The negotiations over how to avoid the fiscal cliff come down to taxes, says elections analyst Luke Freedman. And while Democrats seem to have the upper hand, Republicans might not be completely out of luck.

This election cycle saw 2012 become the year of the super PAC, with these nominally independent groups spending close to one billion dollars trying to affect the race. Professor of legal policy David Weisbrot wonders whether they got their money's worth.

"Hope" and "Change" may have been replaced by the more sombre "Forward" in the rhetoric of Barack Obama but the next few months could be critical says Luke Freedman.

No US president has ever won re-election with unemployment above seven percent and yet Obama's victory in the electoral college turned out to be fairly convincing. David Smith talks through the historic win and what Obama's second term might look like.

Obama won amid widespread anxiety and dissatisfaction. Expect him to now try to change the political landscape, says research associate Tom Switzer.

If there was a war on women this election season, the war is over and the women have won, says research associate Nicole Hemmer.

Higher education is one of Australia's most important economic sectors, and its one arena in which the US election might have a big impact. Chief operating officer Sean Gallagher and elections analyst Luke Freedman say Obama and Romney both have plans that could increase the pressure on Australian universities.

With US election day just around the corner, lecturer in US politics Dr David Smith explains the American system and how the President will be selected.

Will Mormons put Mitt over the edge in Nevada? Can Obama hold on in Ohio? Lecturer in US politics David Smith has compiled a form guide for the swing states.

Both candidates have put their campaigns on hold, cancelling or refocusing events in light of Hurricane Sandy, which has already claimed lives on the east coast of the US. Senior lecturer Michael Ondaatje discusses the political implications of the superstorm and what it could mean for election day.

The third and final presidential debate was a close contest that covered a range of foreign policy topics from unrest in the Middle East to the challenges of a rising China, with the President seeming to just edge out his Republican rival. Elections analyst Luke Freedman gives his impressions of the clash.

Before the debates began, President Barack Obama seemed to be cruising to re-election. Research associate Nicole Hemmer explains why it took only 90 minutes to upend every pre-conception the American electorate had about Mitt Romney.

Is Obama up by three or does Romney lead by six? Lecturer in US politics David Smith decodes the myriad of polls predicting the result of this November's presidential election.

With just 14 days left until the US election, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama's final debate showdown in Florida could be their last real chance to impress voters. Elections analyst Luke Freedman runs through how the candidates match up in foreign policy, the subject matter of debate number three.

After two debates and polls showing both candidates in front, senior lecturer at the Centre and the University of Newcastle Michael Ondaatje says the candidates are neck and neck. Will the economy save President Barack Obama or will his sleepy first debate performance sink him?

The president probably wished he could have taken a mulligan after his listless debate performance two weeks ago. But, says elections analyst Luke Freedman, at least he's managed to hit a pretty good shot out of the rough.

Both candidates have come out firing in the second presidential debate with many tense exchanges peppered throughout the debate. Research associate Tom Switzer joins an expert panel to discuss the winners and losers from the night.

In a fiery encounter bordering on pugilistic, Obama has improved on his performance last week in the second town hall style debate. But as senior lecturer Harry Melkonian notes, the two men struggled at times to get their message across in the hostile environment.

Barack Obama came out firing in the second presidential debate against Republican challenger Mitt Romney, in sharp contrast to his performance in last weeks debate. Centre blogger Jonathan Bradley says the town hall format allowed a wide range of topics to be covered and Obama looked strong across the board.