What Comes After: A 2024 Game (Gameplay-PAUSED)

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Statement from Kari Lake

I am disappointed by the serious allegations coming out of the Hawley campaign regarding the results of the New Hampshire primary. Our people on the ground did everything in their power to work with Josh, and give him a leg up in a critical state for his campaign. We shared data with Josh freely, without receiving any special favors or backroom deals in return. If he wants to blame conservative volunteers for his failure to win New Hampshire, that’s on him, not on the good people of New Hampshire.

Nothing here is public. It’s just a recap of the night from the pov of Hawley’s staff. Maybe should’ve made that clearer.

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Self-made campaign material

Ad #10: Stride.

Song: Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder

[1]

"Last night I had the strangest dream."

[2]

"I sailed away to China,"

[3]

"In a little row-boat to find ya,"

[4]

"And you said you had to get your laundry cleaned."

[5]

"Didn't want no one to hold you,"

[6]

"What does that mean?"

[7]

"And you said,"

[8]

"Ain't nothing gonna break my stride."

[9]

"Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no,"

[10]

"I got to keep on moving."

[11]

"Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride."

[12]

"I'm running and I won't touch ground."

[13]

"Oh no, I got to keep on moving."

[14]

VO: "I'm Josh Hawley, and I approve this message."

Aired in South Carolina. Modeled on Bernie Sanders's America ad.

Attributions
1. Small Downtown Buildings by Stuart Rankin, via Flickr
2. Untitled by Patrick, via Flickr
3. Public Domain, via PublicDomainPictures.net
4. 20190627-NRCS-LSC-1610 by U.S. Department of Agriculture, via Flickr
5. Public Domain, via Facebook
6. Senator Josh Hawley, via Flickr
7. Public Domain, via Facebook
8. Public Domain, via Facebook.
9. Public Domain, via Facebook
10. Public Domain, via Facebook
11. Public Domain, via Facebook
12. Public Domain, via Facebook
13. Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
14. Senator Josh Hawley, via Flickr. Edits are self-made.

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Public Domain, via Facebook

The Road to South Carolina (1/2)

February 7th: The morning after the New Hampshire Primary, Sen. Hawley woke early to meet with staff and volunteers, where he expressed his gratitude to them for 'the heart, soul, and energy you all poured into this movement.' He emphasized that last night's performance 'would be inconceivable' without their work, and said he'd be ‘onto South Carolina to beat DeSantis again’ but promised he would be back to beat the Vice President. Before he left though, Hawley sat down with FOX's Chris Wallace for a one-on-one interview, where he talked up last night's results and answered questions ranging from immigration to Ukraine to infrastructure. Of note, when asked how he would unify the country if elected President, he stressed the need to 'bring everyone to the table and leave nobody behind' elaborating that 'this is what is wrong with Washington today.'

The day ended with Hawley flying out to his South Carolina HQ, where he met with his local leadership team to briefly discuss the next stretch of the campaign before settling down in a hotel surrounding the Greenville suburbs.

February 8th: Senator Hawley opened his South Carolina stump with a fiery rally hosted in downtown Florence, where he torched the Democrats for 'fielding the weakest candidates in American history... I mean, really, this is a contest between the guy who claimed he created the internet and the most unpopular Vice President in American history?' Hawley admitted he wasn't really sure who was going to 'emerge from this catfight,' but accused the DNC of 'working around the clock' to 'anoint their pre-chosen nominee in Kamala Harris,' before declaring to the crowd in characteristically brash fashion 'put me one-on-one with her and, trust me, we will win this November.'

As the sun set, Hawley held a round-table discussion with prominent South Carolina church leaders, where they discussed the role abortion would have in the 2024 election and the need for the GOP nominee to lead 'with moral forthrightness.' He emphasized that evangelicals would play a massive role in the South Carolina primary and urged them to choose carefully and nominate a leader with enough fortitude to stand strong on Christian values and principles both during the election and in the White House.

February 9th: The day begins early, with Hawley making several appearances on local drive-time evangelical radio programs. Here, he made the case that he was the best candidate to lead the religious conservative movement, answering questions ranging from his personal faith to his upbringing in the church and much more. He touted his status as the 'only candidate in the race' who's served as an attorney for a major religious liberty lawsuit, the infamous Hobby Lobby, and pitched to voters that 'I know what it's like to fight for our most precious values, and I will do the same as President.' The highlight of the day was a print interview delivered to the South Carolina Advocate, where he argued the party needed someone 'who will lead on our collective cause' blasting DeSantis as someone 'who can't be trusted to fight for that', bringing up his several flip-flops on abortion, 'first he was for a heartbeat bill, then he was for a 20-week ban, now he's for a 10-week ban', and contrasting it with his consistently pro-life record.

Afterward, Hawley held a meeting with a group of local ministers and church leaders that had already endorsed him, where they discussed the importance of getting out the vote and planned out mass registration drives and GOTV efforts for the lead-up to the South Carolina primary. In order to win and win big, they'd need all hands on deck.

February 10th: Senator Hawley stopped by his campaign HQ in Charleston, where he joined canvassing efforts with volunteers before attending a special phone-bank session targeting supporters of Kari Lake and Roger Stone. The campaign highlighted Hawley as 'the only candidate who's proven he can beat Ron DeSantis' and urged them to 'back Hawley, a true-blooded patriot with a record of standing with the MAGA movement' in order to beat Gov. DeSantis in South Carolina. In the afternoon, Hawley held a meet-and-greet event with active and retired police officers, where he highlighted the endorsements he's gathered of police organizations across the country and painted himself as the 'law-and-order' candidate. Thereafter, he held a press conference in a Greenville suburb flanked by law enforcement where he reiterated his plan to hire 100,000 new police officers and make historic investments in raising police pay.

February 11th: Landing in Columbia, Senator Hawley arrived to hold a high-profile meeting with South Carolina AARP Leadership. Reporters remarked the discussion was upbeat and cheery, with Hawley assuring the senior leadership team that he would be a candidate who would 'stand firm against calls to cut benefits to Social Security and Medicare... just as I have in the U.S Senate.' Once the meeting concluded, Hawley hit the trail hard, holding 4 separate town hall meetings in and around South Carolina suburbs. He was joined by Erin as part of a continued bid to woo suburban evangelicals, and focused primarily on crime and law enforcement. He highlighted his career in law and labeled himself as the 'law-and-order candidate', the only one 'with the plan' to take down 'zealous Democrats who have betrayed our nation's law enforcement.' He urged attendees to get out and vote on the 20th to 'put a fighter' on the Republican ticket.

