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Stringer / Reuters
Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a joint news conference with Honduras' President Porfirio Lobo in Tegucigalpa March 6, 2012.
Biden enters the fray, giving speech in Toledo at 11:00 am ET… A thank-you gift to bundlers: at least 47 guests at last night’s WH state dinner were Obama bundlers… The president delivers remarks on energy at 11:00 am ET from Maryland… Romney plays defense on health care in FOX interview… Santorum to Puerto Rico: If you want to become a state, speak English… Political vultures continue to circle over Gingrich’s head… And breaking down the ad spending for the upcoming contests.
*** Biden enters the fray: In a speech that the Obama campaign says will be the first of a series of addresses by the vice president framing the general election, Joe Biden today delivers remarks at a United Auto Workers town hall in Toledo, OH at 11:00 am ET. This is the first major campaign speech by either member of the ticket that didn't have a fundraising invite connected to it. According to excerpts released by the campaign, Biden will focus on -- you guessed it -- the auto bailout that Obama supported (and Romney didn’t). “The president didn't flinch. This man has a spine of steel,” he’s expected to say. “He knew rescuing the industry wasn't popular. He knew he was taking a chance. But he believed. He said, we are not going to give up on a million jobs, and the iconic industry America invented. Not without a fight. We all want a president with the courage of his convictions. Well, folks, we have one. He made the tough call. And the verdict is in: President Obama was right and his critics were dead wrong.” Do take note of the somewhat low-key rollout of this speech; it appears this may be more about message testing (and practicing) for the vice president, whose role on this campaign is likely to be similar to the role of previous veeps: serve as both a validator and the chief "contraster,"
As many donors become frustrated with the narrative that has begun to crystallize around Mitt Romney as an out-of-touch, gaffe-prone politician who cannot connect with voters, will Rick Santorum become their last hope? The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports.
*** A thank-you gift to bundlers: Per NBC’s Shawna Thomas, at least 47 of the guests at last night’s state dinner honoring British Prime Minister David Cameron were bundlers for the Obama re-election campaign. That’s quite a perk for those helping to rake in cash for the campaign. To be fair to Team Obama, inviting top donors and bundlers to these kinds of events is common practice -- in any administration. What’s more, we actually know the names of these bundlers because the Obama campaign has released them (unlike any of the GOP presidential candidates, including Romney). Still, it was quite striking to see so many campaign types invited; nearly 13% of the entire invite list consisted of bundlers. For the first two and half years, many regular donors to the Obama cause grumbled about the LACK of perks they got, including state dinners. Judging by how this guest list was put together, apparently the Obama White House heard those grumbles.
*** Another Obama energy speech: At 10:55 am ET today, Obama delivers another speech on energy – this time at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland. We’ll say this again: With all the polling out there, it’s inconclusive that rising gas prices are hurting the president -- for now at least -- but the White House is trying everything it can to get out in front of the issue. By the way, does anyone else think it’s curious that Obama and Biden are speaking at roughly the same time today? It only reinforces the idea that Team Obama wanted the Biden rollout to be low key.
*** Romney plays defense on health care: As the New Republic’s Noam Scheiber notes, Romney has been pretty lucky on the issue of health care, as his opponents have been unable to land a solid punch on perhaps Romney’s biggest vulnerability in a GOP primary. (But is it luck, or his rivals’ ineptitude?) Yet in an interview on FOX yesterday, Romney continued to struggle to explain his past support from an individual mandate -- and this time it was a 2008 debate and a 2009 op-ed in which he seemed to suggest he supported a mandate on a national basis. And under questioning from FOX’s Megyn Kelly, Romney simply sidestepped what he said in ’08 and ’09. "I believe we should get rid of Obamacare," Romney responded, per NBC’s Matt Loffman. "It's a disaster." More Romney: "I have allowed and agree that a state should have the capacity -- if it wants -- to have a health-care mandate. We had that in my state," Romney said. "Time and again, I've pointed out I'm not in favor of a health-care plan that includes a national mandate."
*** Getting under Romney’s skin: In fact, Romney looked uncomfortable during the entire interview. And we’ve learned a couple of new things about Romney that we might not have known four years ago: 1) it’s pretty easy to get under his skin; and 2) he’s not very nimble when it comes to turning lemons into lemonade. (Saying you want to repeal Obamacare doesn’t erase all the questions about your past support for an individual mandate.) After losing Alabama and Mississippi on Tuesday, Romney is now getting TONS of advice from news outlets -- the latest being from Politico. This is what happens when you don’t put a Rick Santorum away.
