Romney raises $1.9 million in first quarter

The Hill's Mike O'Brien:

Mitt Romney raised almost $1.9 million for his federal and state PACs in the first quarter of 2011.

Romney sources said that the potential 2012 presidential candidate raked in the money while dispatching over $400,000 to Republican candidates and conservative causes.

There was no indication as to the breakdown in the haul between Romney's federal PAC, Free and Strong America, and his state-level organizations in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan and Alabama.

But his first quarter numbers may well signal a more brisk pace in his fundraising compared to last year; Free and Strong America raked in just under $5.6 million for the entire year in 2010.

Ron Paul raises $3 million in first quarter

That's impressive, but only $1 million of it can be transferred to a presidential campaign. That million was raised through his Liberty PAC, and the balance through his new 501c(4) -- Campaign for Liberty.

It's a sign that Paul remains continually relevant -- if not for the GOP nomination, then certainly the debate.

2012: Huckabee, Romney locked with Obama

A new Farleigh Dickinson poll of registered voters shows Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney running even with Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election.

a. Mike Huckabee 46% Barack Obama 46%

b. Barack Obama 44% Mitt Romney 43%

c. Barack Obama 46% Chris Christie 40%

d. Barack Obama 48% Tim Pawlenty 34%

e. Barack Obama 52% Newt Gingrich 37%

f. Barack Obama 54% Sarah Palin 34%

Notes: These are strong numbers for the GOP contenders named Romney and Huckabee, and show just how huge a gap Palin and Newt face.

And it all comes down to independents.

Palin is thrashed among independents by 18%, while Huckabee leads Obama by 9% among that group. That's a 27% difference in the most important bloc.

Romney and Obama are tied among indies, while Christie fells the POTUS by 3%.

Preference among REPUBS + REPUB-LEANERS for 2012 nomination:

1. Mike Huckabee 21%

2. Mitt Romney 19%

3. Sarah Palin and Chris Christie 11%

5. Newt Gingrich 8%

6. Tim Pawlenty 5%

Another presidential debate added

The summer affair will be moderated by Tucker Carlson and Grover Norquist in Nevada.

The Daily Caller announced Thursday that it will host a Republican Presidential Primary Debate on July 10 in conjunction with Americans for Tax Reform and Citizens Outreach Foundation. The debate will be held in Nevada, an early caucus state, at the Conservative Leadership Caucus in Las Vegas.

.... TheDC/ATR debate will come just a month before the Ames Straw Poll, to be held in Iowa on August 13.

Huckabee unclear on ground troops

On his radio program, Mike Huckabee says ground troops might be necessary in Libya (Ben Smith has audio here).

"One thing you'd think would be common knowledge by now is that you can't win a war with air power alone.

You can bomb until the rubble turns to gravel, but at some point, foot soldiers have to go in and finish the dirty job. Ironically, foot soldiers may turn out to be the Achilles heel of the Libya operation.

.... For the rebels to regain the upper hand, might require the allies to either arm them - which backfired in Afghanistan - or put our own boots on the ground to fight Gaddafi on their behalf.

President Obama has already said no to both those options.

Just ten days ago, Huckabee said the U.S. shouldn't commit any ground troops to the effort, while talking to a TV station in North Carolina.

"It's one thing to destroy air targets. I think the president is exactly right -- we do not want to commit ground troops. We don't have them to commit.

We're in two theatres of war now -- Iraq and Afghanistan. We just don't have any more forces available for any prolonged situation, at all."

It's possible, if confusing, to, kind of, square both statements.

His radio comments don't necessarily suggest a strategy; they just reflect what he views as a reality -- you can't win without ground troops. That reality would also extend to his North Carolina comments -- you can't afford to overextend and send in ground troops.

But his North Carolina comments don't give him much leeway to criticize Obama, because Huck himself wouldn't commit the ground troops he says are required to win.

Here are his NC remarks.

Gingrich to speak at National Catholic Breakfast

Matt Lewis reports that Newt Gingrich will speak at the 7th Annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in D.C. on April 27.

Btw, Newt is also speaking at evangelical bastion, Liberty University, this month -- for the second time in six months.

Gingrich converted to Catholicism two years ago.

Rand Paul ribs Gingrich on Libya, wives

KY Sen. Rand Paul, at the Congressional Correspondents Dinner, last night.

"I was happy to see that Newt Gingrich has staked out a position on the war. A position... or two... or maybe three.

I don't know. He may have more war positions than he's had wives."

Gingrich has come under heavy criticism from both the Left and Right for the evolution of his position on Libya.

Vid via Think Progress.

SC GOP wants Florida stripped of convention

Fox News:

South Carolina state Republican party Chairwoman Karen Floyd wants the Republican National Commitee to severly punish the Republican party of Florida for its refusal to postpone its scheduled January 31 presidential primary to a later date in compliance with the national parties approved calendar. She has authored a letter to the full GOP suggesting sanctions against the Sunshine State.

Floyd wants the RNC to takeaway the 2012 Republican National Convention, which is set for Tampa, and send it to another state. The odds of that are slim since tens of millions of dollars in contracts have already been signed and Forida is already risking a predetermined penalty of losing half its nominating delegates for breaking the RNC's approved calendar.

Iowa's Republican Party is backing South Carolina's position.

Matt Strawn, chairman of the Iowa GOP, releases a statement.

“The contempt that Florida legislators hold not only for the RNC 2012 rules, but also for the RNC members who approved these rules, is astonishing. To reward this arrogance with our national convention is a great disservice to the Republican activists, donors and elected officials nationwide who support the RNC.

“RNC Chairman Priebus has worked diligently with many states to ensure compliance with the 2012 rules, but there must be consequences to the continued slow-walking by Florida legislators to get their state in compliance with rules passed by over two-thirds of RNC members.

“If Florida refuses to move its primary date into compliance with RNC rules, that consequence should be the re-opening of the process to select the site of the 2012 RNC Convention. I join South Carolina Chairwoman Floyd today in beginning preparations to request that the Committee convene a special task force to select a new site for the 2012 Convention outside the state of Florida.”

Giuliani rips Obama's management of Libya

On Fox News today, Rudy Giuliani gave Barack Obama the most severe of all back-handed compliments on his handling of the Libyan crisis.

HOST STEVE DOOCEY: You would say he did the right thing in going in?

GIULIANI: In the most muddled and confused way. If you could, ultimately, make the right decision and do all the wrong things to load onto that decision, that's the way he did it.

