McCain: Palin not a diva

On his show tonight, Bill O'Reilly asked Meghan McCain whether Sarah Palin was a prima donna on the campaign trail.

Megs said no, but affirmed that there was, indeed, a no-blinking quality to her.

O'REILLY: In some circles, they've tried to portray the governor as a diva -- as a person who was demanding and needed all this extra attention. Did you see that?

PALIN: I didn't see her as a diva. I saw her as a woman who knew what she wanted and had been preparing to be a vice-president her entire life. That's still how I see her. I think she was born to do this.

As for the POTUS, McCain said Obama was doing a "terrible" job and gave him a C+, C, or C-.

She also said she doesn't foresee a run for office, because she foresees trips to Vegas every now and then.

Palin's people reached out

Tom Beaumont reports that Sarah Palin's team initiated the most recent talks that ended in Palin nabbing the speaking slot at the Iowa GOP Ronald Reagan Day dinner.

But after playing hard to get for the past year, Palin approached Iowa Republicans recently, party officials said.

.... Palin began taking a more active approach toward Iowa in late July, when her political action committee told Iowa Republican Party staff that Palin’s people were planning a more aggressive fall campaign schedule and had asked whether the [GOP's Reagan Day dinner] Reagan invitation was still open.

That's pretty telling and indicative that a) Palin is serious about keeping her options open and b) in this case, organizers weren't holding their breaths for her, which plays into the notion that they won't be easily won.

Indeed, Palin's approach, thus far, hasn't wowed key players in Iowa.

“She’s completely dark on that side,” said Des Moines Republican strategist Nick Ryan, who was a top aide to former Congressman Jim Nussle. “And amongst the opinion-leader class, there’s not a lot of fervor toward her.”

"It's not ObamaCare"

For the past two weeks, there's been some uncertainty over whether Tim Pawlenty will accept $263 million in health care aid from the federal government.

Last week he said he was "open to to taking it", but today he went one step further.

"We'll likely take that money," Pawlenty said in an interview at the State Fair Tuesday. "It's not Obamacare, it is something that we were going to be doing anyhow."

.... "We're going to take the money for those things that we were going to do anyhow and for the Medicaid (money), we were going to do that anyhow," Pawlenty said. He said he also wanted to check if accepting the money would bind the hands of the next governor, and it appears it will not.

As you know by now, T-Paw promised today to wage a war against ObamaCare (executive orders et al) something both Mark Halperin and the DNC noticed (the latter with a sardonic statement here).

Halperin:

Leaving aside now the substantive merits of the Minnesota governor's executive order, barring some huge development, opposition to ObamaCare will be one of THE animating battles of the war for the Republican nomination.

Pawlenty's move allows him to argue that he stood on the frontlines as an elected official and tried to thwart the law through aggressive means. And it allows him to stoke the contrast he and his strategists most want to make with Mitt Romney, whose support for a similar health care measure in Massachusetts continues to bedevil him with many Republicans.

Romney to deliver keynote speech for NH GOP

John DiStaso on the September 25th gig that will get tongues talking -- although, at this point, it's nearly a fait accompli that Romney will run.

Nevertheless, interesting that this word comes on the same day news of Palin's visit to Iowa is confirmed.

After donating thousands to the state Republican Party and some of its candidates, Mitt Romney has been named the keynote speaker at the party's convention, slated for Sept. 25 at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord.

State Republican Chair John H. Sununu says the party is "thrilled" to have Romney as the convention speaker.

"Governor Romney has been a strong supporter of the New Hampshire Republican Party and we are extremely appreciative of all the assistance he has given us through this critical election cycle," Sununu said.

Fox's Jake Gibson recaps the past month.

Romney has been a regular in New Hampshire political circles lately and also donated $30,000 to the state party so far in this election cycle. Mitt visited the Granite State during his book tour last spring and has hosted a number of fundraisers recently.

Last Thursday, Romney was in Boston at a fundraiser for the New Hampshire GOP, he has also hosted fundraisers for the Republican House PAC in Manchester on August 5th and another for the state party in Tuftonboro on August 12th.

Scott Brown to raise money for Fiorina

Scott Brown will be raising money for Carly Fiorina in California this Thursday.

Brown.... is listed as a special guest for a Thursday fundraiser in Newport Beach. Tickets for the evening cocktail reception and dinner range from $250 to $30,400.

Also of note: John Thune appeared at a campaign event for Fiorina this morning, while John McCain hosted a fundraiser for her last night.

[Hat tip: Mercury News]

Bloomberg: No 2012 discussion with POTUS

Michael Bloomberg talks to reporters about his game of golf with Barack Obama last week.

“Let me violate my own rule about never talking what we (he and the president) talk about,” the mayor told reporters at his Q&A at the opening of Mario Batali’s new Eataly food market in Manhattan.

“We did not talk about 2012 or anybody that would run, and certainly not about me.

I have 1,218 days left to go in this job and I plan to serve them all out, and I’m looking forward to every single one of them."

A Zogby poll yesterday showed Bloomberg picking up just 6% in a 3-way, 2012 race against Obama and Mitt Romney.

Why Bristol's doing it

Besides the fact that everyone is -- Bristol Palin explains why she's joining the cast/roster of Dancing with the Stars.

“I’m not the first mom to participate on Dancing with the Stars…and like those who came before me, I want to set a good example for all of the amazing moms out there.

Yes, we can balance work and family, and we can also take on a new and exciting challenge."

[Hat tip: HuffPo]

Romney unveils Oregon endorsements

CNN notes that Oregon is the 39th state where Mitt Romney has either endorsed candidates for office and/or contributed money to their causes.

Today's list, which includes a $10K check to Dudley and $2,500 to the rest.

Chris Dudley: Chris Dudley, a successful businessman, philanthropist, and former professional basketball player, is running to become Oregon’s next Governor. For more information about him and his campaign, visitwww.chrisdudley.com.

Congressman Greg Walden: Congressman Greg Walden currently represents the 2nd Congressional District of Oregon and is running for reelection. For more information about him and his campaign, visitwww.waldenforcongress.com.

State Representative Scott Bruun: Scott Bruun, a state representative and businessman, is running to represent Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. For more information about him and his campaign, visitwww.joinscott.com.

