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Subscribe to RSSHere come the attacks on Romney… McCain’s revealing answer on Arizona and if it’s in play in the general election… Perry’s decision to stay in the race helps Romney… Obama’s recess appointments -- a fight he wants to have with Congress… Santorum raises $1 million after Iowa… Don’t forget about the pro-Santorum Super PAC… Update on the ad spending in NH, SC, and FL… And lots of campaigning in the Granite State today.
*** Here come the attacks on Romney: Unlike past presidential-primary front-runners, Mitt Romney has enjoyed this advantage over the past year: His GOP rivals have largely attacked each other, and have left him alone. Just last week in the lead up to Iowa, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann were blasting Rick Santorum; Perry also went after Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Santorum for their previous service in Congress; and Jon Huntsman hit Paul over those racially charged newsletters -- all leaving Romney unscathed. (The equivalent would be, in late 2007, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd all beating up each other instead of Hillary Clinton, which never happened.) But after Romney’s narrow win in Iowa, and now that Gingrich is looking for revenge, Romney has now become the target of attacks for the first time this campaign season. In fact, the Gingrich camp is now up with this TV ad hitting Romney in New Hampshire and South Carolina. The question becomes: How does Romney handle it?
*** McCain’s revealing answer on Arizona and immigration: Yesterday, one of us interviewed John McCain after he endorsed Romney at an event in New Hampshire. Toward the end of the interview, we asked McCain this question: Is Arizona in play in the general election? And his reaction was especially telling. He paused for a few moments and replied, “I think that if not this election cycle, the demographics are that Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, even Texas will all be in play.” McCain, who was once a principal architect of comprehensive immigration reform but who no longer supports it until the border is secured, added: “We have to fix our problems with the Hispanics.” Where does it start? “It starts with a way to address the issue of immigration in a humane and caring fashion -- at the same time emphasize the need to secure our borders.”
*** Perry’s decision helps Romney: Make no mistake: Rick Perry’s decision to stay in the presidential contest and campaign in South Carolina -- despite his fifth-place finish in Iowa (where he spent more than $4 million on TV ads) -- greatly helps Romney’s campaign. Why? Because it potentially splits up the conservative/Tea Party/evangelical vote. If both Bachmann and Perry had bowed out, that vote would probably go to either Santorum or Gingrich. In addition, it's -- shall we say -- interesting that Perry's decision surprised many of his own staff. Why the change of heart? Did Bachmann's withdrawal do it?
*** The fight Obama wants: As far as President Obama’s recess appointments yesterday, it is absolutely clear that he and his team want a fight with Congress -- and any legal challenge that comes with it. And they've made it clear if they don't currently HAVE a dispute with Congress, they are happy to pick a fight. And this fight, over the Consumer Protection board, has the added benefit of creating an "us vs. them" middle class narrative. After Obama made his recess appointment of Richard Cordray official, the Romney campaign fired off this press release: “This action represents Chicago-style politics at its worst and is precisely what then-Senator Obama claimed would be ‘the wrong thing to do.’ Sadly, instead of focusing on economic growth, he is once again focusing on creating more regulation, more government, and more Washington gridlock.” But the Obama campaign fired back with this: “By opposing the appointment of Richard Cordray to run the first-ever consumer watchdog bureau, Mitt Romney today stood with predatory lenders and Republicans in Congress over the middle class.” By the way, given the speed of the Obama campaign response, it's another sign that the Obama campaign is already focusing on the person they believe will be their general election opponent.
*** Santorum raises $1 million after Iowa: Turning back to the GOP presidential contest, Santorum has raised $1 million since his narrow second-place finish in Iowa, a campaign staffer confirmed to NBC’s Andrew Rafferty last night. Can they keep it up?
*** Don’t forget about the pro-Santorum Super PAC: While the pro-Romney Super PAC Restore Our Future has received much attention -- and deservedly so -- for the impact that it played in Iowa, it’s worth pointing out the role that the pro-Santorum Red, White, and Blue Fund had as well. Although Santorum spent a mere $23,000 in advertising in the Hawkeye State, the Red, White, and Blue Fund spent $530,000 there. That’s not a small chunk of change. And organizers say it’s planning to start advertising in South Carolina. Meanwhile, NBC’s Michael Isikoff reports that the conservative investor Foster Freiss, is one of the principal backers of this pro-Santorum Super PAC. He declined to give precise figures on how much he has donated (“I don't dare let my wife know that," he joked), but said he wouldn’t object to a report that he was the major financial backer of the political action committee.