Trump on birtherism: "I am embracing the issue"

Donald Trump confirmed it to MSNBC this morning.

"Well, I am embracing the issue, and I'm proud of the issue. I think somebody has to embrace it."

Ironically, his comments came after he took offense that MSNBC host, Savannah Guthrie, brought up the birther controversy before she did any other issue.

HOST SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: If you want to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate, do you think this issue of the president's birth is the most serious issue facing the country that you could use your considerable profile and popularity to raise or does it feed into the perception that this is just kind of a sideshow.

TRUMP: Well, I do think it's a serious issue, Savannah, but I also think that a lot of people, frankly, like yourself, Joe [Scarborough] and Mike [Brzezinski] -- they bring it up as the first question.

.... the fact is that Bill O'Reilly -- the first question he asked me was about the birther....

GUTHRIE: [interrupting] Well, wait a minute, Mr. Trump, you are a sophisticated consumer of media. You know that if you embrace this issue, that is going to catch headlines. You could downplay it.

TRUMP: Well, I am embracing the issue, and I'm proud of the issue. I think somebody has to embrace it.

Bachmann: What makes me different

Michele Bachmann, after The Daily Caller asks what would set her apart from other '12 candidates.

“If I tell people I am going to do something, or fight for them, I do it,” Bachmann told TheDC.

“Even if means the mainstream media comes after me, I’m willing to stand and fight for them. That’s one thing, I think, that really sets me apart. People know that I’m authentic, I’m sincere, they can count on me.

I’m not going to lie to people or tell them something that they want to hear. I don’t put my finger in the wind to test the political winds to see which way we should go. I’m strong and I’m principled."

That sounds awfully similar to the argument Sarah Palin would make for herself.

Trump: Birth certificate might say Obama is Muslim

Donald Trump combined two conspiracy theories into one giant, ratings-grabbing question mark on Fox last night.

"He may have one, but there's something on that birth certificate -- maybe religion. Maybe it says he's a Muslim. I don't know."

Vid via Mediaite:

Romney: The plague of joblessness

Mitt Romney has hammered Barack Obama on joblessness before, but in a new op-ed for USA Today, he suggests an infamous home for the phenomenon -- right next to the societal ills coloring Daniel Moynihan's famous Defining Deviancy Down.

Moynihan focused on the growing acceptance of the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, the expansion of single-parent families and the violence in inner cities. To his examples, we can now add joblessness.

Last year, unemployment averaged a shocking 9.6%. The previous year, at 9.3%, was only marginally better. So far in 2011, it has fallen to 8.9%.

A consensus has emerged among some economists and politicians that we must accept historically high levels of unemployment over the next several years.

It doesn't have to be that way, Romney argues, and the most important policy-oriented steps are tax rates that incentivize, less regulation, less spending, and trade reform.

Politically, it involves getting rid of "the most anti-investment, anti-business, anti-jobs" environment since the Jimmy Carter administration. That, Romney claims, is the Obama White House.

Evening eats

a. Palin slams Obama on energy.

b. Rubio rules out Veep?

c. How the Huckabee vs. Natalie Portman story spiraled out of control.

d. Is Trump a Reform Birther?

e. Newt defends himself on Libya (again).

f. Is T-Paw the pro-life candidate?

g. Iowa is jumbled.

h. Why Huntsman's New Hampshire-Only strategy might be flawed.

i. Oprah wants to help Donald.

j. Mark Levin says Ron Paul supporters have a "mob mentality."

k. Trump previews tonight's appearance on O'Reilly.

Barbour mum on report that he's reaching out to Huckabee

On Fox News today, Haley Barbour kept tight-lipped on reports that his aides are reaching out to the Mike Huckabee camp to secure an endorsement.

NEIL CAVUTO: But if he doesn't -- his support you would like, if you were to entertain running?

BARBOUR: Neil, if you don't run for president, I'd like to have your support. Of course, I'd like to have any -- if I end up running -- of course, I want to get everybody's support who's not running.

Here's the full context of the exchange.

NEIL CAVUTO: [There was] talk that maybe, behind the scenes, those who are touting you to run are asking, maybe, Mike Huckabee to throw his support to you, assuming he does not run.

Is any of that true?

BARBOUR: Oh, look Mike Huckabee and I have been friends. As it happens, I was chairman of the Republican National Committee when he was elected lieutenant governor of Arkansas back in 1993, and I was proud to be able to support him in that race, and we've been great friends ever since.

The most important thing is that Mike Huckabee hasn't decided not to run. He is still considering running.

He has said that publicly, he has said that to me, and I know Mike Huckabee well enough that I take him at his word.

Pawlenty to Boston for tea party rally

Tim Pawlenty is headed to Boston, Massachusetts next month to deliver a headlining address to a tea party rally, organized by the Greater Boston Tea Party.

The address will take place on Tax Day (April 15) and is another example of Pawlenty's aggressive outreach to tea party groups.

Last month, he spoke to a tea party group in Arizona, and cut this video, titled: "Tea Party: A New Birth of Freedom."

Is religion still Romney's albatross?

Forget his health care program in Massachusetts, it's Mitt Romney's religion that an ex-aide says is still the biggest problem in his potential run.

“It’s not something you can test. It’s not something you can poll,’’ [Romney's 2008 deputy campaign manager and political director Carl] Forti said after a bipartisan panel at the Grand Hyatt in Washington handicapped the 2012 field. “There’s just a bias out there.’’

Democratic pollster Mark Mellman agreed, calling it “the last acceptable social prejudice.’’

Palin rips Daily Caller

Sarah Palin uses a 965-word Facebook post to slam a 575-word Daily Caller story that repeated conservative complaints on legislation she signed to incentivize the state's film industry.

Included in Palin's slam: her usual dose of personal attacks -- this one directed not only at the reporter, but also at Tucker Carlson, the website's head.

[The Caller's] editor-in-chief was recently called on the carpet for publicly using a degrading term to describe women. C’mon Daily Caller, we can’t afford you slipping up like this. America is counting on more professionalism than that.

Palin's claim last week that she'd stop "whining" about the media lasted about as long as Luis Costillo's tenure with the Phillies.

Chamber CEO: Christie would be "exciting" candidate

The Hill's Daniel Strauss:

Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Tom Donohue said Wednesday that Gov. Chris Christie would be an exciting candidate if he decided to run for president, further stoking the buzz about the New Jersey Republican’s future.

