I agree with the rapidly emerging CW on the debate: Bachmann did quite well, Mitt is unscathed, Newt is still a non-starter and Tim Pawlenty made a mistake in starting a fight before the debate that he wasn’t prepared to wage in the debate. That said, it is still way too early — even in New Hampshire — for this debate to have much real …
tim pawlenty
What You Missed While Not Watching the New Hampshire GOP Debate
–2 minutes. The debate hasn’t started yet, but the crowd is already restless. A mutiny is afoot. CNN may host this thing, but can CNN’s John King control it? “Let’s do the pledge,” shouts out someone in the audience, …
The New Hampshire Debate: Mitt Romney’s First Big Test
If Mitt Romney has his way, Monday night’s Republican primary debate in New Hampshire will be all about Barack Obama. If Mitt Romney’s Republican rivals have their way, Monday night’s debate will be all about Mitt Romney. Herein …
Liquid Courage: Pawlenty vs. Huntsman on Ethanol
Longtime corn ethanol supporter Tim Pawlenty has gotten a lot of good press for his allegedly courageous proposal to phase out ethanol subsidies, because they’re popular in Iowa. I suppose on this issue he’s more courageous than Mitt Romney, which is sort of like being more eloquent than The Situation. But in my official role as …
The Front Runner Makes It Official: Romney Targets Obama, Acts like Himself
When Newt Gingrich announced his presidential campaign, he presented himself on YouTube as the optimistic care bear of conservatism, bathed in soft focus and speaking with a forced smile over synthesized strings. The effect was …
Huntsman, Pawlenty Mulled Health Care Mandates
The conventional wisdom among the political punditry is that 2012 Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney will be hamstrung by the health-insurance plan he helped craft as governor of Massachusetts, which included a mandate to purchase insurance. That may not be true.
In conservative circles, the health-insurance mandate has become …
Why Democrats Are Loving the GOP Primaries So Far
Talk to just about any Democratic strategist these days, and the first or third thing mentioned is the wonderfulness of having an opponent again. Back in 2010, of course, Democrats tried for months to pretend they were running …
The New DNC Chair Unveils a Tougher Tone
Vowing to help assemble “the most robust, aggressive presidential campaign in history,” Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the new chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, lashed Barack Obama’s Republican opponents in terms the …
Enter the GOP Understudy: Tim Pawlenty’s 2012 Challenges
A few thoughts on Day Zero of the Tim Pawlenty for President campaign. First, Pawlenty is a serious candidate who, unlike many in the race, can actually be nominated. I put him in the current Gang of Three most likely nominees, …
With Mitch Daniels Out, Mitt Romney Rises
Finally, Republicans and Democrats have something they can agree on: The GOP presidential nomination race is a mess. “It’s the most unfathomable Republican race of our lifetime,” a senior aide to Barack Obama’s reelection effort …
Seven Days in May: How One Week Clarified the GOP Field
So here’s what we know for certain today that we could only bet on last Monday morning: Mike Huckabee is out. Newt Gingrich is officially in. Jon Huntsman finally broke cover. And Ron Paul is back.
And just like that, the …
What GOP Debate Participants Said About Health Care
The Republican presidential debate in South Carolina last night didn’t exactly feature an all-star lineup, but it’s the best preview we’ve gotten so far of how the conversation will shape up in primary season.
Via Kaiser Health News, here’s a nice compilation of what three of the candidates said about health care:
GOP Debate Preview: Will Pawlenty Be a Giant–or a Pygmy?
Tonight in South Carolina, Fox News will televise something that purports to be a 2012 Republican presidential primary debate. In truth it will be an almost entirely meaningless event. After all, most of the big-name candidates …