Reuters: Ann and Mitt Romney Appear Confident Ahead of IA Caucus

by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics:

It's full steam ahead for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney after a razor thin margin of victory in the Iowa Caucus Tuesday night.

The former Massachusetts governor originally intended to downplay Iowa and focus on victory in New Hampshire's primary, held next week.  But as other candidates billing themselves as the anti-Romney rose and faltered in Iowa, Romney found himself within striking distance in the Hawkeye State.  Romney's campaign became tempted to seriously compete in Iowa and possibly win both of the first two contests, setting up a delegate lead and reinforcing the impression of his inevitability.

Feeling confident about his standing in the caucuses, Romney predicted victory early this week, causing pundits to recoil or even predict an upset.  But the candidate closed strong, focused on the message that Iowans should pick him as the most likely Republican to beat President Obama in November.  As returns flowed in from caucus sites, a three way tie for first place quickly formed between Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney.  Paul eventually fell behind as his eastern strongholds concluded their tallies.  That left Romney and Santorum jockeying back and forth for a photo finish across the rest of the state.

Looking forward to New Hampshire's first primary next Tuesday, Romney appears strong.  He has improved his lead in state polls and secured nearly every major endorsement in the state.  Today, he is expected to receive the endorsement of local prodigal son John McCain, whose campaign came from behind to win the Republican nomination in 2008.  New Hampshire's significantly less-evangelical makeup could prove problematic for Santorum, who counted on religious conservatives to propel his Iowa victory.  Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman could prove formidable competitors, as NH voters have a history of skewing pragmatic (rather than ideological), libertarian (rather than socially conservative), and rebellious against inevitable candidates.

The Romney campaign has plenty to smile about as they have most surrogates and precinct captains locked up, resources in place, and a strong rapport with Granite State voters.  Indeed, Romney appears poised for back-to-back victories as primary season charges ahead.

Romney Campaign M-I-A.

Rick Santorum had hot teenage girls walking around in tight tee shirts that passed out propaganda while they flirted with unsuspecting men.  Rick Perry's peeps were around every corner slapping stickers on convention attendees.  They. Were. Relentless.  Indeed each campaign from Jon Huntsman to Herman Cain had at least a few loyalists with clipboards and flyers, ready to capture an undecided activist.

But not Mitt Romney.  The Romney booth was a truly pitiful sight.  There was no staffer to answer questions.  There were no bumper stickers or mailers.  There was a clipboard on an empty table soliciting contact info.  When I gave Mitt my name, I was the fifth on the list to do so.  Fifth.  It was a major failure of the Romney campaign apparatus.

Big Red Tent

I know the picture in your mind when someone talks about CPAC and other conservative gatherings.  It's a bunch of white, suburban gun owners.  That's just not so - at least it's not exclusively so.  I sat next to a wonderful young lady who confided in me that she was scared to death by fringe rhetoric from Governor Perry regarding his disbelief in evolution.  In each direction, active young people were cutting their teeth in conservative politics.  Every hue from ivory to midnight was present, with one crucial binding - the unflinching belief that Obama can serve no more than one term as President.

Perry-Romney Bromance

Before the debate began and during the breaks, the candidates often left their podiums to mingle with friends and one another.  But what struck me as most interesting was the camaraderie between Governors Romney and Perry.  The two men, placed next to one another anyway, stood in very close personal space laughing and joking about God-knows-what.  To contrast the chill between the men while the cameras were on against the behind-the-scenes buddies was just fascinating.

We're watching two Special Elections for the House of Representatives today.  One red seat and one blue seat might both go to the GOP as returns come in later tonight.

Gannett: Kate Marshall (D) and Mark Amodei (R) go head to head in #NV02.

NY Daily News: David Weprin (D) and Bob Turner (R) face off in an epic battle for a traditionally blue seat.

It hasn't helped that Democratic candidate David Weprin has what is seen as a shaky record and a series of stumbles on the campaign trail.  In response to recent polling that shows the Republican with a 6 point lead, the DNC has unleashed a flood of money and volunteers into the district to stop the bleeding.  Still, pundits think this seat is ripe for GOP victory.

