Archives: Posts From June 2007
McCain Appeal: We're Short of 2nd Quarter Goal
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 29 Jun 2007 at 4:34 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: John McCain's campaign has just sent out another one of its desperate-sounding fundraising appeals, this one claiming that the campaign is still short of its second-quarter fundraising goals — on the day before the quarter will officially close:
I know ...
Fred's First Shot at Rudy?
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 29 Jun 2007 at 12:44 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Has Fred Thompson taken his first shot at Rudy Giuliani?: Former GOP Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, speaking at a GOP gathering in South Carolina today, hit his usual core issues, tax cuts, and terrorism -- but also took an apparent shot at GOP ...
McCain Death Watch: 'I'm Not Dead' Edition
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 29 Jun 2007 at 11:55 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: It's not good to be getting the question:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain dismissed the notion Thursday that he might drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination because he is lagging in fundraising and trailing in polls.
"That's ...
The Final Countdown
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 29 Jun 2007 at 11:44 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: From First Read:
Countdown to the Ames Straw Poll: 43 days Countdown to MA-05 Special Election: 65 days Countdown to LA GOV election: 113 days Countdown to Election Day 2007: 130 days Countdown to LA GOV run-off (if necessary): 141 days Countdown to ...
Fox Poll: Rudy Maintains Lead
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 29 Jun 2007 at 12:34 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The latest Fox News poll has Rudy Giuliani still way out ahead. Fred Thompson is two points behind John McCain. Mitt Romney is tied for fourth with Newt Gingrich:
Giuliani: 30% McCain: 17% Thompson: 15% Gingrich: 8% Romney: 8%
Rudy's number is 7 points ...
Clinton 2nd Quarter: 'we do expect Senator Obama to significantly outraise us this quarter'
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 28 Jun 2007 at 1:47 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: In a little memo just sent around to reporters and supporters, the Clinton campaign predicts "in the range of $27 million" for their 2nd quarter fundraising total.
The real news, though: "While that figure is record setting, we do expect Senator Obama ...
Political Video of the Day: Crush on Giuliani
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 28 Jun 2007 at 12:33 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Well, we all knew the Crush on Obama parodies were coming: ...
New New Hampshire Poll
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 28 Jun 2007 at 10:35 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The Suffolk University poll, of 200 likely Republican primary voters, has this breakdown:
Romney: 26% Giuliani: 22% McCain: 13% Thompson: 13%
The poll also found that a Mike Bloomberg run for president would help the Democrats: "Bloomberg recorded 6 ...
Romney's Dog Problem
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 28 Jun 2007 at 10:26 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: I'm no dog lover (I've thought of running for mayor on a "Dog Free NYC" platform), but some people like the disgusting little beasts.
For any of those people considering voting for Mitt Romney, read this. ...
Hot Air Outsourcing Anti-Amnesty Ads?
By Josh Gerstein | Thu, 28 Jun 2007 at 2:38 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Say it isn't so but it looks like a conservative video site, Hotair.com, may be outsourcing and offshoring its videos opposing the immigration bill being debated in the Senate.
If you look carefully at this TV commercial-style spot, the telephone has a ...
Political Video of the Day: Thompson and Abortion
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 27 Jun 2007 at 2:59 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The anonymous prochoicefred takes a shot at Fred Thompson's rhetorical record on abortion: ...
McCain Death Watch: Quinnipiac Edition
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 27 Jun 2007 at 11:08 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Quinnipiac has released the latest version of its swing-state poll, covering Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. While the results are interesting, here's what I find more interesting: They've started adding a category to the GOP primary results labeled, ...
'McCain Death Watch' Death Watch
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 27 Jun 2007 at 11:01 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: As a counterpoint to our "McCain Death Watch," I'll be running a "'McCain Death Watch' Death Watch," with counter-indicators showing John McCain's potential to survive.
First up, this from Gallup's review of June polling:
"Support for McCain has ...
Thompson Leads in Georgia
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 27 Jun 2007 at 10:52 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The latest Strategic Vision poll out of Georgia has Fred Thompson taking the lead away from Rudy Giuliani:
Thompson: 25% Giuliani: 20% McCain: 11% Gingrich: 7% Romney: 6% Huckabee: 5%
Back in April, in the same poll, Mr. Giuliani led Mr. McCain ...
Political Video of the Day: Thompson in Tennessee
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 26 Jun 2007 at 11:02 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fred Thompson arrives at his soon-to-be national headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee: ...
CFG vs. MRB
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 26 Jun 2007 at 8:35 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The Club for Growth really doesn't like Mayor Bloomberg, and really doesn't want him in the presidential race. (Remember, as recently as yesterday, the Club was out in the press attacking Bloomy's record on spending...)
So, what's up with that?
Well, I ...
