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Monday, August 27, 2007
posted by Kyle Hampton | 12:19 PM | permalink- Patrick Ruffini (formerly with Giuliani’s campaign) says the time is now to attack Romney: Why? Look at the RCP chart. Romney’s growth nationally has been steady-as-she-goes, without the ups and downs that characterize a mature base of support. (It kind of reminds me of Dean’s growth in 2003.) His rise in IA and NH has been dizzying and remarkable... - Bruce Bartlett explains the FairTax and shows why it is both deceiving and impractical: In reality, the FairTax rate is not 23%...If a product costs $1 at retail, the FairTax adds 30%, for a total of $1.30. Since the 30-cent tax is 23% of $1.30, FairTax supporters say the rate is 23% rather than 30%. - More staff turnover at the Thompson not-quite-campaign. Dean Barnett says the wheels are coming off: Here’s my big concern about Fred: I’m very worried about entrusting the most complex CEO job in the world to someone or anyone who’s never run anything bigger than a six person law firm. Thompson has no executive experience, and it shows in the way he’s run his campaign. The indecision, the lack of direction, the organizational incoherence – these are hallmarks of a rookie CEO. - Much has been made of the different assessments given by the Club for Growth to Mitt and Rudy. The NY Times has a story out questioning Rudy’s fiscal discipline: In fact, Mr. Giuliani left his successor, Michael R. Bloomberg, with a bigger deficit than the one Mr. Giuliani had to deal with when he arrived in 1994. And that deficit would have been large even if the city had not been attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. Labels: news Wednesday, August 15, 2007
posted by Kyle Hampton | 1:12 PM | permalink- From abortion to nuclear pork projects, Thompson's lobbying record leaves much to be desired for conservatives. Kenneth Vogel over at the Politico has the extensive details on the nuclear blemish on Thompson's bona fides.
- "It sounds like an effort by Giuliani to make himself seem like a hawk on immigration when, in fact, he's been a dove all along," the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, Mark Krikorian, said. More here.
Labels: brownback, fred thompson, Giuliani, news Monday, June 4, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 6:55 AM | permalink Hillary did not do well. Early on, she was outmaneuvered by John Edwards and Barack Obama on the war. Edwards succeeded in portraying himself as the most over-the-top in the anti-war caucus. Obama's put-down of Edwards'...  If you surf the net finding opinions and articles about Governor Romney, much of the material you will read is hogwash why Mitt Romney's religion matters in the upcoming election. People will try to be "understanding" and "open-minded" in their long and "tactful" attacks on Romney's faith as they try to "inform" the public of the risks involved in electing a Mormon President. What risks? That the Mormon religion will win over more converts (if they won't win over you--what are you afraid of)? That people will come to know that Mormons are just regular people too?........What, honestly, is there to fear? It's interesting that none of these reasons to be wary of a Mormon president has anything to do with politics. Bottom line, people are afraid of what they don't understand. You know, I don't even think we as a nation have to fully understand  Mormonism.........we just need to take a good look at Romney the person. Our nation has made wonderful strides in accepting people of various cultures, races, and religions. For whatever reason, we're still really behind the curve of understanding regarding Mormonism. Recently, we've heard the outrageous story of the Floridian preacher, Bill Keller, who emailed nearly 3 million Americans saying "that if you vote for Mitt Romney, you are voting for Satan!" We shouldn't accept this behavior in Florida folks--we have a good reputation of welcoming people with open arms. You know, it wouldn't be so bad if  Keller was the only bigot out there.....youtube and the blogosphere is full of bigotry. It's also a challenge to see or read an interview with Romney that religion doesn't come up. Let's not tolerate this anymore! Please help me fight bigotry folks......it's ugly--I doubt any of the pictures in this post makes you feel warm and fuzzy.....well, it shouldn't--let's make sure bigotry is not a factor in the upcoming election.
