Thread: 2012 Republican Presidential Contenders

Tim Pawlenty is in.

Link: Pawlenty 2012

New poll gauging the feeling of voters in New Hampshire is out. Seems Romney is running away with it, but he’s from the area.


Interviews with 784 adults in New Hampshire

Romney 32
Paul 9
Gingrich 6
Giuliani 6
Palin 5
Pawlenty 4
Bachmann 4
Cain 4
Huntsman 4
Romney +23.0




2. (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS ONLY) Have you definitely decided who you will vote for in the New Hampshire primary, are you leaning toward someone, or do you have no idea who you’ll vote for?

Definitely decided 4%
Leaning toward someone 9%
No idea who you'll vote for 87%


Link: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/05/23/topnh1.pdf



I saw an article recently and it pretty much sums up Palin and her run (?) for the nomination.

GOP insiders: 2012 field is set

Snip (a lot)

In an interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity last week, Palin said she was “still seriously considering it.”

Republicans officials have no idea what she’s planning, although they agree she would have tons to lose by entering a race that would cost her the mystique she has built up. And Romney advisers said her entry would help the former Massachusetts governor dramatically.

“The shock value would cause elected officials and party officials to rally around Mitt, because she’d scare the daylights out of them,” one official said. “And it would allow him to position himself very much in the middle of Republican, conservative thinking and avoid the fringe, and look more moderate for the general election.”

Bachmann would have the same effect, the advisers said. Either of them “gives Romney a bogeyman: ‘Stop this crazy woman.’”

Another top Republican said he relishes the idea of a Palin candidacy: “She’ll be defeated, and we’ll be done with her.”

Link: http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=42E6AC55-26F7-47EC-B377-538F9E58AAA6

And just rumor, what she might be doing with the Rubes money: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/05/21/20110521sarah-palin-home-scottsdale-arizona-brk.html

Mitt Romney is expected to officially enter the race today (12pm EST). You can watch it live (stream) from his site: http://www.mittromney.com/

Next Republican debate:

The next debate is rapidly approaching and the GOP field has been morphing since the last throw-down on May 5th in South Carolina. Several news stories out recently about which candidates might attend, which might not and which are begging for an invite.

Reminder: Airtime is 8pm Eastern time on CNN – June 13th, 2011

First, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has committed to the June 13th debate:

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he will attend the CNN/ WMUR-TV/ New Hampshire Union Leader debate on June 13, 2011 Manchester, N.H. In announcing his participation Pawlenty said he looked forward to discussing his vision for growing the economy, cutting spending and creating jobs.

No surprise for Pawlenty, I'm expecting Santorum, Paul, Cain and Johnson to also attend assuming Johnson meets the minimum requirements. We'll likely see Gingrich as well, perhaps even Bachmann and Romney if we play our cards right.

Second, former Utah Governor and former Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman says he will not participate in the June 13th debate despite speculation that he may soon announce a candidacy:

Jon Huntsman won't participate in a presidential debate scheduled for June 13 in New Hampshire — and he won't announce his decision about whether to run until after that date.

Huntsman is still conducting "due diligence" and thinking about a run, aides said.
"Governor Huntsman will be spending the next few weeks continuing the due diligence process in line with the very short decision-making timetable he has laid out. He will not be participating in any debates until after that process is over and he formally announces his intentions. That announcement will not come before the June 13th debate," said Paul Collins, Huntsman's chief consultant in New Hampshire.

The ABC News/WMUR debate, originally scheduled for June 7, is now set for June 13.

Huntsman is an unknown in the race at this point and due to his libertarian leanings on topics such as gay marriage and drug laws, I don't think he will make an impact should he choose to announce. That niche is currently filled by Ron Paul and Gary Johnson.

Finally, little-known political consultant, actor and gay-rights activist Fred Karger is also running for the GOP nomination in 2012 and is begging CNN for an invitation:

The Fred Karger 2012 campaign has sent an email to CNN executives, asking them to “Let Fred In” to its New Hampshire debate on June 13.

In addition to the memorandum sent by Karger, the campaign is encouraging its supporters to contact CNN directly to further press the case for Karger’s inclusion in the Republican debate.

