Redstate

Posted at 6:41pm on Apr. 16, 2008 House Races: Ohio 18: Ney, Daily, and Space

By Brad Smith

I tried in vain to come up with some clever pun involving the names of the Democrat incumbent, the Republican challenger, and the previous incumbent in Ohio's 18th Congressional District, a race that ought to be a Republican pick-up opportunity but probably won't be.

The district is currently held by freshman Democrat Zack Space, a handsome, amiable young lawyer who, like many freshman Democrats, is a moderate on cultural issues. The seat was formerly held by Republican Bob Ney, currently in federal prison for conspiracy and false statements re accepting bribes from Jack Abramoff. The challenger is Fred Dailey, a cattle farmer and former Ohio Agriculture Director under governors George Voinovich and Bob Taft.

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Posted at 6:42pm on Apr. 14, 2008 House Races: Ohio 15, Stivers Fundraising Strong

By Brad Smith

One of the many House seats Democrats have targeted for the kill this year is Ohio 15, currently held by retiring Congresswoman Deb Pryce. Pryce, first elected in a tough three-way race in 1992, repeatedly breezed to re-election until the Democratic onslaught of 2006, when she held off Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy by just 1062 votes, after a recount.

Pryce, was a good campaigner but never much liked campaigning, and facing a rematch with Kilroy, decided to step down after this term.

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Posted at 10:28pm on Jan. 31, 2008 The Character of John McCain

By Brad Smith

The strongest argument against John McCain is the one that many think is the strongest argument for John McCain - his character.

I was recently reminded of an excellent 2000 article by novelist Mark Helprin. Helprin wrote then, in words that seem equally applicable today:

"If John McCain wins the Republican nomination, he will have done so not by persuading the Republican Party but by overcoming it with the help of outsiders and by feverishly endorsing the accusations of its enemies. If he loses, he will have provided the Democrats with what they will hail as proof that the GOP is an exclusionary, intolerant, narrow-minded, ruthless machine that would eat its own children rather than reform. These are betrayals, plain and simple, and betrayals by any definition are acts that are hard to square with honor.

"And yet he has asked to be judged by his honor, and his countrymen have responded not merely with respect but with love, love for an American pilot whose plane went down and who suffered long in captivity on our behalf and in our stead, who was defiant and principled even in the face of death, and who, far beyond that, refused his freedom on a single point of honor that no one living would have accused him of dishonoring had he not. What he did is, as it should be, part of American history. There are few better or more moving stories, anywhere, of courage, defiance, and discipline. He has won the hearts of the American people. How could he not have?

"But God does not make perfect beings...

"It is not honorable to trade upon one's honor, to offer it as a token, to mention it in every other breath....

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Posted at 10:53am on Jan. 29, 2008 John McCain: Planning to Violate Campaign Finance Laws?

By Brad Smith

The Politico has an article up noting that John McCain may be violating campaign finance laws even as we speak.

Last year, Senator McCain applied for federal tax dollars to help finance his presidential campaign. In certifying his eligibility, Senator McCain had to certify to the Federal Election Commission that "the candidate [McCain] and his authorized committees will not incur qualified expenses in excess of the limitations on such expenses [provided by law.]" 2 U.S.C. 9033(b)(1).

Notes the Politico, "At the time, he was lagging behind his competitors in fundraising and in the polls. And an infusion of so-called matching funds seemed his only hope to keep his campaign afloat.

"Now, however, he appears likely to raise more than the $50 million the program would allow his campaign to spend."

Read on...

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Posted at 5:16pm on Jan. 26, 2008 Electability Made the Most of Me

By Brad Smith

When Republicans discuss the nomination, it more and more seems that electability is the leading topic. Particularly for McCain backers, electability has become the response to McCain opposition.

Electability is important, and there are reasons why it appears to be McCain's strengh. For nearly a decade now, McCain has been one of the most widely admired politicians in America, with strong support among independent voters in particular. Supporters of other candidates complain that his two primary victories so far have been fueled by independents and crossover Democrats - McCain has yet to win even a plurality, let alone a majority of Republican votes in any contest this year. But presumably Republicans want to win at least a few Democratic votes next fall, and especially independent votes. McCain's popularity outside the party can hardly be scored as a point against him.

Moreover, according to current polls, McCain is the Republican best positioned to beat Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama when the election comes along in a little more than nine months. Just like, according to polls a little more than nine months ago, Rudy Giuliani was best positioned to beat Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Electability can be a tricky thing. Read on.

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Posted at 12:20am on Jan. 23, 2008 Judicial Selections: Whom do the Law Professors Endorse?

By Brad Smith

Who do America's pro-limited government law professors endorse? "Who cares?," you might say. But a major issue in this campaign is and will be judicial appointments. Law professors as a group probably think about this issue more than most voters and even most Red Staters; the nature of their work probably gives them more time to study actual appointments and think about the most important constitutional and statutory issues facing the courts. All the GOP candidates say they intend to appoint judges "like Thomas and Scalia." But even more than practicing attorneys and hard-core activists, as a group law professors are on the whole probably better positioned, by both training and the nature of what they do day in and day out, to see deeper. So it's probably worth considering who law professors who favor limited government are supporting in this election.

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Posted at 11:29am on Jan. 21, 2008 Drudge: Rasmussen has Romney on top in Florida

By Brad Smith

Drudge: FLASH: RASMUSSEN Florida poll to be released: Romney 25, McCain 20, Giuliani 19... Developing...

Assuming it is true, this poll probably was taken from the 16th through the 19th, so it would reflect Romney's Michigan win but not Saturday's returns with the Romney and McCain wins in Nevada and South Carolina, respectively.