Reuters: GOP candidates trade barbs, but one will carry the torch in 2012.

by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics:

Last night, Broward County Young Republicans hosted a crowd of over 30 people to cheer on their favorite Republican presidential candidates on television at the Reagan Presidential Library. Young men and women from wide-ranging backgrounds came together to rally for the common purpose of electing a Republican candidate to defeat President Obama in 2012.

That task could not be more critical.

With an economy creating 0 jobs and unemployment stuck at over 9 percent, we know that the Obama tax-and-spend economic model is just not working for America. The President's far left, class warfare policies may sound good to union thugs and environmental nuts, but they aren't putting anyone back to work.

Although the economy falters under Obama's boot, government growth has been prolific. Big Brother is crowding out private enterprise. Burdensome regulation and mandates are choking off individual freedom and responsibility. Is this really the America we know and love? Of course not.

We need a fundamentally different path for our country, and that begins by hiring a new leader. Last night we saw a stage full of Republicans with bold, fresh ideas to turn around the Obama economy and return America to her rightful position of leadership. One of them will be the Republican nominee next year. Whomever you support for President, remember we are united in our mission to limit President Obama to one term. We cannot accomplish that goal by way of bloodying our own troops.

As Ronald Reagan concluded his remarks to the 1976 Republican National Convention, he noted the urgency of working together to get the GOP nominee to victory on Election Day. "We must go forth from here united, determined that what a great general said a few years ago is true: There is no substitute for victory, Mr. President." Republicans failed that task in 1976, and the country suffered four years of Jimmy Carter's malaise.

Today, that call is every bit as urgent.  We cannot afford another four years of Obama malaise. There is no substitute for victory.

Politicons: Perry Wants to be President, but will The Bushes thwart his plan?

by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics:

As the race for President in 2012 takes shape, stories continue to surface about the rift between Bush and Perry loyalists - G.W. Bush, that is.  The Bush 43 camp clearly has animosity toward the man who succeeded him as Governor of Texas.  Most prominently, Chief Strategist Karl Rove has made the t.v. rounds questioning Perry's qualifications and strategy.

Last week, Bush's brother Jeb found his way into the discussion.  Ironically, Governor Bush intended to play down differences between Perry and the Bushes.  Newsmax reported Wednesday that Bush praised Mitt Romney in an interview with Neil Cavuto.  According to Bush, "Governor Romney is going to have a proposal that will be longer-term and create sustained growth."

Insiders know that Jeb's praise for Mitt Romney is nothing new.  In 2007, Bush notably urged his close confidants to meet and consider Romney before making any commitments in the 2008 election.  Many of his inner circle did just that, and several did join team Romney.  While quietly steering insiders toward Romney, Bush remained officially neutral until endorsing John McCain in the aftermath of his Florida victory.

The Club for Growth recently offered tepid praise for Governor Perry, while simultaneously cautioning followers about contradicting policy stances and an interventionist streak.  Current Florida Governor Rick Scott has been vocal in his man crush over Governor Perry, citing his pro-growth policies and job growth in Texas. Perry also recently claimed support from former President George W. Bush.

As Florida's Presidency 5 straw poll nears, insiders will be listening closely to behind the scenes chatter and maneuvering between the Perry and Romney camps for the support of grassroots conservatives.  Dedicated ground support will likely make the difference in Florida's delegate rich primary election next year.

Karen Harrington addresses crowd, primary victory, August 2010

Politico: Sen. Marco Rubio defends Hispanic Republicans.

A recent study by Generation Opportunity showed some surprising results from young Hispanics in the United States. The survey asked respondents about their attitudes on government spending, taxes, and the role of government. According to the Sacramento Bee, "Hispanics 18-29 years old want to see less government interference, lower taxes on business profits, reduced federal spending in general, and specifically prefer more cuts in federal spending over raising new taxes to get the economy on track."  Here are some highlights:

* By nearly a 3:1 ratio, Hispanic young adults prefer “reducing federal spending” (69%) to “raising taxes on individuals” (27%) in order to balance the federal budget.


* 70% of Hispanic young adults would decrease federal spending if given the chance to set America’s fiscal priorities.


* A 57%-majority of Hispanics agree that “if taxes on business profits were reduced, companies would be more likely to hire.”


* In a separate question, a 56%-majority concurred “the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference.”


* 61% indicated their agreement with “American Exceptionalism” – described as an ideal of freedom and democracy exclusive and unique to the United States.

Both the Sacramento Bee and Powerline Blog covered the survey results.  The Washington Examiner concluded, "The survey results encourage the conclusion that the young cohort in the country's Hispanic population is much more amenable to appeals based on limited government, individual rights and free markets than the conventional wisdom suggests." These results could prove very promising as the GOP continues to court both the youth and Latino voting blocks.  Rising stars like Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Governor Susana Martinez (R-NM) could catch the eyes and ears of impressionable young voters, creating a new generation of Republicans.

Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

To President Obama's credit, he has tackled recent debt talks with shocking transparency. For starters, he has laid out his re-election campaign strategy. Unable to run on his economic record, the president has doubled down on traditional leftist class warfare against straw men like billionaires, corporate jets, and fat cats. In meetings with Republican leaders, Obama has also fallen into the same trap as he did during the Bush tax cut extensions last year. That is to say, Democrats were horrified that the president never even fought to decouple the tax deal and allow taxes to rise on upper income earners. This time, he announced early that there will be Social Security and Medicare cuts in the final tax deal.

Let's repeat that. The president himself - not Republican lawmakers - announced and prepared lawmakers to sign onto a deal which cuts into those programs. Perhaps the DCCC will run an ad with Obama pushing a grandmother off a cliff now?

Last and most shockingly, President Obama accidentally warned the press of his plans to hike taxes after the election. If he receives a second term, Obama warned, he will raise tax rates in addition to huge hikes in payroll taxes already built into his budgets. According to Obama, "What we have talked about is that starting in 2013, that we have gotten rid of some of these egregious loopholes that are benefiting corporate jet owners or oil companies at a time where they're making billions of dollars of profits." John Hayward at Human Events noted of the stumble, "So, we’ve got an ominous promise by Obama to raise taxes again, if he gets re-elected. That’s right, again. He’s already raised billions of dollars in new taxes, and should never be allowed to pretend otherwise." To support his argument, Hayward pointed to a recent Wall Street Journal article highlighting just a few of the egregious tax hikes the president has already signed.

Will there be four more years for President Obama? Americans should think carefully whether or not they can afford the prospect.  At least the president is honest about what he would do in his next term.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) gave a brief speech on the Senate floor on the debt ceiling on Thursday afternoon. During his remarks, Sen. Rubio agreed to the principle of a balanced approach to deficit reduction but flatly refused that tax hikes should be part of the balance. To achieve so-called revenue enhancements, Rubio said, we should create new taxpayers. According to the senator, growth is a critical part of the debt problem and must be part of the solution. Rubio criticized Obama policies for lack of job growth and inclination toward higher taxes.

Getty Images: GOP Leadership addresses budget

GOP Leaders Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) have agreed to discuss so-called revenue increases during the debt talks which resume tomorrow with President Obama at the White House.

The Republican plan differs from the Democrat plan in that it would avoid increasing taxes on businesses or individuals. Kyl and Cantor have already agreed to as much as $200 billion in new revenues, according to Newsmax, paid for by selling government property and/or increasing user fees for government services.

While Republicans prepare to swallow this minor compromise on so-called 'revenue enhancements', Obama has already ceded ground himself. According to AFP, Obama has made contact with congressional leaders to prepare them to accept a deal which includes cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

With election season heating up, both sides feel intense pressure not to throw their bases under the bus. However, most Americans want leadership to find a long term solution to our spending and debt problems - regardless of political risk.

GOP front-runner Mitt Romney is expected to deliver a speech on health care in Ann Arbor, MI this Thursday.  After skipping last week's SC debate, this move is speculated to signal the 'real beginning' of the race for Governor Romney.  The speech will defend Romney's Massachusetts statewide plan, and set forth a blueprint for repeal and replacement of Obamacare.  Michigan is seen as a crucial primary state for Romney, whose father previously served as governor of the state.
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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has been lauded as a “blue state governor with red state characteristics.” That characterization may not be charitable enough to describe the man who – almost singlehandedly – turned Minnesota around. Minnesotans decided they’d had enough of tax and spend state government and took a chance on a change of direction. That’s what they got from the man affectionately known as “T-Paw”.


When Tim Pawlenty took over as governor in 2003, his predecessor had failed to tackle skyrocketing taxes and ever-increasing spending. Jesse Ventura couldn’t do in St. Paul what he did in the ring. Minnesota had seen years of 20% increases in average spending. The Democratic legislature and a series of liberal governors from both parties had been helpless to control runaway government. The tax-and-spend culture resulted in ever-higher spending sprees at the expense of taxpayers, budget solvency, and indeed the welfare of the people. Despite huge tax hikes, they left the incoming governor with a 17% budget deficit ($4.6 billion). Pawlenty ended the open bar mentality, changed the culture in St. Paul, and eventually closed the budget gap.

by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

Muckrakers and rabble-rousers suffered ego-deflating losses last night as a drawn out leadership battle ended with Richard DeNapoli narrowly elected as the new chair of the Broward Republican Party.

Before the election, an 11th hour smear campaign was launched by nefarious characters in an attempt to sway the election. Speculation arose that as treasurer, DeNapoli failed to file financial reports to the Supervisor of Elections. The charges were slapped down outright by the SOE’s office as well as outgoing Chairman Cindy Guerra. When that attack failed, one particularly unseemly blogger launched a new campaign calling into question campaign donations to former Broward GOP Chairman Chip LaMarca. In the end, neither attack stuck and Richard eeked out a victory.


DeNapoli won on the second ballot after failing to secure an outright majority by only two votes. He faced opposition from Republican leaders Jay Narang, Tom Truex, and Gene Robinson. After the first ballot left Narang and Truex carrying roughly half of DeNapoli’s total apiece, Narang bowed out and urged his supporters to support Truex in his place. This move was anticipated, as few thought Narang would win and a rift between Narang and DeNapoli is widely acknowledged.

Not necessarily expected was what came next. Many people I talked to suspected that Robinson’s 14 first ballot voters would be urged to back DeNapoli, which could put him over the top. But alas Robinson joined Narang in supporting Truex. As the election dragged on, it became clear that more than a dozen REC members had abandoned the election and left the room. It was unclear whether those members were potential DeNapoli voters or Truex voters.

The second round of balloting was ultimately much smoother, but just as close. DeNapoli carried the election, 129-125.

DeNapoli is a long time Republican activist in New York and Florida. He has served on the Florida Real Estate Commission and as an advisor to several high profile campaigns. While describing himself as a conservative, his election is still seen as a victory for moderates in the party who had concerns over candidates Jay Narang and Tom Truex. His ties to one-time GOP heavyweights Charlie Crist and Bill McCollum caused ill feelings among some BREC members, though Richard promptly campaigned for the eventual nominee in both races.

Few REC members question the leadership ability or Republican bona fides of the opposition candidates. Narang prides himself for coalition building abilities and his success rapidly expanding and mobilizing the Southwest Broward Republican Club during his term as president. Mayor Truex brought to the table a history of leadership through large, contentious meetings and offering fair hearing to the concerns of all factions. The three men offered plans that diverged more over detail than ideology. And Robinson’s fourth generation Republican pedigree brings with it plenty of heartwarming stories about what’s right with the party.

The new chairman will serve with incoming Vice Chair Colleen Stolberg, Treasurer Mark McCarthy and Secretary (and Drawnlines Politics contributor) Sheela Venero.

DeNapoli has pledged to fill Broward’s nearly 800 precincts with precinct captains to make the Republican Party more competitive in all corners of the county. He plans to create a new non-voting Chair of club presidents, a move which promises to better coordinate and mobilize Broward’s many Republican clubs during and between elections. He has repeated his dedication to grow Republican voter registrations and thwart the growth of nonaffiliated (NPA) voters that threaten to overtake the number of Republicans in the county.

A pillar of Chairman DeNapoli’s platform is “GOP Unity.” With the contentious 2010 Midterms and a close leadership fight now behind us, Republicans will look to him to quickly lead us toward that goal. Calmer heads prevailed last night, but there is no doubt that wing nuts and rabble-rousers have become an entrenched and powerful minority in our party. Their juvenile, awkward, unhelpful cries for attention are here to stay unless DeNapoli takes steps to have them written off of the REC rolls for actions contrary to our party.

As Chairman Guerra rightly said, “[They] are the real RINOs.”

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Yesterday we had a great episode of Election Night on Drawnlines Politics.

This Tuesday was our very first panel discussion. Nick Stone and Jessica Osman were joined by Drawnlines Politics contributors Sheela Venero and Chris Johnson.

We discussed the aftermath of the 2010 Midterm Elections and where America goes from here.  With divided government, a GOP mandate from voters, and complicated issues to tackle, the next two years promise to be both challenging and exciting for political junkies.



Each Tuesday is Election Night on Drawnlines Politics at 6pm.

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by Jessica Osman of Drawnlines Politics.

This is the most important mid-term election in over a decade. In Florida, not only is every cabinet seat up, but there are no incumbents running. It’s really anyone’s game and these are not positions to skim over or take lightly.

The most important race is probably the gubernatorial. Not only will the winner lead the state and its leaders for the next four years, but so much more is at stake. Once the 2010 Census results come in, Florida is expected to pick up more congressional seats and the state will need to be redistricted, something the governor can have a lot of say in. While elections are when voters elect their leaders, redistricting is when our leaders pick their voters. If Alex Sink wins she will most definitely use her power to make sure the lines are drawn to favor the Democrats, not only creating new blue districts, but redrawing current swing districts to lean more democratic. At the very least, Florida MUST remain a purple, swing state and this will not happen under Ms. Sink. In addition, when President Obama is running for reelection Ms. Sink would be heavily involved in events around the state making sure the President wins Florida again and shortly after that would have to start campaigning for her own reelection. I don’t know about you, but I need my governor working to fix the problems in this state, making the lives of Floridians better and not spending the majority of their term campaigning.

This election is critical. We must make sure our voices are heard. If you didn’t early vote, please make it the utmost priority to vote this Tuesday. Remind your friends, neighbors and family to vote. Offer a ride to the polls if you can. Many of these races are going to be tight and when the results are read tonight you don’t want to think, “What if I had made the effort to vote before work or on my lunch break?”, “What if I had sent an email to all my contacts?”, “What if I had called my family or talked to my neighbors when I saw them?”. Not only do you not want feelings of wondering, but if you don’t vote, you can’t complain on Wednesday or for the next four years about how you don’t like our leadership.

It can’t be stressed enough, this Election Day VOTE.
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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

This is the must see video of the entire 2010 midterm elections.

If you are wavering about going to the polls tomorrow, or you're unsure who for whom to pull the lever, this message is focused on you like a laser beam.

Tomorrow's elections don't just matter because of the immediate result or control of Congress. Tomorrow's crucial vote matters because tight races across the country will determine whether or not this commercial becomes reality.



Your vote could literally save America.

Thank you for sending this message to your friends and family and urging them to become fellow Citizens Against Government Waste.

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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

If Kelly Ayotte maintains her narrow lead over challenger Ovide Lamontagne, Sarah Palin will surely enjoy the spoils of victory in coming years.

Palin, who used her celebrity and endorsed Ayotte, found herself challenged by an 11th hour endorsement by South Carolina Senator Jim Demint. In the final days of the race, Lamontagne significantly closed the gap in polling and moved the race to "toss up" status.



