January 2008

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Stock trading, cliff diving

Filed under: National Republicans

InTrade, the investment speculation site where you can trade "stock" in events like political futures, published the following graph which tracks the market for the Republican nomination.

The curves show the narrative arc of the nominating process thus far:

The meteoric rise of John MCain's chances are striking, sure, but that's not surprising given the short-term spike of his recent Florida win. By far the most impressive part of the graph to me is the Rudy Giuliani line, which starts when he was the national front-runner and then heads for sea level like an Osprey chasing the world's last anchovy.

D.C., we have splashdown.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 31, 2008 7:52 PM | Comments (0)

 

Hispanics put McCain over the top

Filed under: John McCain

It's been conventional wisdom that John McCain's support for immigrants could cost him the Republican presidential nomination, because it put him on the "wrong side" of the party's base. Now comes the surprising news from Simon Rosenberg that it might in fact do the opposite:

According to the exit polls Mitt Romney and John McCain tied 33% to 33% among the 89% of the Florida Republicans who voted last night who were not Hispanic. Among Hispanics, who where 11% of the Florida GOP electorate last night, the vote was 54% McCain, 24% Rudy and 14% Romney. So it was the vote of Hispanic voters who put John McCain over the top in Florida, and gave him the most important win of his fight for the GOP nomination.

Thus, John McCain, the candidate who championed immigration reform, may have had the nomination delivered to him by those Hispanic voters he has been fighting for. And Romney, who has led the anti-immigrant crusade in the GOP field this year, saw this strategy explode on him - as it has virtually every other Republican who has invested in it - last night.

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone has an article reporting that top Republican strategists are terrified that the xenophobia gripping the party could backfire in a major way:

Exploiting the spasm of xenophobia that has taken hold of the GOP base helped Huckabee win Iowa — where entrance polls found illegal immigration the primary issue among the party's voters. But top Republican strategists are petrified that pandering to a narrow band of nativists will ruin the GOP's future with the nation's fastest-growing bloc of voters. This November, Hispanic turnout is expected to jump by fifty percent over 2000, with more than 9 million Latinos predicted to cast ballots. "I have never seen an issue where the short-term interests of Republican presidential candidates in the primaries were more starkly at odds with the long-term interests of the party itself," Michael Gerson, former White House senior policy adviser, wrote recently.

Grover Norquist, a top ally of Karl Rove, believes that the "vicious" rhetoric by GOP candidates could prompt Hispanics to flee "in droves" to the Democrats. "Talking about a strong border is one thing," Norquist says. "It's when you get into enforcing the law — which means deport — that you lose people's votes. Oddly enough, people resent the idea that you might throw their mother out of the country."

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 30, 2008 2:18 PM | Comments (6)

 

Concession speech review: Huck up, Mitt down

Filed under: National Republicans

Almost anybody can be a gracious winner. The true mettle of a competitor shines through when you're less windshield, more bug. When you've lost a close and possibly pivotal battle, it's important not to come off -- for example -- as the petulant heir to an automobile fortune whose sense of entitlement comes glowering through his pie-hole.

For example.

Listening to Mitt Romney concede is like watching a sewer pipe overflow, and trying to defend his performance is like trying to say the sewer pipe was complimenting the rain on a hard-fought victory. Not every Republican candidate was like this, though. Some of them were downright likable, though, including:

The Huckster: A-.
Affable and off-the-cuff, Huckabee addressed supporters with just the right blend of aw-shucks and we'll-get-'em-next-time. Responding extemporaneously, Huck played off his supporters and managed to seem a likable, good-humored chap even to a guy who agrees with him minimally on the issues. (Though earlier in the contest on a few occasions, he's expressed more-or-less open disdain for Romney, albeit in funny ways). One of the TV talking heads floated the possibility of Huck staying in the race just to siphon evangelical votes from Mitt. Meeeeeeow.

Rudy: B.
Rudy pointed out that he had run a clean campaign, neglecting to mention that no one gets into attack ad battles with the guy who doesn't sniff a delegate. He waxed rhapsodic about America, and values, and words, and more words, and he smiled and I changed the channel because a more horrifying smile does not exist outside of an on-fire wax museum. Prior to this, though, he warmed our hearts by thanking whichever wife he's on now.

Ron Paul: C.
Paul's concession speech wasn't even aired by CNN as far as I could see, despite the fact that his robust vote totals outpaced Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter -- and not just because both of them have withdrawn from the race. The Trilateral Commission or Bilderberg Group must be behind this censorship somehow. I give him a "C" because a "C" means average, and his electoral performance is about par for the course in terms of what I expect. Actually, my not having to watch Ron Paul probably means I should give him an A.

Mitt Romney: F.
Mitt Romney could have come across as less likable, possibly, if he had spit on a photo of John McCain in uniform. Preening and cocksure, he didn't congratulate his main opponent so much as use free airtime to rip him. Mitt also had his Dan Quayle moment, noting that American jobs are under attack "from countries like Asia and India."

Then there was the creepy series where his followers kept repeating "They Haven't!" after Romney's "We've asked Washington to fix [issue]," as wooden a call-and-response as has been seen since the days of Vanilla Ice. This whole "I'm the outsider running for change" business is so tired, contrived and false coming from Protean Romney as to be nauseating.

Romney's worst moments were the shots at McCain where he tried to paint the Navy vet as a Washington insider, saying we need a President "who has actually had a job in the real economy." Let that sink in for a second.

Okay.

See.

Mitt Romney's dad owned the American Motor Corporation, so I'm not sure "inheriting a financial empire" really qualifies as "having a job in the real economy." John McCain was in the military. Later, he went to Washington.

Apparently, these are not real jobs in the real economy to Romney. It didn't help my perception of Mittens that McCain was gracious, praising Romney and his supporters, noting that McCain's margin of victory "isn't enough for me to brag about, or for you to despair."

As the coup de grace, Romney scolded people that dislike President Bush by saying that "it's thanks to him that we've been safe these last six years." With Mitt, you can never tell whether he actually means something like that or is just trying to triangulate. Either way, his spiel was a real channel-changer.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 29, 2008 8:34 PM | Comments (4)

 

Giulianowned! Rudy to bow out, endorse McCain

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

CNN is calling the primary with 54 percent of the precincts reporting, with McCain their projected winner. Romney's strong performance indicates that he's still in the race ... but "America's Mayor" folded like a gutshot straight draw.

The iconic image of the night for me, from before they called it:

Rudy's bummin'. Also, nice abuse of the apostrophe, CNN, unless you were talking about the Achille Lauro's heel.

