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Subscribe to RSSSweet Home Michigan for Romney?... The contest there on Feb. 28 will likely be an inflection point -- the place where either Romney rights his ship or where it becomes obvious he might not be the GOP nominee… Restore Our Future and Santorum camp spar over the airwaves in Michigan… A reminder: Romney won the state in ’08 by just nine percentage points and with less than 40%... Quinnipiac poll: Santorum leads in Ohio… Texas primary won’t occur until at least May… More problems associated with Maine’s caucuses… A tentative deal on the payroll tax cut (but is it a done deal?)… And Obama talks manufacturing in Wisconsin at 1:40 pm ET.
Joshua Lott / Reuters
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign event in Mesa, Arizona February 13, 2012.
*** Sweet Home Michigan? The good news for Mitt Romney as several national polls now show him tied or even slightly trailing a surging Rick Santorum: The next major contest, on Feb. 28, is in Michigan. But the bad news is the same: It's Michigan. Indeed, the state where he grew up, where his father was governor, where his mom ran for the U.S. Senate, where he launched his '08 campaign, where he won in 2008, where he's airing a new TV ad, and where he campaigns today could be the inflection point in this Republican nominating contest. Either Michigan is the place where he rights his campaign's ship and continues his methodical march to the nomination. Or it’s the place -- because of all the advantages he enjoys in the state -- where we all realize he might not recover to become the GOP nominee. (And trust us, if Romney loses Michigan, the GOP noise about finding a new candidate will become deafening.) That's what's at stake in Michigan two weeks from now. There’s no overstating the importance of this race.
*** Restore Our Future vs. “Rombo”: And given the stakes, the TV ads are getting more aggressive. The pro-Romney Super PAC Restore Our Future is up with a hard-hitting advertisement against Santorum in Michigan (as well as in Arizona and Ohio), which charges that Santorum voted to raise the debt ceiling five times, voted to increase spending, and joined Hillary Clinton to let convicted felons vote. In response, Politico is reporting that the Santorum campaign is up with its own ad -- entitled “Rombo” -- showing a Romney lookalike firing mud from a gun. “Mitt Romney’s negative attack machine is back,” the ad says. “This time, Romney is firing his mud at Rick Santorum… Why? Because Romney is trying to hide from his big government RomneyCare and his support for job-killing cap-and-trade.”
*** What Gingrich never really had -- an effective response: This kind of response ad is worth watching (and seeing how much money is actually behind it), because it’s what Gingrich NEVER really had in Iowa or Florida. Meanwhile, turning back to that Restore Our Future ad, we’re not quite sure that Santorum is MOST vulnerable on spending and pork. Santorum’s biggest vulnerability might be that he’s simply too conservative (even for some Republicans) on social issues and that it makes him potentially unelectable in a general. But can Romney and his allies really go there, especially in a GOP primary? By the way, don’t miss Romney’s answer about Santorum’s surge this morning on FOX when he was asked if the two of them could envision running together. Romney said sure -- and added that he and Santorum actually agree on most issues; Romney said what makes them different are their backgrounds.
*** A reminder: Romney won Michigan in ’08 with just 39%: Here’s one final point we’re going to make about Michigan: Do note that Romney won the state in 2008 by just nine percentage points (39%-30% over McCain) and never cracked 40%. Yes, Romney was no longer the front-runner at that time in the race. And, yes, McCain had won the Michigan primary in 2000. But those results are a reminder that Romney might not be as formidable in the state as everyone thinks…
GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is riding his momentum from a trio of caucus wins to the top of the latest national polls. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
*** Q-poll: Santorum leads in Ohio: And Michigan isn’t the only state in the industrial Midwest that Romney might be sweating. A brand-new Quinnipiac survey of Ohio -- which holds its primary on Super Tuesday, March 6 -- finds Santorum leading Romney among likely GOP primary voters by seven points in the state, 36%-29%; Newt Gingrich gets 20% and Ron Paul 9%. Also in that poll, Obama leads Romney by two points in Ohio (46%-44%), Santorum by six (47%-41%) and Gingrich by 12 (50%-38%). And Obama’s approval rating in the state is 47%-48%; it’s actually the president’s best score in that poll in the past year, despite being upside down.