February 12th: In a campaign appearance in Mount Pleasant with Dr. James Dobson and other evangelical leaders, Senator Hawley unveiled his plan to create a Parents' Bill of Rights, in order to 'enshrine the rights of fathers and mothers to direct their children's education into law.' Dobson described it as the 'most comprehensive proposal put forward to end Critical Race Theory' and lauded Hawley as 'a once-in-a-lifetime candidate for religious conservatives.' From there, Hawley again hit the trail across South Carolina suburbs in town hall after town hall, this time discussing his new proposal and CRT at large. He attempted to connect this issue with broader campaign themes: "This movement is about giving you the power, to direct your own life and live your own values. We need a President who understands that, for too long, government has been in the business of telling people what to do. The buck stops with me."

February 13th: With only one full week left to go before election day, Senator Hawley took to hold another large rally right in the middle of South Carolina's largest city, Charleston. Here, he eviscerated DeSantis for 'hardly even trying' to win the votes of South Carolinians, urging voters to 'not reward his negligence' by delivering yet another upset in the first-in-the-south primary. He also tapped into anger over the continued prosecution of former President Trump, asking the crowd if they really believed Gov. DeSantis would 'stand up' to this 'shameless injustice', which elicited a lot of loud NOs. After the event, Hawley opted to review over the state of the campaign's GOTV effort, asking volunteer pastors if they believed evangelicals would show up in large enough numbers to put the campaign over the top. The response was mixed, but unquestionably they were now in striking distance.

Finishing off the day, Hawley appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight to discuss his Parents' Bill of Rights proposal. When asked whether he thought he could cap off another upset in the South Carolina primary, Hawley responded, "We'll have to wait and see, Tucker, but on the ground, there's a lot of talk. A lot of momentum. And I don't think people are seeing Governor DeSantis as a viable option anymore."

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Self-made campaign material

Ad #11: D.C DeSantis.

Senator Josh Hawley, via Flickr.

VO:"I'm Josh Hawley, and I approve this message."

Ron DeSantis by Matt Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons.

"We all know the Florida DeSantis,"

Ron DeSantis by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons.

"But what about the D.C DeSantis?"

Ron DeSantis, via Wikimedia Commons.

"D.C DeSantis voted for trade deals that outsourced millions of good jobs, and supported legislation that would slash Social Security by hundreds of billions."

Ron DeSantis by Matt Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons.

"It's no wonder he's flipped and flopped on abortion too."

Ron DeSantis, via Wikimedia Commons.

"If this is what he does when he gets to Washington, why would we ever send him there again?"

Ron DeSantis, via Wikimedia Commons

"D.C DeSantis: Leading from behind, just more of the same."

Notes: All edits are self-made. This ad is aired in South Carolina, Nevada, North Carolina, and Tennessee. It's Team Hawley's first attack ad dedicated specifically at DeSantis, who has fallen out of favor after losing two consecutive primaries. It targets the lesser-known part of his career in Washington, where he voted at odds with the MAGA agenda on trade, abortion, and Social Security, to drive home the message that he is merely a follower and not a leader.

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Public Domain, via Facebook

The Road to South Carolina (2/2)

February 14th: Senator Hawley started the day by holding a meet-and-greet event with South Carolina's pro-life activists, where he criticized most other GOP candidates for staying silent on abortion and expressed his commitment to defending the sanctity of life. Afterward, he held a press conference with the leadership of the South Carolina Right-to-Life, where they announced their endorsement for Senator Hawley, urging pro-life voters to nominate him in the upcoming contest. Hawley stated he was 'incredibly honored' by the endorsement and the resounding support his campaign has received from Right-to-Life chapters across the country.

Later, Hawley held a town hall meeting in Chesterfield, SC, where he discussed with small town residents his plan to bring more jobs and growth to Rural America by investing in 'real infrastructure right here in South Carolina' (as opposed to the Biden infrastructure bill) highlighting the need for focus on 'roads, bridges, dams, water pipes.'

February 15th: Hawley traveled to the Lowcountry to visit one of his field offices and join a phone-banking session targeted at suburban evangelicals. While there, he thanked his volunteers for 'being the beating heart' of the campaign before jumping back on the trail, hosting 4 town hall events in suburban and rural communities. Hawley primarily centered the discussion on tax relief, and touted his Parent Tax Credit plan, saying he was the only candidate in the race with a plan to deliver 'one of the largest tax cuts for working families in decades.' He outlined his plan to pay for it as a mix between 'cutting back on all the wasteful spending this administration has incurred' and 'gutting the special deals Washington gives to special interests and woke corporations.' Of note, he received applause when he promised to revoke all of Disney's 'D.C handouts.'

February 16th: Senator Hawley was privileged to receive the endorsement of Marco Rubio, the Senior Senator from DeSantis's home state. At a rally in Clemson, Rubio lauded Hawley as 'the principled fighter who can beat Kamala Harris', touting his record as a 'fearless leader' who could 'bring an end to 4 years of disastrous policy.' The announcement would quickly gain attention from the sheer embarrassment it meant for DeSantis's campaign, who has, for a long time, staved off defectors from his home state. Hawley remarked that Rubio's endorsement was a testament to his campaign having 'broad, nationwide appeal' and called on the crowd to 'deliver the deathblow to DeSantis this Tuesday.' He spent the rest of the day canvassing and door-knocking with volunteers, driving up rank-and-file enthusiasm in preparation for the primary.

February 17-18th: As Election Day rapidly approached, the Hawley campaign kicked into gear the grassroots evangelical network they had been counting on for the past 2 weeks. With a machine that resembled 'Souls to the Polls', pastors across the Palmetto State began hosting voter registration drives in churches, cathedrals, and other buildings to mobilize their constituents for the primary. Although the operation was facially non-partisan (thus tax-exempt organizations could participate), the people that were sought after were overwhelmingly likely to back Hawley, especially in light of the fact that their pastor did too. Senator Hawley himself was stumping relentlessly across South Carolina, often joined by Erin or one of his prominent endorsees, imploring people to 'get involved and take action' on the 20th.

February 19th: The last full day of campaigning started with an early morning visit to a Veteran hall, where Hawley held a town hall to express his commitment to 'defending our military and giving it the boost it needs' while also 'cleaning house in the VA' to get 'proper care and services for those who've carried out the ultimate service.' Afterward, Hawley held his final pre-election rally in the largest arena his campaign could find, hoping to attract a large audience and drive home the message that he had the momentum here. To that end, his local pastor network worked relentlessly to bring people to the event. Here, Hawley called on his supporters to 'bring the establishment to its knees' and send a loud and clear message that 'it's time for America to fight back.' He insisted that 'tomorrow, the Palmetto State will prove that Iowa was not just a one-off' by 'flooding the polls and taking this movement nationwide.'