His speech tonight was to his followers, and an effective withdrawal. CNN says he's expected to endorse McCain as soon as tomorrow. A quick review of all the concession speeches I saw coming in a minute.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 29, 2008 8:06 PM | Comments (0)

 

Go Mitt Go! And take this video with you!

Filed under: Mitt Romney

Politics fans hoping for a brokered convention are rooting for Romney to take the Florida primary. This would prevent the national media for tagging John McCain with the "front-runner" label, and keep the race wide open.

Plus, there's the fact that, should Romney end up the nominee, the McCain people have already prepared the perfect attack ad for Democrats to use. The video is after the jump.

This video deals a devastating blow for Romney for two reasons. First, it's neither a pro-liberal nor pro-conservative ad, and hence is useful from multiple perspectives. Second, it portrays Romney as what many have already decided he is -- a cunning politician who will say anything to be elected.

These aren't minor positions about which we see Romney speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Reproductive choice, gun control, the legacy of Ronald Reagan's policies -- these are the biggies. And however you come down on them, it has to be disconcerting to see a candidate speaking so forcefully, so confidently, on both sides.

This isn't flexible, nuanced thinking. This isn't even the mealy-mouthed flip-flopping people accused John Kerry of. This is a man who is capable of changing core positions based on political expediency. That's why it's effective for McCain, and will be if the Democrats get the chance to use it, too.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 29, 2008 7:25 PM | Comments (0)

 

Exit polls: race between McCain, Mittens too close to call

Filed under: John McCain

The polls are just about to close in Florida, but this isn't close to being over.

The first wave of leaked exit polls are within the margin of error, with John McCain and Mitt Romney running neck and neck. Rudy? A cooked goose. Huck? A flattened squirrel.

Absentees are a third of the total vote, and the National Review is hearing that Romney is ahead among those.

Exit polls have been unreliable in the past, but assuming for a moment these numbers are accurate -- McCain is ahead now, but Romney is leading with those votes left uncounted by the exit polls, which are significant.

I guess what I'm saying is, we don't know any more who is ahead than before you started reading this post. So hang in there.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 29, 2008 7:03 PM | Comments (0)

 

High turnout in Florida: Who does it help?

Filed under: Florida

The Miami Herald is reporting that voter turnout is looking extremely high, perhaps even record-breaking. One factor, drawing out even Democrats, is a statewide property tax referendum that's backed by popular, non-homosexual Gov. Charlie Crist, but looks in danger of failing. Meanwhile the St. Pete Times is reporting computer problems in Hernando County.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 29, 2008 12:33 PM | Comments (0)

 

Will Rudy's legacy on race issues be buried with his candidacy ?

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

I'm not calling this primary, but I am readying the relevant muscles for a dynamic goodbye wave to Rudy Giuliani.

It's really too bad in a way. He gave us reason to confront some complex issues--most notably the intersection of race and politics.

Rudy's hometown paper ran a fascinating piece looking at the candidate's legacy of dealing with race issues as mayor of New York City. In a Republican contest virtually empty of the race discussion happening on the Democratic side, it's too bad this stuff wasn't much part of the conversation while he was still a contender.

Here's a particularly jarring excerpt:

Determined to assault the liberal trenches, Mr. Giuliani never blanched at giving offense. He lopped the welfare rolls by 500,000, laid off thousands of black political appointees seen as too liberal and hired hundreds of more conservative whites seen as loyal to his political agenda. And he sent two schools chancellors — one black, one Hispanic — spinning out of town.

In 1995, he proposed cutting welfare benefits, and suggested that many of the poor might profitably leave town. “A natural consequence of a reduction in benefits might very well be that that would happen,” Mr. Giuliani said, adding, “That would be a good thing.”

Mr. Giuliani has written in his book “Leadership” about his belief in the cleansing power of confrontational words. Nor is he enamored of compromise. Asked in 2000 about reaching out to black leaders, he shook his head and said, “What happens when you engage in the dialogue is, you compromise.”

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at January 29, 2008 9:56 AM | Comments (0)

 

The Armchair Pundit: Campaign Death Watch

Filed under: National Republicans

With the all-important Florida primary and Super Tuesday looming, this seems like the perfect time for a round of Campaign Death Watch.

The game: Predict in what order the remaining six Republican candidates will drop out of the race. Here’s one scenario:

1. Mike Huckabee: After Super Tuesday on February 5, it becomes painfully obvious that Iowa was a fluke and his campaign doesn’t have a prayer. A gentlemanly sort, he withdraws within days.

2. Rudy Giuliani: He loses badly in make-or-break Florida, and can’t even win his home state of New York on February 5. Stunned, he hangs on desperately for a couple of weeks, then drops out.

3. Alan Keyes: I know what you’re thinking: Keyes is in this race? Apparently so. His vanity campaign lingers embarrassingly till the convention, but he’ll be the most irrelevant candidate in the room.

4. Ron Paul: Like Keyes, his zombie campaign (dead but ambulatory) stumbles along all the way to St. Paul, but he’ll be the second-most irrelevant candidate in the room.

5. John McCain: He’s flying high now, but once Huckabee is out of the race, conservative Christians—still a powerful bloc—hold their noses and vote for Romney. McCain concedes late in the convention.

6. Mitt Romney: He wins the nomination, prompting Republicans nationwide to ask: How the hell did that happen? His campaign finally dies November 4.

See, punditry is easy! Now it’s your turn.

Posted by Matt Smith at January 28, 2008 7:10 PM | Comments (16)

 

Rudy: Not endorsed by anyone!

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

With the pivotal Florida primary tomorrow night (along with the nearly-as-anticipated City Pages liveblog of same), candidates are ramping up their persuasive efforts. Mitt Romney is accusing John McCain of being a liar; McCain is rallying support from hawks, touting his national security credentials. Neither are engaging in the bold gambit employed by the former New York City mayor who has staked his candidacy on performing well here.

Rudy Giuliani is taking this opportunity to remind voters that no one likes him.

That's right, Rudy's new ad emphasizes how many papers have not endorsed him. Here's how the ad starts, in voiceover:

“Rudy Giuliani is not endorsed by The Tampa Tribune. Not endorsed by the Orlando Sentinel. Not endorsed by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In fact, he’s not endorsed by any of the liberal newspapers."

I suppose if you can't win on the issues, and your personality seems to just create likability problems, it's about time to start turning to reverse psychology. If current polling trends hold true, he'll soon be adding "not endorsed by Florida voters" to that list.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 28, 2008 12:19 PM | Comments (0)

 

Ronnie Kravitz Love Revolution

Filed under: Ron Paul

The gap between Ron Paul's political stances over the years and his supporter-chosen unofficial slogan, "Ron Paul Love Revolution," is hilarious in its incongruity. A paleoconservative coming with the hippie rhetoric? Fascinating.

