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Posted on 02.12.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 4:24 am
Well, so much for party unity. Long-shot libertarian Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has stated that he will not back John McCain if he is the Republican nominee this year. “I can not support anybody with the foreign policy he advocates, you know, perpetual war. That is just so disturbing to me,” Paul said. “I think it’s un-American, un-Constitutional, immoral, and not Republican.” At the same time, however, he has also ruled out running as a third party candidate himself. He’s instead focusing on a tough re-election battle against a local city councilman who is running on a platform that is more in-line with the mainstream of the Republican Party. If Ron Paul is defeated in that primary, then all bets are probably off and we could see him going after the Libertarian nomination or something along those lines. Either way, it appears that there will not be a unanimous vote at the Republican National Convention this September. Ron Paul has accumulated at least 25 delegates, and that number will at least double before all is said and done. Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and John McCain and Ron Paul Comments: 9 Comments |
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Posted on 02.04.08 by Stephen Covington @ 7:14 am
Illinois senator Barack Obama picked up celebrity endorsements today from Garrison Keillor, host of A Prarie Home Companion and Maria Shriver, news anchor and member of the Kennedy family. Keillor outlined his reasons for supporting Obama in a letter, saying that he feels Obama “is determined to break through the rhetorical logjam and find sensible ways to move our country forward.” The endorsement could have particular relevance in Minnesota, where Keillor is based and highly regarded as a cultural icon. The most recent poll in the state, by Minnesota Public Radio in late January, showed Obama trailing Clinton by 7 percentage points - 33% to Clinton’s 40%. With 88 delegates at stake, Obama stands a good chance of turning the tables on Clinton in yet another state on Super Tuesday. Shriver also followed other members of her family in endorsing Obama. Her endorsement is particularly notable because her husband, California’s Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has endorsed Arizona Senator John McCain, who is seeking to become the nominee for the Republican Party. Filed under: Barack Obama and Campaign 2008 and Endorsements Comments: None |
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Posted on 02.03.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 6:29 am
Steve Forbes, the editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine and a former two-time presidential candidate, announced his endorsement today of John McCain. Forbes had campaigned hard in Florida for Rudy Giuliani, who dropped out after Tuesday’s primary. “More and more Americans will be impressed by John McCain’s efforts to reform our convoluted, growth-retarding, anti-opportunity tax code,” Forbes said in a statement released by the McCain campaign. “He understands that dollars and decisions are best left to hard-working Americans. John McCain’s pro-growth plan to cut taxes, stop wasteful spending and reform our health care system will secure our nation’s prosperity for generations to come,” Forbes added. “He is the best candidate to ensure our economic and national security.” Forbes ran for president in 1996 and 2000, with the flat tax as his signature issue. He also pushed for medical savings accounts, parental choice in schools, term limits and Social Security overhaul. Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and John McCain Comments: 1 Comment |
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Posted on 01.31.08 by Stephen Covington @ 6:35 am
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California is expected to soon make an announcement endorsing Arizona Senator John McCain for the Republican primary. California’s upcoming primary will decide the distribution of 170 district delegates. McCain is doing well, leading former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney by 4 points in a poll taken on Monday - and his recent victory, plus the governor’s endorsement, can only add to that. With Giuliani out of the race, McCain will probably pick up additional voters who are concerned about national security issues. Romney’s strategy is not clear at this point, but he now seems set to position himself as the underdog and a relative newcomer to the political scene, in contrast to McCain’s long period of time in the Senate. Filed under: Endorsements and John McCain and Mitt Romney Comments: 1 Comment |
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Posted on 01.30.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 2:09 am
Rudy Giuliani’s dismal third place finish in Florida appears to have ended the former NYC Mayor’s campaign tonight. Time Magazine is reporting that McCain’s campaign manager Rick Davis has essentially struck a deal with people in the Giuliani camp to secure an endorsement in the next couple of days. Giuliani has long stated that he would be voting for McCain if he hadn’t been running himself. It’s also thought that Giuliani doesn’t want to roll the dice and continue on to Super Tuesday as it would likely mean an ego-crushing defeat in his home state of New York. By defeating Mitt Romney and eliminating Rudy Giuliani, John McCain has all but captured the Republican Presidential nomination here tonight. Also, look for an endorsement from Fred Thompson in the next week or so as McCain consolidates his support among conservatives. Filed under: Breaking News and Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and Florida Primary and John McCain and Rudy Giuliani Comments: 2 Comments |
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Posted on 01.28.08 by Stephen Covington @ 6:41 am