*** Texas primary won’t occur until at least May: The AP reports that Texas -- because of the divisions over its redistricting map -- will unlikely hold its presidential primary in April. “Texas was originally scheduled to be a part of next month's slate of Super Tuesday primaries, but the redistricting clash forced the state to reschedule its contest to April 3. With that date now all but dead, too, elections workers who squeezed into a packed San Antonio courtroom Tuesday advocated a new date of May 22, which could be long after Republicans settle on a nominee to face President Barack Obama.” So Texas won’t play a role in this GOP presidential race -- until it does. Consider: If a Republican decides to run for president at the last second, that person could plant his/her flag in Texas.
*** Remember the Maine! The additional news coming out of Maine -- that one county turned in its results on Feb. 7 but weren’t included -- is a disaster for the GOP and the entire caucus system. (And this news is on top of that other county that postponed its caucuses due to snow and wasn’t counted, either.) The GOP caucuses (in Iowa, Nevada, and now Maine) have really taken it on the chin and raise real doubts about the integrity of the voting results. And Nevada is lucky its outcome wasn’t close…
*** On the trail, per NBC’s Adam Perez: Gingrich travels to Palo Alto, CA…Santorum visits North Dakota, campaigning in Tioga and Fargo…Meanwhile, Romney hosts a rally in Grand Rapids, MI
*** We have a deal: Off the campaign trail, it looks like Hill Democrats and Republicans struck a tentative deal on extending the payroll tax cut, as well as unemployment insurance and the Medicare “doc fix.” NBC’s Libby Leist and Frank Thorp have the details: The payroll tax cut gets extended through 2012, unemployment insurance goes for 75 weeks in the hardest-hit states and 63 weeks in the others (versus 93 weeks now), there’s no drug test or GED requirements for the unemployment assistance, and there are no Medicare benefit cuts. In addition, the payroll tax cut IS NOT paid for, but the unemployment insurance and “doc fix” ARE. Those offsets, with a price tag of about $50 or $60 billion, come from government spectrum sales, federal pension reform, and a few billion from Fannie/Freddie fees. NBC’s Leist adds that the tentative deal, which could be inked as early as today, was negotiated by House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R) and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D).
*** But is it a done deal? Yet Politico reminds us that it’s not a done deal yet. “As of Tuesday night, there was still some selling left to do on the basic agreement — history has taught congressional leaders not to call a deal done until House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has had a chance to vet it with rank-and-file Republicans... ‘I just can’t. I just can’t,’ Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said when asked if he would vote for a payroll tax cut without offsetting spending cuts or tax increases. ‘I gotta stand on principle. How can I criticize the president for his budget where he’s increasing the debt and deficit if we’re going to come here and vote to do the same?’ Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) was one of the loudest critics Tuesday night, calling the proposal a ‘welfare payment’ and saying he is going to vote against the deal.”
*** Obama travels to Wisconsin: President Obama hits the road today, giving a speech on manufacturing in Milwaukee, WI at 1:40 pm ET. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, per NBC’s Ali Weinberg, that Obama’s trip to the state “is his first to Wisconsin since the labor wars erupted a year ago, and comes at a time when the state has more wild cards in its political deck than perhaps any other presidential battleground.” And do note: There will be an official meet-and-greet between Obama and Gov. Scott Walker.
*** Villaraigosa to chair Dem convention: Lastly, the Los Angeles Times reported last night that Democrats have tapped L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to chair the Democratic National Convention. “As convention chairman, Villaraigosa will wield the gavel during the event in Charlotte, N.C., which opens with a festival on Sept. 3 and continues for three days of official business, including the nomination of Obama and his acceptance speech... Villaraigosa is one of the nation's most prominent elected Latino officials and envisions an active role in Obama's reelection effort. The White House, in turn, is counting heavily on strong Latino turnout, especially in battleground states such as Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida.”
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Wow, gives me hope that we can be rid of Romney and decide our candidate to rally around. I am not a big fan of Rick, I like Newt better, and if Ron would compromise on his islolationist stand even he isn't a bad choice ( but a little old ) and I am still voting for whoever wins the nod. ABO2012
Romney and all his money is killing the republican party with all his negative ads plain and simple. Odumbo only needs to replay all the negative ads Romney has run, saving him money to make them for the general election.
Rick, IMO, is still a little green and we don't need a tenderfoot this time around after watching the present one for the last three years.