Also coming with the retro style is Lenny Kravitz, but beyond that, they don't seem to have much in common. Sure, Lenny is currently practicing abstinence, and I'm sure the right loves that. But he's not exactly the poster child for a candidate whose relationship with race is, ahem, complicated.

Yet Kravitz, who played at Myth last night, has at least one flourish in common with Storm Front's favorite candidate. His tour is -- wait for it -- the Love Revolution tour! Word on the street is that this is no coincidence. In fact, we've obtained a rare PR still of Ron Paul jamming with Kravitz' band before he announced his candidacy:

Ron Paul may have hated and reviled Martin Luther King until it became politically expedient, but he sure loves some Lenny Kravitz. Let Love Rule, Ron!

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 24, 2008 9:50 PM | Comments (8)

 

Roger Stone's Junk

Filed under: Hillary Clinton

I don't believe in the Devil, but if I did, I think he would look and act like Roger Stone. The longtime right-wing operative has a new initiative involving the nastiest epithet you can throw at a woman, and you can color all who've read of the man unsurprised.

I'm not sure what's the most jaw-dropping part about the latest Republican effort to call Hillary Clinton names. Let me summarize the story, then give you a list of the stupefying elements. Stone, a longtime right-wing activist with a penchant for dirty political tricks and dirtier tricks in the bedroom, has launched a new 527 organization designed to "educate the American public about what Hillary Clinton really is."

The name of the organization is Citizens United Not Timid. Get it? If you don't get it, look at their oh-so-clever graphic.

So, count with me the flabbergasting elements of this story, and pick your favorite:

* The chair of the organization, as their website proudly notes, is a guy named "Noodles." Noodles is, in fact, Stone's appointed proxy, but wasn't his first choice. His first choice turned out to be in the mafia.

* Stone himself resigned from Bob Dole's campaign after it came out that he and his wife were swingers, and that he was placing ads for sex in magazines and showing up at sex parties in full leather regalia.

* That we're still at a place in history when calling a woman a nasty name (and that is -- really -- the entirety of the organization's mission) counts as discourse.

All of these facts are dizzying. But as far as most incredible goes, maybe it's the fact that a grown man has a big-ass tattoo of Nixon's face on his back. And the man's not a fringe figure, either. Tucker Carlson repeatedly calls him a legendary operative, and you can still occasionally see him on the Sunday shows.

You can read all about that in Matt Labash's profile of Stone (PDF) for the conservative Weekly Standard and his update of the story, which includes the details on the nation's newest, most stupefying 527.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 24, 2008 10:26 AM | Comments (0)

 

To Know Rudy is To Loathe Him

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

Ever notice that the more people get to know Rudy Giuliani, the less they like him?

The Hyena is spending $350K a day in Florida ... and plunging in the polls. Check out Talking Points Memo's poll tracker for that state, where Giuliani is mostly running third or fourth.

Remember when America's Mayor was leading in national polls about electability? The more the country has learned about this guy -- from mistresses to Bernie Kerik, to just plain old personality -- the more we've moved on from him.

Rudy's not even dead in the water at this point. He's already hit the water, died, decomposed, been eaten by fish, excreted, and assimilated into the marine environment by coral. Which is fitting, given that Rudy is more than a little twisted himself.

Even if he pulls out a miraculous Florida victory, this is likely the case. America has said to its ex-Mayor what Propagandhi did years ago, in their tune "Ska Sucks."

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 23, 2008 11:08 AM | Comments (0)

 

Jesus endorses Mike Huckabee

Filed under: Celebrity Endorsements

You thought Chuck Norris was a big deal? Now Mike Huckabee has secured an endorsement from Jesus himself! Check it out:

Taking a cue from SNL, we're debuting our own Digital Short. You can also find a lower-res version on YouTube here. And here's the embed:

A NOTE TO VIEWERS: We are in no way intending to insult anyone's religious sensibilities, but rather to provide a parody of how politicians co-opt religion in service of earthly ends. When it comes to religion and politics, we follow the advice of a wise man: “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Take the jump to see some previous City Pages digital shorts ...

Tim Pawlenty campaign parody:

Michele Bachmann campaign parody:

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 22, 2008 5:03 PM | Comments (0)

 

Republican Celebrities and the Republicans They Love

Filed under: Sam Brownback

Uber-blog Politico has a story about which Hollywood stars are endorsing which Republican candidates. We all know that fitness guru Chuck Norris is on board with brother-in-Christ Mike Huckabee.

But what about Kelsey "Sniffles" Grammer?
Or Adam "The 67,543rd most talented man in show business" Sandler?
Sorry Huck, but these boys remember the pain of 9/11. They're with Rudy.
So are Jon "Superdad" Voight, Ron "Noun, Verb, September 11" Silver, Melissa Gilbert, and celebrated unfunny warmonger Dennis Miller.

In McCain's camp:
* Actor and serial drunk-driver Rip Torn
* Matriculating septuagenarian funnyman Dick Van Patten
* Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Barry Diller, and Kirk Kerkorian
* Noted African-American media tycoon Richard Parsons
* Canadian evildoer Lorne Michaels

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at January 22, 2008 3:13 PM | Comments (3)

 

Fred Thompson quits the race

Filed under: Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson has given up his amiable amble toward the White House. Statement:

"Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort," the former Tennessee senator said in a brief statement.

What effort?

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 22, 2008 2:52 PM | Comments (0)

 

T-Paw makes Veep shortlist

Filed under: Gov. Pawlenty

Chris Cillizza has assembled a list of potential vice president nominees. Gov. Tim Pawlenty, long viewed as a possible running mate for John McCain, makes the cut. Here's Cillizza's take:

Tim Pawlenty: Two terms as governor of a Midwestern swing state (Minnesota) provide a compelling argument for Pawlenty. Given their problems in the Northeast and Southwest in recent election cycles, Republicans must find a way with him to stay competitive in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio in November.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 22, 2008 12:41 PM | Comments (0)

 

Rudy Giuliani is a mean, ugly man

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

As much as I'm pulling for a Rudy revival and brokered GOP convention, today's New York Times contains mandatory reading about the former Mayor. The piece mercilessly describes Giuliani's sad, petty, tyrannical behavior during his eight-year tenure. It's a hit piece in the finest sense of the term. Nary a positive word is uttered on the Mayor's behalf. Here's a favorite passage:

Mr. Giuliani paid careful attention to the art of political payback. When former Mayors Edward I. Koch and David N. Dinkins spoke publicly of Mr. Giuliani’s foibles, mayoral aides removed their official portraits from the ceremonial Blue Room at City Hall. Mr. Koch, who wrote a book titled “Giuliani: Nasty Man,” shrugs.