In an interview with Fox Business Network Donohue called Christie an "exciting" candidate but cautioned that the Chamber of Commerce does not endorse candidates or get involved in presidential races.

“The Chamber doesn’t do presidential politics," Donohue said. "We do House and Senate and other things, but I would say Chris Christie is exciting.”

Speaking of Christie and speaking of The Hill, here's some writing from Shane D'Aprile on the New Jersey governor's star turn for the NRCC tonight.

The National Republican Congressional Committee's annual fundraising dinner will bring in some $10 million for House Republicans, an NRCC spokesman confirms.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie headlines the Wednesday evening event, which is projected to bring in at least $3 million more for the committee than last year's dinner.

Trump talking with Fabrizio

Maggie Haberman:

Donald Trump is in talks with veteran GOP pollster and strategist Tony Fabrizio as he mulls a potential presidential campaign, POLITICO has learned.
Continue Reading

The conversations with Fabrizio, who's been on the national scene for decades, are the latest signal that Trump is giving actual consideration to a 2012 bid.

.... Fabrizio's highest-volume victory of late was with Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who captured the governor's office last year.

My take on Trump today:

There’s no more sensational step to take than running for president, and no more sensational claim to make than that the current one isn’t constitutionally eligible.

If you hadn’t noticed, that’s Trump’s platform.

And sensationalism has made his career.

Gingrich: I needed the wilderness years

This is one way to spin an, arguably, less relevant resume.

Gingrich said.... that had he not left the House of Representatives in 1999 he wouldn't be in a position to make a run at the GOP nomination for president because now "I've had a chance to renew my energy and thoughts."

[Hat tip: First Read]

Brownback campaign manager backing Huntsman

Rob Wasinger, the 2008 campaign manager for pro-life stalwart Sam Brownback, tells Life News that he's supporting Jon Huntsman for president.

"As pro-lifers we need someone who is 100% committed to the pro-life cause, and who can beat Obama in November of 2012.

That person is Jon Huntsman and I, like many others in this country, are strongly encouraging him to run for President. Should Jon Huntsman run for President, I will work hard to elect him and to make sure we get his record of conservative accomplishment out to the voters.”

Strong endorsements of Huntsman's pro-life record might help diffuse social conservative doubts about the ex-Utah governor -- concerns that are fueled largely by his position on gay issues.

Also, note Wasinger's nod to electability, something Huntsman will make a big part of his campaign.

Bachmann: No Libya for me

The Hill's Shane D'Aprile:

Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said Wednesday that President Obama made the wrong decision in using military force against Libya, arguing that the U.S. does not have a vital national security interest at stake and expressing worry that al Qaeda is among the rebels.

In an interview on NBC's "Today Show," Bachmann said humanitarian intervention is "apparently the new Obama doctrine" and "would be the basis for the United States to enter into one country after another. I don't think that's in the American interest."

The Minnesota Republican, who's weighing a run for president in 2012, said had she been in the Oval Office and faced with the choice of intervening militarily in Libya, "I would not have gone in."

There's been a lot of talk about what or even if there is an "Obama Doctrine." Note that here Bachmann says it draws from the nebulous "humanitarian intervention."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The increasing strain of isolationism in the GOP base and among presidential candidates is getting fascinating.

Especially when you compare it with conservatives like Bill Kristol, who happily says Barack Obama is a "born-again neo-con."

Kristol's agenda seems to be primarily about advancing his worldview; whereas, some of the other GOP candidates -- as the WSJ noted yesterday -- about advancing their political ambitions.

Bachmann's inner circle

Chris Cillizza makes a cheat-sheet of the key names surrounding Michele Bachmann's incipient presidential campaign.

* Ed Brookover: Brookover is an old hand in Washington Republican politics, having served as the political director at the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 1996 and 1998 election cycles. He’s also done stints at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican National Committee. Brookover is currently the head of the political practice at Greener & Hook, a GOP consulting firm.

* Rebecca Donatelli: Donatelli specializes in online fundraising and strategy. She served as Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) chief Internet consultant for his 2000 and 2008 presidential bids. Donatelli also worked for former Alaska governor Sarah Palin following the 2008 campaign but the two parted ways after only a few months.

* Tom McGill: McGill broke into campaign politics in 2004 working for the re-election bid of President George W. Bush in Minnesota. McGill then helped head up fundraising for then Rep. Mark Kennedy’s (R-Minn.) 2006 Senate bid and, in 2008,served as deputy national finance director for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign. He also helped raise money for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

* Andy Parrish: Parrish currently serves as Bachmann’s chief of staff in her congressional office but has long connections to her, having served as her campaign manager in her first run for Congress in 2006. Parrish rejoined Bachmann’s political world last year when he served as a consultant to her re-election race and then signed on as chief of staff after the 2010 midterms.

* Guy Short: Short served as a general consultant to Bachmann during her 2010 campaign and was primarily tasked with raising the astounding $13.5 million that she collected over the past two years. Based in Denver, Short was along for Bachmann’s trip to Iowa last week. Short previously served as chief of staff to Colorado Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R) who lost her bid for re-election in 2008.

* Kent Sorenson: Sorenson, elected to the Iowa state Senate in 2010, has already pledged his support to Bachmann if she runs and has helped make introductions for her during her recent forays into the Hawkeye State. Sorenson is among the most conservative members of the Iowa legislature — he drew national press for submitting a bill that would require a candidate for president to produce a birth certificate — and is regarded as a leader of the tea party movement in Iowa.

Pawlenty's quick case

As candidates declare, it'll be interesting to see how they pare down their argument to its critical core in a minute or less.

Last night, Sean Hannity asked Tim Pawlenty what distinguished him from other potential candidates.

T-Paw's answer:

A. Story (meat-packing).

B. Record (Cato).

C. Politics (I can unite the party).

Expect that template for hundreds of upcoming interviews where he's forced to give a quick, sound-bitey case.

"What'll differentiate people, first of all, is their personal background and story -- like Senator Rubio.

I grew up in a blue-collar background, in a meat-packing town.

We've all got a record. The Cato Institute gave me one of four 'A' grades for governors in the country -- one of four. I'm the only one in the north half of the country.

I've got a vision for the future. And I think another thing that's going to differentiate is I can unite not just the conservative movement, but the party.

If you look at libertarian conservatives, economic conservatives, social conservatives, national defense conservatives.