Newt has made all the big mistakes and therefore learned how not to make them again. There has been nineteen years for him to learn and get it right this time. He got sidetracked with Romney's big money attacking so if he gets back to what he was doing before that, he should come out just fine.
Wow...a Republican ( I'm guessing ) against "Romney and all his money..." and who's dislikes "...negative ads". There's hope for reason to emerge in the GOP!
As far as Newt's mistakes, it seems to me that he's intent on making them all again. I mean, one has to be an egomaniac even to run for President, but Newt takes it to a whole new realm.
Wow whatever happened to the Republican party? Its like its been hijacked by a bunch of buffoons, from the top all the way down. I mean are these the best you guys have and then you have the Palin, the Donald as their cheerleaders what a joke. Sorry didn't mean to hurt anyones feelings so if someone sees Boehner crying just tell him it was nothing personal just my take on things
I always voted republican until NAFTA. Then I started having serious doubt. Then they made seatbelts mandatory. That really threw me off. Then the gave Halliburton a no bid contract and start a war in Babylon. That was it for me. And now what I see is just a absolute disgrace. At least the dems telling ya the true. You may not like it but you know what they are about.
Paul: I'm ok with everything you say and respect the reasons you left the Republican part. But I have issue with
You're fooling yourself if you think the Democrats are telling you the truth. You can be sure they're telling their version of the truth, that's for sure. It used to be that the US people worked for hard for a decent living, now it seems our president wants to give the middle class hand outs. I'm not saying the Republicans are the answer, just saying the dems are just as bad.
Art1403609: Bush Jr pissed in their pepsi before he left office and now all of them need stem cell transplants in their brains.
If Michigan votes for Romney then they are dumb enough to deserve his and the Republican policies that have and continue to destroy the Middle Class. Romney basically said about the Auto industry... "Let them eat cake". If Michigan lets this guy spit in their face and then supports him, then maybe the Republicans are right... The American voting public / Middle Class are so stupid that we need to all become serfs and serve the mighty wealthy and Big Corporations. I am agast at the idiot Middle Class voters that can say... Yep... I am a Republican. Sure there are problems with some of the Democratic policies. Yes there need to be reforms. But if you think that the Senior Republican and the wealthy / Super PACS have any other goal than to turn the whole Middle Class in to a buch of Foxxcomm employees then you are just fooling yourself. These Republicans are soulless / heartless ... "Faces of Evil" as "W" once said! God save America and what is left of the Middle Class. Romney has absolutely no clue the hell that the middle Class is living! he is just like "W". Same policies that got us here.
So you'd rather let Obama give you what he thinks you need? Because he says he's going to help the middle class, but what he's really saying is let government provide for you the things "they" feel you need or deserve. He's not saying he'll provide an economy where you can work hard and better yourself. I think you're the one fooled.
Joe in Albany is a republican hack
When will they ask Romney the real questions?
Like:
1."Mr. Romney, explain to everybody how placing your money into shelters overseas so you can get away with paying less then 14 percent in annual taxes is helping Americans?"
2."Mr. Romney, do you send the bulk of your money overseas because you value the trade of other countries over America's, or did you send your money over there so you didn't have to pay as much in taxes as everybody else does?"
3."Mr. Romney, you like to say that you pay what you owe in taxes and not a dollar more. What if the vast majority of America thinks you should pay a lot more? Do you agree with the majority of American people and pay more taxes or tell them you don't care and don't want their votes anyways?"
4. "Mr. Romney, do you think all Americans should pay less then 14 percent of their annual incomes to taxes, like you do, even though that would plunge this great nation into third-world status almost immediately?
5. "Mr. Romney only the rich could take advantage of loopholes you have used to insure you pay less in taxes then almost all Americans who pay taxes. Should that be how America's tax code works? Should rich people, like yourself, pay smaller percent of your income to taxes when people like our military, cops, social workers, firefighters have to pay a great deal more?
Asimpleton,
1. It was 17% which was his EFFECTIVE tax rate, not his marginal tax rate. And this is a higher percentage effective income tax rate than most Americans pay.
2. The bulk of his money (more than half) was not sent overseas.
3. I think anybody who pays more taxes than they have to under the law is an idiot and does not deserve to be President.
4. It would be a good thing if we all paid less than 14%, if we cut expenses and collected progressive sales taxes and luxury taxes to make up the difference.