Something tells me he isn't going to get it only because he is not registering on national polls. Last month, in the May 5th GOP debate, Fox News required the candidates to have filed their candidacies and be garnering at least 1% in an average of national polls. I haven't seen Karger breaking that 1% mark so unless CNN has drastically different guidelines, don't expect to see Karger on the stage in Manchester.

Link: http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2011/06/latest-cnn-june-13th-republican-debate-news/

Romney Launches 2012 Presidential Campaign

^Mr. Excitement

^


I want to apologize. I missed this one. Rick Santorum is in,……..

Yesterday morning in Somerset, Pa., to relatively little news coverage, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum followed up on his formal presidential campaign announcement on Good Morning America with a speech in front of a Pennsylvania courthouse. That brings the field of the officially declared to eight, at least four of whom have been much-discussed: businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

The other four — Santorum, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.), gay-rights activist Fred Karger and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson — seem to have received even less attention than the next tier of candidates, those National Journal calls the “all but official” — the likes of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), former ambassador Jon Huntsman and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer.

Link: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/06/07/update-on-the-gop-field-a-small-change-or-two/

This could get interesting,……….

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney pulled ahead of President Barack Obama in a poll of registered voters Tuesday, as public disapproval over the faltering US economy grows.

By 49 to 46 percent, Romney outpolled Obama in a head-to-head election, according to the survey by The Washington Post and ABC News.

That margin was within the 3.5 percent sampling error, but nevertheless suggests that the incumbent president could be vulnerable as he tries to win reelection next year.

Obama led all other potential Republican challengers in the survey, coming out on top in hypothetical head-to-head showdowns against Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman and Sarah Palin.

Romney, the putative frontrunner in a field of several Republican contenders, lost the party's presidential nomination to Senator John McCain in 2008.

The millionaire businessman, who has made America's foundering economy a central campaign theme, has been campaigning for the 2012 nomination ever since.

He officially launched his presidential campaign last week at a rally held in the key state of New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary.


Obama has his work cut out for himself: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/07/romney-tops-obama-by-4-percent-in-new-poll/

Blingrich’s aides are leaving him for greener pastures?

(Big snip)

Less than a week ago, he was losing his home state to Herman Cain by a two-to-one margin. I don’t think “vision” was the issue here, guys. According to Politico’s sources, though, Newt’s staying in the race. All he needs is a campaign.

Update: Geraghty’s GOP sources seem to think Perry’s entry is now just a matter of time. “[T]hese guys aren’t jumping off without somewhere else to land.”

Update: Carney tells Politico, “This is totally unrelated to Rick Perry,” but obviously he’s not going to show his cards before Perry’s 100 percent committed to running. Gingrich was going nowhere and Perry could be going somewhere, so he quite logically changed horses in midstream.

Update: Newt fights on:

I am committed to running the substantive, solutions-oriented campaign I set out to run earlier this spring. The campaign begins anew Sunday in Los Angeles.

There’s no sense quitting today with the New Hampshire debate right around the corner. He’ll show up there, try to impress, and hope he gets enough good buzz afterward to attract some new staffers. Can’t wait for the first question for him on Monday night: “Um, why are you still running?”

Update: Worse and worse: Newt’s Iowa team has quit too. It’s a full-fledged mutiny.

Hotair has the rundown: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/06/09/breaking-gingrichs-senior-aides-resign-en-masse/

Some news about the June 13, GOP presidential debate,……..

John King, CNN Chief National Correspondent and moderator of Monday night's GOP presidential debate, gives a preview of the big event.

On Monday, June 13, CNN will host the first New Hampshire Republican Presidential Debate, live from Manchester, NH at 8 p.m. ET (Tuesday, 7am Thai time). Follow all the issues and campaign news leading up to the debate on CNNPolitics.com and [at]cnnpolitics on Twitter.


Video in the link: John King gives preview of Monday’s New Hampshire debate – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs


If and when I am able to find out where we can watch it live over the net, I’ll post the site.

At the debate in New Hampshire Monday evening (Tuesday Morning 7am, Thai time) will be:
Bachmann, Cain, Gingrich, Paul, Pawlenty, Romney, and Santorum.