Some State Polls
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 26 Jun 2007 at 2:19 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: California, New York, and Iowa (leaders: Giuliani, Giuliani, Romney — respectively)...
California (San Jose State University survey. June 18-22, 2007. N=1,000 adults statewide):
Giuliani: 25% Thompson: 16% McCain: 14% Romney: 5%
New York (Siena ...
Romney's Rocky Relationship
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 26 Jun 2007 at 9:52 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: In 2003, Mitt Romney endorsed Rocky Anderson for mayor of Salt Lake City. Now, Mr. Anderson is unloading on Mr. Romney.
In New York City to call for President Bush's impeachment and talking to a left-wing radio show, he says: "This is not Mitt Romney. ...
Rasmussen: Fred Ahead
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 26 Jun 2007 at 9:28 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Rasmussen has new numbers from its robo poll (change from last week in parentheses):
Thompson: 27% (-1) Giuliani: 23% (-4) Romney: 12% (+2) McCain: 11% (+1)
This is in rather stark contract to the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll out yesterday, ...
McCain Death Watch, Part II
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 26 Jun 2007 at 12:25 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fred Thompson has Google ads showing up next to stories about John McCain's tanked poll numbers.
That just ain't right...
Screen-cap below the fold.
UPDATE: The Thompson campaign clarifies that it is only placing next to John McCain's name — not ...
No Thompson Response on WRTL
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 11:05 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I got the same result as Marc Ambinder all day: no response from the Thompson camp on the Wisconsin Right to Life decision.
Mr. Thompson said in his interview with Sean Hannity, after the last GOP debate, that he was now against the ad ban (9:24) — ...
Giuliani Stakes Out New Terrain on Campaign-Finance
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 5:50 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Rudy Giuliani has weighed in on the Wisconsin Right to Life decision (see our response roundup, still being updated, here):
"I support this Supreme Court decision, which is a welcome victory for free speech and personal liberty. "The ruling protects ...
Richardson Poll: Richardson Up in Iowa
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 5:31 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The poll was conducted for the Bill Richardson campaign, but it's relatively consistent with other independent polling that's been done recently:
The poll of 500 likely Iowa caucus-goers was conducted for the Richardson campaign by Fairbank, Maslin, ...
Keeping Watching...
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 1:49 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: ... our WRTL reaction update page.
Senator McCain has weighed in. So has Senator Feingold. A couple of prominent campaign-finance-law watchers as well.
Rudy Giuliani, according to his press office, is reading the decision as I type. ...
McCain Death Watch, Part I
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 12:21 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: It's the prediction of this blog that John McCain will not make it so far as the first primary in the 2008 Republican primary, due to a number of factors:
1) He leads in no national poll, and, in fact, has fallen to at least third place — with fourth ...
More on WRTL: Reaction Roundup
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 11:15 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The decision is here (PDF).
Republican and Democratic candidates' reactions — and others — as they come in, below the fold: Mitt Romney: Boston, MA — Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on the United States Supreme Court decision ...
Wisconsin Right to Life
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 10:38 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The most important election-related case of the year (and the most important First Amendment case) has been decided: Wisconsin Right to Life. The decision has been written by Chief Justice Roberts, so it can be assumed to come down on the side of free ...
Calif. GOP Chief Out in Foreign Hiring Flap
By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 25 Jun 2007 at 12:30 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: A top official at the California Republican Party, Michael Kamburowski, has resigned amidst a flap over the party's hiring of foreigners, The New York Sun has learned.
Some grassroots activists were riled up over the decision to hire Mr. Kamburowski, an ...
Fred's Campaign Staff
By Ryan Sager | Sun, 24 Jun 2007 at 2:04 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: For those of you interested...
The Tennessean has a breakdown of Fred Thompson's campaign staff. Note that it's not, so far at least, particularly Tennessee heavy.
UPDATE: Also, see TNR's debate on whether Fred can make it as a real presidential ...
Political Video of the Day
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 22 Jun 2007 at 6:15 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: OK, this isn't really political. But if I told you it was a Mike Gravel campaign video, you'd have to at least consider the possibility: ...
Giuliani Strategy Memo
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 22 Jun 2007 at 5:36 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The Giuliani campaign has put out another one of its periodic strategy memos, from strategy director Brent Seaborn.
The bullet points:
* "We have seen a 4th candidate [Fred Thompson] enter the 'top-tier' of the Republican primary race."
* "We will ...
For the Fred Watchers...
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 22 Jun 2007 at 5:28 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fred is headed to New Hampshire and South Carolina next week.
It's quite a schedule for a guy not running for anything.
PS: There's a joke in this picture relating to Rudy and Fred. ...
Bloomy and Rudy
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 22 Jun 2007 at 11:44 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: I've got to disagree with this Bruce Reed column, which argues that a Bloomberg candidacy (or even non-candidacy) hurts Rudy Giuliani by denying him headlines and reminding Republican voters how liberal and unappealing New Yorkers are.