“David Dinkins and I are lucky that Rudy didn’t cast our portraits onto a bonfire along with the First Amendment, which he enjoyed violating daily,” Mr. Koch said in a recent interview.

Coupled with Elizabeth Kolbert's devastating portrait of Giuliani in the The New Yorker a couple weeks ago, everyone should understand that Giuliani is a dangerous, vindictive prick. Hopefully that's what voters in Florida are seeking.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 22, 2008 12:12 PM | Comments (4)

 

Obey Obama

Filed under: Barack Obama

After seeing the fruition of our Shepard Fairey-inspired "Mike Huckabee has a posse" sticker, I put ace CP graphic designer Mike Kooiman to work on the next iteration: Obey Obama. As you can see, he once again knocked it out of the park:

As with our Huckabee sticker, feel free to download it, send it to friends, put it on your web page, etc. Just please provide a link back to this post. I'd love to see one of these "in the wild" on the back of somebody's car!

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 22, 2008 11:26 AM | Comments (1)

 

DailyKos Diarist: Minnesota is ready for Obama!

Filed under: Barack Obama

Everything you want to know about organizing for Obama here in Minnesota is contained in this Daily Kos diary that is currently among the "Most Recommended." The countdown to the February 5th caucus--now with 100 percent more meaningfulness!--begins after the jump!

Among the highlights: There are seven offices in Minnesota. The two biggies:

Minneapolis Headquarters
212 N 3rd Avenue
Suite 340
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-968-4738

Minnesota State Headquarters
2233 University Ave
Suite 225
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-645-2008

There's also this handy link to the Online HQ. Where you can discuss what Obama had to say about Martin Luther King Jr. He said it on CNN during the Democratic debate which you can see on this YouTube clip embedded here:

The most important reference for new voters will be this great guide on how and where to caucus. It's worth reading regardless of who you support--we could all use a refresher on the mechanics of caucuses.

In closing, the diarist says Obama's grassroots campaign is in the same spirit as several well-known Minnesotans:

Just to add a personal note. It is vitally important to get organized and we have been fighting for a long time in Minnesota. This is a battle that has been going on for a long time in Minnesota. The grassroots vs the establishment. The establishment won in the 06 process with Hatch, they won in 04 with Kerry. But there candidates always lose. It's the grassroots candidates like Paul Wellstone, Keith Ellison and Barack Obama who win in the GE and I don't want to lose again. Help us win. Get active. And I will close with some classic Wellstone: "Never separate the life you live from the words you speak."

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 21, 2008 11:41 PM | Comments (2)

 

Time: Split decision could loom

Filed under: Republican National Convention

Time floats the possibility of a fractured GOP vote even after Feb. 5's "Super Duper Tuesday" primaries. This is a tantalizing possibility, if for no other reasons than drawing out the suspense and creating the most fascinating national convention atmosphere possible.

Before anyone gets too excited (I know, I know, I can see your eyes roll through the monitor), a lot would have to break correctly for this to happen. Historically, someone tends to pick up momentum and push the others to the wayside.

To this point, though, that hasn't happened, and one of the alleged leading candidates (Rudy) hasn't even started trying yet. What happens if three or even four candidates are still alive come Groundhog Day? What if Rudy does win Florida? It's a huge swing state, and McCain has pulled ahead in some polls. What if one of the two candidates ekes out a narrow win there, enough for both to keep moving, but each of the remaining Republicans performs well in their respective regions?

As the article puts it, that scenario leading up to and including the Feb. 5 races "could have the effect of further splintering the race rather than consolidating support for a winner."

Make sure your air popper is working, stock up on the butter and pay your Internet bill. There's intrigue a-brewin'.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 21, 2008 5:06 PM | Comments (0)

 

What would Bush's Jesus do? Endorse Obama, apparently.

Filed under: Barack Obama

You'd think that President Bush's spiritual adviser, the man who gave the benediction at both of his inaugurations, would be throwing his weight into the Republican race for president, if he threw his weight at all.

Not so. AP is reporting that Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, senior pastor of Houston's Windsor Village United Methodist Church, has endorsed Barack Obama for president, and he called Bush to tell him the news.

Obama "would do a wonderful job to bring people together to pursue a common vision we all have," says The Reverend.

President Bush, saying he was "OK" with the choice, apparently assured Rev. Caldwell that his presidential pick would not dampen their relationship.

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at January 21, 2008 12:14 PM | Comments (1)

 

Ron Paul Supporters to Drop Money Bomb on MLK Day

Filed under: Ron Paul

Word on the blogosphere has it that Ron Paul's merry pranksters are planning to drop a "money bomb" tomorrow (Monday) to coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Money bombs are days in which Paul supporters dump huge sums of cash into Paul's campaign coffers. Previous bombs were dropped on Guy Fawkes Day [Nov. 5] and the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party [Dec. 16], the latter being the largest single-day fundraising effort in U.S. political history).

This latest money dump comes at the heels of a January 8 New Republic article that uncovered racist and homophobic comments written in Paul's newsletter through the 70's, 80's, and 90's-- comments the Texas congressman claims were penned without his knowlege. (His full response can be found here.)

Earlier this month, Paul told Reason Magazine: "Martin Luther King is one of my heroes because he believed in nonviolence and that's a libertarian principle... So I believe in civil disobedience if you understand the consequences. Martin Luther King was a great person because he did that and he changed America for the better because of that."

Posted by Matt Snyders at January 20, 2008 4:39 PM | Comments (28)

 

Giuliani vs. Ron Paul: Who's the fringe candidate?

Filed under: Ron Paul

This post on DailyKos nails something I've been thinking when I see Giuliani trailing Paul in each successive primary:

In case you're wondering how fringe candidate Ron Paul has fared against "front-runner" Rudy Giuliani, here are the approximate popular vote totals for both candidates so far this primary season (including 93% reporting from South Carolina):

Paul: 105,848 votes
Giuliani: 60,213 votes

The mainstream media is going to have to re-evaluate how it bestows "frontrunner" and "fringe" status on candidates from here on out.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 20, 2008 4:00 PM | Comments (2)

 

Mike Huckabee: Dude Used to Fry Squirrel

Filed under: Fried Squirrel

In case you haven't heard: it's going to be ridiculously cold the next few days. But don't fret. Nothing warms the body and spirit quite like listening to Mike Huckabee talk to Joe Scarborough about frying squirrels in a popcorn popper. Enjoy.