5. For the most part, workers with families and homes who are in the military, are cops, social workers, and firefighters pay far less than the 17% that Romney paid.
Income taxes encourage us to spend our money now rather than later -- they discourage savings. America has had a negative savings rate for decades, which is why America has had a balance of trade deficit for decades. This is why America has shipped jobs and market shares to foreign shores. If we do not change the tax laws to encourage saving, then we will continue to export jobs to foreign countries. It is time to change the tax laws.
Why Idiotfromdownunda, if you are going to lie your ass off why not go all the way? Hell anybody can do that...doesn't make it true...but typical:
1. Romney paid 45% EFFECTIVE tax rate. He is my hero. He is actually almost broke because he paid so much in taxes. Poor guy...
2. The bulk of his money was spent on nuns, orphans, and babies. He is a true patriot!
3. I think anybody who pays more in taxes should be shot in the head. How dare they pay more just because they have more. The people who have more should keep more and those who have not should pay more. Wow, republican thinking is funny in a sad kinda way.
4.It would be a good thing if we all paid less then 14 percent. But for now, only Romney can because he's "special".
5.For the most part everybody pays less then 1% to taxes so Romney is my hero.
Then I would have to give an explanation here to prove I'm a lying idiot that wants the rich to continue getting richer while the vast majority of Americans make less. Hell, a ten-year old could do this.
I swear, it's sad how many clueless idiots follow the republican party. What is pathetic though, is how many peons they have that work for peanuts but are willing to jump at the chance to defend the rich and their wealth.
When will they ask Romney the real questions?
Like:
1."Mr. Romney, explain to everybody how placing your money into shelters overseas so you can get away with paying less then 14 percent in annual taxes is helping Americans?"
2."Mr. Romney, do you send the bulk of your money overseas because you value the trade of other countries over America's, or did you send your money over there so you didn't have to pay as much in taxes as everybody else does?"
3."Mr. Romney, you like to say that you pay what you owe in taxes and not a dollar more. What if the vast majority of America thinks you should pay a lot more? Do you agree with the majority of American people and pay more taxes or tell them you don't care and don't want their votes anyways?"
4. "Mr. Romney, do you think all Americans should pay less then 14 percent of their annual incomes to taxes, like you do, even though that would plunge this great nation into third-world status almost immediately?
5. "Mr. Romney only the rich could take advantage of loopholes you have used to insure you pay less in taxes then almost all Americans who pay taxes. Should that be how America's tax code works? Should rich people, like yourself, pay smaller percent of your income to taxes when people like our military, cops, social workers, firefighters have to pay a great deal more?
Your straw man arguments and your rage demonstrate your hatefulness and covetousness. Your hateful words speak for themselves. I have no further need to comment.
Santorum has never run anything...Just like Obama. We can keep the liberal that is over his head or elect Santorum who would be over his head. Romney at least has 25 years of experience running things.
To Art1403609
Wow whatever happened to the Republican party? Its like its been hijacked by a bunch of buffoons, from the top all the way down. I mean are these the best you guys have and then you have the Palin, the Donald as their cheerleaders what a joke. Sorry didn't mean to hurt anyones feelings so if someone sees Boehner crying just tell him it was nothing personal just my take on things.
I could not agree more. I used to be a Republican but not anymore.You forgot to mention Bachmann who is almost as big a loser at Santorum.
If Romney is not the GOP nominee, they are sunk!
Fellow Birthers, Don't be obtuse. I have it on good authority that Mittens was born in the Cayman Islands. Demand that he produce his birth certificate before his candidacy becomes even more embarrassing.
Santorum will do well with Republicans in that bigoted state!
But mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo will argue that gm & chrysler was not saved by obama. But lockheed went bankrupt. The arabs were the largest bidder for the company. Because of govt bailout, the arabs didn't have the trident 2 sub launched icbm. Iran would like it now.
Mitt, you were the first one that would have thrown Michigan's autoworkers on the trash heap. Your "hometown" crap is dead and so is your candidacy
Doesn't matter which wing-nut gets crowned by the mouth-breathers in the gop primary- they haven't a chance come November.
