Charlie Cook
Encyclopedia
Charlie Cook originally from Shreveport
, Louisiana
, is an American
political analyst who specializes in election forecasts and political trends. He attended Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
He delivers election forecasts and rankings in his own publication, The Cook Political Report, and in other media venues. Cook writes two columns for National Journal
, the "The Cook Report" for the main publication and "Off to the Races" for NationalJournal Daily. Since the 1984 presidential election, Cook has provided election night commentary for various television networks. He is a political analyst for the National Journal and NBC. He has been with NBC since 1994.
In 1984, he founded the acclaimed The Cook Political Report newsletter, which publishes analysis of the primaries
and general election
s for federal political offices and state governorships. The Report's predictions are accorded high credibility among journalists and politicians. Cook readily acknowledges some of his failed predictions. In 2006, he said he had "tread marks on my forehead" after understating the Republican
gains in the 1994 midterm Congressional elections. In July 2008, at a time when U.S. Senator John McCain
had for many months been the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party, Cook reminded his audience that he had "written McCain off as politically dead just a year ago".
Prior to founding his newsletter in 1984, Cook worked on Capitol Hill for then-Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., a Democrat from Shreveport who served from 1972-1997. Cook also worked for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Democratic Policy Committee. In addition, he worked as a pollster and campaign consultant and on the staff of BUILD-PAC, the political action committee of the trade association
, the National Association of Home Builders
.
Cook is a 1972 graduate of Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport. In 2006, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
in Winnfield
.
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political analyst who specializes in election forecasts and political trends. He attended Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He delivers election forecasts and rankings in his own publication, The Cook Political Report, and in other media venues. Cook writes two columns for National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
, the "The Cook Report" for the main publication and "Off to the Races" for NationalJournal Daily. Since the 1984 presidential election, Cook has provided election night commentary for various television networks. He is a political analyst for the National Journal and NBC. He has been with NBC since 1994.
In 1984, he founded the acclaimed The Cook Political Report newsletter, which publishes analysis of the primaries
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s for federal political offices and state governorships. The Report's predictions are accorded high credibility among journalists and politicians. Cook readily acknowledges some of his failed predictions. In 2006, he said he had "tread marks on my forehead" after understating the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gains in the 1994 midterm Congressional elections. In July 2008, at a time when U.S. Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
had for many months been the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party, Cook reminded his audience that he had "written McCain off as politically dead just a year ago".
Prior to founding his newsletter in 1984, Cook worked on Capitol Hill for then-Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., a Democrat from Shreveport who served from 1972-1997. Cook also worked for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Democratic Policy Committee. In addition, he worked as a pollster and campaign consultant and on the staff of BUILD-PAC, the political action committee of the trade association
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
, the National Association of Home Builders
National Association of Home Builders
The National Association of Home Builders is one of the largest trade associations in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NAHB's mission is "to enhance the climate for housing and the building industry...
.
Cook is a 1972 graduate of Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport. In 2006, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, Louisiana, highlights the careers of more than a hundred of the state’s leading politicians and political journalists. Because three governors, Huey P. Long, Jr., Oscar K...
in Winnfield
Winnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield is a city in and the parish seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census. It has long been associated with the Long faction of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was home to three governors of Louisiana.-Geography:Winnfield is located at ...
.