Last night CNN hosted a key Republican Presidential debate, in which Rick Perry took a variety of attacks. This is critical because going into Rick Perry’s first debate, his favorability ratings were great, and his unfavorables were miniscule compared with the field. Let’s see where CNN had the state of the race going into last night.
No, that title is not a placeholder or an error. “What’s your headline,” so many people came up to me and asked last night after the CNN Tea Party Debate. There are so many headlines about the debate. You all, I’m sure, want the quick and dirty scoop. The short answer is Rick Perry won, but only by default. He had a stellar one hour | Read More »
Having hit Romney on his ridiculous and contemptible Mediscare flier earlier today, I am now forced to defend him (sort of) from a completely ignorant attack from Michele Bachmann. In discussing the repeal of Obamacare (which is something I think almost all Republicans support), Bachmann claimed erroneously that there was no difference between the constitutionality of Obamacare and the constitutionality of Romneycare: Plus, no state | Read More »
I’m in Tampa, FL for the CNN-Tea Party Express Republican Presidential Debate. The debate begins at 8pm on CNN. I’ll be on WSB Radio from 5pm to 7pm doing a “pre-game” show and then, starting at 7pm, I’ll be on CNN the rest of the night. When the debate starts, Michele Bachmann intends to join Mitt Romney in defending social security against Rick Perry and | Read More »
Let me offer my takes on last night’s GOP primary debate (I saw all but the very end). -Short answer? The debate reinforced, rather than changed, my impression of each of the eight candidates on stage. Which is usually what these debates do, but there’s always the odd night when somebody really makes a good impression or shoots themself in the foot. -Globally, the bad | Read More »
Although a debate stage with eight candidates is inherently conducive to a circus atmosphere, the debate moderators need to focus on questions which elicit substantive answers to specific policy questions from the candidates. Moreover, the liberal moderators from Politico and NBC should remember that they are overseeing a Republican debate. As such, their questions should stem from conservative premises, and should provoke thoughtful responses from | Read More »
On Saturday, Sarah Palin went to Iowa to lament crony capitalism in both parties. Her aides said she was taking shots at Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. We don’t know for sure whether or not she was because Sarah Palin herself did not confirm it. History is full of times Palin aides said something only to find Palin herself contradicting the aides. Yesterday, Sarah Palin | Read More »
There is a benefit to being in a position of elected leadership. We’ve seen it once in this GOP Presidential campaign. On a stage of former this’s and former that’s, the issue of Libya came up in one of the first debates. Michele Bachmann gave a more thorough and complete answer than any of the other candidates and it was premised with the authority of | Read More »
Attacks on Rick Perry, new Presidential candidate and sudden poll leader, have begun to mount. He will soon take the stage in a debate against the other candidates. His opponents in both parties are determined to leave a mark on him. Let’s take a look at where he’s at as the pressure grows.
Whether you agree with Bill Keller of the New York Times or not, the man is not dumb. Whether you agree with Kathleen Parker or not, she is not dumb. Same with Ryan Lizza at the New Yorker. Yes, they may be center-left (or depending on who you talk to, center-right for Parker) and yes, Lizza is arguably more than center-left as is Keller. But | Read More »
Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Scott Conroy from Real Clear Politics to discuss the current field of GOP Presidential candidates, the struggles Mitt Romney may have as this field evolves, and the whole will she won’t she Sarah Palin saga. We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment | Read More »
By request, we have a somewhat unusual poll: We Ask America asked Iowa Republicans which candidate they don’t want as the Republican Presidential nominee in 2012. As is usual this time of year, the poll is skewed by the inclusion of non-candidates. This time, overwhelmingly so.
By request I’m taking a look at a new poll of California Republicans by Probolsky Research. It shares problems I’m seeing in many early Presidential polls, but I am surprised at one finding that may be bad news for Mitt Romney.
I’m getting a lot of disagreement with my earlier statement that the race is still Mitt Romney’s to lose. Some of it is irrational exuberance from Perry supporters. Some of it is legitimate. Your mileage may vary on my thinking, but I did want to lay it out. I think the first thing to point out is what Sean Trende pointed out at Real Clear | Read More »
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