P.S. I want to apologize to Governor Romney for posting this.......he has handled bigotry with ease and grace--he's a classy guy. Perhaps I should do the same, but for now--I'll exercise my freedom of speech.  Recent polling has shown Romney making progress here in the Palmetto State. As recently as April he was still polling in the single-digits among South Carolina Republicans. The last two polls in South Carolina show Romney with 10% and 12%. First, the American Research Group conducted a poll between May 23-26, 2007 with Romney pulling in 10% of the vote–up from 5% and 6% in previous polls. Next, theWinthrop/ETV Poll, conducted between May 16 and May 27, 2007 show Romney coming in third place among registered Republicans: Rudy Giuliani - 18.6 John McCain - 14.4 Mitt Romney - 11.7 Fred Thompson - 6.4 It is interesting to note that 30% were listed as undecided. Of that 30% you can bet that all of them already know and have an opinion of Rudy Giuliani and John McCain and will likely break for Romney and Thompson. As we’ve said many times, and as we have seen after the first two debates, when people get to know Romney, they tend to like him. Look for South Carolina to become a horse race between Romney and Thompson with Romney coming out on top due to his strong organization and superior fundraising. Labels: news
Friday, May 25, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 12:30 PM | permalink Mitt Romney Makes Stop In Polk County To Tout Key Issues (May 25, 2007 16:47) "Mitt Romney, presidential contender for the Republican Party, spoke before guests of the Republican..Governor Mitt Romney On The Iraq War Funding Vote (May 25, 2007 13:53) On Friday, May 25, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on yesterday's Iraq War fundi..Romney Speaks To County Republicans At Dinner (May 25, 2007 12:58) "Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had his audience clapping and cheering at his jabs at..The Romney Agenda: 5/25/07 (May 25, 2007 10:25) On Friday, May 25, Romney for President released the fourth edition of "The Romney Agenda." This wee..Romney Says Media Must 'Police Itself' (May 24, 2007 14:02) "Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made a quick fundraising stop Wednesday in Oklahoma, ..Research Briefing: "Tested & Proven" In The Bluest Of The Blue States (May 24, 2007 11:00) This Research Briefing highlights Governor Romney's strong conservative leadership making the toughe..Romney For President Launches New Television Ad, "Tested, Proven" (May 23, 2007 13:13) On Wednesday, May 23, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Tested, Proven." The ..Ann Romney: Mitt Has Always Been Pro-Life (May 23, 2007 12:48) "'It's a match made in heaven between Mitt and Ann,' says Fraser Bullock, who was one of the seven p..Labels: news Tuesday, May 22, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 10:38 AM | permalink- Interpreting McCain/Romney/Richardson/Edwards
- On McCain: he's a proud, complicated guy, and like many proud, complicated guys, he has a temper."
- Governor Mitt Romney Names Idaho Leadership Team
- Romney gains in latest Rasmussen Poll
- "The potentially big change is that Romney has inched into third place with 15%. That’s just a single point ahead of former Senator Fred Thompson, but it’s also the first time Romney has moved ahead of Thompson since the TV star’s name first entered the race."
- Show Me Mitt - Missourians for Mitt Romney
- EDWARDS CHARGES $55,000 TO SPEAK ABOUT POVERTY
- Hugh Hewitt: Lileks On Immigration Reform
- "II. 5.6 All legal immigrants will be required to go through the entire process again, just to rub their noses it in. Mark Steyn shall sit in his car on a bridge between Canada and the United States until he learns his place."
- Governor Mitt Romney Names Idaho Leadership Team
- RNC’s Fundraising Heft Holds True for First Third...
- "The RNC reported raising $7.4 million in April, compared with $4 million for the DNC, according to campaign reports filed late last week with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). That continues a trend: The RNC has outraised the DNC every month this calendar year."
- Article VI Blog: Today’s Reading List - May 22, 2007
- Dean Barnett: His Heart Will Go On, But How About...
- "The past week has been John McCain at his worst. He has carefully calibrated his moods, oscillating between anger and arrogance. And what was bugging John McCain? The fact that his attempt to shove an immigration bill down the collective American throat that only he, George Bush and Ted Kennedy loved was taking on water."
