His margin of victory among blacks has increased from about 60 points in the early primaries to more than 80 in later ones, notes Jay Cost of RealClearPolitics.com, a political website.

ECONOMIST: Presidential politics

Pioneered by Australia in 1988, polymer notes have several advantages over paper ones.

ECONOMIST: The rising popularity of plastic payment, in all its forms

Kaufman notes that all the major officials involved in Knight's firing are gone and the ones in power now have been nothing but solicitous.

WSJ: Indiana Hoosiers Are Back, but Missing Bob Knight

He also notes that such influence is more decisive in local campaigns, where turnout is low, than in national ones.

ECONOMIST: Public-sector workers