I think I'm going to be the only candidate in the field who can genuinely and deeply appeal to the whole party, and then go out and compete in a place like Minnesota and win it."

Romney underwhelming in Michigan

An important PPP survey from yesterday -- Mitt Romney leads the GOP field in Michigan, but not by too much over Mike Huckabee.

Michigan, of course, is one of Romney's home-states.

1. Mitt Romney 26%

2. Mike Huckabee 20%

3. Newt Gingrich 15%

4. Sarah Palin 12%

5. Ron Paul 7%

6. Mitch Daniels 5%

7. Tim Pawlenty and Scott Walker 3%

Favorable Ratings:

a. Mitt Romney 66%/20% for +46%.

b. Mike Huckabee 63%/20% for +43%.

c. Sarah Palin 64%/28% for +36%.

d. Newt Gingrich 55%/24% for +31%.

Notes: Romney beat Huckabee by 23% in the state in 2008, and now wins by just 6%. He's especially struggling among the "very conservative."

With moderates he gets a strong 39% and with 'somewhat conservative' voters he's at a respectable 28%. But with 'very conservative' folks he just ties Huckabee at 20%. More over his favorability with them is only 63% compared to 83% for Palin, 71% for Huckabee, and even 65% for Gingrich.

Romney's weak standing with the far right is his greatest hurdle to potentially winning the nomination.

Btw, Sarah Palin is showing real weakness in the poll.

In January, a Strategic National poll in the state showed her down just 7% to Romney, while in December 10, 2010, a PPP survey had her down just 4%.

Now, she's fallen all the way to fourth and doesn't even manage half of what Romney gets.

Tim Pawlenty fares surprisingly poorly in the poll, as well, considering he's a former midwestern governor. In fact, his fellow midwestern executive, Mitch Daniels, outdraws him -- not to mention most the rest of the field.

Pawlenty: Birtherism becoming "big distraction"

Last night, Sean Hannity and Tim Pawlenty talked about Donald Trump's fixation on the birther issue.

Read the whole exchange -- it sounds like Hannity is starting to feel a little sympathetic toward the birther argument.

HANNITY: Let me first ask you about this little battle with Trump. Donald Trump has said "where's the birth certificate?"

And you said it's not an issue for you. You have no doubt, whatsoever. My question to you is -- I never really followed the issue, but I've gotten more interested only lately.

Why don't they just produce the stupid thing and move on? I don't get it.

PAWLENTY: First of all, as to Donald Trump -- "The Donald" -- I think he's successful, entertaining, interesting, funny, I think he brings a lot to the debate, so you know, good for him.

But on the other hand, for me, the news reports from CNN and others have said they've seen the birth certificate.

HANNITY: [chuckling] Never trust CNN.

PAWLENTY: [laughing] Well, it's a start.

But look, we've got big issues in the country. I mean, this is an important issue if it turned out to be true, but I just don't believe that with the advertisement, with the hospital announcement, with the certificate of live birth that somebody that long ago fabricated and created a fraudulent situation that Barack Obama could be where he is today.

I just don't believe that. Maybe. If it's something Trump wants to pursue, but...

HANNITY: [interrupting] .... There's nothing wrong with asking the question. You don't have a problem with people saying 'Look, can we just see it?'

Can you find it?

PAWLENTY: No, but it's been reported. CNN -- I watched it myself -- CNN reported: they saw the birth certificate.

So you gotta either believe that they didn't, and they're lying, or there's something else going on.

HANNITY: It's just something weird that they don't release it and just get it over with. 'Cause I don't doubt it.

Now it's getting strange that they just don't say 'Here'...

PAWLENTY: [interrupting] ... But the other thing is that it's becoming a big distraction for other reasons, too.

We've got issues right in front of us that are gonna take down the country if we don't fix them.

Yesterday, Pawlenty also denounced birtherism on MSNBC.

Huckabee does better than Barbour in Mississippi

A Public Policy Polling survey shows Mike Huckabee outperforming home-state governor, Haley Barbour, in a general election matchup in Mississippi.

a. Mike Huckabee 54% Barack Obama 40%

b. Haley Barbour 51% Barack Obama 41%

c. Mitt Romney 46% Barack Obama 40%

d. Newt Gingrich 48% Barack Obama 42%

e. Sarah Palin 48% Barack Obama 44%

Favorable Ratings:

a. Mike Huckabee 51%/29% for +22%.

b. Newt Gingrich 42%/38% for +4%.

c. Mitt Romney 34%/41% for -7%.

d. Sarah Palin 42%/50% for -8%.

Haley Barbour's approval rating is 52%/39% for +13%, while Barack Obama's is 42%/54% for -12%.

Notes: Only 33% want Haley Barbour to run for president next year, while 48% don't. Breaking that down, 54% of GOP voters think he should make the bid, and 76% of Dems dissent.

The racial divide in the state on Obama's approval rating is massive. 93% of blacks think he's doing a good job as president; only 16% of whites say the same.

Finally, the fact that Huckabee outperforms Barbour in Mississippi shows just how strange it would be for Huck to opt out of a run, and back Barbour, instead.

But reports say Barbour is courting him heavily, and the two are very close.

Unserious candidates gets serious attention

Fergus Cullen, former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, tells me:

“Heck, if the Jones family from Ohio planned a summer vacation to New Hampshire, they could probably get the keynote at a county GOP barbecue.”

Pawlenty warns of double-dip recession

The Hill's Jordan Fabian:

Tim Pawlenty (R) predicted Tuesday that the U.S. will face a double-dip recession that could last all the way until the 2012 elections.

The likely presidential candidate said the government, under President Obama, has devalued the dollar by injecting "fiat money" into the economy in an attempt to boost it — a plan he said will be damaging in the long-run.

"I think we're headed for a double-dip. That's my personal view."

... [he said] the economy will likely worsen leading up to 2012, which would almost certainly damage Obama's standing with voters.

First debate moved to September

The May 2 GOP presidential debate -- co-sponsored by MSNBC and Politico -- has been moved to September 14, thanks to the fact that no major candidate has formally announced a bid.

“Although there will be a long and impressive list of Republican candidates who eventually take the field, too few have made the commitment thus far for a debate to be worthwhile in early May," said John Heubusch, the Reagan Foundation's executive director.

"The Reagan Foundation’s first Republican presidential primary debate will move to the fall, allowing enough time for the full slate of candidates to participate."

