The Florida GOP’s decision to defy Republican Party rules by slating its presidential primary for Jan. 31 has touched off a cascade of scheduling decisions that will compress the primary calendar. South Carolina party bosses, …
rick perry
Perry Supporter Calls Mormonism a “Cult”
Rick Perry just gave a well received speech Here at the annual Values Voters summit in Washington, D.C.–though not flawless, the Texas governor is a lot sharper when he’s in control, not under fire in a debate setting. But the Texas pastor who introduced Perry has unexpectedly opened the door to a sensitive issue barely discussed in …
Where Will the Palin Voters Go?
Now that Sarah Palin has confirmed that she won’t run for President, one interesting question is whether her exit could change the dynamic of the existing field. Even this fall, a non-trivial number of Republican voters have been telling pollsters that Palin is their choice for the GOP nomination. She drew 9% in a late September national …
Digging Into Rick Perry’s $17 Million Haul
Rick Perry reportedly raised $17 million in the nearly two months since he burst into the Republican presidential race. It’s an impressive haul that places the Texas governor squarely in the top-tier of the Republican money race with Mitt Romney, who apparently took in some $14 million in the the same period.
The Federal Elections …
Who Will Emerge as Romney’s Foil in New Hampshire?
Manchester, N.H.
After months of good fortune, Mitt Romney is having a particularly blessed week. Chris Christie’s announcement Tuesday that he will forgo a presidential bid cleared the field of a hefty obstacle –a moderate …
Bearish on Perry
“Wall Street Is Bearish on Perry’s Electability,” proclaims the Wall Street Journal. The story presents some anecdotal evidence that bigwig bankers, who account for a decent chunk of campaign cash in presidential elections, are unconvinced that the Texas Governor has much appeal. I’m not sure how much that really affects Perry’s primary …
Articles of Faith: Is the Death Penalty in Keeping with Catholic Doctrine (and Should Scalia Resign)?
Updated, 10:36 a.m.
September has been execution season in the United States. In the past month, Texas executed two prisoners, Florida and Alabama each sent an inmate to the death chamber, and in Georgia, the controversial …
An Opening for Romney in Iowa?
In the weeks since Rick Perry upended the Republican presidential primary, there’s been little hard data out of Iowa. The reputable Des Moines Register hasn’t published a poll since Perry barreled into the field. The race remains in flux: Michele Bachmann’s star is falling after a quick ascent that peaked in a victory at Ames, and Perry …
The GOP’s Fraught Relationship with Federalism
In the pitched battle for the Republican presidential nomination, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney are both crusading against a modern-day conservative heresy that the other enacted as governor. For Romney, the well-trodden issue of his health care overhaul in Massachusetts and subsequent changes he made to his campaign book after Obama …
Chris Christie Delivers an Electrifying Speech, but He’s No Conservative Savior
Despite the entreaties of wealthy Republican donors and reporters yearning for a hot new storyline, Chris Christie looks like he’s not going to run for President. Speaking at the Reagan library in California on Tuesday night, …
Lip Reading Rick Perry
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhDhDRvHaGs]
Save a pretzel for the gas jets. Something is still right with the world.
In a Preview of 2012, Obama Mocks the GOP
One big luxury of being an incumbent President is that your rival party’s primary process is likely to drive its candidates to the right, as they pander to their base. Speaking at a DNC fundraiser in San Jose, California, on …
Southern Bellwether: Florida’s Crucial 2012 Contest Takes Shape
Miami
An election year is nigh, so it’s time once again for Florida to remind us that it is more than just a dysfunctional retiree repository. It’s Our Most Important Swing State. The Florida Republican Party’s …