Rob Cornilles: Rob Cornilles, a successful business owner and active community leader, is running to represent Oregon’s 1st Congressional District. For more information about him and his campaign, visitwww.cornillesforcongress.com.

Jumping ahead of running

Real Clear Politics' Scott Conroy gets reaction to Palin's looming Iowa trip from one of the state's key evangelical figures.

Iowa Christian Alliance President Steve Scheffler, who is among the most prominent conservative leaders in the state, said that he has already started a dialogue with Pawlenty, Santorum, and Gingrich, but has not yet heard from Palin or anyone on SarahPAC's staff.

Still, Scheffler did not seem to hold against Palin the lack of communication to this point and said that he "wouldn't put out of the question" the idea that she might keynote an event on behalf of his group somewhere down the road, if she remains serious about exploring a presidential run.

Scheffler made it clear that he'd like to see much more of the former GOP vice presidential nominee in the coming weeks and months.

"You can't just be here now and then maybe six months from now," Scheffler said. "I think she's going to have to be here on a fairly consistent basis if she wants to win over the hearts and minds of caucus-goers."

As an underscore to that, Chris Cillizza notes:

Her trip next month will create an absolute frenzy of coverage but remember that winning the Iowa caucuses is like a glacier: the bulk of it goes on under the surface.

Palin has done little of that behind-the-scenes work to date and needs to quickly play catch up if she wants to seriously compete in the Hawkeye State come January 2012.

Meghan McCain dishes on Palin

After quite a few questions about Sarah Palin on ABC's GMA, Meghan McCain interrupts Geroge Stephanopoulos and says "for the record, my book is not just about Sarah Palin."

But this blog post is, so here goes...

Stephanopoulos: You write about her quite a bit in the book, you say there are a lot of things you like about Sarah Palin, but you also point out that she snubbed your mom's efforts to reach out to the Palins, that she wasn't much of a team player. You talk about doubts you had at the end, where you thought she actually hurt the campaign.

McCain: Yes, but I do clearly state at the end that we did not lose because of her. And I'm speaking out now because I do have conflicting feelings about her. I mean, she brought so much momentum and enthusiasm to the campaign. I mean, you saw the crowds double, and you saw a lot more women coming to the rallies.

Stephanopoulos: But you also write that she brought 'drama', 'stress', 'complications', 'panic' and 'loads of uncertainty.'

McCain: It's true. I mean, a lot of things happened, but I think that's how campaigns are, in general. no matter who comes. And, you know, I respect her as a feminist -- a Republican feminist -- and going out there and working for women, especially Republican women. It's no secret that I'm more socially liberal than she is, but I'm here to say that two different kinds of Republican women can work for the same cause.

As for 2012, McCain said she hasn't picked out a favorite ("anyone could be my candidate"), but name-dropped Mitt Romney as someone who's doing "a lot of smart things."



[Hat tip: Huffington Post]

Complete the danged fence

Couldn't help but smile when I read this in ABC's extract of Meghan McCain's new book.

As she pines for the days of Barry Goldwater...

"It was about removing fences, not building them."

Pawlenty promises war with ObamaCare

Minnesota Public Radio on some cred-building as he finishes up his final term as governor.

Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday that he's going to step up the state's efforts to push back against federal health care reform.

Pawlenty said today that his rejection of federal family planning money is part of a broader effort to forgo federal health reform efforts and are just a preview of what's to come. He said he could be announcing as early as today more than a dozen ways Minnesota will forgo grants or programs tied to health reform -- at least for now.

"In my view, Obama care is a misguided piece of legislation," Pawlenty said. "It puts Minnesota and other states on the wrong path toward health care reform. It's going to drive up, not decrease our health care costs. So anything I can do to slow down, limit or negate Obama care, I'm going to do it within reason."

Pawlenty said his administration is also reviewing other federal offers tied to the education and jobs bill passed this summer.

"As you'll see in the coming hours and days, we're going to be trying to limit ourselves or exempt ourselves from Obama care more broadly on a whole range of issues," he said. "So our concern is not focused on family planning money or some other pot of money. We're reviewing our options across the board."

Last summer, Pawlenty slammed Obama's health care program, as well as Mitt Romney's in Massachusetts.

"We know what he is proposing has essentially been tried in one state. And as it relates to slowing down cost it hasn't worked.

It's the most expensive health care in the country and its rapidly accelerating. To hold this model out as the solution for the whole country, it's not going to work Greta. And he's selling this, I think as a bill of goods."

He made another attack last summer, once again failing to mention Mitt Romney's name, but making certain "Massachusetts" was spelled out.

"If they model this after the Massachusetts plan and focus just on expanding access to those who are uninsured, that's an incomplete reform.... the Massachusetts model actually led to higher costs to a multiple of two or three of what they originally predicted, so be careful about a health care reform plan that talks about just expanding access, and doesn't talk about cost containment."

Consider this a non-3-D preview of coming attractions.

Palin supports another Contract with America

On Monday night, Sarah Palin said the Republican party should put together a second Contract with America.

SEAN HANNITY: They're talking about putting some ideas on paper and, maybe, sort of duplicating the Contract with America. I'd like to see those promises on paper. Good idea, bad idea?

PALIN: I think it's a great idea. That is more proof. It's tangible, something that you can lay your hands on -- the American voter can -- and it also allows, then, politicians once they're elected -- we get to hold them accountable, because we get to tell them "You signed that contract with America, for America, from Americans."

You better stick with it or you're fired.

Palin slams Brian Williams

On Monday night, Sarah Palin accused Brian Williams of going too soft on Barack Obama during the NBC anchor's interview with the POTUS.

At issue -- the segment where Obama talked about rumors surrounding his religion and citizenship. Palin thinks the President is fanning the flames of conspiracy for political gain.

"My first reaction was listening to Brian Williams and wondering 'Brian, that's some stealth reporting. You're not even going to follow-up and ask him what in the heck is Barack Obama talking about. What is he insinuating'?

I was pretty appalled at that notion that Brian Williams was just letting him get away with that kind of false accusation that there is some kind of suggested right wing conspiracy again, especially knowing that the media still -- the mainstream, lame-stream media -- they're in his back pocket, still."

She also used Bill Clinton's famous accusation that the media had constructed a fairy tale surrounding Obama to pivot to a more general attack on coverage of the POTUS.