First off, it's ...
Rangel on Bloomberg
By Russell Berman | Thu, 21 Jun 2007 at 4:18 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The ever-quotable dean of the New York congressional delegation, Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem, had this to say at the Capitol this afternoon when I asked for his reaction to Mayor Bloomberg's decision to leave the GOP, Hizzoner's second party switch of ...
Mr. 26%
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 21 Jun 2007 at 4:15 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: President Bush hits a new low. ...
Non-Partisan Bloomberg
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 21 Jun 2007 at 3:42 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Just adding on to my column from this morning...
The Wall Street Journal treads on similar ground, discussing the general vacuousness of a campaign based on "non-partisanship."
This is the key sentence: "Pragmatism is not the sole province of the Mike ...
Bloomberg's Appeal...
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 21 Jun 2007 at 3:20 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: ...or should I say, lack thereof.
The Pew survey linked above shows that while Mayor Bloomberg has rather good name recognition — 65%, which is better than Mitt Romney (62%), Joe Biden (58%), Fred Thompson (51%), or Bill Richardson (48%) — he's still ...
FL: Fred Rising
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 21 Jun 2007 at 12:50 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: A new Strategic Vision poll out today has Fred Thompson pulling up close to Rudy Giuliani:
Rudy Giuliani: 30% Fred Thompson: 24% John McCain: 11% Mitt Romney: 8% Newt Gingrich: 4%
This is important because... Mr. Giuliani has to make a strong showing ...
Vote in the Pajamas Media Straw Poll
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 21 Jun 2007 at 10:08 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: We're going to try this ... Click below to vote in the Pajamas Media straw poll (hey, it's as meaningful as Iowa!). You can also click through to see for whom LatestPolitics.com readers are voting: ...
Rudy and Immigration
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 20 Jun 2007 at 4:19 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Ramesh makes an excellent point about Rudy and immigration. (It's first-name day here at LP!)
Basically, he (Rudy) has managed to be adamantly opposed to the McCain-Kennedy-Bush-Dobbs (no, sorry, not Dobbs) immigration bill, without drawing attention to ...
Rudy's New South Carolina Chair
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 20 Jun 2007 at 3:00 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Rudy Giuliani has selected Barry Wynn as his new South Carolina campaign chair.
Mr. Wynn, formerly the chairman of the state Republican Party, was already serving as Mr. Giuliani's finance co-chairman.
"Barry has been a driving force behind our success ...
From the Comments...
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 20 Jun 2007 at 1:01 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: "I'm not sure which is worse for Rudy - having the support of a cocaine distributor or an endorsement of somebody in the White House!"
-- Yoda ...
Iowa
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 20 Jun 2007 at 11:00 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: So, we have a new Mason-Dixon poll out of Iowa, of likely caucus-goers. Good news for Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson, bad new for Rudy Giuliani and John McCain:
Mitt Romney 25% Fred Thompson 17% Rudy Giuliani 15% Mike Huckabee 7% John McCain 6%
But, ...
Bloomberg to GOP: Drop Dead
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 20 Jun 2007 at 12:24 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Don't miss the Sun's coverage this morning of Michael Bloomberg ditching the GOP.
I don't have much to add, except to say that if he thinks he can run for president and win as an Independent he's delusional. As to how it would affect the general ...
The Allen Almost-Endorsement
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 20 Jun 2007 at 12:13 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: So, now Fred Thompson is getting the almost-thumbs-up from the former senator from Virginia, George "Macaca" Allen. It's sort of like the former quarterback of the high school football team, having lost his legs in a tragic drunk-driving accident the ...
Rough (and Not So Rough) Day for Giuliani
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 20 Jun 2007 at 12:02 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: A new poll has Fred Thompson edging him out for first place in the Republican primary. (Though, maybe this will lead to Mr. Thompson finally receiving some actual skepticism from voters and pundits.)
His Iowa campaign head leaves for a White House gig. ...
Political Video of the Day II
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 19 Jun 2007 at 3:24 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Newt Gingrich (the guy not running for president) has a new ad out against the McCain-Bush-Kennedy immigration bill:
It's worth noting just how misleading this ad is: 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were in America legally on visas. Punishing Mexican ...
Thompson, Woodward, and Watergate
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 19 Jun 2007 at 2:30 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Further on that Bob Woodward attack on Fred Thompson yesterday, I should have noted that in his interview with Jay Leno recently, Mr. Thompson was explicit about not taking credit for uncovering the fact that Nixon has taped Oval Office conversations: ...
Political Video of the Day
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 19 Jun 2007 at 2:07 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Hillary spoofs the Sopranos.
(Pretty funny, though they could have shot a more dead-on shot-for-shot parody and it would have been funnier. The carrot sticks for Bill are a nice touch, though.) ...