Gallup: Huckabee with highest positive intensity score

A new Gallup poll shows Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Michele Bachmann receiving the highest "positive intensity" scores of potential 2012 GOP candidates.

Positive intensity is measured by subtracting the number of Republicans who view a candidate strongly unfavorably from the number viewing them favorably.

It's an awfully impressive score for Bachmann, as she continues to pick up buzz.

Meanwhile, Huckabee sports the highest "strongly favorable" ratings of any '12 candidate. Sarah Palin, meanwhile, has the worst "strongly unfavorable" numbers.

Former Bachmann staffer fears general election blowout

Ron Carey, former chief of staff to Michele Bachmann, tells The Minnesota Independent why he's backing Tim Pawlenty over his former boss.

"I don’t want to have an emotionally filled endeavor only to get 35 percent [of the vote] in November [2012].”

Santorum: Abortion contributes to Social Security problem

Life News' Steven Ertelt reports:

“The social security system, in my opinion, is a flawed design, period,” Santorum said in an interview with WEZS Radio in Laconia, New Hampshire. "But having said that, the design would work a lot better if we had stable demographic trends.”

Santorum cited the “abortion culture” and said “we don’t have enough workers to support the retirees. Well, a third of all the young people in America are not in America today because of abortion.”

The former senator and House member made the comments in response to a caller to the radio station who made the same point about abortion hurting Social Security and Medicare and the Catholic Republican said he was “absolutely right.”

When Huckabee got mad

An interesting little anecdote from my new profile of Mike Huckabee.

It was 5:30 in the morning when Chip Saltsman, Mike Huckabee’s campaign manager, got a call from the former Arkansas governor.

Huckabee was mad.

Saltsman had been discussing the state’s importance, and had casually mentioned, “Texas is a big damn state.” The Dallas Morning News printed the obscenity, and Saltsman recalls that — as he was saying the words — he immediately knew he’d crossed the line.

“I said, ‘Oh, he’s not going to like that’… that was the only time he truly got mad at me."

Herman Cain added to SRLC

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference has added another '12 prospect to its roster of speakers -- Herman Cain.

"I look forward to returning to New Orleans to address the Republican Leadership Conference," said Cain, in a email release.

"Last year, I explained how important it was for Republicans to win back the House during the midterm elections in 2010. And we did. Now, we set our eyes on the U.S. Senate and the White House. Our momentum continues to grow to get this country back on track, and RLC is a critical component in doing so."

Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum are already scheduled to speak at the June 16-18 event in New Orleans.

Last year, Mitt Romney picked up one more vote than Ron Paul to win the conference's presidential straw poll.

Huckabee to headline event with Andrew Breitbart

This is a big pairing.

Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor considering making a repeat run for president next year, will speak at the Family Arena May 1.

Huckabee, a Fox News commentator, will headline the event with conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart.

The Sunday afternoon event starts at 4:30 p.m. and is sponsored by KFTK-FM, the local FM talk radio station.

You can buy Breitbart's new book -- pictured above -- here.

O'Reilly: Palin doesn't engage with voters

Bill O'Reilly says Sarah Palin has a Barack Obama problem -- namely, that she doesn't engage with hostile audiences.

"Her favorability among Republicans and independents has dropped 4% in a month, and the reason, I think, it's dropping is because she's not engaging directly.

When I had her on this program, I asked her some specific questions she didn't want to answer. She wanted to give a speech, and this, that, and the other thing.

.... Barack Obama, if he looks like he doesn't want to go into the tougher venues.... people are going to say: 'Look, you're not confident in your position. That's not leadership'."

Here's arctic exchange, earlier this month, when O'Reilly pressed Palin for specific answers, and she replied by telling him not to interrupt.



[Hat tip: Bob Cusack]

Rubio staying neutral in 2012 primaries

Marco Rubio backed Mike Huckabee in the 2008 GOP presidential contest, but neither Huckabee nor anyone else will get his support in 2012.

Manu Raju:

The Florida freshman told POLITICO that he won’t back anyone in the 2012 GOP primary race, robbing presidential wannabes of a prized endorsement they could tout with the Republican base.

“I’m going to stay neutral,” he said in the Capitol.

.... “I’m going to support the nominee, but I’m not going to endorse there,” he said with a smile. “I had a bad primary experience.”

Senor hits Palin, GOP on Libya comments

Conservative, foreign policy wonk, Dan Senor, tells Fox News that -- although he's not completely happy with Barack Obama's approach to Libya -- Sarah Palin and other Republicans were wrong to criticize it after the POTUS' speech last night.

"I don't think what Governor Palin said is terribly constructive.

I don't think what many Republicans leaders have been saying over the last week have been terribly constructive.

Barack Obama -- it is not in his DNA to actually call for regime change, unilateral path toward regime change. It is not who he is.

It's frustrating to me, it's frustrating to a lot of people. But against that backdrop, with that context in mind, you gotta be pretty impressed with the speech he gave.

He made a compelling case for military intervention based on America's interest, American values, and he made a case that America's military has the capacity to do this operation.

And I think conservatives who want a more muscular foreign policy and national security policy -- who've been arguing for dealing with Gaddafi -- should be pleased he's going as far as he is.

And to just take cheap shots at him and holding Obama to standards that are just unrealistic -- I don't know where that gets us."

Last night, Palin called Obama's policy and speech "full of chaos", "dodgy", and "dubious."



The Wall Street Journal ran an editorial today on a growing schism in the GOP -- one heightened by presidential politics that's likely to get more severe as 2012 approaches.

President Obama made a substantial case for his Libya intervention for the first time Monday evening, and however overdue and self-referential ("I refused to let that happen"), we welcome the effort. Perhaps it will give Republicans a reason to emerge as constructive, rather than partisan, foreign-policy critics as well.

We say "perhaps" because the instinctive temptation for some Republicans has been to oppose the Libyan mission led by a Democratic Commander in Chief. Some object to the operation's cost amid record deficits, others gripe about Mr. Obama's reflexive bow to the "international community," while still others are responding to a part of the GOP cable-TV and Internet base that wants fewer foreign interventions after Iraq and Afghanistan.

.... We understand the instinctive mistrust of this most political of Presidents, a man whose every decision now is rooted in his desire for re-election. This is not a President who leads from the front—on the budget, or on Libya. But that doesn't mean that Republicans should wash their hands of American global leadership. Their opportunity is to make the case for what American leadership should look like.