"The state of journalism today is very, very sad with that mainstream media, allowing the President to make these kind of false accusations. It's a lot like Bill Clinton made the point in the Presidential campaign when Barack Obama was misrepresenting Hillary Clinton's record and her intentions, and Bill Clinton said, you know, 'This is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen'.

Well, that remains today. It's continuing to be this fairy tale that Barack Obama wants to perpetuate and lay all over the American people, and the media is not asking him the questions that you're [Hannity] pointing out right now that have to be asked."

Palin: "GOP machine" starting to get it

On Monday night, Sarah Palin and Sean Hannity talked about the rise of tea party candidates.

HANNITY: Do you think the Republican party, though, and the "establishment", as you call them, are getting the message that the mood is more to conservative leanings than Republican?

PALIN: I do believe that many in the GOP machine -- in that top, upper echelon of spokes in the machine -- they're understanding that people are saying 'enough is enough' of some of you guys going along just to get along.

Evening eats

a. The Closer readies herself.

b. Palin and Miller share a lawyer.

c. Pundits weigh in on a Christie bid.

d. Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols were at Beck's rally.

e. Lisa Murkowski gets shutout.

f. Miller thanks Palin and Huckabee.

g. Wow. Watch it.

Gary Johnson disagrees with Palin "a lot"

Former NM Gov. Gary Johnson is in Iowa today, and even though you've probably got a good handle on his platform, his interview with the Des Moines Register today is a good read.

Highlights via the DMR's Jennifer Jacobs:

On Sarah Palin: “I guess I would disagree with a lot of things she has to say.” For example, he said, he disagrees with her “whatever it takes” philosophy about putting thousands upon thousands of troops on the U.S.-Mexico border.

He disagrees with her belief on illegal immigrants should be rounded up and sent back. He questioned her simplistic answer about the BP oil spill that “we need to stop the leak.” He disagrees that the U.S. should keep its military presence in Afghanistan and “that we were right in Iraq.”

But his main point (even though his push to legalize marijuana gets the most attention):

“The biggest issue facing the country today is the fact that we’re bankrupt. I think people are outraged over it and I kind of put myself as first on the list of being outraged over that.”

With his libertarian background, you'd think he might support gay marriage, but he demurs for somewhat libertarian reasons.

“I would argue maybe the government shouldn’t be involved in marriage at all.”

He also doesn't line up with many in his party on immigration.

“If there was a blood boiling issue in this country it’s immigration, and it doesn’t have a basis in my opinion in reality.

It’s this notion that they are taking jobs that Americans would otherwise be able to take, that they are driving down wages, that the cost for social services that go along with them is skyrocketing. There’s a perception crime is out the roof when in fact statistically they actually have the least amount of crime.”

It's fun having primaries where candidates have differences in kind; not just degree, and that's why it'd be great if both Johnson and Fred Karger can make it to a debate or two and shake things up.

Huck's "Thank-you" petition

Mike Huckabee urges folks to sign a petition thanking Virginia AG, Ken Cuccinelli, for filing a lawsuit against ObamaCare.

This seems a proactive way of reminding voters about his endorsement.

"I'd like to invite you to cosign my letter of thanks to the attorney general of Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli.

He was a HuckPAC endorsed candidate who won in 2009, and he's on the front-lines of fighting ObamaCare in court.

Ken is a great example of what Team Huck can accomplish, and he's a great example of a HuckPAC endorsed candidate.....

[Hat tip: Dave Weigel]

Alvin Greene supports DADT, dancing

No bearing on the 2012 race, but it should stake a claim to 40 seconds of your 2010 evening.

Today, SC Sen. candidate, Alvin Greene, told a Charlotte radio show he opposes gay marriage and supports Don't Ask Don't Tell.

And he also danced.

Vid via WLTX.

Report: Palin will headline Iowa GOP dinner

The Iowa Republican:

Well-placed sources tell TheIowaRepublican.com that Sarah Palin is slated to be the keynote speaker at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Ronald Reagan Dinner on Friday, September 17th.

The state party is slated to release more details about the event tomorrow.

The visit would be Palin’s first visit to Iowa since making a brief stop in the state in December of 2009 for a book signing.

So now the media can finally move beyond the mosque.

"Full steam ahead"

Iowa Politics' Lynn Campbell has a must-read, cheat sheet on what the major '12 prospects have done/are doing in Iowa.

Highlights.

Newt seems seriously serious:

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia has been ramping up his visits to Iowa, recently making his third visit to the state since May.

Iowa House Minority Whip Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner, joined him at his visit to the Iowa State Fair, and Gingrich later held a PURSE PAC event with her to benefit women candidates.

One Republican insider said Gingrich is moving “full steam ahead” and is tapping into the “goodwill network” currently provided by Upmeyer and others who have done things through his American Solutions PAC.

In an interview, Upmeyer said that’s a good description. She said she’s been friends over the years with Gingrich and his wife Callista, and is now helping him to lay the groundwork should he decide to run for president in 2012. She said she isn’t getting paid.

“I’ve tried to help him network with some of the people he may ultimately decide to retain as a part of a campaign if he indeed chooses to run,” Upmeyer said. “I’m making suggestions of folks he might want to know.”

Quiet in Huck Town.

Eric Woolson, who served as Huckabee’s 2008 Iowa campaign chairman and has helped Huckabee during his Iowa visits since then, said he hasn’t been called about ramping up for 2012.

“It sure seems like the campaign manager of the winning 2008 operation might get a call or two, but nobody has said anything to me about 2012 yet,” Woolson said.

Tim Pawlenty and crew's 90 degree vacation home:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has been to Iowa four times and has spent seven days here since last fall, appears to have built up the largest and most formal organization in Iowa so far as he works to improve his name recognition in the state.

At least six Iowans are working for him, and he’s one of only two potential candidates who have formed an Iowa political action committee, Freedom First PAC – Iowa, whose treasurer is Mark Havlicek of Clive.

Former Iowans and national Republican strategists Sara Taylor and Terry Nelson are senior advisers for Pawlenty’s PAC, while Brian Hook is the policy director.

Also working with Pawlenty as consultants are Chuck Larson and Karen Slifka of the Larson Shannahan Slifka Group (LS2g), a bi-partisan public relations, public affairs and government affairs firm in West Des Moines.

