RIP: Political Columnist David Broder Dead at 81

Sad story via the AP:

David Broder, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post political reporter and columnist whose even-handed treatment of Democrats and Republicans set him apart from the ideological warriors on the nation's op-ed pages, died Wednesday. He was 81.

Broder died of complications from diabetes, Post officials said.

For decades, Broder set the standard for political coverage by seeing trends ahead of his competitors and by explaining how shifts in voters' moods and concerns forced politicians to adapt nimbly or falter. Long after he was famous he did tiring, shoe-leather reporting, including knocking on doors in bellwether precincts to discern voters' attitudes. ...

President Barack Obama said Broder "built a well-deserved reputation as the most respected and incisive political commentator of his generation."

"Through all his success, David remained an eminently kind and gracious person, and someone we will dearly miss," Obama said.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Broder "set the standard for modern political reporting and analysis. ... Everyone who cares about self-government owes a debt to David."

Looking back on his long career, Broder noted how politics in Washington have changed over time: