Raw Politics: Obama surrogate fires back at GOP
Editor's note: Robert Gibbs, a surrogate for Pres. Obama's 2012 campaign, speaks with Anderson Cooper after CNN's GOP debate.
Related on the CNN Political Ticker: 5 things we learned tonight
Raw Politics: Paul explains position on wars
Editor's note: Anderson Cooper speaks with Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, after CNN's Republican debate in New Hampshire.
Related on the CNN Political Ticker: 5 things we learned tonight
GOP Insiders say Romney was the biggest winner
Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) – A survey of GOP insiders indicates that Mitt Romney was the biggest winner of Monday night's CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader Republican presidential debate.
According to a National Journal Political Insiders poll, 51 percent of those questioned say that the former Massachusetts governor was the biggest winner of the debate, with 21 percent saying that Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota was the winner. In third place in the survey was former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty at nine percent, followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at seven percent, former Godfather's Pizza CEO and radio talk show host Herman Cain and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at four percent.
None of the 54 Republican political operatives, strategists, campaign consultants and lobbyists who are part of the National Journal's regular panel of Washington insiders said that Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was the biggest winner of the debate.
So who was the biggest loser?
FULL STORY on the CNN Political Ticker
First 2012 GOP Debate in New Hampshire: Join the Live Chat
Seven presidential hopefuls are sharing the stage in New Hampshire tonight for a GOP Presidential Debate. The showdown wraps up at 10 p.m. ET and will be followed by a special edition of AC360° live from Manchester. Anderson and our political panel will discuss the key moments. We'll also show you some of the hits Pres. Obama took from his GOP rivals tonight. We'll talk that over with his Obama campaign surrogate and former W.H. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. And CNN and the National Journal are asking a panel of political insiders who they thought won and lost tonight's debate. Don't miss the results of our exclusive "insider's" poll.
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's debate. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
Rep. Michele Bachmann makes presidential run official
(CNN) – Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said Monday at the CNN debate that she had filed paperwork to enter the presidential race and said she plans to make a formal announcement of her candidacy "soon."
Bachmann is the only participant at Monday's debate who has not formally declared her candidacy.
FULL STORY on the CNN Political Ticker
GOP presidential contenders face off in CNN debate
Editor's note: CNN hosts the first New Hampshire Republican presidential debate Monday night from Manchester at 8 p.m. ET. Follow all the issues and campaign news about the debate on CNNPolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter. Watch the debate on CNN TV, CNN.com and mobile devices. And participate with your questions on the live blog on the CNN Political Ticker.
Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Seven declared or likely Republican presidential contenders will face off Monday in one of the first debates of the primary season, giving them the chance to separate themselves from the competition almost 17 months before the 2012 election.
With President Barack Obama intent on re-election, Republican viewers will pay particularly close attention to try to determine which candidates can defeat an incumbent who won in 2008 with strong support from independent, minority and young voters.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 2008, has emerged as an early front-runner in his second bid for the White House.
Profiles of the seven hopefuls
A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Monday showed Romney grabbing the support of 24% of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin came in second at 20%, followed by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the field.
Palin and Giuliani, who have not announced that they will join the race, are not participating in Monday's CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader debate.
Scheduled to participate are declared presidential candidates Romney, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Also taking part is Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who has yet to formally declare her candidacy.
Follow CNN's live blog for up-to-the-minute reports
As the current favorite, Romney will face almost certain criticism from his fellow candidates.
FULL STORYAxelrod has words for the Republican candidates
(CNN) – David Axelord, senior strategist for President' Obama's re-election campaign, sat down with CNN Chief National Correspondent John King to sound off on the Republican field of presidential contenders ahead of the 2012 GOP presidential debate Monday night.
FULL STORYCNN debate: What to watch for
Editor's note: CNN hosts the first New Hampshire Republican presidential debate Monday night from Manchester at 8 p.m. ET. Follow all the issues and campaign news about the debate on CNNPolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter. Watch the debate on CNN TV, CNN.com and mobile devices. And participate with your questions on the live blog on the CNN Political Ticker.
Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Seven Republicans will be on the stage Monday night at the CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader presidential debate, but one candidate will likely be the center of attention.
Thanks to his standing at the top of the most recent horse race polls, his fundraising prowess and his top-flight campaign organization, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is generally considered the front-runner at this early point in the battle for the GOP nomination.
According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Monday morning, Romney - who's making his second White House bid - grabbed the support of 24% of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is second with 20%, followed by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the field.
But Romney's standing skyrockets to 35% - 19 points ahead of the rest of the field - when Palin and Giuliani, both of whom are still on the fence about the race, are taken out of the mix.
Because of his front-runner status and nagging questions among conservatives about the health care law he instituted in Massachusetts, expect Romney to have a bull's-eye on his back tonight in the early primary state he needs to win if he hopes to be the nominee.
Here's what to watch for:
FULL STORYCNN debate: 5 things that could shape the race
Editor's note: CNN hosts the first New Hampshire Republican presidential debate Monday night from Manchester at 8 p.m. ET. Follow all the issues and campaign news about the debate on CNNPolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter. Watch the debate on CNN TV, CNN.com and mobile devices. And participate with your questions on the live blog on the CNN Political Ticker.
Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Newt Gingrich is on the ropes, Tim Pawlenty's dropped the gloves, and Mitt Romney will be in the middle.
It doesn't matter that Sarah Palin, Rudy Giuliani and Jon Huntsman decided to stay home.
The game is on.
No more hedging statements, exploratory committees, or one more discussion with the family before deciding to jump into the water headfirst. The final boxes have been checked - save for Michele Bachmann. For the six others, the race for the GOP presidential nomination begins Monday night at the CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader debate.
Voters will be looking for the candidates to deliver answers on the pressing issues facing the nation, and Republican viewers will be watching for a candidate to take on President Obama in 2012.
Early polling shows GOP voters are not exactly enamored with the current field. Perhaps that would change if Palin and Giuliani decided to run.
Huntsman told my CNN colleague Candy Crowley the other day that he is on the verge of making it official. He will run for president. An announcement is expected in the coming days.
The former Utah governor sees the lack of enthusiasm with the current field as an opening, as long as GOP primary voters don't punish him for serving as Obama's ambassador to China.
It is very early in the contest, but still much is at stake: for the "front-runner," the "perceived alternative," the "wounded," the "I told you so," the "unknowns," and "those waiting in the wings."
Here are five things to look for Monday night that will help shape the race for the Republican presidential nomination:
FULL STORYLetters to the President: #875 'The Republicans start to rally'
Reporter's Note: The Republicans are beating on their war drums of debate. I am beating on my keyboard with another letter to the president.
Dear Mr. President,
As I mentioned yesterday, tonight is the first big night for the Republicans to square off and start debating the economy, foreign affairs, health care, immigration, entitlement programs, and the size of government. But of course what they’ll actually be debating is who will lead the charge to push you out of the White House.
It must be strange to see such a large group of people so hell bent on dragging you to the unemployment line. Although, to be fair, everyone knows that no president ever really loses. Sure, it is embarrassing if the vote turns against you, but your family will always be secure, your income will be beyond the wildest dreams of any average American, the Kardashians will always return your calls, and you will be accorded a special level of respect for the remainder of your days and beyond. Nixon was given the bum’s rush, but even he didn’t end up working retail.
Still, here comes the attack, as surely as an ill-considered remark from Biden. Ha! And with that, should come a caution for any office holder who’d like to keep his seat. While it is easy to watch the opposition sparring, and delight in how they are tearing each other down, the comfort of incumbency can bring grave danger.
FULL POST
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Post by: Filed under: Letters to the President • Opinion • President Barack Obama |