Giuliani and the Iraq Study Group
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 19 Jun 2007 at 1:35 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Ouch. This is a damaging one for Rudy Giuliani: He apparently quit the Iraq Study Group last spring in favor of giving millions of dollars worth of speeches trading on his status as the "hero of 9/11."
Now, presidential candidates rarely have ...
Woodward v. Thompson
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 19 Jun 2007 at 12:57 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: With how well Fred Thompson is doing in the polls these days, you can expect lots of people to come out of the woodwork to weigh in with their attacks or accolades.
Yesterday, Bob Woodward took a shot in a Washington Post online chat at Mr. Thompson's ...
Forbes's Creepiest Candidates: In Pictures
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 18 Jun 2007 at 3:03 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Forbes polled Americans on which candidates are "creepiest." It's a long, hot summer folks...
Here are the results in a little photo essay (great pictures — an especially funny one of Rudy Giuliani).
Newt Gingrich comes in first, followed by Hillary ...
mittvsfact.com No More
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 18 Jun 2007 at 1:19 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Via Jonathan Martin...
It now seems the McCain campaign will be forgoing launching mittvsfact.com. The campaign did buy the URL. And it has been using "Mitt vs. Fact" as a header on emails. But they won't create a Web site devoted entirely to attacking ...
USA Today/Gallup: Thompson Surges, Romney Drops
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 18 Jun 2007 at 9:20 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Another day, another poll...
Today, it's USA Today/Gallup with a poll out showing Fred Thompson gaining, to the particular detriment of Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney:
June 1-3
June 11-14
% change
Giuliani
32%
28%
-4
Thompson
...
Obama's Indian-American Backers Seek Further Apology Over Memo
By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 18 Jun 2007 at 1:01 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Some of Senator Obama's supporters in the Indian-American community are still fuming over his campaign's effort to attack Senator Clinton for being too friendly with India. Our Russell Berman had a post last week on opposition research the Obama camp ...
Shocker Out of SC
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 18 Jun 2007 at 12:33 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Once upon a time, John McCain was considered the "frontrunner" for the GOP nomination. Now, this was always a fraud, as Rudy Giuliani consistently beat the Arizona senator in the polls — even a year ago, when most people didn't believe he would run (I ...
Political Video of the Century
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 15 Jun 2007 at 4:01 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: ...
Jersey Rules
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 15 Jun 2007 at 3:25 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Over at the Atlantic, Marc Anbinder updates us on the situation in Jersey...
They have now officially made the state "winner-takes-all," meaning — essentially — that all of its delegates (all 52 of them) now belong to Rudy Giuliani. The latest poll in ...
McCain Leading in Texas?
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 15 Jun 2007 at 10:26 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The McCain campaign is pushing a poll today showing John McCain in the lead among Republicans in Texas. The rundown is:
McCain: 27% Giuliani: 23% Thompson: 11% Romney: 6%
It's plausible, especially if Hispanics in the state support Mr. McCain's ...
Political Video of the Day: Thompson National Right to Life Address
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 15 Jun 2007 at 9:20 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: By way of the Brody File, we have today a videotaped message from Fred Thompson to the National Right to Life conference tonight in Kansas City, Missouri. This also marks, to my recollection, the first hauling out of the wife in kids in service of the ...
Obama Oppo Targets Hillary's India Ties
By Russell Berman | Thu, 14 Jun 2007 at 10:07 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Senator Obama has been calling for "a new kind of politics," but his presidential campaign appears not to be above the time-honored tradition of sending out an anonymous, negative attack on a top rival.
Mr. Obama's campaign is circulating a document ...
Clinton and Obama Tied? Hardly...
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 14 Jun 2007 at 7:04 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: It looks like that Hillary Clinton / Barack Obama tie in the recent Gallup poll was more noise than signal.
Not much of a surprise, really, especially since subsequent polls from other organizations have not come anywhere near confirming it.
The new ...
Political Video of the Day: Grassfire
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 14 Jun 2007 at 5:40 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The immigration bill may be dead, but this is a heck of a commercial:
Surprisingly, this ad is supposed to make people support the fence. ...
mittvsfact.com
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 14 Jun 2007 at 2:39 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: John McCain's campaign is setting up an anti-Mitt Romney Web site, with the somewhat unwieldy name www.mittvsfact.com. It's a bit sad that the guy who once thought he'd simply walk to the nomination is now in a mud-wrestling match with a barely ...
Gay Marriage in Mass.
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 14 Jun 2007 at 2:11 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The Massachusetts Legislature today defeats a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. This means the Massachusetts same-sex-marriage decision is essentially entrenched in the law. Opponents trying to get it overturned won't have another chance ...