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Posted at 6:17pm on Jan. 20, 2008 Making Lemonade into Lemons - The Strengths of McCain and Romney

By Brad Smith

One thing I've tired of this political season is conservatives, caught up in the primary battle, trying to turn candidate strengths into weaknesses.

Let me give a couple examples. I've heard repeated complaints that McCain can't win except for the support of independents and Democrats. Now, I'm no McCain guy, but isn't it a strength of McCain that he has such crossover appeal? Shouldn't we wish all our nominees did? Read more.

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Posted at 1:15pm on Jan. 20, 2008 A Quick Thompson Autopsy

By Brad Smith

Why did Fred Thompson's campaign fair so poorly? A few quick thoughts:

1. Getting in late mattered - a lot. Thompson's answer on Leno the night he declared his candidacy - "I don't think many people are going to say, 'I like the guy, but he got in too late'" - was funny and sharp and besides the point. The late start cost Thompson valuable time in fundraising; in ironing out kinks in campaign staff and message, and in getting commitments not just from the campaign professionals, but also from party activists and leaders. My guy in this race is Mitt Romney, but Thompson certainly has appeal to libertarian-oriented conservatives. But by the time Thompson entered the race, I had been committed to Romney - financially, and as a member of his Advisory Committee on the Constitution and Courts - for more than six months. I'm not saying I would have chosen Thompson over Romney (I think Romney has assets as a candidate that Fred did not) - I am saying that by waiting so long, Thompson was never even in the ballgame for my support. How many other people, whether local opinion leaders or Washington players far, far more influential than me, were similarly locked up long before Fred came 'round?

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Posted at 2:18pm on Jan. 19, 2008 Romney wins Nevada

By Brad Smith

Promoted by Adam C because NV deserves some attention

Fox has projected Romney as the winner in Nevada caucuses. The fact that this is no surprise is not insignificant - any surprise in Nevada would have been bad for Romney, and lack of a surprise means that regardless of the South Carolina outcome, the day will not be a complete disaster for the former Massachusetts Governor

[UPDATE - Adam C] The official results are tallied here and are just coming in although the media has called the race for Romney.

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Posted at 12:10am on Jan. 16, 2008 Does a long nomination fight hurt the party?

By Brad Smith

Does a long nomination fight hurt the party? Conventional wisdom says yes, but I have my doubts.

So does Jim Geraghty. Geraghty seems mainly to like the idea of having votes that matter in later primary states, but he also quotes reader "Patrick" who says:

" whomever would end up with the nomination in that scenario, while not universally loved by definition, would be respected. Too often, the sense of a lack of grass roots control over the party sinks in, but not with a drawn out process like that. Nobody (except the Paulists, who can't be pleased) will be able to say their guy didn't have a fair shot, and that goes a long way in Republican circles. The sense of "Well, it was fair" will help the party coalesce in this view, and provide strong momentum heading out of the convention."

I'll add another angle below the fold.

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Posted at 10:48am on Jan. 15, 2008 Michigan Voting Early Report: Where is Everyone?

By Brad Smith

The Detroit Free Press has early commentary here. At one polling place in Canton (west suburban Detroit) twenty minutes in:

THE SCENE: So empty you would have thought it was a school board election in the dead of summer. Line? Nope. Underwhelmed election workers? Yup. One person was voting for Precinct 19. Two people had arrived for Precinct 11. The count in the ol’ 11 at the time: Four people had taken Republican ballots. The Democrats were sleeping in.

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Posted at 2:28am on Jan. 9, 2008 Most Delegates, Most Votes, Most Money - Who's Your Front Runner?

By Brad Smith

The GOP has had three contests: a primary in New England; a caucus in the midwest; and a caucus in the far west. Only one candidate has been strong in all three contests.

After tonight's results, Mitt Romney has more delegates than any other GOP candidate; has received more votes than any other GOP candidate; and has more money to keep campaigning than any other GOP candidate. Read on...

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Posted at 1:08am on Jan. 5, 2008 What to make of the Iowa Turnout

By Brad Smith

The Democratic caucuses this week drew about 236,000 voters, versus just 120,000 or so for the GOP caucuses. Some are heralding this as a sign of a coming Republican debacle in the fall. Maybe. Maybe not. Can we learn from past turnouts? Read on.

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Posted at 9:53am on Dec. 19, 2007 Complete this Sentence: I will vote for Fred Thompson because ______________

By Brad Smith

This is the last in a series of diary posts, asking supporters of each GOP presidential candidate to state why they support their man. Too often everything here is seems critical. This is an effort to find out what people see as the positives in our candidates.

Remember, the point of this is to allow supporters to voice their reasons. If you don't think you'll vote for Thompson, don't post here, go to one of the other entries in this series, linked below and post for why one of them will get your vote.

The other candidates are discussed at:
"I will vote for Rudy Giuliani for President because...",, (73 comments at the time of this posting);
"I support Mike Huckabee for President because ________." (42 comments at the time of posting):
"I support Duncan Hunter for President because______.". (Just 8 comments at time of this posting);
"I will vote for John McCain because_____" (34 comments so far)
"I am going to vote for Ron Paul because_____" (39 comments at this time).
"I will vote for Mitt Romney because ___" (80 comments at post time)
"I will vote for Tom Tancredo because ______"> (12 comments).

Today, it's finally the turn for Fredheads. Remember, the goals are 1) to say what's good about our candidates; and 2) to get a feel for what GOP activists think is important. So please don't go negative, including sarcasm and don't debate. We just want to hear why supporters favor their guy. This is a simple request - Please don't post negative comments here.

So, complete this sentence: I am going to vote for Fred Thompson for President because________.

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