Ken Mehlman and Michael Barone on 2006 and 2008

First, we talk to Ken Mehlman, chair of the Republican National Committee, about polls, anger in the base, and issues like immigration, spending, taxes, and judges. We pressed Mehlman pretty hard, and I think it’s fair to say that he realizes that action is more important than rhetoric if the GOP is to win back the base before November. Whether he and the White House can deliver on that, especially in the face of the Senate Republicans’ foot-dragging, is another question.

Given all the dissatisfaction, especially over immigration, we also talked with Michael Barone, blogger, columnist, and editor of The Almanac of American Politics, about the prospects for a third-party candidate in 2008. Barone is interesting as always.

Hope you like it. As always, my lovely and talented cohost is soliciting comments.

UPDATE: This piece by Dick Meyer at CBS connects with the above, especially the Barone discussion. I don’t think that Mayor Bloomberg is a credible third-party candidate, though.

ANOTHER UPDATE: A reader who claims inside knowledge says that Bloomberg plans to run, and is already making preparations for a third-party campaign. I don’t know any more than that, though. Despite his nominally Republican status, I’d expect him to draw more votes from Democrats, but I could be wrong about that.

We’re up to #4 on the iTunes politics charts, putting us just ahead of Sean Hannity. That’s not bad.

LATER: We’re now #3, beating out Stephanopoulos, too. Well, we’re certainly doing it on a smaller budget.