Pawlenty: I don't "play into" birtherism

This morning, Tim Pawlenty told MSNBC that Donald Trump was off-base on his birther questions.

"I think he's talented, I think he's funny, I think he's interesting... I, for one, do not believe that we should be raising that issue in the sense that President Obama was born in the United States.

... I question his policies, but, no, I don't play into that."

Pawlenty questions GOP resolve on entitlements

On MSNBC, Tim Pawlenty continues his move to the right of congressional Republicans on entitlement reform -- an issue he might make a centerpiece of his campaign.

PAWLENTY: You can't get out of this hole, substantially, without addressing entitlements.... we need to raise the retirement age for new entrants on Social Security -- that's acceptable, I think, to most Americans for new entrants into the program.

Number two, I'm not for means-testing, generally, but it's okay to means-test at least the cost of living adjustment in social security; not the whole program.

For Medicaid, we have to shut off the auto-pilot features, block grant it, send the whole thing to the states.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: That's great. That's great. Is your party showing leadership on this front?

PAWLENTY: Not yet. Not yet.

BRZESINSKI: What do they need to do, and who needs to do it?

PAWLENTY: Well, I would start with this premise: politicians tend to get more courage when their backs are up against the wall.

So on this issue of never-ending, continuing resolutions vs. the prospect of a government shut-down -- we don't wish that, I think that should be a last resort.

But I think that it's time to draw a line in the sand and have the showdown.

Pawlenty wants to recall Syrian ambassador

The Hill's Jordan Fabian:

[Last night] Tim Pawlenty (R) called on President Obama to recall the U.S.'s ambassador to Syria while criticizing his handling of the unrest there.

Pawlenty.... said the president's decision to restore America's ambassador last year legitimized the regime of dictator Bashar Assad, which has used violence to tamp down anti-government protests there.

.... "It’s a crock. It’s a complete crock. And it shows the naivete of the Obama administration," he said.

"To have his administration essentially being embracing in any manner or degree Bashar Assad and Syria as a peace agent – or an agent for reform and stability in the region – is either ignorant or frighteningly misguided."

Is Barbour courting Huckabee?

Jonathan Martin, on the implications of a possible meeting yesterday between Haley Barbour and Mike Huckabee in Mississippi -- the existence of which aides neither confirmed nor denied.

Huckabee would offer his fellow governor an important credential among Christian conservatives. Barbour is a down-the-line social conservative on the issues – he often mentions that under his governorship Mississippi was deemed the safest place for an unborn child – but he doesn’t have the personal connection with the Christian Right that Huckabee enjoys.

The former Baptist preacher’s endorsement would make it easier for Barbour to deflect questions about just how ardent a cultural conservative he is.

That's very important. Barbour has been vague over the past few years about how important he thinks social issues are in national elections and whether Mitch Daniels' truce is a good or bad idea.

One thing to note: Barbour is a legendary friend to everyone and everyone's friend, and it might come in handy in eventually securing endorsements from two key players and very good friends -- Huckabee and Mitch Daniels.

Huntsman signs key New Hampshire players

John DiStaso reports that Jon Huntsman's Horizon PAC has hired veteran Paul Collins and Brad Blass to consult and organize political operations in New Hampshire.

The Granite Status learned independently that Collins and Blais will be the key personnel in the leadoff primary state along with former Executive Councilor Peter Spaulding.

Collins has worked for both the elder and younger John Sununus during his long political career, while the younger Blais has worked on a number of different campaigns, recently.

Rubio: "I'm not running for president in 2012"

ABC's Jonathan Karl and Marco Rubio talk about a potential presidential bid in 2012 for the (very) junior Florida Senator.

It's one of the most deflecty-exchanges you'll ever hear, and has the quality of an Abbott & Costello bit, except that instead of a question about who's on first, it's a question about what being a U.S. Senator is -- repeated over and over.

RUBIO: The reality is that I ran for the United States Senate for a simple reason. The United States Senate is a pretty important job, too.

KARL: There's no question the Senate is an important job, but are you not ready to be president?

RUBIO: I think the problem is: I just got elected three months ago, and so how can I be a full-time United Sates Senator if my eyes are already on running for something else?

KARL: Okay, so that's a reason. Would you also say you're not ready? I mean, you've only been in the Senate for 10, 11 weeks.

RUBIO: Well, that assumes being a U.S. Senator necessarily prepares you to be president. I think what prepares you to be president is to have a pretty clear vision of what America should be in the world.

KARL: But do you have that clear vision? Do you have those things you just articulated?

RUBIO: Well, I think a United States Senator needs the same things, as well.

KARL: But do you have that. If those considerations -- are you qualified to be president?

RUBIO: Well, now what you're asking me is something different. You're asking me: do I have a clear vision for the role that America's government should play in America? I do, and that's what I ran on.

KARL: I'm just saying what you say a president needs to have.

RUBIO: Yeah, but a U.S. Senator needs to have it, too.

KARL: Do you categorically rule it out? Is there absolutely no way under any circumstances that you would run for president?

RUBIO: Even speculating about it is problematic, because when you speculate about it, what you're basically saying is: I'm thinking about something other than the job right now.

KARL: Okay, I'm not asking you for speculation. Would you rule it out?

RUBIO: You are asking me to speculate.

KARL: We can end all speculation now.

RUBIO: I'm not running for president in 2012.

KARL: No way?

RUBIO: No, because I want to be a United States Senator. I want to be the best United States Senator that Florida's ever had.

Vid via ABC.

Evening eats

a. Grading the candidates in Iowa.

b. Michele Bachmann gets big buzz.

c. Time thinks you should follow Sarah Palin.

d. Rare juxtaposition: Newt talks about Latino and Jewish cultures.

e. Marco Rubio is "very proud" of his association with the tea party.

f. Bob McDonnell keeps it sartorially-real while calling VCU.

g. Nate Silver thinks Romney is a good bet.

h. Why Santorum canceled his Iowa trip.

i. Some good advice for '12 outsiders.

j. Circa 2007.

Judge Roy Moore to run for president

Neil King. Jr. reports that Roy Moore, the Alabama Supreme Court chief justice who lost his seat on the bench from a dispute over the 10 Commandments, is ready to run for president.

He'll allegedly launch an exploratory committee and compete hard in Iowa.

Judge Moore’s entry in Iowa will only intensify the feverish competition among GOP hopefuls for the state’s large bloc of evangelical voters.

.... Conservatives here insist that a Moore run could gain some traction among Iowans looking for a bedrock social conservative.