More On Thompson and Abortion
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 14 Jun 2007 at 12:25 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Here's yet another questionnaire (PDF) dug up on Fred Thompson, regarding his abortion position. Filled out around 1996 (the exact date seems to be unknown) for Tennesseans for Choice, it paints the former Tennessee senator as anything but a strict ...
NBC/WSJ Poll: Giuliani Leads, Thompson in Second
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 14 Jun 2007 at 9:32 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Here's the new NBC/WSJ poll:
Giuliani: 29% Thompson: 20% McCain: 14% Romney: 14%
The poll also shows presidential and congressional approval plummeting. Possibly because of Iraq (OK, almost certainly because of Iraq), this all seems to be benefiting ...
The Fred File
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 13 Jun 2007 at 6:10 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fred Thompson's imwithfred.com site now has a blog, the Fred File.
So far, it's just retreads of the pieces he's been writing for various outlets on taxes, patriotism, etc. But it's a place to check back. (Disappointingly, you have to be a "friend of ...
McCain Fundraiser: Thompson Trying to Poach
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 13 Jun 2007 at 1:25 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: A top donor and fundraiser for the McCain campaign, speaking on condition of anonymity, tells LatestPolitics.com that the Fred Thompson proto-campaign organization is busy calling McCain donors and pitching the former Tennessee senator as the consensus ...
New FEC Tool
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 13 Jun 2007 at 11:40 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The FEC has unveiled a neat new little tool that allows you to search candidates' donations on a map.
Of course, in this, they're months behind the New York Times.
Score another one for the free market. ...
Political Video of the Day: Thompson on Leno
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 13 Jun 2007 at 10:13 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Here's Fred Thompson on Leno last night:
Asked if he would like the job of president, Mr. Thompson said: "I've never craved the job of president, but I want to do some things that only a president can do, so the answer is yes."
Here's one, however, ...
Q-Poll: Tie for Second
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 13 Jun 2007 at 9:46 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The latest Quinnipiac poll is out, and it has some more realistic-looking numbers regarding Fred Thompson:
May 3
June 13
% change
Giuliani
27%
27%
0
McCain
19%
15%
-4
Thompson
14%
15%
+1
Romney
8%
10%
+2
...
Al D'Amato Endorses Fred Thompson
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 12 Jun 2007 at 8:08 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Don't ask me why I was watching (you have to watch something when there's no "House" on), but on NY1's "Inside City Hall," Al D'Amato just endorsed Fred Thompson.
It's not (I repeat not) a surprise that the former New York senator would chose to oppose ...
Thompson Picks Up Cheney
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 12 Jun 2007 at 4:54 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Not good ol' Dick... Liz. From the Weekly Standard: FRED THOMPSON IS adding more big-name policy talent as his testing-the-waters committee continues to grow into a real presidential campaign. Among the new additions: Mark Esper, national security ...
American Freedom Agenda
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 12 Jun 2007 at 2:45 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Can a group of dissident conservatives, calling itself the American Freedom Agenda, force the issue of civil liberties into the GOP primary and the general-election race?
Probably not. But here's a write-up of them from the Boston Globe, nonetheless. ...
Thompson and Abortion
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 12 Jun 2007 at 1:54 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I should have pointed this one out over the weekend...
In this piece, The Tennessean takes the most thorough look yet at Mr. Thompson's views on abortion. Suffice it to say, he's no pro-lifer's dream — opposing Roe but also opposing a "human-life ...
Rudy & Fred Tied?
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 12 Jun 2007 at 11:03 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: I hereby invoke the Great Law of Headline Question Marks...
However, we do have our first poll showing Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson tied for first place in the GOP primary. That's on the one hand. On the other hand, it's a Rasmussen robo-poll.
I ...
Giuliani's 'Twelve Commitments'
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 12 Jun 2007 at 9:55 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: So, this morning, Rudy Giuliani has unveiled something he's calling his "Twelve Commitments" to the American people. While I'll give some thought to what they actually mean a bit later on, here they are:
I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists' ...
LAT: Giuliani 27%, Thompson 21%, McCain 12%, Romney 10%
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 11 Jun 2007 at 6:42 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Here's that new LA Times poll (PDF). The results (from an expansive list of candidates):
Giuliani: 27% Thompson: 21% McCain: 12% Romney: 10%
And here's the LA Times write-up. Interestingly, when the field is narrowed, and respondents are asked to pick ...
LA Times Poll: McCain is No. 3
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 11 Jun 2007 at 3:30 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The LA Times poll is coming out later today. Early word is that Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson are Nos. 1 & 2, respectively. John McCain is a distant third, in a dead heat with "don't know."
Mitt Romney, as usual, isn't doing so hot, either. And Mr. ...
Political Video of the Day: McCain and the Fence
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 11 Jun 2007 at 10:02 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: John McCain is asked why we haven't built a border fence: ...
McCain: I'm Not Dead Yet!
