Debate turns GOP nomination into a two-horse race

Posted on October 8, 2011 by editor

Many Americans got their first close look at Texas governor Rick Perry Wednesday night as he joined other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination for a debate at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in California. And did thery like what they saw?

National Post

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Sarah Palin 2012: 5 Reasons Why She’s Not Running (But Won’t Say It)

Posted on October 8, 2011 by editor
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Here’s why — from least to most important — Palin is not running, but won’t announce, for a long time, that she’s not running,

International Business Times

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The 2012 Election Will Come Down to Seven States

Posted on October 8, 2011 by editor

Straw polls, real polls, debates, caucuses, primaries—that’s the public side of presidential campaigns 14 months before Election Day. But behind the scenes, strategists for President Obama and his major Republican opponents are already focused like a laser on the Electoral College.

WSJ

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Huntsman Calls Controversy on Obama Speech ‘Nonsense’

Posted on October 8, 2011 by editor

Huntsman’s call for civility may not bode well for him in a Republican primary race, a contest where he hasn’t been able to break into the top tier. Other candidates, such as Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) have been consistently jabbing the president on his record. As the average Republican primary voter is significantly more conservative than the electorate as a whole, the more conciliatory tone of Huntsman’s campaign has failed to gain significant traction.

IBT

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Republicans Trail Democrats for 2012 Political Fundraising

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

The economy hasn’t gotten much better since the last election cycle, but Americans seem to feel a bit more generous with their political donations. “The nation’s two political parties are seeing more dollars flowing to their bank accounts this year,” reports the Associated Press. While both parties have seen increased funds, this type of race is relative and the Republicans trail Democrats in overall donations.

Altantic

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“Never-Wrong” Pundit Predicts 2012 Win for Obama

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor
Slate (magazine)

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History is on President Obama’s side as the 2012 elections approach. And by “history” we mean Allan Lichtman, an American University professor who has gone 7-for-7 at predicting presidential elections since he developed his candidate-picking system roughly two decades ago.

Slate

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2012 is President Obama’s to lose

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

The candidates drawing the most attention – like Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul – are seen as far too extreme to stand a chance in a national presidential election. Meanwhile, the often assumed frontrunner, Mitt Romney, is a charisma-free zone who failed to win his party’s nomination in 2008 and does not seem to have improved much. Scattered around these flawed leaders are strange fringe candidates – like Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain – and Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor turned reality TV star, who is more celebrity than politician. The one GOP name with a compelling personal history and potential for a broad constituency of support – Jon Huntsman – has fizzled into virtual obscurity.

The Guardian UK

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U.S. vote in 2012 will be record, $6 billion election

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

The U.S. elections will be the most expensive ever, with a total price tag of $6 billion or even more, fueled by millions of dollars in unrestricted donations as Republicans and Democrats vie for control of the White House, Congress and state governments.

Reuters

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Huntsman endorsed by S.C. Attorney General Wilson

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor
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GOP presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman picked up the endorsement today of South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, the son of Congressman Joe Wilson.

USA Today

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Powell undecided

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor
Colin Powell, Secretary of State.

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Powell, who served under former President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, endorsed President Obama in the 2008 election. But in an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Powell said “I haven’t decided” if he’ll vote for Mr. Obama this time around.

CBS

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Perry’s travel, security costs will stay secret until after 2012

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

How much is this ever-present phalanx of state policemen costing the taxpayers of Texas? They won’t know at least until after next year’s presidential election, thanks to a provision, tucked into a school finance bill in July, that will keep the governor’s travel records sealed for 18 months.

WaPo

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Why 7 States Could Determine The 2012 Election

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

7 toss-up states with a total of 85 electoral votes are key to winning in 2012: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia.

Fox

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The Influence Industry: ‘Candidate super PACs’ surge ahead in the 2012 money race

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

Super PACs are technically independent of candidates and parties, and are supposed to abide by Federal Election Commission rules prohibiting coordination with campaigns.

WaPo

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Why Another Democrat Wouldn’t Do Better Than Obama in 2012

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

You know that a president is having a rough time when you start to see speculation that his party would be better off if it replaced him on the ticket.

NYT

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Obama faces big green tests in 2012

Posted on September 26, 2011 by editor

The White House must consider new smog rules, planned greenhouse gas standards for power plants, oil companies’ push to drill in fragile Arctic seas and many other matters that are being intensely scrutinized by environmentalists.

The Hill

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Is Rick Perry electoral poison?

Posted on September 25, 2011 by editor

Rick Perry can come across like a parody of George W. Bush, has a history of inflammatory rhetoric, and in just a few days as a presidential candidate has shown a tendency for unhinged antics. All of which has prompted understandable talk that the Texas governor may have an electability problem.

Salon

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Pawlenty Drops Out After Ames, Resetting GOP Race

Posted on September 25, 2011 by editor
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Tim Pawlenty announced … that he is bowing out of the presidential race after a disappointing third-place finish in the Iowa Straw Poll, a move that resets the GOP primary and once again highlights the influence of the Ames event.

National Journal

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Michele Bachmann snubs Rick Perry at Iowa Republican dinner

Posted on September 25, 2011 by editor

Michele Bachmann has angered some Republicans in Iowa by snubbing Governor Rick Perry of Texas, her new White House rival, at a party dinner, insisting on her own lighting and entering the hall “like she was Madonna”.

Telegraph UK

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Is Rick Perry really the Republican who can win in 2012?

Posted on September 25, 2011 by editor
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From the opening of Perry’s address, a tribute to Navy SEALs who died in Afghanistan last week, he projected confident, telegenic authenticity. His opening note wasn’t mere red meat for the base. It was bigger than that, and, critically, it was delivered with a believable sincerity. That’s the first thing that could launch him into serious contention for the GOP nomination. With many political candidates, tributes to the troops and other such things often seem awkwardly pre-planned, even opportunistic. Say what you will about the content he presents (and I will below), Perry is talented behind a podium.

WaPo

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Will Joseph Biden Be Replaced on the 2012 Democratic Ticket?

Posted on September 25, 2011 by editor
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Alan Steinberg, a New Jersey-based political analyst who writes at PolitickerNJ.com, recently speculated that Obama could replace Biden with liberal freshman senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina (not coincidentally, the 2012 Democratic convention will be held in Charlotte).

IBT

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