As the campaign was preparing its GOTV operations, Hawley held a conference call with his statewide leadership team, reviewing over the data, making sure every number lined up. To pull another upset off, everything had to be perfect. The stars had to align. They were determined to make that happen—and of course, ward off any undue interference. As the sun began to set, Hawley met with his campaign workers in his Greenville HQ to give them an election-eve pep talk, emphasizing just how consequential tomorrow would be: 'It all rests on South Carolina. Let's make it happen'

February 20th: Senator Hawley spent election day with Erin, visiting various diners and breakfasts across the Palmetto State, before driving to Mount Pleasant to visit with campaign leaders and take part in GOTV operations. As polls began to close, Team Hawley sent out a massive text-and-email message reminding voters to stay in line if they hadn't voted yet. Josh and Erin then drove to their campaign's watch party to see results come in.

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South Carolina: Breaking the Noise

This had been a grueling campaign stretch for Senator Hawley. Two weeks of vigorous, relentless stumping had left him exhausted and drained, but a win in South Carolina would make it all worth it. After New Hampshire, Team Hawley felt that their message was getting caught up in the noise, blotted out by news of a falling DeSantis and a surging Youngkin. By winning the nation's First-in-the-South primary, he would prove again he was - not only a major contender - but perhaps the frontrunner.

Nikki Haley had made this tough state even tougher. The South Carolina establishment was rank in DeSantis's column. By the end of the New Hampshire primary, he boasted an 11-point statewide lead in the RCP average, but over the past two weeks, Hawley had chipped at that margin significantly, being just a couple points away from landing the killshot against DeSantis's whole campaign. This was achieved through a mix of targeted campaigning, wooing suburban evangelicals, defining Hawley as the candidate of law-and-order, hammering home on parental rights, and seeking out a larger share of the rural vote by pressing on abortion and religious freedom. In any case, religious conservatives were an indispensable part of the coalition.

Hawley also had no shortage of Southern surrogates, which he used to the fullest extent in this very Southern state. Sens. John Kennedy and Marsha Blackburn were on the trail frequently, stumping across the many small towns that comprise the Palmetto State, defining Hawley as authentic and relatable to voters who might mistrust a Midwesterner at first. Dr. Dobson and Mohler often joined campaign events designed to target evangelicals and joined church-based registration efforts. Sen. Marco Rubio's endorsement was the crown jewel of the campaign's effort, and often repped Hawley in national media interviews in the final days. A concerted effort was waged to paint the DeSantis campaign as 'collapsing' following the endorsement in order to present Hawley as the stable choice for undecided voters interested in electability.

The final days before the primary was defined by a distinct rally from tens - even hundreds - of church leaders calling for laymen to organize and vote for Hawley. Southern primaries boast a significant amount of religious voters who describe abortion as 'non-negotiable' and with the endorsement of the South Carolina Right-to-Life chapter easily sliding into Hawley's pockets, the campaign would hope to gain a significant boost in their GOTV efforts from the sheer amount of dedicated pro-life activists in the Palmetto State.

To win the day, Team Hawley needed a strong combination of turnout and persuasion to put him over the top in South Carolina. A mix of DeSantis's appearance as a wishy-washy politician, Hawley's brand as a get-it-done law-and-order type, and unwavering rhetoric on important social issues would hopefully make that happen. The question of the night: was it enough?

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New York Post by Tom Magliery, via Flickr

BOMBSHELL: Campaign Memos Reveal How Lake, Stone Conspired to Stop Hawley, Including 'Potentially Illegal' Activity

"The date was February 5th, 2022, a mere 2 days after Hawley's win in the Iowa Caucus," writes Senior Columnist Emma Jo Morris, "and two Presidential candidates were discussing how they would stop him in New Hampshire." She then asks the reader a simple question, "Would you first assume this to be the work of Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley?" before revealing, "Nope, it was none other than self-proclaimed MAGA candidates Kari Lake and Roger Stone." Attached to the article was a series of bombshell images and PDF copies that revealed emails between - not only the two candidates - but also staffers at every level of both campaigns.

These memos uncovered several back-and-forths between Stone and Lake, depicting, what Morris calls, a 'deliberate plot' to 'throw Hawley under the bus.' She reports that the emails were retrieved from an anonymous whistleblower, and were later authenticated through a series of tests conducted by the Post. The contents of these emails showed that the two worked in concert to influence state activists against Hawley and obstruct ground-game operations. It also revealed a 'damning, potentially illegal' plot to flood Hawley's New Hampshire field offices with faulty data and bogus numbers. Further revelations show that Lake intentionally sought to gain access to crucial information about Hawley's GOTV effort under the guise of cooperation in order to facilitate this.

Hawley commented on the report in a Las Vegas press gaggle, saying it might 'warrant future investigation' but didn't make any hard accusations. Some prominent conservative influencers were outraged by the report, including Candace Owens, Larry Elder, and Mark Levin, who decried Stone and Lake as engaging in 'the worst of dirty politics' and called on MAGA voters to unite around Hawley in light of these revelations. The Post's report has captured the attention of a divided primary, calling into question the legitimacy of Stone's New Hampshire performance and the recent 'coalescing' of MAGA candidates behind him.

(Everything here is approved by KaiserDave.)

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Public Domain, via Facebook

Soaring Into Super Tuesday: Hawley's March Strategy

Senator Hawley came short in the South Carolina primary. He finished a semi-distant third in the Nevada caucus. By all metrics, he should be falling behind, yet polls now showed him emerging as the Republican frontrunner. So what happened? Put simply, exposure. Amidst a volatile, constantly changing race, Hawley was defining the discourse. In South Carolina, he set the stage and presented himself to a national audience as the face of the MAGA movement. In Nevada, he rocked the headlines and landed a critical blow to Stone's credibility as a candidate. The results didn't matter; the publicity did.

When Hawley strode into his South Carolina watch party, he was more confident than ever of his position. Even as he failed to score the coveted upset he had hoped for in the nation's First-in-the-South primary, he made waves with the party's rank-and-file by putting together an almost identical coalition to Trump's in 2016 - drawing much-needed attention to his brand and his message. Make no mistake, conservatives were taking notice. Nothing would make that clearer than the endorsements he racked up in the immediate aftermath: influencers like Candace Owens, Mike Huckabee, and Larry Elder, as well as many Southern heavyweights like Byron Donalds, Mark Robinson, and Kay Ivey.

For a growing share of voters, Hawley was the only candidate who could boast an impressive coalition in all 4 early states, the only candidate who could stand tall amidst a battered field, the only candidate who could fight and beat Kamala Harris.

Nevada would make this contrast even more pronounced. Try as he might to overcome it, Stone had hit a ceiling. His 'big break' in the Silver State's caucus amounted to a measly 3% win - a win made possible only with Lake's endorsement, who's 'collaboration' with the Stone campaign had been placed under growing levels of scrutiny. In the end, his triumph only left an already-confused electorate disoriented, and as candidates scrambled in preparation for Super Tuesday, Republicans were no-doubt looking for someone who could project the strength and vigor necessary to lead the party as their nominee.

Nobody would be more dedicated to that than Senator Hawley. Everything since Iowa had culminated to this point. Now he would charge into Super Tuesday no holds barred. During this stretch, his campaign honed in on bread-and-butter issues for MAGA voters, seeking to present Hawley as the standard-bearer for the party's rank-and-file on immigration, crime, and foreign policy. Of note, he would distinguish himself from Roger Stone and his ilk with vigilant anti-China rhetoric, mirroring much of Trump's positions on trade and national security to justify shifting U.S foreign policy in opposition to the CCP's expansion.

As for Stone himself, the gloves were off. In a press conference the day after the Nevada caucus, Hawley ridiculed the idea Roger Stone had any room to call anyone else 'slick' or 'methodical' and slammed his candidacy a 'constant stream of publicity stunts and dirty tricks.' Hawley's surrogates pressed on the content that emerged from the New York Post's report on the New Hampshire primary, bringing it to the national forefront and denouncing Stone - in no uncertain terms - as a 'cheat' and a 'spoiler.'

The Hawley campaign also expanded its reach into AM Radio, amassing the endorsements of almost a dozen conservative radio hosts, ranging from lesser-known commentators like Rick Roberts and Leo Terrell to giants like Jim Daly and Mark Levin. As Super Tuesday rapidly approached, it was essential for Hawley to keep his message in the airwaves and in the minds of Republican voters, and with such a high concentration of his base in the 45-64 age range, this would be his pulpit.

All publicity is good publicity, the old adage goes. That's probably what Roger Stone would say, anyway. For Hawley, he thought different. Publicity builds a brand. It defines a candidate. That requires careful curation and execution. Too much junk and voters may just see you that way. To win over the critical mass of Republicans on Super Tuesday, Hawley would need to do more than disrupt. He would need to be the leader Republicans have been waiting for.

Public Domain, via C-Span

Hawley: "We're going to see a lot of junk attacks flying my way."

Speaking to reporters the day after the Nevada caucus, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) commented on a new poll that showed him leading the Republican field, attributing his success to voters 'resentment of D.C politics', called the primary a 'mess', and predicted that special interests were going to 'dump millions' against him on Super Tuesday. A couple excerpts:

"Y'know, I won't call myself the frontrunner, but right now the race is changing. We expect to do very well on Super Tuesday, as we always have, and I think we've got a great team on the ground to pull that off. We've got them to thank for our success, but we've also got to remember, voters are just tired of old Washington politics. That's a major factor at play here. Governor DeSantis and Youngkin, they talk a big game on kitchen-table issues, but they're silent on many of the issues that count. On immigration, on China, on the fentanyl epidemic. On Super Tuesday, voters are going to make a resounding verdict and end this mess of a primary."

"Special interests have tried their darndest to sink this campaign since Iowa. It just isn't happening. But I expect that they won't give up, and Super Tuesday is where it'll count. We're going to see a lot of junk attacks flying my way, not just from DeSantis and Stone but also from all these anonymous dark money groups. Chamber of Commerce. Club for Growth. They're going to crank up the pressure, but I'm used to it. It's the same interest groups that sunk 70 million to defeat me in 2018. Bring it on."

"Roger Stone is an agitator. He's attacking me right now cause he's 10-points down in most states and thinks this is what will give him attention. He ought to answer to the millions of America First voters who are furious right now with the leaked memos that've come out of the New York Post. There are serious, serious concerns there, and if Stone thinks he can win his presidency through a constant stream of publicity stunts and dirty tricks, he's in for a shock next Tuesday."

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Self-made campaign material

Josh Hawley by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr

'My day one priority': Hawley outlines Border Security plan at Immigration Summit

Continuing his stump through Texas in the prelude to its high-stakes primary on March 5th, Hawley stopped to speak at an immigration summit in El Paso, TX, where he outlined the basic tenets of his plan to 'repeal Biden's open border policies on day one' and 'bring a sharp end' to the 'mass-flow of immigration and drugs across the border.' It included a renewed focus to finish the U.S-Mexico border wall and new rules for employers to deter the use of illegal labor. Hawley also sought to establish a personal touch to the issue, emphasizing the 'great moral consequence' of Biden's open borders policies and highlighting first-hand accounts from people that have been devastated by the effects of illegal immigration and drug trafficking. This, he continued, was why it would be his 'day one priority.'

He went on to excoriate HS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of the migrant surge and attempt to establish a 'Disinformation Board.' He blasted his priorities as 'warped', claiming he and the rest of the Biden cabinet 'have no interest' in enforcing federal immigration laws. Hawley pledged to pass legislation authorizing state governments to enforce federal immigration laws to prevent 'this administration or another like it' from 'ignoring their Constitutional duty to enforce the law.'

Hawley also promised to appoint a cabinet that could 'renew the federal government's commitment to the rule of law' and the 'safety and security of American citizens,' leaning heavily into law-and-order themes that have defined his campaign.

The morning after, Hawley's campaign issued a press release outlining a 5-point-plan for immigration reform:
1.) Establish a border security trust-fund, paid for with revenues generated at ports of entry, to finish construction of the U.S-Mexico wall.
2.) Allow state officers to enforce Sections 271 to 280 of the Immigration Nationality Act to deport or prosecute illegal aliens.
3.) Realign immigration policy around merit by increasing the proportion of high-skilled immigrants in visa allocation from 12% to 57%.
4.) Impose new penalties for visa overstays and create 21st-century legal and infrastructure enhancements to significantly reduce it.
5.) Reinstate all Trump-era immigration policies that Biden has since repealed.

Ad #12: The Josh I Know.

Public Domain, via Facebook

- Ad opens with footage of Erin Hawley talking at a town hall -

"Let me tell you about the Josh I fell in love with. Never in my life have I met someone who cares as much about values, about faith, about community--and really that's what this election is about. It's what every election is about.

- Scene transitions between various images showing America's greatest struggles, like D-Day, the Great Depression, etc -

"Every time our nation has faced its darkest hour, we didn't look for who could raise the most money or who could woo the most special interests."

- Scene pans to portraits of great Presidents, including Washington crossing the Delaware and Lincoln delivering Gettysburg -

"We looked to courageous, upstanding individuals: Washington, Lincoln, Eisenhower, Reagan. Leaders who stood on their feet and led from the front."

- Scene cuts to a compilation of images featuring a young Hawley growing up -

"That's the Josh I know. The Josh that speaks his mind. The Josh that leads a fight and won't back down. The Josh that cares, that knows the people he's fighting to represent."

- Scene then moves to pictures of desolate communities, empty factories, etc -

"At this watershed moment, nothing could be more important than electing someone isn't afraid to stand for something."

- Scene pans back to Erin speaking to the crowd positioned right beside Josh -

"That's why I'm so proud to be by his side."

- Scene cuts to the above image -

Voiceover: "I'm Josh Hawley, and I approve this message."

Ad #13: Stops With Me.

Public Domain, via Facebook

- Ad opens with clips of Chinese cargo ships, planes, tanks -

"They outsourced our jobs. They fueled a pandemic. Now they want to invade Taiwan."

- Enter Hawley -

"And Joe Biden and the D.C crowd are letting them get away with all of it. They line their pockets while factories shutter and small towns die."

- Cuts to clips of Hawley talking to manufacturing workers. Bolded words are highlighted on screen. -

"I'll take them on. My plan:"

Protect American Manufacturing

Demand Wuhan Accountability

Stop Communist China's Expansion

Put America First

- Cuts back to Hawley speaking to the camera -

"Because it's time we had a President who refuses to bow to China. I'm Josh Hawley and I approve this message, because the buck stops with me."

Notes: Ad #12 is aired across the South as well as MN and CO. The approach here is self-explanatory. In the South, Hawley wants to make a personal appeal to values-based voters that make or break his coalition here. States like AL, TN, AR are must-wins. Ad #13 is aired in MN, MI, NC, and TX. It defines - not only Hawley's foreign policy - but also his approach on trade and national security, capitalizing on an issue that has gained much attention in recent days. The campaign is also re-running Ad #1 in MN and CO and Ad #5 in CA, MA, ME, TX, ID, and UT.

Press Release: National Right to Life Endorses Josh Hawley for President

"Elections have consequences, and no election could be more consequential than the one right in front of us. Just two years ago, the Supreme Court handed down the historic, righteous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and return the issue of abortion to the people. The fight for the right to life is at a critical impasse, and we need a nominee who is not afraid to lead the pro-life movement to victory.

Over the past weeks and months, many Right-to-Life chapters have made clear there's only candidate that fits that definition. Tonight, we are prepared to do the same.

In just under a week, countless states will be deciding who they believe should lead the party this November. We want to encourage all our affiliates, our organizers, and our followers to join us in voting for Senator Josh Hawley. He has displayed impeccable courage and conviction in his stand on abortion, and we believe he is the only candidate who can lead the Republican ticket with moral vision and clarity.

As we all know, who the Republican Party nominates will decide its future on this critical issue. That's why, in this post-Roe future, we have to get this right. Senator Hawley has always been an advocate for the sanctity of life and a leader against the treacherous decision in Roe. Other candidates in the race have shied away from the issue or openly admitted they would abdicate on abortion. That is not acceptable. In stark contrast, Hawley is the only candidate who has stated repeatedly he would do everything in his power as President to protect unborn life.

For pro-life voters, the choice is clear. The next President will have an enormous role in the direction our nation takes on abortion, including appointing Supreme Court justices and deciding whether to fight back against the attempts to legalize abortion up to birth. Nobody will stand up to this enormous challenge like Senator Hawley. Join us in voting this Tuesday to make the pro-life voice heard loud and clear."

Super Tuesday: A Make-or-Break Moment

Riding off strong poll numbers and boasting an energized grassroots machine, Hawley's campaign believes they have a strong chance to run the table and surge to 1st in the national delegate count. This post covers the issues that Hawley pressed on the most during this stretch: immigration, trade, foreign policy, abortion. In this, his team sought to present the Missouri Senator as the standard-bearer for MAGA issues like these and, in doing so, winning over the rank-and-file and galvanizing evangelicals (of which constitute an overwhelming amount of the South's GOP electorate) to turn out in droves.

His schedule comprised primarily of three separate tours: one in Texas, one in Minnesota, and one in North Carolina. These were the three primaries that Team Hawley predicted would be the most contested, and so in each of these they expended much of their resources and emphasized specific issues to drive home a winning coalition.

In Texas, it was border security. Hawley made the case his plan and support among law enforcement made him the best equipped to handle the issue, seeking the support of rural whites and making inroads with crime-focused suburban voters. In Minnesota, it was trade and foreign policy. Hawley's China-bashing had always been a defining aspect of his approach here, but it would come to a head as it strut back into national headlines. He sought to syncretize orthodox GOP views on foreign policy with general anti-China sentiment to win over voters of all ilk. In North Carolina, it was abortion. Though not explicitly aligned with MAGA ideology, rank-and-file voters here were still largely pro-life. Hawley's campaign energized evangelicals on the issue, making headway through the newly-furnished endorsement of the NRtL.

With so little time between Nevada and all these crucial primaries, Hawley couldn't afford to show up to other states outside of a cursory visit. Instead, his surrogates stumped in his place. In California, the crucial endorsement of Larry Elder was used to energize and persuade conservative voters of Hawley's firebrand credentials. Across the South, names like Mike Huckabee, Marsha Blackburn, and John Kennedy routinely showed up to major events. In Colorado, FotF President Jim Daly and Ken Buck ignited religious conservatives to rally behind Hawley just days before the primary. For this juncture, each delegate was crucial to proving Hawley could amass the coalition necessary to win the nomination. This was his make-or-break moment.

[oldkyhome]

Public Domain, via Facebook

'You can't stop what's coming': Hawley assails 'corrupt political establishment' in Super Tuesday victory speech

Hawley's closing rally in Raleigh was a sight to behold. Hosted downtown in the massive J.S Dorton Arena, the event attracted almost 11,000 attendants, where an energetic Hawley was embraced by a multitude of surrogates, including Activist Candace Owens, Senator J.D Vance, Governor (and Senate candidate) Jim Justice, and others. The spectacle mirrored that of President Biden's 4 years ago in the lead-up to Super Tuesday, where he projected a show of unity by flaunting a diverse crowd of the campaign's major endorsements. One after another, each riled up the audience, making their case for Senator Hawley to be the one to take on Kamala Harris. The mood was electric.

Heading into election day, staff were optimistic. They saw Super Tuesday as the break the campaign needed, and it would have to be. While polling showed Hawley as the (narrow) favorite, he had not won a single contest in over a month. This was a make-or-break moment. To cement his frontrunner status to a national audience and perhaps coalesce the party around him ahead of Mini Tuesday, Hawley needed to run the table in the south and stay competitive elsewhere.

For all their buoyancy over large crowd sizes and good polling, that was far from a foregone conclusion. In critical battleground contests, Hawley's winning coalition hinged on whether he could unite a critical mass of the Trump base behind him. Roger Stone had proven to be a consistent thorn in this effort, perhaps now more than ever. Hawley's team recognized that. That's why they focused the bulk of their attacks on the memos that emerged out of the New York Post's report. If everything fell into place, Stone's vote share would fall just enough to pave the way for a decisive victory.

As Josh and Erin settled in for the night, his team on the ground crunched the numbers. "It'll be tight," one aide reported behind the scenes, "What we're seeing is a razor-thin race in Texas, but decisive wins in every other Southern contest, ... also a stronger-than-expected performance out of California, and dismal showings in the New England primaries." A mixed bag, to be sure, but certainly more favorable than not. The question of the night though: would Hawley come out on top in the delegate count? The answer to that would become clear as more results strolled in that showed the Missouri Senator outperforming even internal estimates in North Carolina and Tennessee and boasting strong 2nd-place finishes in Utah, California, and Colorado.