Americans will not vote for the American Taliban. The GOP want to pass Sharia Law to control what Americans can think, believe, and do in thier private lives.
Romney you and the GOP want to take the Country back, but the WE want to continue take the Country forward.
This talk takes the features of talk about the president, not to talk about a candidate from the presidential candidates for that media plays a political play openly to the public either in goal or over the bar and making many mistakes on the pitch have a bad political impact on the playing
I think someone needs to tell Romney that Pat Paulson ran all those times as a joke. Who cares what Grover Norquist wants anyway. He is just another Donald Trump- big bucks - big mouth.
Now that Republican Governor Scott Walker is facing over a million recall signatures and a for sure recall election later this year, he can't get close enough to President Obama. Hopefully, Obama will have his Secret Service detail wrestle Scott Walker to the ground and escort him off the premises. Nice try, we aren't buyin' it Scott........better hustle over to your interrogation with the Milwaukee district attorney campaign violations of your office while you were still county executive. Unless maybe you're hoping for a Presidential pardon?..........
no jo, just want to put one between your eyes, punk
Glover Norquist is talking about we but what we is he talking about? This guy as normal has no base for facts and is really trying to play the flip flop psychology mind game by using we to get the rest of the undercover tea tards and Ku Klux Klan to come out of the closet to help his illiterate butt. At that cpac meeting last week that he attended it was no more than a Ku Klux Klan rally with foul mouth Sarah Palin being the queen of hatred, and Peter Briemlow who is the biggest celebrated white supremcist in this decade as the featured speaker. If by some chance that Sarah Palin can keep her legs shut maybe her mouth and her favorite word(WTF) will follow. You know that common sense is not one of Glover Norquist strenght's nor is having real intellect which he seems to have never had in the first place, he is no more than a hateful bigot who does not like anyone who does not think like him or has a darker skin tone. And just think that the republican party are loaded with people who think, act and feel just like him, and people wonder why the gop looks like a jig saw puzzle with no kind of leadership in sight. With Norquist being a limp lizard he is a disgrace to real men.
To coin a phrase, "My fellow Americans", I understand the reflex to take sides. However, too many of us take, IMHO, the wrong side. Some take the side of Democrats, some Republicans, conservative, liberal, etc. These sides point out the differences in us all. I choose to take the side of the one thing we all have in common; we are all American, and we all want whats's best for America and Americans. Dem, repub, lib, neo-con, tea-party, racist, tolerant, these are all nouns to divide us. We are all American, and I think we need to take a big picture view of our great nation, of the things that unite us. Things like a safe country and neighborhoods, good economy, jobs for all, fairness in the workplace, good schools, good, affordable healthcare for all Americans, I could go on and on. These are things we all want. And we must hold all politicians, regardless of party affiliation, accountable. These politicians must use their individual and collective power and authority to attend to the business of the United Staes first, above other countries, or be voted out of office. IMHO.
please whitey do the right thing nominate the only candidate that can beat pres obama.so i don't have to hear four more years of the white devil whinning my ears cant take it.
sorry just can't vote for someone who put there dog on the roof of the car for a trip
can't vote for someone who's name stands for what is excreted out of a butt and wants to destroy women's rights
can't vote for 3X womanizer.....
I guess that leaves..........oh no not him..........Paul
the only good news in any of this is that if the religious taliban psycho in a sweater vest actually got the primary nomination, willard will have blown millions and millions of his own money on nothing.
however, im not that worried about it happening. this is CORPORATE AMERICA. the money ALWAYS wins over the little guy, so willard mittens should handily beat richard JOHN santorum and stop his spreading
The only pledge any elected federal official should take or sign:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
The above is the oath of office taken by members of Congress and others. Anything else (other than the Pledge of Alligence) is to neglect one's duties to the nation and the people they are elected to serve and represent. Signing pledges or promises to mindlessly follow instructions from an individual(s) or special interest smacks of malfeasance and maybe even treason. This goes regardless of party.
If Romney loses the nomination for president, he can thank his super pac, the one that he disavows, for going negative once again on the front running candidate. Does Romney not have a positive platform that he can stand on that he must rely in negative ads that damage the entire party?
Romney shouldn't even be campaigning in Michigan, it was his father's Michigan not his ---- Mitt wanted the auto industry to fail & mortgage foreclosures to take their course