*** Santorum to Puerto Rico: If you want to become a state, speak English: Santorum spends another day in Puerto Rico, where he held two town halls and attended a church service yesterday, per NBC’s Andrew Rafferty. But it’s this interview with a Puerto Rico newspaper that’s raising eyebrows: "As in any other state, you have to comply with this and any federal law - and that is that English has to be the main language,” Santorum told San Juan newspaper El Vocero, per AP. “There are other states with more than one language as is the case in Hawaii, but to be a state in the United States, English has to be the main language." But as Reuters points out, the U.S. Constitution “does not designate an official language, nor is there a requirement that a territory adopt English as its primary language in order to become a state.”
*** Political vultures circling over Gingrich’s head: Politico writes, “Should Newt Gingrich get out of the race? Depends on whom you ask. If it’s a Rick Santorum supporter, the answer is pretty clear: a resounding yes. But if it’s a Mitt Romney fan, the answer is the opposite: no, at least not for now.
And if you ask the former House speaker himself, he insists he’s not going anywhere after humbling losses in both Alabama and Mississippi on Tuesday night. ‘I’m staying in the race,’ Gingrich told a small crowd here the day after the results came in.”
*** The ad-spending race: Here’s a look at the ad spending in the upcoming contests:
Illinois (3/20): Restore Our Future $2.3 million, Romney $923,000, Gingrich $16,000
Louisiana (3/24): Restore Our Future $465,000, Red White and Blue Fund $244,000, Santorum $32,000 Winning Our Future $3,000
Wisconsin (4/3): Restore Our Future $508,000
A few points here: 1) Romney and his allies continue to enjoy a HUGE advertising advantage, especially in upcoming Illinois; 2) all the campaigns and Super PACs are engaged in Louisiana; 3) the advertising has now moved to Wisconsin; and 4) the Sheldon Adelson-backed Winning Our Future has been reduced to spending a mere $3,000. Has that spigot been turned off?
*** On the trail, per NBC’s Adam Perez: Rick Santorum remains in Puerto Rico… Gingrich stumps in Illinois, hitting Barrington, Elgin, and Lake in the Hills… And Romney and Paul are off the campaign trail.
Countdown to Illinois primary: 5 days
Countdown to Louisiana primary: 9 days
Countdown to Election Day: 236 days
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Leave a Comment:
always a pleasure to see your post Frank!
final four: Kentucky, Michigan State, Florida State and North Carolina
I have Michigan State beating North Carolina for the title
Go Spartans!
Go Obaaahhhhhma 2012!
Mr. D's??????
Crystal?????
I think Santorum's statements in Puerto Rico should cement that Latin vote for the Republicans! One of the fastest growing groups in the U.S. Santorum!-(exasperation!)
And somebody in Santorum's campaign needs to speak to him about what the Constitution and federal law say is required to become a state. English as the primary language is not one of the requirements. (even if he and I both think English should be our primary language)
I just love the fact that none of us are taking Bob's bait on the Biden diploma question...yay us!
dont be surprised if romney refuses to debate obama or settles for not more than one early debate.
obama would make him look stupid while his ad buys spewing lies will put obama in the wrong light.
this is how schawartznagger won and was used in michigan for the snyder victory and many other states as well.
the new faux debate!
Doubt it, they don't allow teleprompters at debates what will Odumbo ever do?
Win.
Again.
Just like he made McCain look pretty bad (I was all geared up to vote McCain, too, as a fellow War Vet)
Oh well, althought all War Vets are to be commended, many lost their sanity in recent years including when you voted for Obama.
Delaware here, again, my deepest apologies.
Hey! I finally figured out why I like Romney! It's his warm smile, his straight teeth, and his great hair-do! Now that I know that's part of the Dem criteria, I see how it works. Don't feel bad Amy. Millions voted for Hussein just because' he's black.
By the way. Joe Biden's still alive? What dungeon have they been keeping THAT crazy, old Uncle in? Now that he's back on the scene, he's sure to make a possible campaign-shattering gaffe of some sort. Way to go dungeon masters! He's already got a good start with that "Repubs can't relate to the Middle Class" line at the $10,000/plate dinner full of millionaires at John "Gold Digger" Kerry's house.
Ah, Joe Biden. I thought the news industry had forgotten about the foul-mouthed, snarling, barking, nasty man with clenched fists.
First priority for 2009 was to give Joe's banking buddies an $800 billion free gift of our federal tax money, What will Joe tell us the prioritty will be for a second term of the Joe and Barry puppet show?