- Moms for Mitt: Bloggers links - Ann Romney blogs with...
Labels: news
posted by Justin Hart | 6:37 AM | permalinkTuesday, May 15, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 7:51 AM | permalinkOK... I've pulled myself away from the video editor for the time being. There has been a flurry of news over the past week and I may have missed something so... Labels: news Thursday, April 19, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 6:04 AM | permalink GOP: Romney Secures Strong Start In Iowa DES MOINES REGISTER: Thomas Beaumont "If you were taking a snapshot right now, Gov. Romney has got the most momentum in Southwest Iowa", said Pottawattamie County Republican Chairman, David Overholtzer. This article speaks to the outstanding organizational ability of Team Romney. Although the author stresses that Rudy Guiliani tops the polls, his on the ground presence significantly trails MR's. If I were Guiliani and McCain, I'd be looking in the rear view mirror and watching MR pull up to within a couple of inches of my bumper! ~~John Cronin~~ Mitt Romney Statement On Today's Supreme Court Ruling  STATEMENT ON TODAY'S SUPREME COURT RULING
Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement praising the U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act: "Today, our nation's highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us." "Californians for Romney" -- Blog http://www.californiansforromney.com/ As this year progresses toward the February primary in California, please drop in to visit the Californians For Romney Blog. You will start to see much more content that is of course unique to California. There will be many important events planned by Governor Romney throughout the State of California and these events will be covered in detail at the site as well as many other developing stories and issues distinct to CA. At the end of April, Mitt will be making a number of appearances in the state and on May 3rd, he will be in Simi Valley for the first GOP debate. If you live in California and are aware of breaking news or know of important visits planned by Governor Romney, please leave a comment on this post with details and we will get that information to our friends over at the CA blog. As well, you can go there now and leave comments to Aaron and Paul who have posted on the site today. Any and all suggestions will be seriously considered! Please return often to the CA site and look for new blogs by those who have just joined our team. We welcome all to visit The Land of Ronald Reagan! To visit the site, click:
CaliforniansForRomney
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~ RHR Many Conservatives Were Hoping Rudy Giuliani Could Be Given Benefit Of The Doubt On Abortion - It Is Not Looking Good This piece from W. James Antle III of The American Spectator does a good job of summarizing the rapidly deteriorating possibility of religious and social conservatives co-existing and forming a coalition with Rudy Giuliani in the 2008 presidential race due to abortion. And while there seemed to be room for compromise between the two sides, the Mayor’s flippant plus legally and morally inconsistent recent remarks about the issue, in addition to his similarly terse and incoherent thoughts on gun control, have arguably caused an irreparable rift that is going to cost him significant conservative support. Mayor Giuliani didn’t exactly have conservatives at hello, but many of them were listening to and considering him up until he failed to speak their language on the issues they care most about. Now, some of his staunchest supporters in the media, such as John Podhoretz and the editors of National Review, are opining that the Mayor “has tied himself in knots” and squandered an opportunity to form a broad and winning coalition over his recent pronouncements on social issues. Ah, what might have been. Hugh Hewitt: A 5-4 Decision Against Barbarism The good news is that an abhorrent procedure is outlawed. The bad news is that Casey remains good law, and its holding remains elusive. Would a state statute prohibiting post-viability abortions except when the life... Hugh Hewitt: The Looming Tower Lawrence Wright's The Looming Tower won a Pulitzer this week for general nonfiction. Though the Pulitzers have become the occasion for a good laugh --a sort of celebration of buggy craftsmanship in the age of the... John Dickerson. Have you heard of the 2002 winter olympics? http://www.slate.com/id/2164380/ Romney, the richest candidate, was stingiest with his staff members' salaries and often had them fly discount airlines and double up on accommodations like the Super 8 Motel. Instead of free drinks and food at the campaign, they're only subsidized (sodas at 25 cents a can; snacks in the vending machine are 50 cents). His [religious] ties appear to be paying off. So far, Utahans have contributed more than residents of any other state except California. Click here for the complete article. Hey John Dickerson, you