Tag Archives: Ron Paul

More Convention Speakers Announced

August 7, 2012 – 2:50 am

Continuing his balancing act between the moderate and conservative wing, the Romney campaign announced more speaking slots at the national convention touching many core groups:

Rick Santorum, the former presidential candidate who lobbed harsh criticism at Romney during some bitter primary contests, will join a host of other big-name Republicans as headline speakers, according to Republican sources. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will also speak at the convention, along with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Tea Party hero and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. Paul spent much of the year campaigning against Romney on behalf of his father, Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Details about when the speakers will take the stage have not been released.

The current line-up includes the following:

  • Former Senator Rick Santorum
  • Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin
  • Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
  • Kentucky Senator Rand Paul
  • South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley
  • Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee
  • Ohio Gov. John Kasich
  • New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez
  • Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain
  • Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
  • Florida Gov. Rick Scott, whose state is hosting the convention
By keithbacker | Posted in Florida, Pennsylvania | Also tagged | Comments (0)

The Battle for Iowa

June 24, 2012 – 7:47 pm

We have talked before how Iowa usually fades into the background of national politics following its disproportionate focus leading up to its first in the nation caucus. However, 2012 is a unique election in many regards and Iowa’s continued prominence remains top of mind with both campaigns.  Like many Battlegrounds, Iowa contains one of the central paradoxes of the campaign: while the national economy struggles, the Iowa economy is humming right along. Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles Times takes a look at the unique story that is the Battle for Iowa this election  season:

This year, the place where the race for president began may decide how it ends. No matter what the scenario for winning the presidency, Iowa and its six electoral votes are central to the mix. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids are among the top media markets in the nation for presidential campaign advertising.

Iowa economy outpacing the nation

Unemployment in the state is 5.1 percent, well below the national average. New homes are springing up in the suburbs of Des Moines. The farm economy is booming, driven by strong commodity prices and exports – 1 in every 4 rows of soybeans is bound for China.

Tailoring a message

Romney’s solution has been to play to the frugal Midwesterners who populate the state. A campaign television ad released Friday vowed that on his first day as president he would attack the deficit “starting with $20 billion in savings.”

“By Day 100, President Romney is working toward a balanced budget, making sure the government lives within its means,” the ad continued. “President Romney’s first 100 days: For the people of Iowa, they mean fewer worries about their future and their children’s future.” That echoed the thrust of his speech in a May visit to Des Moines, when he invoked heartland imagery as he argued against leaving such a burden to future generations. “A prairie fire of debt is sweeping across Iowa and across the nation, and every day we fail to act we feed that fire with our own lack of resolve,” Romney said. “… This is not just bad economics; this is morally wrong and we must stop it.” Political analysts say it is a smart argument. The state’s pay-as-you-go ethos is evident; Iowa’s residents carry the lowest average credit card debt of any state.

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By keithbacker | Posted in Iowa, The Battle for ... | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Quick hits

June 16, 2012 – 2:41 pm

Mitt Romney leaves a note for reporters in Weatherly, Pennsylvania

More on the Ron Paul supporters coup attempt in Iowa

Unlike other local politicians, Florida Governor Rick Scott stays away from the Romney campaign

Obama’s policy strategy: Ignore laws

Romney: I want to talk economy, Obama? Not so much

Top ten quotes from Sarah Palin’s address from RightOnline

Obama’s immigration decision could boost Marco Rubio’s VP chances…but you knew that already

By keithbacker | Posted in Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Quick Hits

June 15, 2012 – 1:53 am

Romney backers fight against a Nevada-like Ron Paul takeover in Iowa state convention

Air Force One causes flight delays in Cincinnati inspiring Delta agent Over PA: “I guess everybody can blame Obama“

Ann Romney’s horse is an Olympian–qualifies for U.S. equestrian team

“I thought this, honestly, was one of the least successful speeches I’ve seen Barack Obama give,” said MSNBC political analyst Jonathan Alter

Skip the falsehoods, Mr. President, and give us a plan — Dana Milbank

Even the Washington Post Fact Checker says Obama campaign lying about Romney’s Massachusetts record

The12 has an instagram photo of the Romney bus stalking Obama in Cleveland

What does the drop in support among African-Americans for Obama tell you about North Carolina? It’s not a Battleground

By keithbacker | Posted in General, Iowa, Ohio | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

The Battle for Nevada

June 11, 2012 – 7:03 am

Nevada is one of the countries truest swing states with disaffected Californian’s moving in which helps Republicans while an increasing immigrant population helps Democrats.  Despite all the “demography is destiny” talk voters here express great concern over the economic woes that will likely determine the outcome in the Fall. The Associated Press breaks down the state of the Presidential race today:

Nevada is a true swing-voting state. It chose Clinton in 1992 and 1996, before swinging Republican in 2000 and 2004 for George W. Bush. It backed Obama in 2008. And if history is any guide, it could again choose the eventual White House victor, as it has every four years since 1980. The president is fighting against Nevada’s dismal economy while Romney faces a better-organized and better-funded state Democratic Party machine with a victorious track record. Those factors are leveling the playing field here, and Obama and Romney head into the summer seemingly locked in a close race in a state that both sides expect will be fiercely contested — and a true toss-up — throughout the fall.