Posted by Matt Snyders at January 18, 2008 4:04 PM | Comments (1)

 

Bobby Fischer Endorses Ron Paul, Dies

Filed under: Ron Paul

Chess superhero, noted anti-Semite, and fugitive from the law Bobby Fischer was quoted, hours before his death, endorsing Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. "He is the only one who will take care of the Jews," Fischer reportedly mumbled to himself shortly before slipping into unconsciousness and meeting his maker.

Disclaimer: This isn't verifiably true, except for the Bobby Fischer dying part.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at January 18, 2008 1:36 PM | Comments (1)

 

Romney: One Word Shy of a Lie

Filed under: Mitt Romney

By now, most of us have watched the heated exchange between Mitt Romney and that seated, laptop-wielding fellow named Glen Johnson, whose job it is to follow the good candidate around and write about it for the AP.

Most pundits have either criticized Johnson for injecting his opinion/attacking the candidate at an inappropriate moment or, conversely, commended him for holding Romney's feet to the fire. I don't buy either analysis. Check out the nut of the exchange:

Romney: I don't have lobbyists running my campaign. I don't have lobbyists that are tied to my-
Johnson: That is not true Governor, that is not true.

Mitt Romney doesn't have a lobbyist running his campaign. His campaign manager, Beth Myers, may be many things, but she isn't a lobbyist.
But Romney obviously has at least one prominent lobbyist, Ron Kaufman, in the capacity of an "unpaid adviser," giving him lots of advice.

Johnson, by interrupting Romney a moment too early, didn't give the good candidate time to finish telling his lie.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at January 18, 2008 12:26 PM | Comments (8)

 

What your candidate reveals about your sex life

Filed under: Sex

In addition to a stunning portrait of Tiffany Fallon as Wonder Woman (the outfit is quite literally painted on), the new issue of Playboy features a survey that offers a lurid glimpse into what your choice in presidential candidates says about your innermost sexual desires. Let's read it for the articles after the jump ...

The survey of 900 adults features plenty of evidence that Democrats are more fun in bed than Republicans, but I was most interested in the breakdown as it relates to presidential candidates. Among the findings:

-- 25% of Obama supporters say the sexiest part of the female body is the butt, compared to 14% of Giuliani's and 11% of Clinton's supporters.

-- 70% of married Hillary backers say they would probably or definitely not break their vows, compared to 56 percent of supporters for the thrice-married Giuliani.

-- 14% of Thompson supporters and 12% of Obama supporters claim to have sex "almost every day" compared to 5% of Giuliani and Clinton voters.

And consider the implications of this data table, which asks respondents to identify which presidential candidate is most likely to talk dirty in bed:

None of them - 37.0%

Hillary Clinton - 19.8%

Rudy Giuliani - 16.5%

Barack Obama - 7.6%

Fred Thompson - 4.4%

John Edwards - 4.0%

Mitt Romney - 2.9%

John McCain - 2.4%

Dennis Kucinich - 1.7%

Joe Biden - 1.0%

Mike Huckabee - 1.0%

Chris Dodd - 0.9%

Ron Paul - 0.5%

Bill Richardson - 0.3%

The mind boggles at what some of these candidates would actually sound like if they tried to talk dirty (Giuliani exploring the erotic possibilities of 9/11 ... Barack Obama talking about "the audacity of that badonkadonk" ... Kucinich saying, "Pick me up! Pick me up!"). Please add your own ideas in the comment section of this post; the one that makes the newsroom laugh hardest will get a suitably sexy prize sent to us by one of our classy back-of-the-book advertisers.

Also, please to enjoy the first dance of these newlyweds, who are clearly Obama supporters:

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 18, 2008 9:47 AM | Comments (1)

 

Perils of the Huck-a-boom

Filed under: Mike Huckabee

The Wall Street Journal's Laura Meckler has an excellent story today detailing the growing pains of the post-Iowa Huckabee campaign. The piece deftly highlights the charms of his populist campaign, while also providing strong evidence for why he is highly unlikely to ultimately be the GOP nominee. Huckabee's folksy, snuff-using campaign manager, Chip Saltsman, delivers most of the yucks. Here's an anecdote about the campaign's Michigan misadventures:

It was barely 24 hours after the New Hampshire polls closed, but Michigan was less than a week away. The campaign was focused on South Carolina and had almost no infrastructure in Michigan. Polls showed Mr. Huckabee had a shot there, so Mr. Saltsman decided to make an effort.

He sent Shane Henry, a 28-year-old Arkansas lawyer who had helped get Mr. Huckabee on state ballots. Mr. Henry, whose father-in-law is close to Mr. Huckabee, sold some property in September, making enough to forgo a paycheck for a while. He signed on as a volunteer, and calls the timing of his windfall "a God thing."

He was hardly the ideal organizer. Asked what Mr. Henry knew about Michigan, Mr. Saltsman says he knew where it was. Mr. Henry, asked about his experience in organizing events, says, "I was student-body president at my university."

But read the whole damn thing.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 17, 2008 1:06 PM | Comments (0)

 

Note to Huck: Homosexuality is not akin to bestiality

Filed under: Mike Huckabee

What is with conservatives and bestiality? Why do they like to talk about it so much? Specifically, why do prominent right-wing politicians keep trying to put gay people in the same category as Manimal lovers?

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum was the prominent example of such, though not nearly the first. The latest: Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

Huck has stepped in the same goo, equating homosexuality with polygamy, pedophilia and marrying an animal. Quoth The Huckster in an interview with BeliefNet:

Well, I don’t think that’s a radical view to say we’re going to affirm marriage. I think the radical view is to say that we’re going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal.

Enough already with this tar-gays-with-the-bestiality-brush bit. Huckabee's ramblings, like those of his ilk, make you wonder if it's just a talking point or if thre's some kind of projection going on here.

This hearkens back to a similar interview with Rick Santorum, forever earning himself the label "Senator Man-on-Dog." Little Ricky dropped the same kind of rhetoric, but a bit more fervent and salty. The ensuing exchange between an Associated Press reporter and Santorum may be my favorite two lines of political dialogue ever:

AP: I'm sorry, I didn't think I was going to talk about "man on dog" with a United States senator, it's sort of freaking me out.

SANTORUM: And that's sort of where we are in today's world, unfortunately.

Maybe that's where you're at, Rico, and maybe it's where Huck's at, but leave the rest of us -- the ones who think gay folks ought to have equal rights under the law -- out of it.

So, where do you go from here, Huckster? Do you backpedal from these ill-advised remarks? Or do you scramble further down the well-trod path of lunacy, until we're forced to keep making stickers like this?

Note to Huck: You can love your pet -- just don't love your pet. Wakaru?