Romney, quiet but there:

Romney has retained David Kochel as the treasurer of his political action committee. Kochel, a well-known name in GOP circles, was a senior adviser for Romney’s 2008 bid who put the Iowa campaign team together.

He’s a former executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa and a former president of the conservative non-profit group Iowa Progress Project.

In an interview, Kochel told IowaPolitics.com that he’s working in a volunteer capacity for Romney..... Political insiders also say it’s conventional wisdom that 2002 Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Gross, who was state chairman for Romney’s 2008 campaign, and former Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Rich Schwarm of Lake Mills would again work with Romney in 2012.

Nothing in Palin-land:

“I have not heard that she’s made a single phone call in the state,” Republican insider Pete Jeffries said of Palin. “You hear that she’s still fundraising nationally, keeping her name in the media nationally. Her tweets get heard and replayed more than any other politician.”

Read more, including stuff on George Pataki (key Republican donor Diane Crookham-Johnson is working for Pataki in a volunteer role for his Revere America organization), Rick Santorum (getting help from Concordia Group LLC of Des Moines), and Haley Barbour (except for that mailer... not much).

[Hat tip: Tim Albrecht]

Gary Johnson returns to Iowa

Today marks former NM Gov. Gary Johnson's second visit to Iowa this summer.

Schedule:

Monday, August 30th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm:
Iowa Patients for Medical Marijuana, Drake University

Tuesday, August 31st, 6:00pm – 9:00pm:
Students for Liberty Event, University of Iowa Business College Courtyard

Wednesday, September 1st, 4:30pm – 5:30pm:
Super Liberty and Tea Party, Thunder Bay Grille, 6511 N Brady Street, Davenport.

Ford, Jr: If I run again, it'll be in NY

Harold Ford, Jr. talks with The Tennessean about his political future.

"If I do run for public office, I trust we are going to live here," Ford said in a telephone interview from New York.

"If there is an elected political future, I suspect it will be here. I am not plotting a race or assembling a political team."

"I doubt that will happen," Ford said more pointedly of returning to Tennessee some time in the future to run for governor or U.S. Senate. "My wife and I still own a home in Memphis. As for a political future (in Tennessee), I don't see that for the short term at all."

Romney 42%, Obama 41%, Bloomberg 6%

Those are the results of a three-way, 2012 race, polled by Zogby International.

Among indies:

1. Mitt Romney 40%

2. Barack Obama 32%

3. Michael Bloomberg 11%

Among tea party supporters:

1. Mitt Romney 84%

2. Barack Obama 2%

3. Michael Bloomberg 1%

Notes: If Bloomberg is losing badly among indies, there's no great justification for a run. Also, the tea party results prove Romney can win that group handily in a general (although considering the options, it's not a surprise). A more interesting question would measure enthusiasm of tp voters for Romney in the 3-way.

Back in November 2009, Mark McKinnon made the case for a Bloomie bid.

.... while perfect conditions for third-party storms seemingly only stir up every 20 years or so, 2012 has some of the telltale signs.

It’s hard to imagine how Obama has easy victories on the economy or in Afghanistan, not to mention all the other difficult issues on his plate. If we’re still in Afghanistan when the next presidential election rolls around, a big part of his base will be unhappy and unmotivated.

And if the economy isn’t doing well (few economists expect a big turnaround anytime soon), independents will be unhappy.

.... Enter Mike Bloomberg: tanned, rested, $16 billion flush, term limited—and bored.

TX-sized bucks for Republican Senate-hopefuls

With John Cornyn and John Thune at their sides, Republican Senate candidates, Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio, Dino Rossi, Roy Blunt, and Kelly Ayotte made a two-day swing through Texas last week -- one the Dallas Morning News notes pulled in $1 million on the tour's final evening.

The Texas cash dash went though Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth before winding up at the Dallas home of Highland Park Village owners Heather and Ray Washburne.

McCollum even unlikelier to endorse

Bill McCollum tells WESH-2.

“I think there are unanswered questions that trouble me a great deal from his past, particularly Columbia/HCA, so I’m not going to involve myself with the race.

I’m just not going to do so unless something dramatic happens that I don’t expect to.”

No word on what he defines as dramatic.

Meanwhile, Gary Fineout says Jeb Bush and Haley Barbour will be campaigning for Rick Scott on Tuesday, and notes that Scott once owned a share of the Texas Rangers with W.

[Hat tip: Felicia Sonmez and The Orland Sentinel]

Coburn: Newt doesn't have character to be President

The Tulsa World reports on Oklahoma Sen. and evangelical Christian, Tom Coburn's town hall meeting last Friday.

Gingrich "is a super-smart man, but he doesn't know anything about commitment to marriage," he said of the thrice-married former House speaker.

"He's the last person I'd vote for for president of the United States. His life indicates he does not have a commitment to the character traits necessary to be a great president."

[Hat tip: Andy Barr]

Jewel relates to Palin

At the Emmy's last night, Jewel talked about fellow Alaskan, Sarah Palin (vid below).

"I don't think we agree on everything, politically, but as a woman, I really relate to her.

I think a lot of Alaskan women are very can-do women. They do it for themselves. They get things done, and I really recognize that in her a lot."

When asked if she'd watch Palin's reality show, Jewel smiled and said "You betcha".

Btw, Jewel also defended Palin during the '08 election for the same reason, praising Palin's "can-do" spirit.



Recently, Kirsten Powers had a similar take on Palin during an interview with Politics Daily.

"While I agree with Palin on almost nothing and would never vote for her, she is in many ways the quintessential Alaskan woman. There's a popular T-shirt line in that says, "Alaskan Women Kick Ass," which pretty much sums up how Alaskans view their women.

Alaskans are very independent, self confident, nonconformist and anti-elitism. Traditional gender lines also aren't really honored there. Women do pretty much everything men do: they fish, hunt, camp, ride snow machines. Alaska has a history of fierce frontier women and that legacy continues."

[Hat tip: Geno's World and Buzz Tracker]

"I'm a Massachusetts Republican"

Scott Brown, to his critics, via the Telegram & Gazette:

“I'm a Massachusetts Republican. When I go down to Washington, people say, what are you doing? They say, well you are working with the Democrats. I say, so what's the big deal? I do that all the time. I've been doing it for 15 years,” Brown said.