ever hear of the 2002 winter olympics? Do you know where they were held? Do you know who ran them? Perhaps this had something to do with it? Also from the piece: Clinton: ($26 million raised; $30 million on hand.) The senator owes $277,000 to Penn, Schoen & Berland, the polling firm run by her chief strategist, Mark Penn. No candidate in either party spent more on polling, which will not undermine her image as a calculating politician. The senator is also a thorough politician. The filings also show she made a $4,000 donation to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, the senior Democrat in Congress from South Carolina, a key 2008 primary state. All the campaigns are heavily courting the so-far unaffiliated Clyburn; Clinton is the only one to use her presidential committee to make donations to him. ...John Edwards has a hair weakness. His FEC filings show two $400 haircuts, which raise at least two issues. The first is: what can you get for a $400 haircut, anyway? The second is, given Edwards' past trouble of looking like he cares too much for his hair, couldn't he have put the trims on his personal account? McCain...$16,317 in catering costs for an event at the swank Beverly Hilton hotel seems more politically problematic, especially since it may come to symbolize the trouble the campaign finds itself in after having raised only $13 million in the first quarter while spending $8 million...McCain has campaigned for years as a pork buster and someone who hasn't been tainted by the profligate spending ways of Washington. ~ Mike Got this comment: I serve on the Mass. GOP State Committee, and it was long a joke that we went from catered dinners to a glass of ice water and a peppermint for refreshment when Mitt became Governor! Heck, it took two months to get coffee served! I especially remember one event - the Rooftop of the Ritz Carleton in Boston - and the refreshments were stale blue corn chips and watery salsa. On the other hand, our state party chair announced that we raised $200,000 that evening - so you be the judge! And we all went back for those events again and again. SC: McCain Endorser Votes For Romney in Straw Poll, May Withdraw Endorsement All of you who read my post from earlier this week know that McCain has managed to receive the endorsements of a majority of the state legislators from the state of South Carolina. And all of you who read an even earlier article know that it is straw poll time in South Carolina as each county holds their county conventions this month. As a result, many of the candidates are down in South Carolina for extended stays: Giuliani, Brownback, Hunter, and Romney were/are all down there, and probably some of the other candidates as well. One man conspicuously absent from working the county conventions is John McCain, and the grassroots folks are taking note. Some are even comparing it to his missing the CPAC, Club for Growth, and the Heritage Foundation conferences earlier this year. And his absence might cost him, too, in the areas of not only grassroots activists but endorsers as well: State Rep. Thad Viers of Myrtle Beach was one of 40 Statehouse Republicans who earlier this year endorsed McCain. But Saturday, Viers was at the Horry County GOP convention wondering where McCain was and listening to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. “He gave a great Reaganesque speech. I liked him so much I voted for him in the straw poll,” Viers said. Viers hasn’t yet decided to withdraw his support for McCain, but will if McCain’s doesn’t steer away from an immigration law compromise he’s been developing with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. “I think he is taking people for granted,” Viers said. “You can’t assume that people are voting for you.” McCain is continuing his strange tactic of avoiding places where conservatives are gathered (and where the rest of the candidates are). His answer to all who are wondering where he is? McCain’s camp says his calendar precludes him from attending, and that the candidate prefers to speak to smaller crowds for longer times than conventions allow. While some question McCain having prior commitments during the SC convention season, he is doing two things to try and soften the blow of his absence: sending proxies and counting on his money buying support: His campaign has contacted delegates with mailings, staffed tables at the events and sent surrogates to speak for him. The stand-ins include former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who is to speak for McCain at conventions in Spartanburg, Laurens and Richland counties this weekend… Boling said McCain’s campaign…is instead focusing on building a support network in part by donating money to local GOP groups and candidates. He said the campaign made $180,000 in donations before the November election. As we await more straw poll results, it will be interesting to see if McCain’s lack of campaigning at the county conventions will