Can Governor Rick Perry hold off a stronger than expected challenger and take a shot at 2012?

Chris Hayes and Wisconsin native John Nichols discuss the grave challenges facing the senator and how Obama and the state's economy affect Feingold's chances this fall.

Predictable Democratic losses in November aren't what we should fear. The real danger is in a political environment unable to build even the most tenuous bridges across partisan divides.

"If you look at Obama’s White House," says The Nation's Ari Berman, "it’s very much now a top-down, insider White House, following a very conventional Washington playbook. And the whole spirit of grassroots organizing and energy that really defined the Obama campaign has been largely absent."

At the California governor's debate, Democrat Jerry Brown redeemed his flagging campaign by making a clear and convincing case for his candidacy.

The Republicans' "Pledge to America" demands dramatic cuts to the federal budget, cuts that can only come from one place: Social Security.

After Sarah Palin declared that the "Mama Grizzlies" were taking over the Republican party, the media reacted as if Republican women were an undiscovered species. Is there really anything new about this year's crop of conservative female candidates?

In a test case for Democrats, the fiery Florida populist takes on a stiff challenge from the right.

Democratic candidates can't just campaign by fear-mongering on the Tea Party. A populist message that emphasizes job creation will speak to Dems and independents who put Obama in the White House.

The scariest Republicans are not necessarily tea-stained—and other lessons to keep in mind as Election 2010 roars in.