*** Update on the ad spending: By the way, here’s where things currently stand in the early-state advertising battle:
New Hampshire: Our Destiny PAC (pro-Huntsman) $1.8 million, Paul $1.5 million, Romney $1 million, Perry $234,000, Santorum $30,000.
South Carolina: Make Us Great Again $1.8 million, Romney $555,000, Perry $220,000, Paul $219,000, Restore Our Future $147,000, Santorum $12,000
Florida: Romney $823,000, Restore Our Future $790,000
*** On the trail: With five days to go until the New Hampshire primary, most of the action is in the Granite State: Santorum has events in Manchester, Northfield, Tilton, and Windham… Gingrich hits Plymouth, Littleton, Lancaster, and Meredith… Huntsman is in Hampton, Durham, Portsmouth, and Newport… And Romney begins his day in Salem before heading to Charleston, SC, where he holds an event with Gov. Nikki Haley and brand-new endorser John McCain.
*** DNC hits Romney: And with McCain once again stumping with Romney, the DNC has a new web video cataloging all of the instances from the 2008 when McCain criticized Romney for being a flip-flopper. The video asks, “Which Mitt is he endorsing?
Countdown to New Hampshire primary: 5 days
Countdown to South Carolina primary: 16 days
Countdown to Florida primary: 26 days
Countdown to Nevada caucuses: 30 days
Countdown to Super Tuesday: 61 days
Countdown to Election Day: 306 days
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folks remember old man bush ran against regan when the george bush republican thugs tried to sabaotage regans speaking. tried to take the microphone from him , well the same senario is playing out with romney.
Romney is going to breeze through the nomination process. It's time to turn our efforts to righting the financial damage done by obama and his obscene deficits.
TO: commonsenseisn't who wrote:
The "financial damage" was done by Republicans, which is what helped get President Obama elected in the first place!
Wow, I admire the media's determination to continually undermine Ron Paul. Though he received the same number of delegates in Iowa as Romney and Santorum, he is barely mentioned in this article. Ron Paul was in the Tea Party long before it was named as such and hijacked by corporatist goons and self-serving politicians.
I think it's partly because Paul came in thrid by such a huge margin, and partly because he never had any chance of securing the GOP nomination. If he runs as a third party, expect a lot of Paul coverage (and the unending delight of Democrats.)
It is becoming quite clear that the republican party has gone off the deep end and the candidates are pandering to the most extreme of the extremist right, bordering on Fascism.
stubbie,
Romney pandering to the right? You don't really keep up with wants going on in these primaries do you?
Oh yes it is quite clear that showing concern over a 15 trillion dollar deficit and a President and democratic party who wants to increase it is facism. Of course it is, but then what do you think the end result of continued increases in spending and the day of reconing when everyone is certain we can't pay it back and refuses to lend us money any more. Facism is a mild form of what will take place on that day. Totalitarinism is the end result of this path we are on, and the President and his party want to be the ones in charge of handing out the crumbs from their well stocked tables when they purposefully bring about the collapse of our economic system. Obama is not an idiot, he knows exactly what he is doing and why.
Romney will be the solution to obamas 42% deficit.
Except for government employees, welfare cases and subsidised union workers, American are in far worse shape that they were four years ago.
Worse yet is that so many have lost their dreams. obama and his debt are responsible for much of this.
This country is on the wrong track.
commonsnese! I think you need some common sense with your post. That is ridiculous to blame the debt on Obama. That only shows just how little you know about the truth. Stop being a sheep and educate yourself
Sour grapes Romney. Your dad lost the nomination to Nixon years back, and you are trying to re-live through him. You might win a few, but overall...nobody cares what Iowa thinks. People have their OWN state to vote. So, go away....
"By the way, given the speed of the Obama campaign response, it's another sign that the Obama campaign is already focusing on the person they believe will be their general election opponent."
It's going to be Mittens vs Obama, and Mittens is going to lose. I said this long ago, before the Repugs launched their "I want to be President; buy my book" of the month club.
Herr Obama or Comrade Obama...wants to be God of the world...he will and is destroying America with the same zeal and enthusiasm that brought both Hitler and Stalin to power...class warfare and use of the media and propoganda tools...
ANYONE who disagrees has either not read Mein Kampf or Das Kapital, or is a retarded moron, or part of the regime
or thinks you're a retarded moron
Timetochangethings! You are a complete and utter fool! To say anyone who disagrees with you is a moron only proves just how mentally challenged someone can be. I guess Kampf and Kapital are the most credible people in the world. You are the problem with America today. You listen to idots and believe them to be gospel. Your paranoia is only exceeded by your ability to be gullible. Wow!
