tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645654323255555352012-02-23T09:06:33.989-05:00Breaking news on the 2012 Republican Presidential nominationChristian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comBlogger14715125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-46926816322169715762012-02-23T08:17:00.000-05:002012-02-23T08:17:56.699-05:00

Blunt Mitt Romney-surrogate, Chris Christie, grades last night's debate."I don't think there was last night a clear knockout winner. I think that some people -- I think Senator Santorum had an awful night.And he gave an example last night [of] why we don't need another legislator in the White House.... 'I'm a team player. It's against my principle, but I voted for it'. This is why you don't want

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-58100896241793232902012-02-23T07:41:00.000-05:002012-02-23T07:41:32.081-05:00

With a quiet but real explosion on Morning Joe today, Jon Huntsman made the case for a third party and despite his endorsement of Mitt Romney, vowed that he's "nobody's surrogate.""I think we're going to have problems politically until we get some sort of third party movement or some alternative voice out there that can put forward new ideas."He then anticipated speculation that he'd lead the

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-21145499077138553232012-02-23T07:01:00.000-05:002012-02-23T07:01:57.441-05:00

Byron York on the post-debate scene last night.[Santorum] took a lot of attacks from Romney and a few from Paul, and he noticed that Paul and Romney didn't seem to go after each other. When it was all over, and Santorum met reporters, he didn't try to hide what he was thinking."You have to ask Congressman Paul and Gov. Romney what they've got going together," Santorum said. "Their commercials

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-15726626240580648032012-02-23T06:16:00.003-05:002012-02-23T06:23:33.576-05:00

Last night’s debate was a two hour affair and final tussle of the season, which made it somewhat like Downtown Abbey, which also had its season finale this week (but unlike Abbey, the debate didn’t have Matthew Crawley running relays after blowing out his spine, Lady Mary marking her transformation from Cruella DeVil to patron saint of rabbit-giving, and Daisy, leaving Downton to embark on a

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-20326540005963870972012-02-22T16:50:00.002-05:002012-02-22T21:16:47.260-05:00

Tonight's final GOP debate is on CNN at 8 PM. I'll have a Debate Scorecard up tomorrow morning.a. Alan Simpson calls Santorum "homophobic."b. Pethokoukis: Romney goes the "Full Reagan" on tax plan.c. Santorum cuts Romney's lead to 6% in California.d. National Review wants fewer debates next time.e. The Devil and Rick Santorum: A nuanced take.f. Romney's general election prospects in Michigan

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-82375059524358708172012-02-22T16:07:00.000-05:002012-02-22T16:07:54.755-05:00

Via BuzzFeed's Zeke Miller, Newt Gingrich will run this 30 minute spot focusing on energy in Super Tuesday states.No word on which states, in particular, or how much.

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-16033839351874863572012-02-22T15:28:00.000-05:002012-02-22T15:29:03.387-05:00

The Hill's Daniel Strauss reports.Rick Santorum sarcastically thanked Mitt Romney for proposing a tax program similar to his."Welcome to the party, governor. It's great to have you along," Santorum said at a campaign event in Tucson, Ariz., on Wednesday.Santorum's comments came a few hours after Romney released his tax plan, which would cut the top tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent and cut

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-56234553850037028942012-02-22T15:10:00.004-05:002012-02-22T15:32:16.626-05:00

Everyone (voters, politicians, media etc.,) says Mitt Romney has a passion gap.I don't think that's true. He has a trust gap, which makes people doubt his passion.For example, if you watch a Romney speech in total isolation from his flip-flopping record, he seems like a pretty passionate guy with a forceful vision of American exceptionalism and compelling rhetoric about this country's alleged

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-91178297845489387322012-02-22T14:33:00.000-05:002012-02-22T14:34:24.826-05:00

The Hill's Alicia Cohn reports on the team-up.Rick Perry will campaign with Newt Gingrich and attend the GOP debate in Arizona on Wednesday, according to reports..... Perry’s appearance with Gingrich in Arizona is his first major campaign event for the former House speaker, but he has made fundraising calls on Gingrich’s behalf from Texas.Arizona is probably a good place to deploy Perry, although

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-53565195251238386482012-02-22T14:15:00.000-05:002012-02-22T14:16:22.799-05:00

Ross Douthat on both the agony and ecstasy of Rick Santorum's bid.the former senator has the instincts of an activist, rather than of a president or statesman.Whether the topic is social issues or foreign policy, his zeal exceeds his prudence, and as a result his career is littered with debating society provocations.My less sophisticated way of putting it -- yesterday, it was revealed that

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-70702578251465170192012-02-22T13:52:00.000-05:002012-02-22T13:52:58.654-05:00

Via The Huffington Post, here's Ann's automated message to Michigan voters.Hi! This is Ann Romney calling for Romney for President. On behalf of my husband Mitt, I wanted to have a chance to personally ask you for your vote before the Michigan Republican primary.Michigan is home for Mitt and me. It's where we were raised, it's where we met and it's where many of our family still live today.

