October 28, 2012 - Tonight's Republican presidential debate will feature a new front runner in Dr. Ben Carson as he and his rivals take the stage in Boulder , Colorado. For the first time this primary season Carson has topped a national poll, ending New York businessman Donald Trump's 100 consecutive days a top the polls.

In this new poll Carson has the support of 26% followed by Trump with 22%. Carson's surge to the lead follows three polls for the state of Iowa that show him leading Trump there.

In third place is Senator Marco Rubio of Florida with 8% followed by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush with 7%. Former CEO Carly Fiorina also bests Bush with 7%.

All bunched up at 4% each are Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ohio Governor John Kasich.  Though not on the main debate stage tonight Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina comes in at 2% followed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 1%. Former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania also scored at 1%.

Tonight's two hour debate will focus on the economy. There  will also be  under card debate for the those candidates who did not achieve an average of 3% in a sampling of national polls. The participants for that debate will be Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former New York Governor George Pataki,Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.

 October 21, 2015 - Former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia ended his quest yesterday for the 2016 Democratic nomination.

Webb who only began his campaign in July of this year had spent little time campaigning with just 20 days spent in Iowa and four days in New Hampshire. Never catching on with the public, Webb often polled at 1% or less in national polls.

Though his quest for the Democratic Party nomination is over, Webb left open the possibility of mounting an independent run for president next year.

October 14, 2015 - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's strong performance in last night's Democratic presidential debate impressed even Republican front runner Donald Trump who said that "she came out the winner."

A majority of political pundits also gave the debate to Clinton, though social media and online polling sites gave the debate to Senator Bernie  Sanders of Vermont.

Of the other three debate performers , former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley gave what was considered a solid performance but not a breakthrough moment. Most observers felt that former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia and former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee did not do enough to change their low poll standings.

On the day after the debate potential presidential candidate Vice President Joe Biden was not ready to say Clinton had won the debate when he said in a  brief statement that everyone of the candidates did well.

The next key moment for Clinton will be when she testifies before the Congressional Select Committee on Benghazi on October 22.

October 12, 2015 - The five candidates running for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination will be in Las Vegas Nevada tomorrow for their first debate of the primary season.

Front runner former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be joined by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia and former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee.

In a current average of national polls Clinton leads her challengers with 42% to 25% for Sanders. O'Malley , Webb and Chafee are far behind each polling at less than one percent.

One other Democrat who is polling at 18% is Vice President Joe Biden who has yet to make his intentions know as to whether he will enter the 2016 race.

The Las Vegas debate will be the first of six scheduled Democratic debates. The next Democratic debate is scheduled for November 14, 2015 in Des Moines , Iowa.