You can watch it live online here: CNN.com Live - Breaking news, live events, and today's top stories


A New Hampshire poll recently out shows:

Romney – 41%
Giuliani – 9%
Paul – 6%
Palin – 5%
Bachmann – 4%
Cain – 4%
Gingrich – 3%
Pawlenty – 3%
Huntsman – 3%

However the poll does state that 76% of likely Republican voters (polled) are still making up their minds.

Link: Economy the issue for N.H. voters - The Boston Globe

I have resigned myself to another term with Obamination at the helm (or on the golf course). The Republican list simply gets sadder and sadder.......

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

The Republican list simply gets sadder and sadder.......

None will beat Obama. Only one I see has any hope is Ron Paul but he will never win the primary.

I think the Pawlenty guy is going to get going soon. He is not a Messiah.

Every Republican contender will run on a platform of de-regulation and tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans and corporations. The same policies that got us into our current mess. It is only a matter of which hair color you prefer.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

His support for cutting the corporate tax rate, eliminating the capital gains tax and dividend tax is outstanding

Urban myth. There is absolutely no correlation tax cuts spur economic growth. Wall street will like it but Wall street is not an indicator of real economic growth nor will it put people back to work.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

cleaning up the tax code by instituting flatter tax rates and eliminating tax loopholes and giveaways.

This is needed but depends on details.

I have seen nothing from anyone which seriously addresses the deficit, the unemployment problem or the competitiveness of America in a global economy. The Obama/Dem plan which claims to cut the deficit by 1 trillion over ten years is a joke. The couple of GOP solutions are equally ridiculous. All are based on no new taxes or further tax breaks.

America has been riding high on a false economy for far to long. It's time to pay the piper. Unless someone comes along with the truth and can convince all it will take sacrifice by all to right the ship, America continue to decline economically.

Taxes will have to increase significantly, spending in the public sector must be reduced, consumption via easy credit must stop, effective educational reform must happen, antiquated infrastructure must be improved, innovation must be fostered, foreign policy must be completely changed, a proper national energy strategy needed and military spending on fruitless wars immediately stop.

It is going to take years not months to fix so unemployment will remain high for some time. And by the way, housing prices will drop further until they reach affordable levels.

Will the "truth" candidate please stand up? We are waiting. No one. Very well. Rearrange the deck chairs. Strike up the band. Mustn't worry the voters.

Has Palin said if she's going to run yet?? Would just love to see her as US president.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Has Palin said if she's going to run yet?? Would just love to see her as US president.

Unelectable. IMO had McCain not selected her as a running mate he had a chance at beating Obama.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Has Palin said if she's going to run yet?? Would just love to see her as US president.

Here, if you have the time read this article from one of (what used to be one of) her biggest supporters.

But in spite of being approached by Sarah’s husband Todd only a month ago and specifically discussing the possibility, I won’t be working on any Palin presidential campaign. Why? Well, first of all, contrary to what geniuses like Andrew Sullivan and Howard Dean may want you to believe, there is absolutely no way that she can be elected. I’ve told this to her directly; more than once. While many pundits mistakenly think what she is doing is some Trump-like PR stunt, I’m pretty convinced she is running and in doing so will damage the prospects of any conservative defeating Barack Obama in 2012.

Snip

Quite simply, the evidence is overwhelming that Palin would get crushed by Obama in such a resounding fashion that it may even threaten the Republican hold on the House and the party’s presumed taking of the Senate. We largely dodged a bullet once with Obama having virtually no checks on his power. We can’t afford to take that chance again.

Snip

If Sarah Palin still is the person I thought I knew, then she will do what is best for her cause and country by sitting this one out.



article: The Sarah Palin I Know | John Ziegler | The Daily Caller

^ Damn I was looking forward to her hastening the demise of the US, oh well guess i'll just have to settle for a slower demise under another 4 years of Barry. I reckon if Barry gets re-elected the US$ will no longer be the worlds reserve currency by the end of his second term.

During the debate,……..Bachmann announced her run (said she filed papers today) for the 2012 presidential nominee for the Republican Party and will give another (formal) announcement later.