Morning Must Reads: President

By Adam Sorensen | @adamsorensen | August 23, 2011 | +

Libya vindicates “lead from behind” White House.
Huntsman continues to knock Perry and Romney.
The Huntsman campaign wants you to know he is anti-Obama, too.
In Gallup’s very early general election head-to-head match ups, Romney, Perry, Bachmann and Paul are all within the margin of error against the President. The historical data is worth noting:

In August 1999, Texas Gov. George W. Bush led Vice President Al Gore by 55% to 41% in a Gallup trial heat poll. That race ended up in a virtual dead heat, with Gore ultimately winning slightly more of the national popular vote than Bush.

In August 1995, Kansas Sen. Bob Dole was slightly ahead of President Bill Clinton in a Gallup poll, 48% to 46%. On Election Day 1996, Clinton beat Dole by eight points.

In August 1983, President Ronald Reagan was ahead of Democrat Walter Mondale by only one point, 44% to 43%. Reagan went on to beat Mondale in a 59% to 41% landslide in the November 1984 election.

In August 1979, incumbent President Jimmy Carter was tied with former California Gov. Reagan — each getting 45% of the vote. Reagan ultimately defeated Carter by 10 points.

Paul Ryan, who was never running for President, announces he will not, in fact, run for President. (Bill Kristol will have to focus his fantasies on Marco Rubio and Chris Christie.)
Joe Nocera scolds the National Labor Relations Board over Boeing dispute.
AFL-CIO launches an uber union Super PAC.
S&P president to step down.
And Large Things That Could Fit Inside Mitt Romney’s New House.

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