By Ryan Sager | Sun, 10 Jun 2007 at 11:50 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Not a great way to deflect concerns about one's flagging campaign:
"That's what they said this time in 1999," McCain said, "and I'm sure they will say it again. I'm happy with where we are and I'm the one that has to, I think, judge where my campaign." ...
Political Video of the Day
By Ryan Sager | Sun, 10 Jun 2007 at 3:28 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fred Thompson on abortion (sounding, ultimately, pro-choice — or, at the very least, against a federal abortion ban): ...
Will on Thompson
By Ryan Sager | Sun, 10 Jun 2007 at 12:56 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: George Will take a — shall we say "skeptical"? — look at Fred Thompson in the next Newsweek. Specifically, he compares Fred mania to "the Tulip mania gripped Holland in the 1630s."
Still, we have yet another poll showing Mr. Thompson challenging John ...
Political Video of the Day
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 8 Jun 2007 at 7:36 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fred Thompson on "Kudlow & Company" talking about tort reform and LP columnist Jennifer Rubin commenting on his comments: ...
Brownback Staying in Iowa
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 8 Jun 2007 at 2:27 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Contrary to my speculation yesterday, Sam Brownback is staying and playing in Iowa.
He's polling at 3%, but we'll see how it goes (it is, after all, all organization — you should have seen their turnout at CPAC).
At least Mitt has someone to play with. ...
Forget Politics, Is Tony Soprano Going To Die?
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 8 Jun 2007 at 11:59 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: When even Peggy Noonan has packed it in on the politics to write about "The Sopranos," I think it may be time to just give in...
Is Tony going to die? Is Meadow? Is AJ?
Is Paulie working for New York?
And, of course, where's the Russian? ...
Fox Poll: Rudy Slips, Thompson Surges
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 8 Jun 2007 at 9:11 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The latest Fox News poll is out. The basic headline is that, as stated above, Rudy Giuliani slipped a tiny bit from May (John McCain, too), while Fred Thompson jumped 5 points (to 13% from 8%).
Voters find Messrs. McCain and Giuliani the most ...
Thompson Web Fundraising Results: $352,323 in 48 Hours
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 10:56 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: According to the Thompson campaign, these are the results of the first 48 hours since they launched imwithfred.com and announced it on "Hannity & Colmes" after the GOP debate: In 48 hours since the Web site launch (with no paid advertising, or ...
Former McCain Donor and Personal Lawyer Switches to Thompson
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 8:46 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I have it from two sources that the Washington Post is set to report that Fred Thompson has snagged at least one high-profile John McCain donor: John M. Dowd, once Mr. McCain's personal lawyer, including during the Keating Five scandal and when his wife ...
Latest LP Indices
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 5:06 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I wanted to draw your attention to our most recent LP Indices. We've updated with our first preliminary points for June. The basic rundown: Fred Thompson shooting up John McCain heading further down Rudy Giuliani bumping back up Romney holding basically ...
Brownback to Make Iowa Announcement (Drop Out?)
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 4:47 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Sam Brownback has put out the following release: U.S. Senator Sam Brownback will hold a press conference at noon on Friday at the Brownback for President Iowa Headquarters to announce his intentions for the Ames, Iowa Straw Poll. Given that Mr. Brownback ...
Thompson on Kudlow
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 2:39 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but Fred Thompson was on Kudlow yesterday. Here's the video. ...
UPDATE: Thompson NOT Going to Israel
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 2:28 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Yesterday, I posted a link to a report in the Israeli press that Fred Thompson was headed over there for a visit.
I'm now told by the non-campaign that Mr. Thompson is definitely not going to Israel.
The confusion seems to have arisen because Mr. ...
Two State Polls
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 11:25 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Just a quick note to alert you all to two new state polls (I'm on the road today, so posting will be a tad light).
1) Keystone poll in PA (PDF): It has Rudy Giuliani and John McCain tied at 29%, but it doesn't include Fred Thompson. This is wildly out ...
Q-Poll: Fred Thompson Nearly Triples Percentage in FL
By Ryan Sager | Thu, 7 Jun 2007 at 7:27 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: According to the latest Q-poll, released just this morning, Fred Thompson has surged among Florida Republicans on the news that he's officially "testing the waters" for a presidential run.
Since the poll was last taken in April, Mr. Thompson has nearly ...
McCain Follows Rudy Out of Iowa Straw Poll
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 4:59 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Explicitly following Rudy Giuliani's lead, John McCain will skip the Iowa straw poll in August.
The press release from the campaign, and analysis, is below... From the McCain campaign:
ARLINGTON, VA - Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager for John McCain 2008 ...
Fred Thompson to Israel
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 2:34 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: According to Israel Today, Fred Thompson is headed to Israel in coming days:
Fred Thompson, US presidential hopeful and former star of the hit television series "Law & Order," is scheduled to make his first visit to Israel in the coming days.