While the race has yet to be called, Ayotte owes her thin and fluctuating lead over Lamantagne to Palin's GOTV effort. Palin vocally endorsed and made robo-calls on behalf of the candidate. And you'd better believe that Palin will remind Ayotte about her generous efforts in due time.

Palin has already thrown her weight behind winning candidates in important races. In Iowa, Palin backed Terry Branstad for Governor and Brenna Findley for A.G. They are the nominees. Nikki Haley came from behind after Palin's endorsement to win the nomination for governor of South Carolina. Palin pushed Sharron Angle over heavy favorite Sue Lowden in Nevada's Senate race to beat Harry Reid. And Kelly Ayotte would be a key ally in NH if she wins the race to replace Senator Judd Gregg.

As if by stealth, Sarah Palin has cultivated alliances between herself and influential Republicans in the four early primary states so crucial to capturing a party nomination. All of these victories place Palin in a strong position as Republicans shift their focus from the midterms to defeating President Obama in the next cycle. Early wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina would make Palin unbeatable by other Republicans.

If these candidates win in November, they will be huge allies as Palin seeks the ultimate GOP nomination in 2012. If they don't, they still owe their lives to Sarah.

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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

Today looks like it will be kind to many conservative women across the country.

As voters go to the polls in several states, polls give early indications that women running in Republican primaries have come from behind to edge out their male counterparts.


In California, Meg Whitman has parlayed her career success at eBay into a successful political campaign.  A few weeks ago, rival Steve Poizner had been closing in on Whitman, but fortunes have since reversed.  By focusing on jobs and spending cuts, Whitman has taken her self-financed campaign for governor to all parts of the state, held town halls and largely consolidated support among Republicans.  She will likely face Former Governor "Moonbeam" Jerry Brown in November.

Also in California, Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina has come back from her role as campaign co-chairman for John McCain for President in 2008 with her Senate campaign.  Having run second to moderate Tom Campbell throughout the race, Fiorina has steadily picked up endorsements from conservatives like Sarah Palin.  Since her recent debate performance - where the Wall Street Journal opined that Carly mopped the floor with her opponents on policy knowledge - she has catapulted into a strong first place.  Will her late rally prove itself today at the polls?

Across the country, South Carolina has proven once again why it is considered a bastion of dirty politics and bloody brawls.  Political junkies will well remember the Reagan-Connolly battle in 1980, the Bush-McCain bloodbath in 2000, and the near-fistfight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2008.  Lee Atwater would be proud of this year's Governor primary where Nikki Haley faces off against three Republican male challengers.  The frontrunner has taken everything from racist epithets to charges of infidelity, but strong resolve and loads of endorsements seem to have kept her in a comfortable lead.

And back West in Nevada comes the closest watched primary of the day.  Republicans Sharron Angle and Sue Lowden are battling for first place against Danny Tarkanian in the hotly contested race to challenge Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Tea Party-backed Angle has recently leapfrogged establishment candidate Sue Lowden in polls, though recent revalations about Angle might make this race tighter than anticipated.  It also might not hurt Lowden that Senator Reid's campaign let it slip that he would rather run against Angle in November.

Not-so-great news seems possible for incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln, who might lose today's runoff election against challenger Lt. Governor Bill Halter.  Halter has activated union support and the party's liberal base to challenge Lincoln from the left.  Lincoln has the support of Presidents Clinton and Obama, a significant warchest, and ideology more closely aligned with the state's electorate- but if she can't get support from undecided Democrats today, she's toast.  Either candidate would likely be in serious trouble against Republican John Boozman in November.

Find out tonight if predictions will pan out.  For now, conservative women appear poised to carry the Republican torch into some very exciting midterm elections.  We'll be watching closely.

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"...You don't lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the biggest tax increases in American history.

Now, our opponents tell us not to worry about their tax increases. They tell you they're not going to tax your family. No, they're just going to tax 'businesses.'

So, unless you buy something from a business - like groceries, clothes, or gasoline - or unless you get a paycheck from a business - a big business or a small business - don't worry, it's not going to affect you!"

Fred Thompson addressing the RNC, 2008