Caroline Kennedy endorsed Senator Barack Obama on Sunday in a sappy op-ed piece for the New York Times. Comparing the presidential hopeful to her father, John F. Kennedy, Caroline said that we’re due for a change, and Obama can bring it. Caroline’s uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy, is scheduled to Obama at a rally on Monday. This, along with a slew of other endorsements from influential people on Capitol Hill, could bring a lot of weight to bear for Obama leading up to Super Tuesday. Hillary also made several fundraising stops in Florida, attempting to make an appearance while not spending too much time in the state. The national Democratic Party may be making good on its threat to not recognize delegates from Florida, which would invalidate any results from that state, making it essentially useless for either candidate to campaign in. This lack of activity means that Republicans have a lead in terms of putting together a robust leadership network in the Sunshine State, which has lately become a contentious battleground in the general election. Filed under: Barack Obama and Campaign 2008 and Democrats and Endorsements and Hillary Clinton Comments: None |
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Posted on 01.27.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 6:13 pm
Darrell Ng, the Thompson campaign’s “main point of contact for the media on all travel logistics and scheduling,” has some free time now that Fred has dropped out of the race. And he’s decided to put his time and effort into a boycott of Huckabee supporter Chuck Norris. A few days ago, Ng launched BoycottChuckNorris.com with the aim of hitting the actor and martial arts champion where it hurts - in his wallet. The site urges a boycott of all Chuck Norris related entertainment products. The Total Gym, a home exercise product whose spokesperson is Chuck Norris, is also being boycotted. Among other companies targeted are KFC, Payless ShoeSource, Nutrisystem, Tylenol, Geico. All are cited as advertisers on “Walker, Texas Ranger” reruns that air on the USA Network. When asked why he was targeting Norris and not other celebrities who had backed Presidential candidates, Ng responded that: “But Chuck Norris has endorsed a candidate, went out on the stump with him numerous times in different states and even appeared in a commercial with him. To me, that sets him apart and makes him fair game.” Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee Comments: 2 Comments |
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Posted on 01.27.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 4:31 pm
Another Sunday and another round of major newspaper endorsements for Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign. This morning the Philadelphia Inquirer, St. Petersburg Times, and the Chicago Tribune all came out for McCain. Most important among those, at least in the short-term, is the St. Petersburg Times. Florida’s Republican primary is only 48 hours away and any sort of boost could help tip the scales. Recent polls have shown Mitt Romney locked in a virtual tie with McCain for first place. UPDATED: In addition, McCain won several other notable endorsements today. The Stockton Record in California, the Arizona Republic, the Bradenton Herald of Florida, and the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel. Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and John McCain Comments: 5 Comments |
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Posted on 01.27.08 by Stephen Covington @ 3:08 pm
The latest poll from Zogby/Reuters shows both John McCain and Mitt Romney in an extremely close race in Florida, each with 30% of the vote - but was taken before yesterday’s big endorsement by Charlie Crist. How the Crist endorsement will affect McCain’s lead in the state is so far unclear, but lesser endorsements have come from all over Florida in the form of advisors to Crist and former governor Bush, as well as members of the legislature and members of Congress, and even local-level elected officials, such as Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, who endorsed Romney. Incredibly, such seemingly trivial endorsements can make a difference in a race where the difference between victory and defeat may be within several thousand or even hundred votes. As in the 2000 general election, whoever gets Florida’s “winner-take-all” delegates will likely do so by a razor-thin margin. Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and Florida Primary and John McCain and Mitt Romney Comments: 16 Comments |
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Posted on 01.27.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 2:33 am
Florida Governor Charlie Crist has finally decided to throw his weight behind Senator John McCain, making the endorsement official tonight at a St. Petersburg event. “Senator John McCain is a true American hero and patriot and I am honored to endorse him tonight,” said Governor Crist. “He is a tremendous statesman, leader and uniter. I am confident that his years of experience will serve our country well when he becomes the next President of the United States.”
McCain thanked Crist for his support, stating, “Charlie Crist has earned the admiration and respect of the people of Florida for his principled, conservative leadership and boundless optimism for the future of the Sunshine State. He’s a leader of the new generation of Republican governors who are putting conservative principles to work for the people of America. I am honored to have his support as we work toward victory in Florida on Tuesday.” This endorsement comes just one day after Mel Martinez, the state’s lone Republican Senator, announced he was also supporting McCain. Here is video from the endorsement… Recent polls have shown Mitt Romney locked in a virtual tie with McCain for first in Florida. The conventional wisdom is that if McCain manages to win there, he will become practically unstoppable. Filed under: Breaking News and Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and Florida Primary and John McCain Comments: 1 Comment |
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