“I don't know what the surprise is,” he said of the attitude of critics from the far right. “I said I was going to go down there and be an independent voice, an independent thinker and vote accordingly,” he said.

Sarah Palin criticized Scott Brown's "antics" last week and said the people of Alaska wouldn't stand for a senator like him.

Crist's weekend scores

The Palm Beach Post reports on two more Democratic endorsements for Charlie Crist:

State Sen.-elect Maria Sachs, Delray Beach, and State Rep. Darryl Rouson, District 55, based in St. Petersburg, praised Crist at the South County Civic Center before a crowd of about 100 voters who braved the rain to snack on bagels and meet the Republican-turned-Independent.

Sachs criticized a conservative right-wing movement she sees sweeping the nation and pointed to Crist as a leader who has stood up for women, teachers and the environment - even when his decisions haven't sat well with conservative Republicans.

Crist, Sachs said, has the courage to do what he believes is right.

And, um, Rashomon remains relevant.

"He appears to give as much information as possible to the public," said Les Fayer, a registered Republican from Delray Beach.

"I may not always agree with him, but at least I know what's going on."

DeMint hopeful for House; worried about Senate

This isn't an electoral prediction -- it's a governing thing.

From a great weekend WSJ interview.

"In the House, John Boehner and the Republicans get it," Mr. DeMint says.

He's not so sure about the Senate.

"I think we're in danger of doing the same thing we did before, where a lot of young conservatives come in who have been out there campaigning on the right issues, but then all the senior guys take control of the committees and it's business as usual."

[Hat tip: The Hill]

Bolton for Prez?

The Daily Caller asks John Bolton whether he'd be interested in a run for President in 2012.

“[I]t is a very great honor that anybody would even think of asking. I’m obviously not a politician. I’ve never run for any federal elective office at all and, you know, it is something that would obviously require a great deal of effort,” he said.

“What I do think, though, and what concerns me, is the lack of focus generally in the national debate about national security issues. Now, I understand the economy is in a ditch and people are concerned about it, but our adversaries overseas are not going to wait for us to get our economic house in order.”

When pressed as to whether that means he would consider a run, Bolton seemed to suggest that he might do it, at the very least to help put national security issues at the top of the debate agenda.

“In the sense that I want to make sure that not only in the Republican Party, but in the body politic as a whole, people are aware of threats that remain to the United States. You know, as somebody who writes op-eds and appears on the television, I appreciate as well as anybody that…there is a limit to what that accomplishes,” he said.

“Whereas, some governor from some state in the middle of the country announces for president they get enormous coverage even if their views are utterly uninformed on major issues.”

When pressed a third time about running, he said that while “he is not going to do anything foolish,” he added, “you know, I see how the media works…you have to take that into account.”

Read the whole interview where he weighs in on DADT (supports repealing it), Obama's foreign policy (first "post-American President"), some of the POTUS' more hawkish moves (forced and done unhappily), and even Obama's domestic policy ("most radical President we have ever had").

I could see Bolton's name thrown around as a Veep candidate, particularly in a world where Palin was at the top of the ticket. His comfort around foreign policy and similar political world view would make them a natural fit.

Hazy California

Remember last week's Rasmussen poll showing Meg Whitman leading Jerry Brown by 8%?

Meg Whitman aide, Mike Murphy, tells the LA Times.

"I'm not telling you it's an eight-point race, but I'm also telling you I believe we're ahead."

Bachmann: It's nothing personal

Michele Bachmann dismisses notions that the Restoring Honor rally was really about defeating Obama.

"What I saw this weekend was not so much an antipathy towards President Obama on a personal level, what I saw was a great unity.

People are saying 'We love this country. We want this country to succeed. We want to see prosperity. We want to see growth. We want to see people's lives improve for the better.'

That's what I saw this weekend."

Pete Wilson's post-primary role

The Sacramento Bee says there's not much of one.

Former Gov. Pete Wilson provided Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman a valuable endorsement in the GOP primary, when he declared she would be "tough as nails" on illegal immigration.

But what made that recommendation resonate for many conservatives.... has become a liability now that Whitman is trying to win over Latino and independent voters.

Not surprisingly, Wilson, Whitman's campaign chairman, has all but disappeared from public view.

"Pete Wilson was important before June 8," conservative talk show host Ken Chiampou said in an interview this month with Whitman. "He doesn't seem important now."

Perry: The Smithsonian; not the White House

Rick Perry, standing on a chair atop a mounted set of Texas Longhorns at Clem Mikeska's Bar-B-Q in Texas.

"No. I have no intention to go to Washington, D.C., except maybe to go to a museum, like the Smithsonian."

Remember, he's running for a 3rd gubernatorial term right now; so he sort of has to deny interest in a Presidential run to show he has his priorities straight.

Conservatives split on Palin

In a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll of adults nationwide, conservatives are closely divided over whether Sarah Palin would make an effective President.

41% of conservatives say she would make an effective President, while 40% say she wouldn't, which as the The Hill's Michael O'Brien notes, is a "close margin among those within the GOP who are seen as Palin's base of support."

The question: "Do you think SARAH PALIN would have the ability to be an EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT?"

All adults: 59% no; 26% yes.... for -33% no.

Republicans: 47% yes; 40% no.... for +7% yes.

Democrats: 75% no; 12% yes.... for -63% no.

Independents: 63% no; 21% yes.... for -42% no.

Moderates: 70% no; 19% yes.... for -49% no.

Conservatives: 41% yes; 40% no.... for +1% yes.

Take-away: These are some funky results. Why would conservatives be more likely than Republicans, at large, to doubt Palin's executive abilities?

It would've been helpful to ask more political questions of these conservatives to get a better grip on who they are.

But unfortunately, the only other political question in the poll is about Afghanistan, and -- while they differentiate between "liberals" and "Democrats" -- the pollsters lump "Republicans" into one category.

Beck rules out run; talks Mormonism

In a chat with Chris Wallace yesterday, Glenn Beck said he wouldn't run for President and, more importantly, fleshed out who he was religiously.

He usually talks about spirituality in terms of "God" and lots of buzzwords that sound Christian, but as Beck noted yesterday, most Christians don't even consider a Mormon a Christian.