For this campaign, will Joe simply be the union hall cheerleader in the 1967 Plymouth, or will he be front (and rather off-center) in the Yes We Can Loot The Nation Again Compaign?
Biden is going to be making a series of speeches....lmao oh this is gonna be good!
NOBAMA 2012
This is what I love about MSNBC, fair and balanced reporting. The reason the Obama campaign has released the names of the bundlers attending the state dinner is because public funds paid for the event. The events that GOP presidential candidates hold are private events.
Did I read this wrong Bill - I got the impression the article said that Obama has released the names of all of his top fund raisers and bundlers. None of the GOP candidates have released the names of their bundlers.
Isn't that a different issue than releasing the names of who attends an event -whether it is private or publicly funded? Please, correct me if I am wrong,but that's how I read the article.
Have any of the GOP candidates released the names of their bundlers?
Nice try Bill, but the bundlers names were released quite some time back. Man, you guys just pull your lies right out of the old yingger don't you. The GOP will hide to the very end who it is that is financing this clown show.
Wow, the Narwhal room is busy today, spreading BS they think people not only wil buy from them but also what they think people will believe. The polls that keep coming out from the liberal media Obama outlets are laughable. If I asked 100,000 illegals if they would vote for Obama I bet I could come up with a 99% favorable count. Of course, being liberal they can't ask hispanics if they are legal to vote, only who they "would" vote for if they could. Really a test to see if Obama should keep trying to grant them citizenship.
"this may be more about message testing (and practicing) for the vice president,"
This jack wagon needs all the practice he can get. So does his joke in chief. Get the teleprompters handy. Set them up in Hawaii. he's sure to be on vacation. What I find funny is the Dems occupy wall street but it was their leader who gave the banks billions and they still worship him. They claim jobless rates are lower but they never mention GDP and inflation. Wow, what the hell are we building? China is tired of building everything. They want help!
Damage 123,
Amen to your post. Have you noticed that the comments of conservatives get "closed by community" a lot. Part of the Obama deny freedom of speech movement no doubt. So far he has defied the Constitution in its limits on Presidential power, On Freedom of Religion, and he is now working on Freedom of Speech and the Right to Bear Arms. He says he only needs 5 more years. Yeah, he needs five more years to totally destroy the Constitution which is the very foundation of our country and why we live free enough to have so many stupid people in our midst. He will not get that 5 years only 1 more year of campaigning. Obama out in 2012, Anyone is better. P.S. Biden is a perfect example of why Obama thinks we are all stupid.
Shaking, your comment will be collapsed in 3....2....1......
Just like mine always are.
Because women's health is against your religion?
And why does your religion trump mine?
My religion asks me to be solicitous of the welfare of others, avoid casting the first stone, avoid judging others, loving my enemies, etc.
Damage's "comments" get collapsed because he is a hateful bomb thrower and in no way constructively participates in the discourse around here. It has nothing to do with his political leanings. There are many many RWNJ's around here who rarely if ever get collapsed, but they do not spout hate all day every day.
It cracks me up every time a Republican whines about the constitution while they try to turn the country into a theocracy at the same time they are trying to limit or completely remove the civil rights from segments of the population that they disagree with. Hypocrisy at it's fullest and they hate it when you remind them of it.
I wonder if he'll admit that Obama apologizes to Afghanistan for the burning of books, said nothing of the soldiers who were killed by Afghans afterward but strongly condemned the killing of Afghans by a soldier.
worth mentioning again: God bless the secret service
is this the algae obama was talking about?
Michael1969, you said this,
"I live by the premise that you wake up everyday and make a go of it, just like the Greatest Generation did. Nothing more, nothing less. My neighbor doesn't owe me my own happiness "
Michael, why don't we restore the rules that guided the greatest generation, we start with the "Seagle act" that was repealed by the GOP and the rest of the Check and balances that stopped the Banks and Corporations from taking all of us to the cleaners legally and none gets punished like it was during the greatest generation when fairness is the order of the day. Savings and Loan, some one went to prison, Enron, some one went to prison, etc, etc. Lets restore fairness in the tax system. What was the tax rate during Reagan and Clinton, what is it the last 12yrs under Bush jr. and the insistence by the Gopers that Bush tax give away will not be let die? So how can you get the benefits of the greatest generation and not the consequence?
Wow, don't have to go too far to hear about the "Romney Types" and how they really are now behind closed doors,do we? ala "Muppetgate"...........