Thompson, ...
Rudy: No on Medical Marijuana
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 2:28 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Predictable, but quite disappointing (especially after a debate shout-out to New Hampshire's "Live Free or Die" slogan): Rudy Giuliani opposes medical marijuana.
As reported by Reason's David Weigel: MURPHY [medical marijuana advocate]: You talked about ...
FOX Re-Apologizes for Conyers Flub
By Josh Gerstein | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 1:47 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: FOX News has issued another on-air apology for running video of the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, John Conyers of Michigan, on Monday while discussing the indictment of Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana.
Details of Apology No. 2, which ...
Rudy and Iowa: Instant Analysis
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 12:38 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Rudy Giuliani's decision to skip the Iowa straw poll is almost certainly the right one. He has nothing to gain from it — he's already the national frontrunner by a good margin — and a lot to lose from it.
Furthermore, his absence from the poll makes it ...
Romney Responds First on Iowa
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 12:33 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The Romney campaign is first out of the gate with a shot at Rudy Giuliani for deciding to skip the Iowa straw poll, with this statement from spokeswoman Sarah Pompei:
"We are going to continue the hard work of building our campaign organization in Iowa ...
Rudy NOT to Play in Iowa Straw Poll
By Ryan Sager | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 12:04 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Just announced on Rudy Giuliani conference call...
Campaign strategist Mike DuHaime spoke first on the call: We are not going to be participating in the Iowa straw poll in august "in any financial way." Still, "We are 100% playing in Iowa" [referring to ...
Conyers to FOX: Apology Not Accepted
By Josh Gerstein | Wed, 6 Jun 2007 at 12:29 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. John Conyers, is not satisfied with FOX News's apology for running video of him yesterday during an on-air discussion of the indictment of Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat of Louisiana.
"Fox News ...
imwithfred.com
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 10:49 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I really don't mean to beat up on Fred Thompson so much right now (between this post and my column on his Hannity appearance), but have you noticed anything missing from his new imwithfred.com Web site?
Such as: content. (Pointed out to me by columnist ...
Rudy Wins; Thompson Loses, Everyone Else Loses, Too
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 10:20 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I said it at the end of my live-blogging post, and I'll say it again: Rudy Giuliani won that debate hands down. If you have any doubt, stop by the generally Rudy-skeptical Corner tonight.
Whether it was Iraq, immigration, health care, or whatever, he ...
And Now, Thompson vs. Himself...
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 9:00 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: ... on Hannity & Colmes: (unless quotation marks are used, I'm paraphrasing)
9:00: Right up front, I've got to say (tuning straight from the debate to this interview) it looks incredibly lame to skip the debate and then try to carve out your own special ...
The NH GOP Debate
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 6:33 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Watch this space for live-blogging of the GOP tonight at 7 p.m. ET on CNN.
7:03: Candidate introductions, and already some decent lines. "Thompson — the candidate, not the actor." And Mike Huckabee: "I'm from a little town called Hope. You've probably ...
Fred Thompsin is No. 2, Part II
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 4:14 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Is Fred Thompson No. 2? Well, now we have the second poll released just today that says "yes."
After the jump, we reproduce a memo just sent out by McLaughlin & Associates (now-confirmed pollsters for the Thompson campaign — though this poll was not ...
Gallup: Rudy Leads McCain by Only 13 Points
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 2:49 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The McCain campaign today wishes people were paying less attention to Rasmussen (which puts their candidate in fourth place) and more attention to Gallup (which puts their candidate in second).
Of course, that's a very distant second — and sinking fast: ...
Two Notes on Tonight's Debate
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 1:39 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: The 10 official Republican candidates debate tonight in New Hampshire, at 7 p.m. ET, on CNN.
Note 1) I'll be liveblogging.
Note 2) In what looks like one big ol' campaign contribution from Rupert Murdoch to Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator ...
Fox Apologizes for Conyers/Jefferson Flub
By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 1:30 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fox News has issued an on-air apology for using video of the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, John Conyers of Michigan, to illustrate the network's coverage yesterday of the corruption indictment of Rep. William Jefferson of Louisana. The ...
Thompson's Conservative Credentials
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 10:20 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: Despite his climb in the polls, Fred Thompson still has a lot to prove to conservative voters. Also, his public record will be getting increasing scrutiny.
In that vein, Jennifer Rubin has a piece on this site today noting that Mr. Thompson does not ...
Mr. No. 2
By Ryan Sager | Tue, 5 Jun 2007 at 9:20 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: This morning, I thought I'd give a roundup of some of the polls coming in that point to a new shape of the race: Fred Thompson may well be No. 2.
First up today is Rasmussen, which shows Rudy Giuliani down slightly and Mr. Thompson showing a strong ...