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 17, 2008 11:22 AM | Comments (1)

 

Hillary taps Buck for Minnesota campaign

Filed under: Hillary Clinton

Buck Humphrey was named Minnesota State Director for the Clinton campaign today. He filled an identical role for Al Gore's run in 2000 and served as Midwest finance director for John Kerry's 2004 effort. The grandson of political icon Hubert H. Humphrey III, Buck ran unsuccessfuly for secretary of state in 2002.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 16, 2008 2:06 PM | Comments (1)

 

Vote Huck!

Filed under: Mike Huckabee

The world, as Annie Savoy noted in Bull Durham, is made for those not cursed with self-awareness. So it is with the young men who deliver this clever, if oddly-chosen, parody of the Beatles' "Help!". It's been altered to endorse Mike Huckabee.

Pretty catchy, no doubt about it. That spinning sound you hear is John Lennon, rotating in his grave.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 16, 2008 1:38 PM | Comments (3)

 

Huckabee and the "Colbert Bump"

Filed under: Mike Huckabee

Perhaps you've heard of the "Colbert Bump"? Mike Huckabee recently appeared on Stephen Colbert's Comedy Central show and attributed his surprising success in Iowa to the phenomenon. Let's go to the tape ... after the jump.

Back when Huckabee was garnering a paltry 1 percent in national polls, he appeared on the Colbert Report. The titular host noted that the Huckster was trailing, "Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter, and six guys named Thompson" but announced, "Tonight that all changes because he's getting the Colbert Bump!"

Huckabee then proceeded to prattle on about "authenticity," referring to Colbert as an "authentic conservative" (irony alert!), then jokingly invited Colbert to be his running mate. But while Huckabee attempted to refer to a campaign bumper sticker, he instead made a Freudian slip (twice!) and said, "The bumper stripper reads Huckabee/Colbert: The Winning Ticket in '08." Check the video:

Turns out the "Colbert Bump" was no joke, because Huckabee caught fire and surged in the polls, pulling off a win in Iowa that would previously have been unthinkable. So Huckabee came back to his sugar daddy.

"The only reason that I'm the frontrunner now is because of the Colbert Bump," Huckabee says, before conceeding that otherwise he'd be somewhere serving, "Huckaburgers."

More bon mots:

Colbert: "Do we both still feel that evolution is a farce?
Huckabee: "It's all a farce." (hyuk-hyuk, I don't believe in science!)

Colbert: "How about outsourcing jobs?"
Huckabee: "As long as it isn't mine." (hyuk-hyuk, people are unemployed because of NAFTA).

Colbert: "Is it true that you do not support building a pneumatic tube to fire Mexicans back to Guadalajara?"
Huckabee: "No, I don't support that. I'm not quite that harsh." (hyuk-hyuk, I lied to the leader of the Minutemen.)

Colbert concludes with this advice for his running mate: "Remember: Stay a Huckabee. Not a Huckawas."

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 15, 2008 9:29 PM | Comments (3)

 

Si se purda

Filed under: Barack Obama

I believe that's the phrase Pat Buchanan uttered earlier tonight on MSNBC. He was attempting to comment on the popular rallying cry among Hispanic workers that's been heard at Obama events recently. I ran "Si se purda" through babel fish. Translation: "Lord I despise Mexicans--except for the guys who fixed my roof."

Posted by Paul Demko at January 15, 2008 8:56 PM | Comments (0)

 

Who will Rudy beat?

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

With 32 percent of the precincts reporting, Rudy is getting three percent of the vote, with 8,648 total ballots cast for him.

This means he is outpacing:

* "Uncommitted" (6,082 votes, 2 percent)
* Duncan Hunter (1,013 votes, 0 percent)
* Dennis Kucinich (7,168 votes, 4 percent)
* My grandmother (0 votes, 0 percent)

Of those, "uncommitted" is not actually a person, Dennis Kucinich is Democrat running in a primary that doesn't count, and my grandmother not only never lived in Michigan, she is, in fact, dead. (You're still first in my heart, grandma!) Rudy's gonna have to take solace in the fact that he's Big Republican On Campus compared to Duncan Hunter.

Full disclosure -- he's also beating Chris Dodd and Mike Gravel, both Democrats. Courage, Rudy! Those campaign higher-ups are really earning their paychecks now.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 15, 2008 8:41 PM | Comments (1)

 

Hillary Clinton has commitment issues

Filed under: Hillary Clinton

Is it just me, or is this CNN headline unintentionally funny:

Clinton battles 'uncommitted' in Michigan

The story is about how supporters of Barack Obama and John Edwards are voting "uncommitted" after the candidates removed their names from the ballot in protest of Michigan jumping the line and moving its primary to January 15.

But it reminded me of this other time that Hillary battled "uncommitted."

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 15, 2008 8:19 PM | Comments (0)

 

And Romney makes three

Filed under: Mitt Romney

CNN is calling Michigan for Mitt Romney, setting up a three-way race with John McCain and Mike Huckabee:

With 10 percent of precincts reporting, Romney had 37 percent of the vote compared to Arizona Sen. John McCain's 31 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee had 16 percent of the vote, followed by Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 7 percent. Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson had 4 percent, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani trailed with 3 percent.

Both Thompson and Giuliani badly trailing Ron Paul? Ouch.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 15, 2008 8:06 PM | Comments (1)

 

Exit Polls: Romney Rocking, Rudy Wretched

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

Two new exit polls: From Drudge (115% EXCLUSIVE!!! MUST CREDIT!!!):

"EXIT POLLS SHOW: Romney 34, McCain 29, Huckabee 16... Developing..."

From NRO: Romney 35, McCain 29, Huckabee 15, Ron Paul 10, Giuliani 4.

As I said in Demko's predictions thread, I figured Paul would do well here. The militia vote and all. Rudy's looking like roadkill. I'm rooting for him to stay alive, because I love infighting and the chance of a brokered convention. I also want to see how many other languages Rudy will run tasteless ads in.

Most of all, though, I want Rudy to stay alive so that -- in the event Fox hosts another debate -- people will have to justify including him. This is especially true if they try to keep Ron Paul out again. Rudy gets embarrassed, veins in the heads of Paul supporters begin to throb. Gleeful times all around.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 15, 2008 7:00 PM | Comments (0)

 

Michigan predictions

Filed under: Michigan

Polls close at 7 p.m. CST. That leaves less than three hours for predictions. Meaning this thread should have gone up much earlier.

But here's mine:

Romney, 30
McCain, 27
Huckabee, 19

Put your picks in the comments. Closest contestant will receive a copy of You Know You Love It: Lessons in Sexual Mischief by dominatrix Ilona Paris, which I inexplicably received in the mail today. I hear it's among Mitt's favorites.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 15, 2008 4:44 PM | Comments (1)

 

Average GOP convention-goer to spend $1600 in Minnesota

Filed under: Republican National Convention

That's the headline from a new Pi Press story. This reminds me of the game where you read a fortune from a fortune cookie, and add "in bed" to the end of it.