continue to cost him support in the state McCain Dominant in South Carolina Straw Polls Speaking of straw poll results, there’s this from the Hotline: [It] seems that Sen. John McCain has won five South Carolina straw polls: Spartanburg, Dillon, Florence, Clarendon and Greenwood. [links are mine] McCain had planned to hold a series of townhall meetings at American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts around the state yesterday, but canceled his travel itinerary due to Monday’s horrible events at Virginia Tech. I’m sure they’ll reschedule as soon as possible. Later today, he’ll attend a $2,300/person fundraiser in Charleston, SC. He also plans to stop in South Carolina on April 26th as part of his official 4-day campaign kickoff. State Rep. Thad Viers of Myrtle Beach was one of 40 Statehouse Republicans who earlier this year endorsed McCain. But Saturday, Viers was at the Horry County GOP convention wondering where McCain was and listening to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. “He gave a great Reaganesque speech. I liked him so much I voted for him in the straw poll,” Viers said. HeavyM and Rep. Viers wondered where he was on Saturday? Why, he was in Des Moines, Iowa giving a speech at the Lincoln Day Dinner. Kavon even provided photographic proof. Now, you don’t have to convince me that John McCain is an amazing human being, but even he is incapable of being in two places at once. I tend to think that that qualifies as a scheduling conflict. Let’s be fair and not forget Mitt’s own “scheduling conflict” last month either. The notion that he is deliberately avoiding conservative conventions is, quite frankly, ridiculous. Just last week McCain attended the Ottawa County, Michigan Convention and South Carolina is at the center of the entire McCain campaign for the Presidency. If he doesn’t win the state, he doesn’t win the nomination. It’s really that simple. 2008 Race Rankings: The Democrats There is no Democratic front-runner. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards all have a plausible claim on the nomination. The usual metrics are all jumbled. Clinton leads the money race, leads in New Hampshire, and tops the national polls. Obama led in one recent South Carolina poll we saw, in media love, and in enthusiasm. Edwards has the tightest message, the best organization in Iowa, and the lead in Iowa. These rankings are ordered by likelihood of winning the Democratic Party primary and are based on a number of factors, including organization, money, buzz and polling. Click here for Republican rankings.
1. No One -- Help wanted. Perhaps the "winner" of the first debate will nudge above the rest.
2.(tie) Hillary Clinton -- New York senator Last Ranking: 1 -- Has a solid lead in national polling ever meant so little, so early? We're not sure the Clinton camp sufficiently steeled itself for the inevitable bruise of Obama's ability to match her in fundraising. The Clinton machine was built by hard work, but also by contingency and circumstance: the magic of doing the right things at the right time. To win, Hillary has to sell herself as a doer (in contrast to Obama's "hoper") and a trailblazer (will she alienate men?). She must also figure out how to survive the early debates without the aura of invincibility that might have kept her rivals from shooting buckshot in her direction and the aura of celebrity that, just six months ago, would have guaranteed that every crowd her campaign built was large and inspired. The good news, though, is that somebody else now has to share the burden of expectations.
2.(tie) Barack Obama -- Illinois senator - - Last Ranking: 2 The Obama campaign has been slow, steady and methodical. At this moment, it doesn't matter that Obama lacks a health care plan, a comprehensive economic policy, any subtle foreign policy vision or even a concrete proposal to move the Middle East peace process forward. But the idea of Obama is worth, it's safe to say, about 20 points in the national polls, and that is not sufficient. Just like Clinton, Obama has earned the privilege to fight for the nomination. That means he must subject himself to the indignities of a presidential campaign. Does he have the plod?
2.5. John Edwards -- Former North Carolina senator Last Ranking: 3 -- From the perspective of pure politics, the cancer announcement and its aftermath were handled adroitly. Edwards has had a good quarter, but he's still stuck between tiers, as our colleague Stu Rothenberg eloquently put it. We are impressed by Edwards' enduring lead in Iowa, where crowds have shown up to Clinton and Obama events, processed them and haven't changed their minds. Still, the Edwards folks have to fortify themselves for the inevitable Iowa falloff. Can they prevent the media from overreacting? Dick Gephardt couldn't survive once he lost his Iowa inevitability. Can Edwards? His final target is Clinton; his immediate enemy is Obama. As you watch him in the debates, keep that in mind.