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-50617449073192826032012-02-22T13:41:00.000-05:002012-02-22T13:42:22.727-05:00

Commentary's Peter Wehner talks about the mysterious, ostensibly nefarious "establishment" and is mostly right on -- especially this.There’s an important role for the establishment in American politics. For one thing, it’s comprised of people who have substantive mastery over issues. Think of the difference between, say, Christine O’Donnell and Herman Cain, who embodied an anti-establishment

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-5476986299936229912012-02-22T13:20:00.000-05:002012-02-22T13:20:56.214-05:00

A new Rasmussen poll:1. Rick Santorum 43%2. Newt Gingrich 22%3. Mitt Romney 18%4. Ron Paul 7%The state holds its primary on Super Tuesday, March 6.

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-84619313210274738722012-02-22T12:55:00.002-05:002012-02-22T12:58:16.070-05:00

The Hill's Justin Sink reports:Donald Trump will appear on a robocall for the Mitt Romney campaign, blasting Rick Santorum as a "career politician" who has only ever worked for the government or as a lobbyist."This is Donald Trump and I have to tell you that I'm tired of Rick Santorum pretending he's some kind of D.C. outsider," the realty television show host says. "Rick Santorum is a career

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-17963694740184186642012-02-22T12:39:00.002-05:002012-02-22T12:46:51.331-05:00

In the good kind of way (pic by Holly Bailey).

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-58267534660368448852012-02-22T12:27:00.002-05:002012-02-22T12:30:03.900-05:00

Michele Bachmann might not be running for president, but she's still clearly in the market for national donations."There is no bigger burr under the saddle of President Obama. I can't imagine there's any other member he'd like to see less in the House of Representatives than myself."

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-77656762325505657152012-02-22T11:31:00.002-05:002012-02-22T11:42:14.910-05:00

I've long-contended that Jeb Bush is vastly overrated as a party unifier, and now Quinnipiac helpfully confirms that.In a new poll of a fantasy GOP race, he's dead last with tea partiers. Even Mitch Daniels, who's hardly well-known, beats him, and Chris Christie and Sarah Palin double him.Tea party support:1. Sarah Palin and Chris Christie 30%3. Mitch Daniels 17%4. Jeb Bush 15%Non-Tea party

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-38510892928521824362012-02-22T11:04:00.000-05:002012-02-22T11:04:44.866-05:00

Chris Christie, after ABC's George Stephanopoulos asks if Republicans are still pleading for him to jump in the race."Yes.... What I say back to them is that I'm supporting Mitt Romney, and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he wins the nomination."Pressed again, Christie responded:"I don't know how many times I have to say it. The answer's 'No'."While we're at it, Quinnipiac has a

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-86918691145054016982012-02-22T10:36:00.004-05:002012-02-22T10:40:54.429-05:00

GOP strategist, Mike Murphy, nails it in a tweet.True Law of Media Coverage: If you are a GOP candidate and you talk 75% jobs and 25% abortion, your media coverage will be 97% abortion.

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-7655510857735730712012-02-22T10:26:00.001-05:002012-02-22T10:27:00.505-05:00

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer announces that he's dropping his quixotic* bid for the GOP nomination, and taking up an independent run."Tomorrow, I will formally end my bid for the GOP nomination.... as the GOP and the networks host debate number twenty-something this evening, they have once again turned their backs on the demogratic process by choosing to exclude a former Governor and

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-77772506595711849212012-02-22T10:08:00.000-05:002012-02-22T10:08:43.621-05:00

The pro-Rick Santorum Super PAC -- Red, White, and Blue Fund -- is up in Michigan with this spot."How can Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama when on the vital decisions they're not that different?Like Obama, Romney drastically increased spending, increased state taxes and fees. Even worse, RomneyCare is the blueprint for ObamaCare."

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-65259890428969550302012-02-22T09:58:00.001-05:002012-02-22T10:00:16.261-05:00

Newt Gingrich on Fox News this morning, talking about how he veered into angry, little attack muffin mode (as coined by Peggy Noonan).Gingrich:"I got tied into $20 million of negative ads by Romney in Florida, and I responded by behaving too much like a normal candidate.I think twice I've led the race as a front-runner in national polls -- both times it's big on big ideas."Admitting that you have

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-49168360242904580332012-02-22T09:37:00.000-05:002012-02-22T09:38:14.420-05:00

On Good Morning America today, Mitt Romney-surrogate, Chris Christie, responded to Rick Santorum's comments that Satan has his sights set on America."Listen, I think anything you say as a presidential candidate is relevant. It's, by definition, relevant. You’re asking to be president of the United States. I don’t think he's [Santorum's] right about that. I think it is relevant what he says. I

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-31081649691503713682012-02-22T09:20:00.001-05:002012-02-22T09:21:12.312-05:00

Karl Rove says Rick Santorum has to get Satan behind him at tonight's debate."It is better for Rick Santorum to give an explanation in a high-profile venue, and put the issue behind him than to let this thing kind of linger.The same thing with these comments about 'Birth control is harmful to women even if exercised within a loving marriage'."I totally agree.Btw, as pure chance would have it, the

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364565432325555535.post-44854169863460870152012-02-22T08:54:00.000-05:002012-02-22T08:55:11.943-05:00

There are a few important polls out there this morning, which taken together, spell bad news for Rick Santorum.GOOD NEWS for SANTORUM:A new Quinnipiac survey shows him leading the field, nationally, and beating Mitt Romney in a head-to-head, 50%-37%.With all candidates in the mix:1. Santorum 35%2. Romney 26%3. Gingrich 14%4. Paul 11%Further, Santorum continues to run really strong with

Christian Heinzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17113493100524233910noreply@blogger.com