Here are five fairly obvious ones:

"Average GOP convention-goer to spend $1600 ... on porn."

"Average GOP convention-goer to spend $1600 ... at Deja Vu in the Champagne Room."

"Average GOP convention-goer to spend $1600 ... before breakfast."

"Average GOP convention-goer to spend $1600 ... bribing police."

"Average GOP convention-goer to spend $1600 ... but not at the Science Museum."

Got more? That's why coders invented comments.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 15, 2008 4:37 PM | Comments (2)

 

Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!

Filed under: Republican National Convention

Those of us hoping for a brokered GOP convention could get a big boost today with a Romney victory. Then it's Huckabee in South Carolina, Rudy in Florida, a half dozen different jackasses on February 5--and chaos come August in St. Paul! One can dream anyway. The Washington Post's Peter Baker has a lengthy post over at The Trail dissecting this possibility. Here's an interesting bit:

The talk has only escalated as Iowa and New Hampshire voters weighed in. "None of our candidates seem to be able to break through," former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) said on Fox News last week as voting began in the Granite State. "And if you look at the candidates, all have serious problems. I think, it's my prediction, I think we're headed for a brokered convention. I don't think we're going to get a nominee." Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) even postulated that a contested convention could be a useful thing for a Republican Party trying to find its way after President Bush. "I just think there's nothing unhealthy about the Republican Party having a serious discussion," he said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "We are at the end of the George W. Bush era. We are at the end of the Reagan era. We're at a point in time where we're about to start redefining ... the nature of the Republican Party in response to what the country needs."

Posted by Paul Demko at January 15, 2008 4:18 PM | Comments (0)

 

Michigan Dems: Vote for Romney!

Filed under: Mitt Romney

The Democratic candidates are boycotting the Michigan primary because of the Mitten's nefarious attempt to jump the line. But that doesn't mean liberal voters should stay home. A YouTube ad is urging them to vote for Mitt Romney, master of self-financed campaign sleeze! Check out the ad after the jump.

"There is no greater voice against the Republican candidates that this Republican candidate!" the ad argues. But if Mitt loses the Mitten, he might be out of the race, which is why Dems should hold their nose and vote for him. And if this current incarnation of Mitt violates your precious "principles," feel free to select from the vast selection of contradictory positions he's held in the past. Hilarious.

Hat Tip: DailyKos

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 14, 2008 10:46 AM | Comments (1)

 

Drop the baby and maybe I'll vote for you

Filed under: Media

I love babies. There, I said it.

But I don't give one shit-soaked diaper whether or not a presidential candidate looks comfortable - caring even - with a limp and brand new miracle-of-life in her or his arms.

Apparently, I am alone. There are a host of photo galleries posted to the webernet that attempt (sometimes, I admit, with humorous results) to gauge the worth of a candidate by their ability to appear gracious and and at ease whenever somebody shoves some crying kid into their arms in the midst of the most exhausting, excruciating time of their political lives.

All the same, there has to be a winner.

I've studied Darren Garnick's Slate photo project he calls "The Baby Primary" where he put his 5-month-old daughter Dahlia into the arms of as many presidential candidates as possible (and Chuck Norris) at the height of the New Hampshire primary frenzy.

It's a tie. But that's boring. So I'm gonna sort of invent a winner:

HILLARY NORRIS

Here's why: Hillary has the hold down, man. She's got the neck and butt just right (and though Garnick admits later to passing a damp baby her way, Hillary says nothing). With that hold, you get the sense that some worthless asshole with an "Iron my Shirt!" sign could check her from behind and little Dahlia would be fine.

The Norris win is just as easy: When he takes Dahlia, he's got a smile wide as Huckabee's study bible.

A good hold and a good smile. That's a candidate I might be able to get behind.

Shit, I've been tricked.

Look, before I had a kid of my own, I held babies like I was the worst president ever. And this baby thing - a joke to some, I know - is too much of the personality obsession Americans seem to have at race time. You show me somebody who can get the job done and I don't care if they drool and crap their pants like the babies they can't hold, I'll back 'em.

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at January 14, 2008 10:22 AM | Comments (0)

 

Romney in the lead for Michigan

Filed under: Mitt Romney

Looks like a three-horse race for the state Sufjan Stevens says yes to. Three new polls show Mitt Romney with a strong lead over John McCain and Mike Huckabee further behind.

The main link shows two polls; add the McClatchy poll to that number, which shows Romney with an eight-point lead. This comes shortly after polls showing the race nearly a dead heat between McCain and Romney.

Given what happened with the Dems and New Hampshire, I'm absolutely rooting for a) pundits to being jawing about the consequences for the Huckabee and McCain campaigns when they lose, and b) for Michigan to be a nail-bitingly close race that is ultimately won by, I don't know, Trini Lopez or someone.

If anyone knows a Republican gathering for tomorrow's primary -- preferably a bar where the WiFi works -- shoot me an email, and mayhap I'll show up.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 14, 2008 9:09 AM

 

cPod, Episode 12

Filed under: cPod

Podding from the Elephants in the Room blog, we get the lowdown on the Iowa caucus from Matt Snyders who wrote this week's feature, "The Wizards of Odds." Music from The Battle Royale.

Download the MP3.

Posted by Ben Palosaari at January 11, 2008 3:51 PM

 

Undecided? Take the CosmoGirl! Quiz

Filed under: Media

Still undecided on which presidential candidate is right for you? Though it may be months away, it’s never too early to start your research. That’s why I turn to CosmoGirl!, the leading source in political coverage.

Not that enthusiastic about researching? Then skip right to the quiz. That’s right, the makers of "Are You Superstitious?" and "What Sandwich are You?" (I’m a grilled panini) have created a "Who Should I Vote For?" quiz, meaning you are just six questions away from knowing which candidate you can commit to. A sample question: "What is most important to you: Getting national health care, ending the war in Iraq, cutting federal taxes, defending the United States against terrorism." Think hard and choose wisely--you can only click one answer! Once you’re done you can go back to filling out memes on MySpace knowing you're up on the issues. Click here to meet your dream candidate!

Posted by Jessica Armbruster at January 11, 2008 2:22 PM

 

Rudy's people now working for free

Filed under: Rudy Giuliani

Yes, you read the headline right -- Rudy Giuliani's top campaign people are foregoing paychecks for the month of January.

But the campaign isn't having money troubles. Of course not.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: hyena.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 11, 2008 12:39 PM

 

New Hampshire Primary: Was it Rigged for Hillary?