A patient crowd burst into chants and cheers as the call from North Carolina echoed throughout the Asheville watch party. Minutes later, Hawley emerged from his venue to declare victory and assess the campaign's standing. Here's the transcript:

As delivered at 11:03 PM ET

Crowd: "HAW-LEY! HAW-LEY! HAW-LEY!"

"Thank you, thank you! What a night!

What can I say? Tonight, the media cynics and special interests, who believed what happened on a snowy day in Iowa was just a fluke, were told a different story by voters from every corner of this nation. What started as a whisper in a small town in the middle of Missouri swelled into a chorus of millions tired of this administration and fed up with a corrupt political establishment that has robbed and deceived them. Farmers, mechanics, teachers, tradesmen, in every state and every town, especially here in North Carolina.

Now, not all of the results are in, but what has become clear and what will become clear in the coming days is that, tonight, the American people spoke loud and clear. They are ready for the challenge ahead, to take on the swamp, to change Washington from the ground-up, and to once again give a voice to the millions of Americans who have been forgotten and left behind by this administration. They have answered the call of every generation to renew our revolutionary heritage and retake our Republic for the people.

Yes, our time has come; our movement is real.

And we will no longer be ignored or deterred. We will not be pushed around or told to shut up. We will not be drowned out by negative ads or media lies. To the special interests, the dark money groups, the lobbyists, who poured millions to defeat us tonight, you can't stop what's coming. In November, the silent majority of Americans, who have had to foot the cost of every erroneous and self-serving decision of this administration, are prepared to send a powerful wake-up call to America's ruling class.

I want to thank all the people who made this comeback possible: the field organizers, the volunteers, the canvassers. You made the calls. You knocked on doors. You went the distance. This is your victory.

It's been a tough road. We've faced our fair share of setbacks and challenges, but we've also had some incredible moments along the way, and this is one of them. If it were not for my team's persistence and resolve, I'm not sure we would be where we are tonight. When we started this journey, many people said we couldn't do it. They said we didn't have what it takes to stand up and defeat the Republican establishment. But we refused to listen. We refused to give up. And tonight, we proved them all wrong.

It has been such an honor and privilege to meet with people from all walks of life throughout this campaign, from bustling metros to small town neighborhoods to rural farming communities. Their stories have humbled me, they have inspired me, they have reminded me why this campaign is so important to so many.

But the work is far from over, so I want to remind you, too, why we must fight onward.

A hard-working mom in Dalton, Ohio who's forced to work two jobs to keep up with rising costs and declining wages. She wants to spend more time with the kids but the Biden economy offers no relief. A factory worker in Harbor Springs, Michigan who watched as his place of work was outsourced to China where people make $1 or $2 a day. He struggles to find new work to put food on the table for his family but Washington couldn't care less. A young man in Jefferson, Texas who fights every day with fentanyl addiction. He represents a growing swath of Americans who have been forced to give up on their dreams and aspirations because this President has enabled drug dealers and cartels.

These stories remind me - remind us - why this election is no ordinary one. We are in a fight against not just whoever the Democratic nominee ends up being but also a tidal wave of money and power. As we leave Super Tuesday with new wind at our backs, and take our movement to the next slew of states, let's never forget the challenges that lay ahead - and why it is so important at this critical moment in our nation's history to take them on. Thank you all, and God bless!

Crowd: "HAW-LEY! ALL THE WAY! HAW-LEY! ALL THE WAY!"

The spotlight again shone in his direction, and he would not hesitate to make the most of it.

[oldkyhome]

Self-made campaign material

Ad #14: Mitt and Glenn.

Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr

"Mitt Romney."

Mitt Romney 1994 Debate by Dolobolo, via Wikimedia Commons
Wheland Foundry hulk by Thomas Cizauskas, via Flickr

"We know him as the layoff king who made a fortune outsourcing jobs and crushing factories,"

Joe Biden by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr
Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

"..or the swamp creature who backed trillions in reckless Biden spending,"

President Hosts a Listening Session by Trump White House, via Flickr

"..or the RINO who voted to impeach President Trump."

Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons
Glenn Youngkin by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

"But now we know him as the guy who's endorsing Glenn Youngkin for President."

China Economic Outlook by World Economic Forum, via Flickr

"No wonder, Glenn also made millions at a private equity firm moving jobs overseas,"

Oysters with Obenshain, Rockingham by Glenn Youngkin, via Flickr
Public Domain via the White House

"...then he snubbed President Trump and refused to even be seen with him."

Glenn Youngkin by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

"Now he wants to be the Republican nominee for President."

Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

"Sound familiar?"

Mitt and Ann Romney by John Matthew Smith, via Wikimedia Commons
Rockledge on Mill Mountain by Glenn Youngkin, via Flickr

"Mitt and Glenn: Birds of a feather flock together."

VO: "I'm Josh Hawley, and I approve this message."

Notes: This ad is aired in all Mini Tuesday media markets, as well as Wisconsin and Illinois. Fairly straight-forward approach here, criticizing Youngkin on a variety of fronts and comparing his record with Senator Romney, who has publicly endorsed the Virginia Gov. It will be aired most intensely in the state of Michigan, where Hawley is seeking to contrast his stance on trade with Youngkin's reputation as an outsourcer. This also marks Team Hawley's first television buy directly attacking Youngkin.

All edits to the attributed images are self-made.

[oldkyhome]

March 6th

JD Vance by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons
Tucker Carlson by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

VANCE ON FOX: "We saw our nominee emerge last night."

TUCKER: "Here with us tonight to discuss the results, Senator J.D Vance. J.D, thanks for coming on."

VANCE: "Privilege to be here, Tucker."

TUCKER: "Now, last night we had 15 states vote in the Republican primary. 16 for the Democrats. Not a pretty night on either side, I'll say. Senator Hawley, who you've endorsed, has been declared the winner in 7 contests, and Governor Youngkin in 6. Stone eked out a surprise win in Maine. We'll see what happens in Texas. Governor DeSantis leads there by a little over 10,000 votes. What're your thoughts on these results?"

VANCE: "That's right, Tucker. We expect we'll have to hold a recount before we know who's won in Texas, but here's what we do know. After 19 contests in every corner of this country, Senator Hawley has the most votes, the most delegates, and the broadest coalition of working-class people we've seen in a long time. I understand there are some who want to downplay that and make it seem insignificant, but that's a heavy feat in as divided a primary as we have right now, especially with all the money that has poured in recently to stop him. He's tough, he's tested, he's shown he can take on difficult challenges and win. I think there's no question we saw our nominee emerge last night."