Right, it is so gullible to believe that a 15 trillion dollar deficit is any cause for concern. It is only an idiot that would believe that a President who of course isn't responsible for ANY of this 15 trillion dollar deficit but who has no plan to reduce it, only continued plans to increase it, is actually bad for this country.
306 days until election. I can cast my vote today.
ABO'12
Anybody but Obama
This republican slate of presidential candidates is about the biggest proof to the whole country that these people are living in some alternate universe ... none will define the problems or solutions in any sort of realistic form, none will take any accountability from past choices on same paths that led to terrible end results, and all just say whatever they feel will get votes ..... make it up as they go along ...
lucas, you are wrong sir. There is one candidate and only one, Republican or Democrat, that is honest and willing enough to "define the problems or solutions" and that is RON PAUL! Unfortunately, the liberal, establishment backing media, including msnnbc, gives no attention (unless negative) to his campaign. He is willing to buck the system and provide real change. It amazes me more people don't realize he is for LIBERTY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, AND NON INVENTION.
They're pissed off because they know Romney's getting the nomination!! Jealousy and envy .... one of the 7 deadlies to all those "Christian" candidates!
President Romney .... I like the sound of that ....
Listening to Perry there may well have been more Democrats voting in the Republican caucus in Iowa than Republicans. Now that is something to think on lolol.
I hope that is not true, because that would probably explain all the votes for Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, two unelectable candidates against Barack Obama.
Who is MORE boring --Dukakis or Romney? 8 years worth of him spinning his flip flops is MORE than enough. Gag me with a spoon! Did I mention the cult thing?
David,
Are you more comfortable with the 42% deficits?
With a 42% deficit, obama has driven this nation into a stagnant no growth economy. It's time for leaders like Romney to start us on the road to recovery.
Yeah - Maybe Romney will drive us down the same road he drove Bain? What a leader!
Where in the F--- were you back when GW was running the debt and deficit through the roof? It is so comical that repubs todqay latch on to this myth that the entire debt is on Obama. It is impossible to argue with uneducated people
How much revenue has been lost due to the Bush tax cuts. . Around 750 billion a year? If so that ads up to9trillion over 12 years . Toss in 3 trillion due to Revenge Wars and the deficit would be only 3 trillion instead of 15 --- IF bush had not become Pres.
Now add the cost of 911, such as homeland security, that never would have happened if the Bush administration had not been asleep at the wheel and ignored all the warning signs, thereby allowing Al Qaeda to GET LUCKY
David you keep repeating your fantasy numbers as if they are factual.
BTW, using your logic WWII was a waste of money "revenge war".
Revenues increased to a record high in 2007 after the Bush Taxcuts were fully implemented.
BTW- it's the debt not the deficit that is 16 Trillion.
And can you tell us how any nation prevents an attack that you label as "lucky"? How do you prevent luck which is defined as occurring by chance?
One thing you can count on with mentally challenged republicans is their ability to fabricate conspiracy theories like no others. I have seen two amazing theories posted on here and there is nothing one can do but laugh and feel sorry for such gullible sheep. The other thing we can count on is that they will not be a factor in the 2012 elections. The Crazies never win and never will. You republicans can not run anything, let alone this country. Just do what you do best and keep fabrcating your theories so that us normal Americans will continue to have great comedy.
Wow interesting how you think liberals are normal americans. Well you would be normal except for your racism, tradition in supporting slavery, etc but you keep thinking that you are normal
stormrider. I forgot you were licving back in the 1800's. How is life back there? I am living in today's world. Is there any wonder why so many consider repubs mentally challenged. thank you for proving my point.
You claim to be living in todays world but you have no idea what is going on over there in Europe--Greece, Spain, Italy????? Socialism is wonderful right?
Are you certain what planet it is that you are on???
Obama may not be a US Citizen, but Mitt is a POLYGAMIST!!! And has 5 love children in his cult!
You have proof of this ridiculous statement right? What a bigot. It is too bad someone reading this stuff to learn something has to stumble through your garbage, clean it up and try to say something intelligent if that is actually possible.
President Obama went to the Pentagon today to let 'em know about upcoming budget cuts. The Republic Party is getting caught off guard by the President these past couple of days. Better call a timeout and regroup.
Why are Romney's ads such a shock? Gingrich lost because of his character, Romney or PAC emphasized this and Gingrich has nobody to blame but himself for his own past. Maybe Romney is too unrealistic to some, nobody can find skeletons in his closet, and that is strange to people. Every politician has baggage and Romney has none. Family man, successful, pro marriage yet still in favor of gays having individual rights.Pro life, although he did not and said he would not change the abortion laws in Mass as Gov. which, by the way does not make him pro choice. We have a great man here and a whole lot of people cannot relate to the magnitude of his success and his character. You can bet obama with all of his baggage will point out Romney as not one of us, and you are right obama, his isn't, he has a background that most will never have and for him to want to run for president and serve his fellow Americans is great.