Continue reading the Democratic race rankings.
GOP: Romney Secures Strong Start In State "Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has established an organizational advantage over his rival candidates in Iowa, according to GOP officials in some of the leadoff caucus state's most populous counties." Romney Makes Financial And Ideological Surge "Mitt Romney - a successful businessman, savior of the Salt Lake Olympics and former Republican governor of a Northeastern state - may not be the most obvious Republican choice for commander in chief ... But if you listen to the way Romney's been talking lately, the 'obvious choice' may change." KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE POLES, RUDY Rich Lowry has a great quote on The Corner: Finally, the "opinion" that the government should protect unborn life should indeed be one of the "tentpoles" of the GOP tent. If a pro-choicer wants to come under that tent, wonderful—but he should keep his hands off the poles. Cattle Callin' So we’ve been sitting around thinking about how to review the Lincoln Day “Not so much Unity” Dinner and have had a lot of trouble. We thought about giving you our fave speeches in decending order but decided against (If you really care we thought the following people gave good speeches in order: Romney, Tancredo, Brownback, McCain and the following made us want to give the speaker a swirlie: Gilmore, Thompson). We thought about letting our correspondent give an anecdote filled report. But he/she/it decided they didn’t want to take notes. We thought about just doing an ode to the Fair Tax booth, but decided that would be inappropriate on a family blog. But in the end we figured those that read the Cooler were there and it was a marathon, so we’re not going to give you a marathon recap. If you weren’t there and want a recap the following links are the best ones to hit. The FAB-U-LOUS Jonathan Martin blog. (If we were better at blogging, we would have done what he did) Register Part 1 and Part2. (We mostly want to point you to these stories because we like to gloat and they each hit on 2 things we’ve been saying at the Cooler for months. McCain’s the only guy with the guts to take on Iraq and Romney’s organization is the crème de la crème) The WashPost And our buddy Krusty Konservative And if you are wondering why comments are gone. You didn’t read the crap that was dumped on a good guy under the last post. We’ll reopen at some point… Va. Tech Shooting Puts Politics on Hold I just wrote a piece on how the presidential campaign is observing an unofficial day of mourning today in honor of those killed yesterday at Virginia Tech. This cessation of politics is not without precedent. Following former President Ronald Reagan's.. Labels: news
Monday, April 16, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 10:27 AM | permalink A DUBIOUS "FIRST" Judith Giuliani moved herself and her 10 year old daughter into Manos Zacharioudakis's apartment on East 55th Street in New York soon after she was divorced from her second husband and before she met her third -- Rudy. They lived together for four years. The New York Daily News has an article out today that says Zacharioudakis supports his old flame:
"She is a sensual person; she is a passionate person. She has that Italian eroticism and passion." The article goes on to reveal that Zacharioudakis embarassed Judith in 2000, when Giuliani revealed their affair at a press conference while still married and living with his two small children in Gracie Mansion. How? By holding a Greenwich Village book reading of his erotic novel, "Dance the Melting Ice." This is an "autobiographical" novel which he claims is "based on my relationship with Judi, but it's not about her." People have talked a great deal about the "firsts" of this Presidential election -- the the first woman, the first African American, the first Italian-American... This article reveals that Judi would qualify as the first potential First lady whose inspire an erotic novel. It makes the "first Mormon" qualifier not look so bad, no? As Cindy Adams would say, "Only in New York, Kids, Only in New York"... except the Giulianis want all of America to accept them with open arms.