The blogosphere is abuzz with conspiratorial whispers alleging inconsistencies in the New Hampshire Democratic primary.

According to a report by Presscue, Hillary Clinton trounced Barack Obama in precincts featuring Diebold voting machines, while Obama bested Hillary in precincts relying on hand-counts. Past revelations of Diebold's vulnerability to tampering, coupled with Hillary's unlikely come-from-behind victory have led some to a grim conclusion: the New Hampshire primary was rigged.

Pulp conspiracy theory? Or cause for concern? Discuss below.

Posted by Matt Snyders at January 10, 2008 11:52 PM | Comments (7)

 

Finally an excuse to utilize the Mike Gravel category

Filed under: Mike Gravel

This Dave Barry column about the absurd presidential fawning over the residents of Iowa and New Hampshire is quite amusing:

Now it's time for the politicians and the press to drop New Hampshire like an ant-covered corn dog and sprint for the airport, leaving the residents of The Granite State to spend the rest of the winter plucking 239 billion candidate signs out of their snowbanks, all the while wondering if there ever really was a candidate named "Mike Gravel," or if that was just teenagers playing a sign-planting prank.

(Cribbed from Campaign Standard)

Posted by Paul Demko at January 10, 2008 2:11 PM | Comments (0)

 

NWA Named Official Sponsor of Republican National Convention

Recently, RNC officials announced their newest sponsor of September's Republican National Convention: none other than NWA.

[Insert even cheesier "Run-R.N.C." joke here]

Posted by Matt Snyders at January 9, 2008 3:42 PM

 

We almost forgot: Wyoming

Filed under: National Republicans

Nobody really gives a shit about the Wyoming caucuses. Despite being nestled between the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, the nation's least populous state attracts virtually no media attention-- only 12 delegates are at stake and the sparse population distribution makes robust campaigning not even worth the effort.

But just in case you were wondering, Mitt Romney finished first in the Cowboy State on Saturday, earning eight delegates. He was followed by Fred Thompson (3 delegates) and Duncan Hunter (1)(?!).

So for those of you keeping score at home, here's how the candidates stack up in terms of total delegates accrued:

Mitt Romney: 24
Mike Huckabee: 18
John McCain: 10
Fred Thompson: 6
Ron Paul: 2
Duncan Hunter: 1
Rudy Giuliani: 0

Posted by Matt Snyders at January 9, 2008 12:28 PM

 

Republican contest could slog on for a long time

Filed under: National Republicans

Unfortunately Mitt Romney is not likely to be going away anytime soon. While most wonks believe John McCain's victory in New Hampshire catapulted him into front-runner status, that position is awful tenuous. The next few primaries aren't likely to clear up the picture much.

On Tuesday Republican voters will head to the polls in Michigan. The most recent polling data, from the Detroit News, shows Romney with a statistically insignificant lead over Huckabee. But that survey was taken in mid-December and is undoubtedly stale. Prior polls, by MRG and Rasmussen, found McCain and Huckabee to be the narrow front-runners respectively. In other words, it's impossible to say with any credibility who's the favorite. McCain and Romney will both be making a hard push for the state.

South Carolina Republicans vote four days later. Huckabee is counting on a big win there to prove that Iowa was no fluke. Recent polls show his lead ranging from 7 to 17 points, with McCain running second. The Arizona senator has created a "truth squad" in the state to make sure that the highly intelligent, non-racist GOP voters of South Carolina aren't once again conned into believing he fathered a black child out of wedlock. (Fred Thompson is also apparently counting on South Carolina to invigorate his sad, moribund campaign.)

Nevada will vote that day as well, but the Republican field doen't seem particularly interested in the contest. Duncan Hunter should probably focus his attention there.

Then there's Giuiliani. The Emperor of 9/11 has been ridiculed for largely ignoring the early voting states and focusing his attention on Florida. But with the contest looking like it will still be wide open, it's possible that he could resurface as a significant factor heading into the delegate bonanza on February 5.

Here's hoping for a split convention with Jeb Bush emerging as the compromise GOP-endorsee in St. Paul.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 9, 2008 11:45 AM | Comments (0)

 

Hillary Clinton victory speech: The ice queen thaws

It's been an emotional week for Hillary Clinton. She was trounced in Iowa, there were reports she was going to make a major shakeup to her campaign staff, suggestions she might quit the race early if she didn't win New Hampshire, and a moment when she appeared to be fighting back tears. So it was mesmerizing to watch her victory speech tonight, in which she, for once, appeared to speak with candor and genuine emotion instead of the classic Clinton triangulation.

Looking a bit manic, Hillary took to the podium and expressed what sounded like sincere gratitude to the New Hampshire voters, who have not only given her new political life but seem to have also provided a fresh set of talking points. "I listened to you and I found my voice," she said to roaring approval. "Let's give America the kind of comeback that New Hampshire has given me."

It seemed Hillary was eager to wrap her arms around the youth vote, which had famously gone for Obama in record numbers in Iowa. In ticking off the villains ruining America, including the familiar "oil and insurance companies," she oddly added "predatory student loan companies" to the list. Later, she made a point of thanking "young people across New Hampshire who came out."

In an apparent response to those pundits who suggested she would lose New Hampshire and pull out of the race, Hillary proclaimed, "We are in it for the long run!"

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 8, 2008 10:34 PM | Comments (3)

 

CNN calls it for Clinton; MSNBC, too

Filed under: Barack Obama

CNN's projecting that Hillary Clinton has narrowly edged Barack Obama, giving her the win in New Hampshire and confounding earlier poll results. MSNBC is on board as well.

Obama supporters at O'Gara's look glum as the results start to come in.

I gave up on staying at the Obama event all night, but the mood was glum when I left, and I imagine shock is setting in now.

That's what inflated expectations can do -- by all metrics a powerful performance suddenly feels like a devastating loss to Obama supporters, even though he's performing well. This does mean it looks more and more like a two-horse race.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 8, 2008 10:23 PM

 

John Edwards sounds like a broken record

Filed under: John Edwards

After finishing third, John Edwards gave virtually the same concession speech as in Iowa. Again, he talks about Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17-year-old girl who died while awaiting a liver transplant that her insurance company refused to cover (am I the only one who finds it weird that Edwards never mentions the name of the insurance company? It was CIGNA and you can read more about the case here.) Again, he talks about James Lowe, the man who couldn't afford to get his cleft palate fixed for years (YouTube clip of Edwards with Lowe embedded below). Are these the only two people in America that have ever had a bad run-in with an insurance company? Why not just screen "Sicko" and call it a night?

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 8, 2008 9:32 PM | Comments (2)

 

McCain is no Obama

Filed under: John McCain

As Paul Demko