before. This became evident from a “qualitative study of Afghan opinion” conducted by Charney Research, consisting of 32 in-depth, open-ended interviews with ordinary Afghans, who form a part of the nascent electorate in the country.

Flying in, Afghanistan’s barren, rough hills and valleys looked like a lunar landscape painted tan. I’d never seen a country with fewer of the spots of green patchwork.... Then, suddenly, the city appeared, spilling across a valley under the right wing of the plane even as the left barely seemed to clear more empty hills. Read more about Craig Charney’s Journey to Post-Taliban Afghanistan.

How can we account for Mayor Bloomberg’s popularity rankings? Is he an innovator, finding new cheaper ways to provide the services, jobs, and schools, or is he merely a manager redrawing organization charts and balancing the budget — on the back of the middle class?

Craig Charney discusses congressional and state elections and reflects on the dynamics of American politics in the post-9/11 world.

Idealism vs. realism? Not so simple. Craig Charney talks about approaches toward failed, rogue, and fragile states. “Each 'state of disgrace' demands appropriate response.”

How did Bill Clinton rise from the political dead after the Republican sweep of the US Congress in 1994 to be re-elected in 1996? Craig Charney analyzes the reasons for his victory.

With alarm bells ringing over persistence of boycotts in black South African townships, Craig Charney sets up focus groups to show that the notion of “continuing boycott” is largely a myth.