TUCKER: "I see where you're coming from, but some are still seeing this as an open race, could even end up in a contested convention. What do you have to say to them?"

VANCE: "Look, there's a lot of noise and nonsense coming out of Super Tuesday, and you can expect that in an election season, but the facts are clear. There's only one candidate who's built a movement that's been able to resonate with broad swaths of people, from ironworkers in Minnesota to ranchers in Texas to carpenters in North Carolina. Senator Hawley has shown he has what it takes to beat Kamala Harris or whoever the Democrats end up nominating and take our country back. Republican voters are starting to realize, this is our nominee."

TUCKER: "You mentioned the Democratic Primary, and boy, what a mess. Kamala Harris did manage to maintain her lead, but her challengers landed some critical blows to her in Texas and Colorado and even her home state of California. Could we end up with contested conventions on both sides?"

VANCE: "I won't delve too deep into this, but I do think Democratic voters are just not feeling Vice President Harris, and she's struggling because of that. By all ordinary indications, this should've been a walk for her after winning in Nevada and coming exceptionally close in Whitmer's Michigan, but that's just not what happened. We'd be smart to unite around Senator Hawley, who's proven he has what it takes to build a nationwide movement, and let the Democrats scramble to find a nominee. I guarantee you, it'd be a romp in November."

TUCKER: "It'll certainly be interesting to watch. J.D Vance, everyone."

060331_usw_rally - 25 by Carlos Fernandez, via Flickr

'JOB-KILLER': Youngkin layoff victims speak out at Hawley event

Following a strong showing on Super Tuesday, Hawley flew out to Michigan to kick off a new-leg of his 'Forgotten America' bus tour with a stump speech in Kalamazoo. The event featured the Missouri Senator flanked by current and former autoworkers, holding signs that read "Youngkin = Job Killer" and "Hawley for Workers, not Wall Street." Hawley, who has landed increasingly harsh criticisms on Youngkin's tenure at Carlyle, embraced the protesters, delivering a rousing speech where he pledged to be "the toughest President China has ever seen", lambasted Washington's "complete failure" on trade policy, and called for the U.S to withdraw from the World Trade Organization "until we can figure out what the hell is going on."

But the highlight of the event came when five former employees of Carlyle-owned companies took the stage and relayed stories of losing their jobs under Youngkin's leadership. One was a middle-aged woman who worked at Veyance Technologies, an Ohio-based car part manufacturer that Carlyle acquired in 2011, who described having her job shipped to Mexico during the brunt of a recession as "unforgivable." Another was an older man who worked at a nursing home that Carlyle acquired in 2013, recalling rising rents, skyrocketing health code violations, and hundreds of layoffs: "It was unconscionable. These are people's lives."

The heartfelt speech offered a sharp contrast between the two candidate's philosophies on trade, one that further emphasized Hawley's America First bona fides. He thanked the workers for their courage and authenticity before following up their speech with a stinging rebuke of Youngkin's record at Carlyle, blasting him as a "D.C favorite" who is "too beholden" to stand up for Michigan autoworkers. "Glenn Youngkin is a perfect example of what's wrong with this system," Hawley continued, "What good is a job creator if those jobs are created not in America, but in China or Mexico?"

Concluding his stump, Hawley reiterated his promise to reshore American manufacturing and hold 'outsourcers like Youngkin' to account, eliciting raucous applause and chants of 'U-S-A,' before handing the mic over to one of the steelworkers who had shown up to support him. "Josh Hawley understands the challenges that we face," said Kalamazoo resident and USW member Samuel Johnson, "He's young, he's bold, he's got the guts to get the job done." Never one to shy away from a fight, this would define the Hawley campaign's pitch to voters in the week leading up to the Michigan primary.

[oldkyhome]

March 7th

Public Domain, via Facebook

Senator Hawley opened the day by holding a meet-and-greet with factory workers in Lansing, where he discussed his plan to engineer American manufacturing dominance, including through tariffs, tax credits, and renegotiation of major trade deals. He emphasized that "America is the world's largest economy, and has great pull in shaping international trade," but that D.C "is too complacent to do anything" about outsourcing. Hawley touted his plan to withdraw from the WTO as a way of "shaking things up" and "restoring America's economic sovereignty," stressing that he is the only candidate with the guts to make it happen.

Hawley also held a brief round-table with the managers of the factory, where he struck a chord on fiscal conservatism, promising tax relief for companies that manufacture in America and reducing inflationary pressures by cutting back on wasteful spending, primarily by enacting a 'single-subject' rule to prevent Congress from passing debt-exploding omnibus packages.

He then stopped by his Michigan HQ in Ann Arbor to mingle with volunteers before attending a special phone-banking session targeting supporters of Governor DeSantis, who has faltered in the state in recent weeks. Here, his campaign highlighted Hawley's record taking on the woke left, presenting the Missouri Senator as the next-best option for conservatives who want a firebrand lead the ticket.

Public Domain, via Facebook

Rep. John James endorses Josh Hawley for President

At a campaign rally just outside of Detroit, Michigan, Hawley's campaign unveiled the endorsement of Congressman John James, a major figure in Michigan politics. Congressman James called Hawley the 'clear conservative choice', urging his followers to back him in the Michigan primary on March 13th. An excerpt:

"I've had so many people ask me who I was going to support here. We might not be Iowa or New Hampshire, but Michigan has been at the center of some of the biggest upsets in recent history, and we are the biggest prize on Mini Tuesday, and for that I think we have to be responsible with our decision. I happen to believe we have a lot of great choices this go around, but there really is one that stands above the rest, and that's Senator Hawley. For me, it's not even a competition. Let me explain why.

I want you to think for a moment about the guy we have right now in the Oval Office, as hard as that may be, just for a moment. What comes to mind? A sleepy, corrupt liberal phony. Now imagine the breath of a fresh air Josh Hawley would be: an energetic, authentic real conservative. He's like the anti-Biden (cue laughs).

But really, I've always been a fan of the Senator. I was honored to meet him when I got to Congress. If you've seen his work, you know he doesn't mess around. He's ruthless in a confirmation hearing. He would make mince meat of the special interests. That's the kind of fighting spirit we need in the White House, to turn this economy around, to get wages up and prices down, and to drain the swamp in the Biden White House. Throughout this campaign, I've seen him build a movement that represents the independence and service that embodies Michigan values. I'm honored today to endorse the man who has created such a historic coalition, who now has the most votes and the most delegates. Isn't that something? (cue applause)

And he's going to get many more from Michigan. March 12th. Save the date. I want you to get out and vote, I want you to get your friends out and vote, I want you to get your family out and vote, because this is really where it's going to count. We've got a real chance to show the nation what we believe here in Wolverine State: that human life is sacred and it matters, that every child, from Detroit where I grew up to Lexington where Josh grew up, should have opportunity and access to a good life, that no mother or father should have to choose between spending times with the kids and putting food on the table, that American dream should be alive not just for some but for all, for every community.