Those 1%ers really have a high set of morals
You see, its NOT what you say......Its what you DO, Its not the talk, its the walk, if You are just repeating lines you've heard on the Radio or TV...Geez, our Founding Fathers had to ride a Horse for an hour just to get to a Meeting, much much different, their veiws were forged in the furnaces of real experience, just drunken tirades in front of the BoobTube, armed with a Budweiser and an abused Wife
You can talk about high Morals and Ethics, but whats in your Heart? How do You treat the Janitor,Waitress or Kid working through College in Starbucks? The real test is moment by moment, Is there hate in your heart?
Seems like there are a lot of Robotic, PreProgrammed Haters here, hasn't there been enough angst Ya'll?
Listen everybody - there are the same old paid Obama political bloggers on here - Feisty Redhead (isn't that cute and attention getting much like her mentor) is a big one - they use loud avatars and cute names - these people are paid and told what to say - teknishan is another - Toyota3 is another --- go to his website and look - now if you say anything against his hinny - you may be reported to Attackwatch.com
Again, look at all the ones that have cute names, loud avatars, and blog back and forth giving each other agreement ... Job 1 and Dennis are two others --- they get training via the internet -
Demorates being paid to promote Obama's baloney ............
I doubt any of the people you mention are paid, they are, however, passionate about what is right and what is wrong with our country. But that doesn't fit the right's talking points does it? I bet you get a nice check to come spread your hate at MSNBC. Don't cash it though. You're not up to the task and should refund their money.
Passionate...More like Deaf Dumb and Blind....
Interesting that the up-tighty righties are sooooo incensed about the prospect of raising taxes on the wealthy and lambasting it as "income distribution." And pray tell, boys & girls what do you think tax policy for the last 30 years has accomplished? ... exactly the same thing except in reverse. Tax policy for the last 30 years or so has, in fact, REDISTRIBUTED income to the wealthy. So redistribution is OK as long as it goes to those who don't need it? I know facts confuse you but try to get your tiny minds around that one.
What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
~Abraham Lincoln
These post just amaze me. By reading them I am lead to believe that there are no rich democrats only republicans are rich.
That only democrats are hard working true Americans and republicans are lazy bums sucking Americas tit.
The poor downtrodden demos have manage to scrape to gather nearly a billion dollar super pac so their shoe-in will be reelected.
That there is no voter fraud so there is no need to have voters at least provide the same amount of ID required to get a plane ticket or their welfare check.
It is ok for a liberal on national TV call republican women whores, @!$%#s and bitches but a conservative don't dare say anything close or he will be demonized. Oh and it is fine for that liberal to donate a million dollars to the super pac.
That only republicans spew hate and put down everyone else.
People who believe the bible or are religious in any form are stupid.
That total government control of our lives in necessary because as I stated above if we believe in the bible, or don't need government in our lives we are all stupid.
That socialism is good and a free market is bad. Like socialism is a great working model.
I could go on and on but it would just fall on brain dead ears. I seriously doubt that most of you especially the real mouthy ones out there could hold a candle to any of us that do work for a living have to buy fuel to get to work at a real job, actually pay our debts and taxes with the slim possibility that we may someday be able to retire from our job and enjoy life.
Your anointed one certainly does not want that to happen.
Oh my God, biden got out of his cage... Everytime he opens his pie hole is another embarrassment to the party.
How's that volt working for you Joe? What a LOSER... with guys like this no wonder we are about to belly up..
How's that stock rate after the HUGE BAILOUT... whats that you say.... Not close to before.... Really worked a sweet deal with those unions behind close doors..... Transparency you say...LMAO
So if more oil will not make the prices of gasoline go down why is Obama opening the oil supply reserves? He done told everyone that if we produce more oil gas prices will not go down ,but now he is opening the strategic oil reserves? Why not just drill our own oil eveyone knows we have oil. Replacing the oil reserves will cost us more money ,It is a political game played by Obama.
Just his stratagey. Gas will get up between 5 to 6 bucks this summer and fall then the anointed one will find a way to drop it back around 3 for the election, pat hisself on the back be a big hero in all the libs eyes except the enviros and then stick so far up the rest of us as soon as he has the 4 more they hope for. Meanwhile food and produce will be sky high because the farmers have to carry their fuel costs out somewhere already farm diesel is at 3.75 plus.
"I believe we should get rid of Obamacare," Romney responded, per NBC’s Matt Loffman. "It's a disaster"
With that emphatic statement, Romney's past transgressions in Massachusetts are forgiven, by me and many others.