Might the incumbency advantage save the Tories from the expected drubbing on May 1st?

ECONOMIST: Incumbency

The incumbency advantage is also the issue in the flap this anniversary week over how much credit Mr Obama should claim for ordering America's navy SEALs into Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

If Rogan doesn't seek re-election, Republicans lose the advantage of incumbency in the district.

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Yet the advantage of incumbency that helped him did not save unpopular governors.

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In Britain, unlike America, the advantage of incumbency used to be weak.

ECONOMIST: Incumbency

On the other hand, Mr Howard has the advantage of incumbency, a successful record as a ruthless political strategist and an economy that is humming into its 16th year of uninterrupted growth.

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That may be due partly to the advantage of incumbency a powerful one in Brazil, though unavailable to those seeking executive posts until Mr Cardoso last year got the constitution changed to permit re-election.

ECONOMIST: Brazil

The advantage of incumbency may be growing further.

ECONOMIST: Incumbency

Incumbency is normally a huge advantage in an election, but it's become an albatross, as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg can ruefully attest after nearly losing his reelection bid to an incompetent, underfinanced and largely unknown opponent.

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