A Rising Swell of Support in South Carolina If you have been watching Mitt Romney's progress in South Carolina for any length of time, you will recognize the significance of what we are starting to see across the state as county GOP conventions convene and conduct straw polls. Over the past week we have cheered as Romney has finished first or second in each county's straw poll, but nobody expected the support Romney received over the past weekend. It all started with a shocker in Charleston--as Ann Marie posted on Saturday. As with any single straw poll victory, observers might question if the results reflected extra campaigning and resources focused on that single event. To the skeptics, I offer exhibit B (from The Chaser): This weekend we saw the first in a series of big straw polls across the state. Our numbers show that 527 GOP activists voted. We can argue all day about the importance of straw polls and whether or not they truly mean anything, but for now we will just report the numbers. We can deduce many different things from these numbers, but four stats jump out at us: 1) Romney is climbing within the GOP base and he is picking up support in past McCain strongholds including Charleston & Horry.
2) McCain is dropping within the GOP base.
3) The GOP base isn’t as wild about Giuliani as public polls show the ordinary voters are.
4) Although the news wants everyone to believe that the GOP base is unsatisfied with its slate of candidates, these straw polls show otherwise. Only 11% voted for Gingrich or Fred Thompson.
TOTAL – 527 voters Romney – 190 - 36.05%
McCain – 106 - 20.11%
Giuliani – 63 - 11.95%
Huckabee – 37 - 7.02%
F Thompson – 32 - 6.07%
Brownback – 30 - 5.69%
Hunter – 28 - 5.31%
Gingrich – 23 - 4.36%
Paul – 4 - 0.76%
Tancredo – 4 - 0.76%
T Thompson – 2 - 0.38% Combine the weekend numbers with last weeks' results and here's the leader board with over 730 votes cast in 9 different counties:
 "> Read more!
According to ABC's "Political Radar", John McCain still wants to change the GOP's abortion platform to explicitly recognize exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. In response, Sen. Sam Brownback said, "We should not change the platform. It should not be changed."
Iowa Lincoln Day Dinner: Is Jim Gilmore an idiot? Krusty has a great write up of the Iowa Lincoln Day dinner. So does Kavon at Race42008. I can’t add much to their reporting, so I will get it be. However, I will note that Jim Gilmore continued to look like an idiot. And I’m not referring to his flop of a line about "Rudy McRomney". Instead, I am talking about his ham-fisted attack on Fred Thompson: He jabbed Fred Thompson for only playing a prosecutor on TV. Up… No. Fred Thompson’s first acting experience was playing himself in the 1985 movie Marie, dramatization of a dangerous prosecution of political corruption in Tennessee. So Governor Gilmore. You were a prosecutor. Fred Thompson was too. He did something so heroic it got into the movies. You, Governor Gilmore, failed on the car tax, turned the state over to Democrats, and failed as RNC Chair. The snowball effect of bad news can be fatal in politics. Maybe you shouldn’t mention that to John McCain. With dismal fundraising numbers in the last quarterly report, JMac needs a boost. But the mishaps keep piling up for him, as he spent $8.4 mil of that money already. And what’s to show for the expense? More bad poll numbers and a bevy of wary GOP donors that will most likely back away from McCain when he comes calling for more cash.
Labels: news Wednesday, April 11, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 8:18 PM | permalinkRomney is one of the few candidates to formulate a solid and specific foreign policy. Governor Romney’s Plan To Meet a New Generation Of Global Challenges1. Invest in our military. Ensure funds are used to address critical needs of our men and women serving in the armed forces. 2. America must become energy independent. 3. Transform and strengthen our civilian international efforts. 4. Strengthen old partnerships and alliances, and inaugurate a new one to address Jihadism.
OTHER NEWS ITEMS The Fresh Candidate Mayor Rudy Giuliani Admirer Concerned Over Schiavo Case Explanation Ryan Sager of the New York Sun, who has been a strong and sympathetic pro-Giuliani media voice, questions the preparation of the Mayor for his visit to Florida last month in being inevitably pressed for his position on the Terri Schiavo case.