“I think that conservatives have been starved long enough,” said Brian Rosener, GOP chairman of Woodbury County, which includes Sioux City in the state’s northwest corner. “Someone like Judge Moore could come along and prove a shocker.”

It's not immediately clear why Moore would present a more acceptable alternative to "starved" social conservatives than Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin et al.,

Also, whatever happened to former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's flirt with a bid a month ago?

Lugar's challenger endorses Mitch Daniels for president

Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock -- the conservative, primary challenger to Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar -- agrees with his challenger on at least one thing: Mitch Daniels should be the next president.

"I would walk through fire for Mitch Daniels. I literally would," Mourdock told The Ballot Box of the governor, who's backing Lugar's reelection campaign.

"Do I want to see him run? Absolutely," Mourdock said of Daniels, who is still weighing a presidential bid. "Ironically, it would probably be bad for me."

And, ironically and understandably:

Mourdock said a Daniels candidacy could hypothetically help Lugar hang onto the GOP nomination.

"If that happened, there would be a lot of people picking up ballots that have never voted for a Republican in a Republican primary before," he said.

"I imagine they'd be more inclined to go with name ID and thus vote for Senator Lugar."

Donald Trump releases birth certificate

And he does so to leading conservative site, NewsMax. Click here to see his very first document with gold on it.

[Hat tip: AllahPundit]

UPDATE: And speaking of gold...

People are tuning in to "The Celebrity Apprentice" more and more every week, and the new ratings from Sunday night prove that people are more than enjoying what the show is dishing out.

.... Even more impressive was the fact that it was able to build up these numbers without much of a lead-in, while both CBS and ABC have more traditional anchors such as "60 Minutes" and "America's Funniest Home Videos" that help feed into the rest of the night.

Trump's trouble with Iowa

In case you (or World Net Daily) were getting excited about a Donald Trump bid for president, here's Chris Cillizza for you.

The Iowa candidacy of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2008 is instructive for those who think Trump’s celebrity will trump — ahem — Iowans’ natural skepticism about celebrity candidates.

Giuliani, who was a universally recognized figure for his role in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, made a few trips to Iowa but drew negative attention for the size of the entourage that traveled with him and his tendency to avoid scheduling events in which he waded into the general populace. He eventually finished a dismal sixth in the caucuses.

Trump is the king of limousine travel and when a top aide came to the state to chat about the possibility of a presidential bid by his boss, he did so in a private jet.

Should the media be laughing at Bachmann?

Jennifer Rubin says Michele Bachmann's growing momentum (highlighted by a well-delivered weekend speech in Iowa) is evidence that the media is out-of-touch with the movement it's trying to cover.

Bill Press on Reliable Sources called her a “laughingstock” on Sunday (the rest of us took exception). Bill Maher called her a “bimbo.” But it seems the joke was on the liberal pundits.

I mean, how many times do they [the media] have to miss a story concerning a new conservative phenomenon — the Tea Party, comes to mind — before they figure out that their initial (and often second and third) take on someone whose values and views they abhor might just be out of kilter.

And in any case, do they serve their viewers and readers (not to mention that vaunted gaol of “civility”?) by acting like college freshmen catcalling from the balcony of their fraternity house?

Trump: I won't give up on birther issue

On Fox & Friends today, Donald Trump said a groundswell of support is pushing him toward asking questions about Barack Obama's birthplace.

"I didn't think this was such a big deal, but I will tell you: It's turning out to be a very big deal, because people now are calling me from all over saying, 'Please don't give up on this issue'."

He then hit the news media for dismissing birthers as birthers.

"What they do to the birthers -- and I don't even like the term 'the birthers', I think it's unfair to them -- these are people who want to see a birth certificate. They want to know that the president was born here."

And he said he'd continue bringing up the issue.

"I brought it up just routinely, and all of a sudden, a lot of facts are emerging, and I'm starting to wonder myself whether or not he was born in this country."

Vid via TPM.

Huckabee claims broad appeal

On Kevin McCollough's show, Mike Huckabee pushes back against the popular notion that he only plays well among evangelicals and/or southerners.

"It's been very interesting, Kevin, that every poll virtually that comes out shows me at the top of poll -- not only in state polls, but in national polls.

And another fascinating thing is that the narrative has been 'Well, Mike Huckabee is an evangelical candidate, he doesn't have any appeal beyond that' or 'He's a regional candidate, and he doesn't have any appeal outside of the South.'

Well, when I win polls in New Jersey, in Pennsylvania, in Maine, and places way out of the South, and when I come in either tight second or tied for first in places where I'm not supposed to even register, you'd think that the punditry might begin to understand that there are people out there who believe that, sort of, a common-sense, constitutional approach to Washington makes more sense."

Last November, Public Policy Polling released a survey showing Huckabee with a 7% lead over both Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney in Pennsylvania.

Earlier this month, a PPP poll had Huck and Newt Gingrich tied for the top spot in Maine.

But a New Jersey poll -- also from this month -- had Huck mired in 4th place in New Jersey.

Rand Paul: I'd be a force

KY Sen. Rand Paul makes the electability argument.

“There just aren't many people who can say they might run . . . and be taken seriously, and I can do that."

Spoken like the son of Ron Paul.

[Hat tip: Political Wire]

How Huckabee could elect a moderate

In Iowa, Erin McPike makes a good point:

Paradoxically, Mike Huckabee's victory here in 2008 may end up helping the economic conservatives:

The success of the former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher seems to have inspired the candidacies of a host of second- and third-tier social conservatives -- who may divide up the old Huckabee coalition and thus elevate a more moderate and business-oriented candidate.

That getting-larger group: Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, and possibly Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee.

Romney hires 2008 policy director

CNN's Paul Steinhauser on the reunion:

Romney's Free and Strong America PAC announced Monday that Lanhee Chen will join the political action committee as policy director.

Chen served as Romney's chief domestic policy adviser during the 2008 campaign. Chen was also a health policy adviser to President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and served at the Department of Health and Human Services during the Bush administration.

Romney gives $25,000 to NJ GOP

Mitt Romney's Free and Strong American PAC is contributing $25,000 to the New Jersey Republican Party.

Romney sent the money to the Garden State after having dispatched $5,000 to the Wisconsin and Massachusetts state GOP, and another $6,000 to the New Hampshire Republican Party -- the site of the nation's first 2012 primary.