It’s been largely a one-man show thus far:

At least $5.6 million in TV ads has been spent in the state, with Obama and his Democratic allies spending roughly $1.2 million more than Republican outside groups. Romney, himself, has yet to go on the air [Caveat not in the piece: Romney announced over the weekend a $113k ad buy in Nevada for this week in Las Vegas and Reno] …While Romney has yet to run any general election ads in Nevada, several outside groups are on the air and providing cover for him.

Who will decide the outcome:

Nevada’s outcome is all but certain to come down to a huge swath of independent and undecided voters here, many of whom say they’ll choose the candidate with the right economic prescriptions.perhaps more than in any other state, the race is shaped by the economy.

Challenges for Obama and his effort so far:

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By keithbacker | Posted in Nevada, The Battle for ... | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Quick Hits

June 9, 2012 – 12:27 am

Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama will be in Ohio next week

During his visit to Iowa, Mitt Romney name-dropped only one potential Vice President candidate: Marco Rubio

Plenty of schadenfreude from McCain 2008 aides over the President’s “Private sector is doing fine” gaffe (complete with expletives)

Man that was fast, the RNC already has a web ad up over the President’s remarks yesterday on the private sector

‘Obama Girl’ is ‘not as excited’ about 2012, won’t endorse Obama

Rand Paul’s endorsement of Romney could tamp down Ron Paul supporters intransigence

Potential Romney Vice Presidents visited CPAC burnishing their conservative credentials

By keithbacker | Posted in General, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Quick Hits Around the Battleground

June 6, 2012 – 10:42 am

Nevada Republicans Work Around State Party — More on the lackluster state party that spawned Team Nevada even before the Ron Paul takeover

Nevada GOP political director seeks to unify Romney, Paul factions — New state head from Utah looking for reconciliation between warring factions within the party

Obama holds onto lead in Pennsylvania — New Franklin & Marshall poll shows Obama with a 12 point lead but support is still below 50% for the President

Colorado ballot measure on marijuana to impact Presidential contest — Both candidates oppose legalization but in a close race, perception for or against one candidate can tip the scales

Ohio Senator Rob Portman and Potential Romney VP Meets Netanyahu, Barak in Israel — Note this is the type of trip Joe Biden took to Russia before getting the nod from Obama

Obama outraised Romney in Virginia in April — Neither candidates total is all that much but it is noteworthy

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, another Potential VP, See Boost for Romney in Wisconsin — McDonnell was on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” talking up the Wisconsin results

Wisconsin now tougher for Obama, but still uphill climb for Romney — 12 hours later the reality settles in that Democrat spin on misleading exit polling doesn’t hold up

By keithbacker | Posted in Colorado, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Nevada State GOP Party End-Runs Ron Paul Takeover

June 2, 2012 – 10:39 am

Nevada is a state ripe for a flip back to the GOP this election with “unemployment still close to 12 percent and the housing market at an all-time low.” Unfortunately, despite ground being made-up dramatically due to voters exiting the state, a takeover of the state GOP apparatus by Ron Paul supporters threatens to undermine Mitt Romney’s chances in what should be a close fight for Nevada’s 6 electoral votes.

The housing bust and high unemployment rates have scattered Nevadans to other parts of the state and out of the state all together, shrinking the voter rolls. Among active voters, three times as many Democrats have been taken off the rolls as Republicans. The number of active Democratic voters now stands at 433,096, compared with 531,317 in November 2008. Republicans are at 394,304, down from 430,594 four years ago. The Democratic advantage, then, is down from 100,000 to about 40,000.

So without so much so lifting a finger, an enormous Obama advantage in 2008 has meaningfully eroded to an easily closeable gap should the state GOP get on top of this. Unfortunately:

[Ron] Paul supporters have come to dominate the state GOP over the past few years, culminating in an almost total takeover at the state convention on May 5. They now control the executive boards for both the state party and for Clark County, which includes Las Vegas and is the largest county in the state. At the state convention the Paul contingent filled 22 of the state’s 28 national convention delegate spots with Paul supporters.

This led state officials to form “Team Nevada” — a “shadow Republican party of Nevada”:

Near the foothills of the Spring Mountains, 20 minutes west of the Vegas strip, the shadow Republican party of Nevada is building out its command center in a shopping plaza on the edge of town. Team Nevada, as it is known, took up residence three weeks ago in a sprawling, 6,000 square-foot office.

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By keithbacker | Posted in Nevada | Also tagged , , | Comments (1)
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