2012 implications? Beck might be making Mormonism more palatable to a lot of Christians who were uncomfortable with Romney's religion in '08 -- not "more palatable" in terms of embracing it themselves, but in accepting that Romney won't be run by Rome (in this case, Salt Lake City).

Beck -- Ensconced within a long talk about how the POTUS views salvation as (according to Beck, "collective" salvation).... Full transcript here; video below.

"If you want to -- you want to ask anybody in the Catholic Church, they witnessed it. It's Marxism disguised as religion. And it happened in South America. And the Catholic Church has a very long history with it. They understand it, unlike most religions.

And I'm not judging him for that. I'd love to have an open conversation about collective salvation. Chris, you know, I don't know -- I don't know what you know or what you believe, but most Christians, when you say, "I'm a Christian" -- and look, I'm a Mormon, and most Christians don't recognize me as a Christian, so who am I to say? I'm not judging.

I'm saying most Christians would look at collective salvation, which is my salvation -- my redemption is incumbent on what the collective does, so I can't be saved unless the collective is saved. Well, that is a direct opposite of what the gospel talks about.

Jesus came for personal salvation. It's like people say, you know, you just accept Jesus and you're saved. That's not what my church teaches. You are, but then you also -- you got to get in there and plug. You got to change your heart as well. OK. That's what I happen to believe."

As for a ticket with Palin.

WALLACE: Well, I got to tell you, the blog traffic right now is a Beck-Palin national ticket in 2012.

BECK: Not a chance. I don't know what Sarah is doing. I hope to be on vacation. I have no desire to be president of the United States. Zero desire. I don't think that I would be electable.

And there are far too many people that are far smarter than me to be president. I'd like to find one with some honor and integrity. I haven't seen them yet, but they'll show up.

WALLACE: But when you've got hundreds of thousands of people showing up to see you, Glenn, that's something. I mean, that's -- that's worth something, and I don't mean personally to you, but that's people putting their trust in you.

BECK: Well, but I mean, if that's the case, then we should either elect Billy Graham or Paul McCartney.

Ticket?

Vid of Palin and Beck standing by each other, doing meet-and-greet.

Later, Palin laughed off talk of a Palin/Beck ticket during a chat with Politico.

"We like what we're doing now."

[Hat tip: Conservatives4Palin]

Palin goes apolitical

In a speech almost entirely devoid of politics, Sarah Palin slipped in a few attacks on Barack Obama at The Restoring Honor rally without mentioning his name; then quickly moved on.

Her first (I'm reading the "apology" thing as a shot; you might see it as something else).

"I'm speaking, of course, of America's finest -- our men and women in uniform -- a force for good in this country and that is nothing to apologize for."

Her second.

"We must not fundamentally transform America, as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor."

And then -- as if to signal the end of politics by saying "say what you want to say about me" -- she turned to the balance of her speech (which focused on three stories of men who have served in the military).

"I've been asked to speak today, not as a politician, no, something more -- something much more. I've been asked to speak as a mother of a soldier.... say what you want to say about me, but I raised a combat vet, and you can't take that away from me."

[Hat tip: Conservatives4Palin and Mediaite]

Karger congratulates Ken Mehlman

Long-shot, gay, and all-but-official Republican Presidential candidate, Fred Karger, reacts to the week's news with a statement:

"Congratulations to Ken for his courageous coming out yesterday. He is a brilliant political mind, and how fortunate for the LGBT community that he said he will work with us in our fight for equal rights.

As someone who came out publicly just four years ago, I know how difficult a double life can be. Being openly gay is the only way to live.

Karger was a gay, closeted Republican for many years, as well, but he hasn't accumulated the ire of gay groups because a) he was never deeply involved in the politics of gay issues while closeted and b) he's been a tireless opponent of California's Proposition 8.

Also, via the Karger campaign, check out the pic of Karger and gay-marriage opponent, Rick Santorum, during the recent Iowa state fair. They were back-to-back guests on the Jan Mickelson Show (audio here).

Pawlenty's coincidence

Tim Pawlenty, when asked about the similarity between his book's cover and Sarah Palin's.

"I don't know if it looks like it or not, but we certainly didn't intend it that way."

Evening eats

a. Howard Megdal and I discuss the prospect of a 2016 Franken bid.

b. Christie fired Schundler on request, kind of. In a way.

c. Bob Corker's worth between $55.8-$93.2 million.

d. They say that if you don't like the weather in Florida, wait 15 minutes. And apparently, if you don't like Charlie Crist's platform, you can, pretty literally, wait 15 minutes. Story here.

e. Mitch Daniels talks to the Heritage Foundation about ObamaCare.

f. Joe Miller plays the prostitution card -- obviously, the oldest card you can play.

g. Starting to think Levi's reality show will be so bad it's good.

Btw, one of my favorite New Yorker cartoons shows a couple walking from a movie and chatting: "I can't decide if that was bad in a good way, good in a good way, good in a bad way, or bad in a bad way."

Panning flash

A spokesman for Joe Miller's campaign tells CNN that Mike Huckabee did more than just endorse Miller.

"Gov. Huckabee not only endorsed Joe through Huck PAC, he made a radio spot that aired frequently as well as robocalls, blogging on his website and Facebook, and sending Twitter messages," said Miller spokesman Randy DeSoto.

Huck PAC also did three get-out-the-vote email blasts for Miller before the vote, along with a phone bank.

And in what must be a continual source of frustration, HuckPAC's executive director, Hogan Gridley, claims his guy doesn't always get the kudos he deserves.

Gidley gave credit to Miller, who contributed $2,500 to Huckabee's presidential campaign in 2007, for running an impressive race.

But he also said that "much of Gov. Huckabee's work on behalf of candidates flies underneath the D.C. press radar."

"While the robocalls and radio ads we cut for our candidates aren't as flashy to many in the elite media, the campaigns we've helped appreciate them and understand their value," Gidley told CNN.

You're tired of hearing me say this, but it's often assumed that the favorites for the '12 nomination are 1) Romney 2) Palin and 3) Huck, with the idea that Huck is a poor man's Palin.

But Huck's dominated southern state-by-state polls this year, while according to the pollster PPP, Palin's failed to take the top spot in any state, in any region of the country (and the last week has proven PPP knows its stuff when it comes to measuring the current mood).

Eat chili with Romney in New Hampshire

Foster's Daily Democrat on the upcoming Stratham, New Hampshire event.