Senator Thomas of Wyoming Dies
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 11:48 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Senator Thomas of Wyoming, a conservative Republican who had served his state for three terms, died this evening, at the age of 74, from leukemia.
Governor Freudenthal of Wyoming, a Democrat, will appoint a successor from one of three finalists chosen ...
Giuliani Campaign Apologizes to Mitt Romney
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 6:04 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: A statement regarding the Mormon email sent by a Giuliani staffer, issued by senior advisor Tony Carbonetti:
"This was a regrettable mistake and is not acceptable. We extend our sincere apologies to Governor Romney and reaffirm our commitment to running ...
A Fred Surge?
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 5:13 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I don't mean to tempt the Great Law of Headline Question Marks ... I really don't know. But a couple of polls out today point to a Fred Thompson "entering the race"-type surge.
One poll, by Public Policy Polling (ALERT, DANGER: THIS IS ROBO-POLLING), ...
Social Conservative Love for Fred Watch, Part I
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 4:49 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: I already reported Gary Bauer's very friendly remarks regarding a Fred Thompson candidacy.
Now, social conservative Paul Weyrich, is laying it on — comparing Mr. Thompson to Ronald Reagan at some length, concluding thusly:
Is Fred Thompson the second ...
Rep. Jefferson Indicted
By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 2:43 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: To no one's surprise, Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat of Louisiana, was indicted today on 16 counts of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering.This will complicate Democrats' efforts to paint Washington corruption as a creature of the Republican ...
Giuliani Campaign Hits the 'Mormon Issue'
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 1:56 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: So far, the opposing Republican presidential campaigns have by-and-large refrained from attacking Mitt Romney on what's been called "the Mormon issue." Specifically, the issue is that many see Mr. Romney's Mormon faith as a potential stumbling block in ...
McCain: 'We will not admit one temporary worker or grant one undocumented worker a visa until the Secretary of Homeland Security can certify that these tough, new measures are in place'
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 9:37 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: John McCain, reeling from criticism of the immigration bill and dropping in the polls, will deliver the following address at 10 a.m. to the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce:
AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
"Thank you for this opportunity to share with you a ...
ABC News/Washington Post: Rudy Leads by 13
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 12:45 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The results of the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll (with change from April in parens):
Giuliani: 32% (-1) McCain: 19% (-2) Thompson: 11% (+2) Romney: 9 (0)
The poll also gives us some insight into how Fred Thompson is changing the race... When the ...
Rudy Rapid Response
By Ryan Sager | Mon, 4 Jun 2007 at 12:27 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The only Republican campaign I've seen respond to the Democratic debate so far — at least in an official statement — has been the Giuliani campaign.
Here it is:
Below is a statement from Giuliani Communications Director Katie Levinson regarding ...
Dem Debate: Winner, Clinton; Loser, Richardson
By Ryan Sager | Sun, 3 Jun 2007 at 11:28 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Here's a little secret that drama-craving political reporters are reluctant to let you in on: Hillary Clinton will be the nominee of the Democratic Party for president in 2008 (barring an unforeseen entry into the race by Al Gore or Martin Sheen).
OK, ...
Thompson in Virginia
By Ryan Sager | Sun, 3 Jun 2007 at 11:57 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: The Washington Post this morning offers this report on Fred Thompson's speech in Virginia last night, his first since it came out that he was setting up a testing the waters committee:
Actor and former senator Fred D. Thompson of Tennessee rallied a ...
Political Video of the Day
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 1 Jun 2007 at 6:02 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Fred Senate ad from 1994:
A Republican Congress and a Republican president later, and Washington still needs taking back? This is, after all, the same message Mr. Thompson is pushing on the stump now.
Perhaps there's something timelessly vapid about ...
More Polling Ahead of the Weekend
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 1 Jun 2007 at 5:49 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: According to the Hotline, a new Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion poll of GOP registered voters nationwide has the following results:
Giuliani: 28% Thompson: 19% Romney: 17% McCain: 16%
You hadn't heard the results of a new poll in about an hour? Your ...
Giuliani Web Guy Out
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 1 Jun 2007 at 2:54 PM | Permalink
Excerpt: Patrick Ruffini, who was running Rudy Giuliani's Internet operation, has quit the campaign, the Politico's Jonathan Martin reports this morning. Mr. Ruffini says he still supports Mr. Giuliani for president.
While it seems Mr. Ruffini left on fine ...
SC Poll: Rudy Leads
By Ryan Sager | Fri, 1 Jun 2007 at 10:33 AM | Permalink
Excerpt: A new poll out of South Carolina, the Winthrop University/ETV poll, puts Rudy Giuliani in the lead in South Carolina with 19%. John McCain comes in second with 14%. Mitt Romney is in third with 12%. Fred Thompson is in fourth with 6%. (undecided, though, ...
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