.... The donations are ostensibly part of an effort by Romney to curry favor with state parties and GOP pols across the country as he ramps up a potential presidential campaign. He's also sent over $300,000 this year to incumbent Republicans in Congress.

Space for Huntsman on the Left?

On Morning Joe today, a telling exchange illustrated the difficulties Jon Huntsman faces in selling conservatives on his record -- Pat Buchanan called John McCain "more of a centrist" than the former Utah governor.

JOHN HEILEMANN: [Huntsman] could be a serious player, coming in, trying to sneak in from the Left.

[Later]

BUCHANAN: Sneaking in from the Left is not the way to win the Republican nomination.

HEILEMANN: Your friend John McCain did that.

BUCHANAN: McCain's a little bit more of a centrist and a war hero. This fellow's got a reputation on the Left.

People often point to Huntsman's support for things like the Western Climate Initiative -- which was roundly denounced by business groups -- and gay civil unions as reasons he could be unacceptable to the base.

A less-discussed aspect of his record? His position on the stimulus in 2009.

Rather than fight it -- like many Republican governors -- Huntsman's administration said it was "asking for whatever is available", according to its erstwhile spokeswoman, and Huntsman himself said:

"These ventures would provide concrete stimulus to our economy, resulting in positive impacts to Utah families.

This is a tremendous opportunity to fast-forward work on critical infrastructure projects and create a focus on Utah's effort to develop more [natural-gas] fueling sites throughout the state."

At the time, Howard Stephenson, president of the Utah Taxpayer's Association, said of the gov:

"Well, it's Christmas and Santa Claus is alive and well."

Pawlenty reveals fundraising team

The Fix:

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty will unveil a 16-person fundraising team today, as he prepares for the gargantuan task of raising the tens of millions of dollars he’ll likely need to win the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

The finance operation will be overseen by Brian Haley, who is currently serving as national finance director for Pawlenty’s Freedom First PAC and previously held that same title for Sen. John McCain’s leadership political action committee.

Beyond mere names:

The scope of the finance team — there are individuals tasked to specific states like Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida and Texas, as well as regions like the mid-Atlantic and Midwest — suggests Pawlenty is well aware of the need to grow beyond the relatively small sums he raised during his two campaigns for governor of Minnesota.

Video: Bloomberg dresses up as Spiderman

It's not quite Rudy Giuliani in drag, but it was Michael Bloomberg, dressed in a tight suit, dangling and getting partially stuck in a Spiderman's costume at a charity dinner Saturday night.

The Spiderman spoof was a reference to the upcoming Broadway play's troubled and delayed opening.

And -- if you're wondering -- it was 1997 when Rudy Giuliani appeared at the same dinner, dressed in drag.

Video via NECN.

Huntsman campaign gearing up

Mike Allen:

Horizon PAC, run by people preparing a presidential campaign-in-waiting for Jon Huntsman, U.S. ambassador to China, has grown to 12 people, plus five outside firms, and plans to ramp up its activity in the coming month, even before Huntsman’s resignation takes effect on April 30.

The PAC plans donations to local and statewide candidates, plus personnel announcements in early primary and caucus states. At Lowe’s Hotel in New Orleans two weekends ago, 18 Huntsman allies met for two days to sharpen their message and divvy up assignments – finance, research, field, communications and new media.

Palin, Huck showing little interest in Iowa

If Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee were interested in a 2012 run, they'd be more than interested in courting the Iowa voters that would be the life-blood of their campaigns.

But so far, they've ignored the state as glaringly as Mitt Romney (ea).

"Every day that goes by, fewer and fewer Iowans believe that Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin are actually going to run," said Chuck Laudner, former executive director of the Iowa Republican Party and former top aide to Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa).

Laudner said that message has been communicated to both the Huckabee and Palin camps from activists in the state, but that it hasn't fundamentally changed their posture toward the 2012 caucuses.

"They're getting the message and then nothing comes back," he said. "That tells a lot of people that they aren't running."

Gingrich addresses baggage

On Fox News this morning, Chris Wallace asked Newt Gingrich two, pointed questions about his personal life.

Gingrich's answers weren't necessarily poor, but the questions were simple, brutal, and a reminder to donors that Newt has to check in some of the heaviest luggage of the '12 candidates.

WALLACE: The rap on Newt Gingrich.... is you're brilliant, you're brimming with ideas, but that you lack discipline -- you've heard this -- and that discipline is vital in a presidential campaign.

I want to talk about your personal life. I hate doing it, but you know it's going to be an issue in the campaign, and so I'm going to go there.

You were asked recently about the fact that you cheated on your first and your second wives, and here's how you responded.

[Video clip of Gingrich, claiming his affairs were "partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country."]

Speaker, you've had more than a decade to come up with an answer, and in all honesty, there are a lot of people who thought that answer was kind of lame.

I know it was heart-felt, but let me explain why.

You love your country, and you're working hard, and so you stray. That wouldn't work with my wife.

GINGRICH: No, it didn't work in my life. And I went on to say that I had to seek God's forgiveness, and I had to seek reconciliation, and I had to believe that being genuinely repentant mattered.

As you know, Callista and I have a great marriage, we have two wonderful daughters, two great, wonderful grandchildren.

People have to measure -- at 67 [years old] -- have I matured? Am I a person they can trust and rely on as a leader?

And discipline is part of it, and I think that's a legitimate question, and I expect the American people will, in the end, be remarkably fair.

They'll render judgment, and they'll decide whether or not Newt Gingrich is somebody that they think can solve the country's problems and can be the kind of leader they want for this country.

Wallace followed with another tough question.

WALLACE: You were leading the charge to push Bill Clinton from office for lying about an affair -- and yes, he lied in a court proceeding, in a deposition, where you're sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But at the very same time that you were leading that charge, you were having an affair.

Isn't that hypocrisy?

GINGRICH: No.

Look, obviously, it's complex and, obviously, I wasn't doing things to be proud of.

On the other hand, what I said very clearly -- and I knew this, in part, from going through a divorce -- I'd been in depositions, I'd been in situations where you had to swear the truth. I understood that in a federal court, in a case in front of a federal judge, to commit a felony -- which is what he did, perjury was a felony -- the question I raised was very simple: Should the president of the United States be above the law?

Now I don't think the President of the United States can be above the law. And that's not about personal behavior. It's not about what he did in the Oval Office.... but it was about a much deeper and more profound thing: does the President of the United States have to obey the law?