The Seacoast Republican Women will host their 11th annual Chili Fest with special guest speaker Gov. Mitt Romney on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Scamman Farm, 69 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham from 3:30-6:30 pm.

Meet the candidates for local, state and federal elections just theree days before the primary. Come enjoy many different types of chilis with all the fixins' as well as some delicious baked goods.

Red Sox tickets 10 rows behind home plate will be raffled off as well.

Lugar encourages Daniels to run (again)

In an interview with CSPAN, Dick Lugar reiterates his support for a Mitch Daniels bid for President.

"Well, I have had a good conversation with him in Indiana just a week or so ago, and he has made no commitment. This will not be the time in which we make an announcement that he will need to make, at some point.

I have encouraged him to run. I think that he would be an outstanding candidate and a great President, but he will have to make that very fateful decision.

Earlier this month, Lugar said:

“I hope he will strongly consider it. I’m not going to support anybody else until I know what Mitch is going to do.

If he runs, I will support him.”

And while we're on the topic of Indiana pols talking about other Indiana pols, let's bring Dan Quayle into the mix.

Quayle on Daniels, October 2009.

"If he wants to run for president, he certainly would be great at it. He certainly has a wealth of experience. He's done a tremendous job here in Indiana as governor in a short period of time. He could take that Mitch-mobile, take that thing to Iowa and New Hampshire, who knows? 2012 is going to be wide open.

.... The presidential race is several years away, but he certainly would be fully qualified, very competitive and could possibly be the nominee and give Obama a good run."

[Hat tip: Mindy Finn]

Crist's weekend in Palm Beach

Eric Johnson, the Democratic operative who's been charged with helping woo South Florida Democrats, says Charlie Crist will be introduced at a rally in Palm Beach County this weekend by an unnamed "high profile" Democrat.

Bachmann's post-rally bash

Hot Dish Politics on the after-party for Saturday's "Restoring Honor" rally in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Michele Bachmann will hold her own rally on Saturday on the Washington Monument grounds immediately following Glenn Beck’s rally at the Lincoln Memorial.

.... [Campaign spokesman Sergio] Gor said that following Beck’s rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Bachmann will walk to the Washington Monument, a few blocks away, for her own event.

Brown: Why I'm helping Kirk

Scott Brown tells NBC Chicago why he's in town to stump for Senatorial candidate, Mark Kirk (vid below).

"It's really going to be him against the political machine in this state, and in Massachusetts, it was me against the machine..... in terms of similarities, that's the first one that stuck out out."

You know who was also against the machine? Mario Savio.

The frustrating thing about finding Savio's last name: all I could remember; thus google, was "Mario" and "the machine", which led me to a million entries of "Mario's Time Machine for the SNES".

Romney unveils Oklahoma endorsements

Continuing his state-by-state schedule, Mitt Romney's Free and Strong America PAC endorses six Oklahoma candidates today.

a. Congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate, Mary Fallin.

b. State Sen. Todd Lamb, running for Lt. Gov.

c. Congressman Tom Cole for reelection.

d. Congressman Frank Lucas for reelection

e. Congressman John Sullivan for reelection.

f. James Lankford, running for 5th Congressional District of OK.

The PAC also announced that it is sending the Congressional campaigns of Cole, Lucas, Sullivan, and Lankford each a $2,500 contribution, and that it has already sent Fallin and Lamb each a $250 contribution toward their respective campaigns

Newt to headline Iowa fundraiser

Earlier this month, Newt Gingrich hit up the Iowa state fair, where one of his aides told the Des Moines Register that Gingrich was tentatively planning a return to Iowa in September.

Today the WCF-Courier reports that Newt will a fundraiser for the Iowans for Tax Relief Political Action Committee, September 9, in Waterloo, Iowa. It's $25/person and $40/couple.

T-Paw's NH PAC takes in $42.5K

Tim Pawlenty's New Hampshire PAC raised $42,500 for the filing period beginning in January 1, 2010 and ending 8/23/10 (pdf here).

Tom Scheck:

The latest New Hampshire campaign finance report shows Pawlenty raised the bulk of his funds from Minnesota contributors. Several high profile Republican donors like Stanley Hubbard, Wheelock Whitney and former Target CEO Robert Ulrich gave to the PAC.

The PAC gave $27,500 to candidates for the New Hampshire Legislature, Republican groups in the state and political consulting.

Pawlenty's also set up a state PAC in Iowa, for which he's raised $32,500.

Earlier this month, Politico had a helpful explanation of why and how '12 prospects are setting up PACs at the state level.

Who Rove likes

NWI on Karl Rove's appearance to a group of county Republicans in Indiana yesterday (via MPR).

Is Daniels presidential material as some have suggested?

"If he decides he wants to do it, he will be a big player. There are a number of our governors: he, (Minnesota Gov. Tim) Pawlenty, (Louisiana Gov. Bobby) Jindal and (Mississippi Gov. Haley) Barbour, all of whom have been talked about for good reason because all of them have been successful governors," Rove said.

Btw, this isn't the first time Rove has talked-up Mitch Daniels.

Back in March, Rove told reporters that Daniels should give "some serious consideration to a run."

And it's not the first time he's weighed in on Pawlenty, either. October, 2009.

"Tim’s smart, thoughtful, thinks outside the box. He has a lot of new ideas.”

And, while we're at it, what does Rove think of another 2012 contender -- Sarah Palin?

He hasn't said much, but soon after her resignation, he told Bill O'Reilly.

"How does she answer the question of, and, look, I say this as a fan, I'm terribly disappointed in this, because I think it hurts her as a viable choice in 2012.

It may make her more viable in 2016, but how does she answer the question of "Jeez, it was too tough for me to be governor of the state of Alaska, but I'm tough enough to be President of the United States"?

That's an awful difficult question to answer, at this point."

And thus ends our march through Karl Rove's mind. Tomorrow, a trip through David Lynch's, where we'll start on Mulholland Drive and finally wind up on WTF? Street.

Meek agrees to 5 debates; Rubio, 7

Yesterday, Adam Smith reported that Marco Rubio had agreed to seven debate invitations, and now the Sunshine State News says Kendrick Meek has said "yes" to five of them.

In a shot at Crist:

"There is only one real Democrat in this race and I look forward to debating my two conservative Republican opponents."