Mitt Romney Remark's At The George Bush Presidential Library Center (full text) McCain Trims Headquarters Staff Sen. John McCain 's campaign retooling continues. Manager Terry Nelson is trimming some of the organization's vestigial edges to pare down costs and more efficiently distribute key staff. Contrary to rumors, the campaign is not shedding weight in order to slow down its cash burn rate. Nelson has decided to eliminated several staff positions from the campaign's May budget, some yet to be filled. In addition, several campaign consultants will see their contracts modified. Others currently on retainer will work for the campaign on a per-project basis. Key departments, including political affairs, communications and the field staff in early primaries states -- were spared, and some instances, are still hiring. A campaign aide characterized the changes as "minor adjustments." After having raised $12.5 million, a solid but below-average sum for the Republican field, the campaign revamped its finance operation, bringing in Republican lobbyist and fundraising wizard Tom Loeffler to oversee fundraising, and asking Republican strategist Steve Schmidt to look after spending more carefully. During February and March, McCain's campaign hired a staff of more than 120, and it staged several expensive bus trips through Iowa and New Hampshire. A trip through South Carolina is planned for next week. Because a detailed accounting of McCain's spending hasn't yet be released, it's not clear whether the campaign began to pay the legion of consultants it has signed up. The campaign aide declined to say how much McCain spent during the first quarter although McCain advisers have emphasized that the campaign's monetary difficulties revolved around the tasks of raising money, rather than the rate at which the money was spent. Ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney raised $24M and spent $12M. McCain's first quarter filings will be available on Saturday. [MARC AMBINDER] Deroy Murdock on Giuliani's Abortion Record
Elizabeth Edwards: My neighbor a “rabid, rabid Republican”
Gingrich Turning Green, Looking FoolishLabels: news Monday, April 9, 2007
posted by Justin Hart | 3:04 PM | permalinkThursday, February 1, 2007
posted by Ben Wren | 8:20 AM | permalinkAlabama Fundraising: State Rep. Jeff McLaughlin, D-Guntersville, said the PAC and its actions violate
the spirit of federal law. (Who cares about the spirit of the law?) Romney in NH today: Traveling with his son Craig, Romney will make Granite State stops at a
hospital, a farm, a general store and a steel mill on the heels of a recent poll
that shows him trailing Giuliani in the New Hampshire primary by 12 percentage
points. Twelve points isn't a huge gap a year out with a candidate who has the name ID of Romney.  ROMNEY'S MORMONISM: The race for presidential cash in its infancy, Sen. John McCain reported
Wednesday he had collected $1.7 million in his campaign's first few weeks while
Republican rival Rudy Giuliani's early take was $1.4 million. NOTE: These are from 2006. Romney wasn't required to report for 2006 BUT:Romney seeks grass-roots support in S.C.Endorsements won't get the next president of the United States elected, former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Tuesday.
And that's why, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate said, he is pursuing a campaign of grass-roots politics that attracts voters, not necessarily their elected officials. Still, it seems that the Republican Party has an opening for a conservative
alternative to fill. National Review's Kate O'Beirne believes the GOP always
ends up nominating the most "electable conservative" -- not just someone
perceived as the "most electable" (e.g., McCain). But lately, Romney has become
the candidate attempting to carve out the "electable conservative" niche with
what some might label "born-again conservatism."
Labels: articles, news, Romney, wrap-up Wednesday, January 31, 2007
posted by Ben Wren | 9:38 AM | permalink ALSO: McCain on Global Warming Mitt Romney hopes that the endorsement of the ABM Caucus will propel him to
the White House.
ABM, in this case, does not stand for “Anti-Ballistic Missiles,” but rather
“Anyone But McCain.”....
What these endorsements have in common is that they come from a substantial
group of House Republicans who have long disliked John McCain.
Includes Speaker of the Iowa State House Romney as a convert to Reaganism. Interesting quote: The president of Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, on the other
hand, is not worried. "A successful conservative movement accepts converts one
direction, one time, cheerfully," he said, noting that Mr. Romney's adoption of
the social conservative issue set is an example of one direction, one time
conversion.
Labels: articles, news, Romney, wrap-up |
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