Rumney spent millions of dollars in Iowa, and just barely beat a man who didn't have any money at all by eight votes. I wouldn't be too proud of them numbers if I were him.
amazing what a big deal liberals are making of a caucus that has never been really a gage of what is happening. It wasn't for dems or repubs in 2008 and never has been
Tony, Considering Romney did not really capaign in that state until just about 2 weeks ago since his staff predicted he would have a low turnout because Iowans, partcularly evangelicals would not vote for a mormon, I think he did pretty damn good coming in first place. Lets see what happens to New Hampshire, You will see a landslide victory there for sure! And he could very well take it to the White House!
Romney is the front runner ?
How come he is not on the same page as the rest of the gang? or ... any gang or is he on everybodys
gang. Oh well, forget it.
Mitt, your a hell of a nice guy, but nobody likes you.
As a moderate independent (maybe a slight left of center lean), I find this all fascinating. I agree with Dangerfield on the recess appointments, When one side does it, the other screams "foul" and has a short memory of when their side did it. Now, while Romney smiles at us, does his Super PAC do a hatchet job on Santorum the way the carved up Cain and Gingrich? Hmmmmmmmmmmm..................they got a TON of $$.
You are right Eddie but why is everyone making so big a deal about Romney's dollars especially those that are on the left. Obama had the largest campaign purse in history in 2008 far above the republican purses and no liberal had an issue with that. It is amazing how we all pick on the really non essential things.
What a great point! I don't care how much Obama will outspend Romney if Romney becomes the nominee, he will not get a second term!
The super pac will do whatever the super pac will do. But what is happening now is nothing compared to what is going to happen after June of this year when Obama's super pac hounds are unleashed. They are going to have to scorch the earth because that is the only thing that will cause most of the people in this country who actually can think and understand what a deficit is and when it is time to start worrying about the size of it to forget what this President has done to this country his first four years in office.
What is so much to do about a recess appointment. President Reagan holds the record with over 270 appointments (republican). President Obama including the latest appointment 32. Ah yes we have our illustrious Senator Mccain from Arizona doing what he does best (nothing) stumping for Romney. let the bloodletting continue and the repubs will implode with so much bluster. Gosh, I was waiting for the Palin/Bachman ticket. Now that's a pair that could beat three of a kind.
Ha ha Palin Bachman as a conservative I can say no way to that one =)
So....let's all trash the front-runner, no matter who that may be this week, and then say what a great guy he is once he gets the nomination! With the gop it's all about electability anyway! They're not interested in who the best man is, just that he's a republican. They're also not interested in what's good for all Americans, just some Americans....their private sector masters...not to put to fine a point on it!
Steve: Really I am a republican and I am interested in what is good for all Americans. I think what you have to realize that we just don't agree on what is good for all americans. That does not make you right or me right we just have a difference of opinion on what is best for Americans
It is interesting that the ONLY one who is engaged in class warfare is Obama, but you seem to buy into the propaganda that he is trying to do something good for all americans. He isn't, Obama is the ONLY candidate who believes that the government gets to decide how much money you can have and who it is that gets the money they decide you really don't need. Obama is the only candidate who believes that certain people are entitled to something that actually belongs to other people. That is definitely not doing what is right for all americans, that is unamerican and is class warfare.
Supporting the middle class is "class warfare" but supporting millionaires is not? Interesting theory.
The fact is, President Obama doesn't believe that people all deserve to get the same thing. He simply believes that everyone should have an equal chance to work hard and succeed. That is the American Dream, that everyone should be able to work hard and succeed if they want to. Sadly, the Republicans have changed the rules so if you don't start out rich, you are starting far back at a different starting gate.
We also need to expand the estate taxes, so that millionaires and billionaires don't pass their incredible wealth that they earned, down to their children and grandchildren who did nothing to earn it. Paris Hilton and the Kardishians, anyone? Let them earn their own living like the rest of us.
Romnely will survive the attacks, he's the most credible person in the race...Rick Santorum has too many problems, his racial comments about Blacks is not acceptable and it proves that he's a part of the problem and not the solution he's a fool, the only reason he has survived for as long as he has its because of the radical racist Tea Party members that reside in IOWA...can't wait until he hits the east coast where the people are better educated and will take him too task, Iowa has no true value. Ignore Iowa.
so the TEA Party is racist, but La Raza isnt...more nazi propaganda
If you knew anything about the Mormons, you would not consider him a credible candidate.