Adam Smith on Crist's conundrum:

In a three-person debate, it would be Rubio and Meek each taking turns hitting Crist and pressing him on flip-flops and inconsistencies. It's hard to stay above the fray when you're the main target.

And just think -- Rubio's accusing Crist of being a Democrat; Meek is accusing him of being a Republican. Will that help or hurt Crist, and will it make his point that he can't be categorized as either?

Branstad praises Mitch Daniels

If you're going to run for President, it doesn't hurt to have the likely governor of the first-in-the-nation caucus saying things like this about you.

Via the Iowa Independent, Terry Branstad, at a campaign stop in Carroll, Iowa on Wednesday.

“What I’ve done is I’ve looked around the country and said, ‘What states have really made a difference?’ And one of the states that I’ve seen that’s made a difference in recent years is the state of Indiana under the leadership of Gov. Mitch Daniels,” Branstad said during his Carroll speech.

Branstad said Daniels, elected in 2004, came in as a fiscal-restraint Republican and reduced the cost and size of government, and used technology to add efficiencies.

“Today, six years later, compare and contrast Indiana with its neighbors, Ohio on one side, Illinois on the other, Michigan on top of it,” Branstad said. “Every one of those states is deep in debt and in real financial trouble and losing jobs. Indiana, on the other hand, has seen a growth in jobs in recent years, and they’re getting their state’s financial house in order.”

.... His speech in Carroll wasn’t the first time Branstad has made it a point to speak highly of Daniels.

Branstad’s recently announced plan to dissolve the state’s Department of Economic Development is patterned after Daniels’ work in Indiana.

And Branstad even caught flak from the Democratic Governors Association earlier this year for a television ad that was nearly identical to one of Daniels’ ads from his 2008 re-election campaign.

About the bolded text, here are the ads in question, and it's important to note that both were produced by the same communications firm, and it was Iowa Democrats; not Daniels, who had a cow about it.

Branstad's ad.



Mitch Daniels'.



As of August 9, Branstad was 18% ahead of Democratic incumbent, Chet Culver.

Sanford visits Screwmatics

A reader sends in a perfect story for a Friday in August (or... for any day in June 2009).

Mark Sanford visited the manufacturer, Screwmatics, in South Carolina yesterday.

I'm posting excerpts of how many times Jim Faile must have laughed while writing the report.

Gov. Mark Sanford said small businesses like manufacturer Screwmatics of South Carolina Inc. in Pageland hold the key to the economic success of South Carolina’s rural communities.

.... But the real key to job creation in our state is small business,” the governor said.

Screwmatics is one example of that, he said.

.... Screwmatics President Tom Hogge said the company is successful because of its employees.

.... Today, Screwmatics operates in 50,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facilities producing precision components for a wide array of industries.... You are living the American dream,” Sanford told the couple.

.... For an industry like Screwmatics, he said, training is critical.

.... Screwmatics operates numerous state-of-the-art screw machines, lathes, milling machines and other equipment, which together represent an investment of about $10 million, Hogge said.

.... The governor commended the employees for helping to make the company successful. Small manufacturers like Screwmatics are one part of the formula for making rural South Carolina successful, he said.

Ex-Brown consultant rejoices

Mike Harrington, a GOP consultant for Scott Brown's winning campaign, responds to Sarah Palin's jabs at the MA Senator.

"Scott Brown is probably doing cartwheels after Palin’s comments - they’re laughable and only bolster his appeal."

Pawlenty "open" on federal health care money

As Baird Helgeson reports, it's looking likelier that Tim Pawlenty will accept $263 million in federal health care money that's been reserved for Minnesota.

“I am open to taking it, but I haven’t made a final decision,” Pawlenty said Thursday at a news conference.

His argument is that Minnesotans historically send far more money to Washington than they get back. So when there’s a chance to get a little back, take it.

“Not withstanding my concerns about federal spending and federal policy, Minnesota deserves to have its share of a program like that because we’re paying more than our share,” Pawlenty said.

There's been some debate over whether T-Paw will, considering his future ambitions and the fact the money won't come until after he's left office.

But for now, he seems to be thinking more in terms of a governor concerned for the next one.

“We want to make sure we don’t do anything to unwisely tie the hands of the next governor."

Rasmussen: Scott leads in Florida

The first Rasmussen poll conducted since Rick Scott won his primary matchup with Bill McCollum shows the Republican in a narrow lead.

1. Rick Scott 41%

2. Alex Sink 36%

3. Bud Chiles 8%

Scott pulls in 70% of Republican voters; Sink 65% of Democrats. Independents support Sink 36%- 33% over Scott, while Chiles pulls in a solid 12%.

Rangel praises POTUS in debate

During a debate Thursday night, Charlie Rangel tried mending fences with Barack Obama after he had taken umbrage earlier this week at the POTUS' suggestion that he might want to "end his career with dignity."

Rangel tonight:

"I cannot think of a more exciting president this country's had, certainly since I've been in the Congress."

Palin: ObamaCare puts abortion on steroids

Tonight, Sarah Palin delivered a tough message at a Jacksonville fundraiser for a group that works to reroute women to crisis pregnancy centers instead of choosing abortions.

"The biggest advance of the abortion industry in America is the passage of Obamacare. Elective abortions have nothing to do with health care. It's about ending lives, not saving lives."

One of Palin's more impressive talking points -- and one that's probably not a "talking point" by calculation but by repetition -- is her internal struggle when she found out that she was pregnant with a child who had Down Syndrome.

Her thought after the ultrasound: "God, I think you've overestimated us this time."

"How in the world is this going to work? Does God really know what he's doing?" she said.

She said she cried out for a miracle and her prayer was answered when her son was born.

It doesn't sound poll-tested because it diverges from the more standard, less nuanced pro-life platform, and inserts a third dimension into the story, something Palin often seems missing when she's talking about, for example, the economy.

Evening eats

a. Paul Ryan wins the Weekly Standard cruise straw pall. Rest of results here.

b. Rick Scott doesn't want to change the 14th Amendment.

c. Back then, Crist thought Palin would make a great President.

d. Michele Bachmann's sartorial nod to Bret Favre.

e. The Christie's combined income.

f. A skeptic warms to Sarah Palin.

g. Will R.i.c.k ever ft. MC-McCollum?