Silent majority no more. We have to be bold. We have to be loud. And courageous. Senator Hawley illustrates that more than anyone else in this field. He's up to the challenge, to take on the worst of Washington. The phonies, the crooks, the do-nothings. I think Michiganders are too, but we have to show that on March 12th. We have to show up for Senator Hawley. Let's show the world that we are ready to fight back, against this administration, against the media, against the interest groups. Let's send Josh Hawley to the White House."

Hawley Op-Ed: The 2024 Election Will Define the Nation's Future on Immigration.

For the last four years, America has had to grapple with a crisis on its southern border. Record-high illegal border crossings, surging fentanyl overdoses, an alarming number of children circulating in the human trafficking trade. The cause of this is clear. In just his first 100 days, Biden signed 94 executive orders significantly loosening our nation's immigration policies, including halting the construction of the border wall, imposing a deportation moratorium, terminating many of the Asylum Cooperative Agreements we had with Central American countries, and much more.

What a lot of good that did. The cartels are taking us for fools, and ordinary people are suffering the consequences. It's clear that Mexico outfoxed President Biden, calling his bluff because they knew he didn't have the political will to fight back. A full 3 years since this crisis broke, he still hasn't come up with a way to stem the tide of death and destruction coming across the border (or even shown signs of trying).

More and more Americans are realizing the failure of his approach. That's why a new Gallup poll shows just 28% of Americans are satisfied with current immigration levels - the lowest number recorded since 2008.

Contrast this with how the Trump administration treated border security and it's like night and day. Less crossings, less fentanyl, less trafficking. No wonder, President Trump took the issue so seriously he even declared a national emergency to address it. Illegal crossings also fell 87 percent in places where the wall was built. One main takeaway here: elections have consequences, and the 2024 election will likely define the path our nation takes on immigration. That's why it's so crucial the next President has a real plan, a generational plan, to not only shut down the border disaster but prevent it from happening again.

We must remember that immigration is not just a political issue, it is a moral one. President Biden's open-border policies have undoubtedly resulted in the death or suffering of thousands through increased access to fentanyl and enabling of human traffickers. We must go above and beyond to make good on the Republican Party's promise to secure the border.

That's why, today, I'm unveiling my 5-point plan for immigration reform. It ranges from immediate to long-term solutions, with the goal of reining in the cartels, bottlenecking the flow of drugs, and reforming our process to serve the interests of the American people. We must ensure that border security doesn't hinge on which party is in the White House. My plan would accomplish that by finishing the wall on the Southern border and authorizing state officers to enforce immigration laws. It would further make historic, long-term progress to undo the disastrous open-border policies of President Biden and restore our nation's commitment to the rule of law.

Hawley's 5-Point Plan:
1.) Establish a border security trust-fund, paid for with revenues generated at ports of entry, to finish construction of the U.S-Mexico wall and keep it regularly maintained.
2.) Allow state officers to enforce Sections 271 to 280 of the Immigration Nationality Act to deport or prosecute illegal aliens.
3.) Realign immigration policy around merit by increasing the proportion of high-skilled immigrants in visa allocation from 12% to 57%.
4.) Impose new penalties for visa overstays and create 21st-century legal and infrastructure enhancements to significantly reduce it.
5.) Reinstate all Trump-era immigration policies that Biden has since repealed.

[oldkyhome]

Hawley Debate Answers

1. "China has amassed soldiers in what some analysts are saying could be for a potential invasion of Taiwan, an American ally. They have also engaged in other threatening actions, such as verbal threats, aerospace violations, and naval exercises. If the worst case scenario unfolds and Taiwan is attacked, would you support an American military response to support Taiwan against a Chinese invasion?"

"I want to first thank Fox for hosting this debate and my opponents for coming. This is a critical time to address the threat of China. They are our number-one threat, not only to other sovereign nations but also to our people at home. We have watched as our nation's leaders have fumbled and failed to grapple with the peril posed by the Chinese Communist Party. They have stolen our intellectual property, they have manipulated their currency, they fostered a pandemic, and Washington has let them get away with it.

It's outrageous. My answer to the question is absolutely yes.

But I want to be clear that the only reason we've got to this point is because this President and his inept administration have shown total weakness in the face of an emerging threat. If I'm elected, I will take immediate steps to not just prepare for but prevent an invasion of Taiwan. That starts with pulling out of endless foreign conflicts in places we shouldn't even be. We can't even begin to retaliate against China if we're embroiled in places all over the world.

We also need to pull the plug on the global institutions that have enabled them, from the World Trade Organization to the World Economic Forum. I would have the U.S withdraw from the World Trade Organization so our country can start to make decisions for America's benefit, in America's interest, and not some uppity elite class. We cannot beat China by following the rules of the same old order that has allowed them to become a threat to us and our allies. For me, it will always be America first."

2. "Many conservatives have voiced concerns over creeping "gender ideology" in schools, teaching children about multiple genders, changing ones gender as a child, information about genitalia and so on, before they even know anything about this. Many have said this constitutes social pressure on our nation's children to conform to a radical left-wing agenda on gender and the family. What would you do to stop the spread of gender ideology in schools and in our culture at large?"

"This radical gender ideology is poisoning our schools, corrupting our culture, and threatening the very fabric of our society. I've said before that some in this race talk a big game but would love to do nothing on this issue. They'll shower it in flowery words about local control and state choice. That's code for abdication. This is a problem that affects not just red states but blue states too. We can't be complacent with skyrocketing rates of gender dysphoria and an alarming number of young people undergoing irreversible and harmful medical procedures.

We have to combat this by standing up to this administration's attempt to shut parents up. I'm the only candidate in this race calling for a Parents' Bill of Rights, which would enshrine the right of families to know what schools are teaching, to direct their child's education, and to make safe and responsible decisions about it. I know it might outrage some on this stage for me to believe that parents in every state - not just in red states - should have a role in their child's education, but I am prepared to defend that, in both this campaign and in the White House."

Stone: "I implore my fellow candidates to follow my lead. Josh, you've only been bold enough so far to go after the easy beans like Garland. The base will love you for it! *winks*"

"I'm sure you'd know a thing or two about pandering, Roger."

3. "Do you believe that President Biden should be impeached by the Republican House of Representatives based on scandals such as the Hunter Biden Laptop Story and coverup, Burisma corruption, or mishandling classified documents?"

"We have to. What these past few years have shown is that the Justice Department and the swamp couldn't care less about Joe Biden's family dealings and foreign ties. The Republican House has a real chance to send a message about integrity and the rule of law.  If Scalise can't even muster the courage to impeach the most corrupt President in recent history, you have to ask, what did we even elect them for? If I'm nominated, you can be sure I'll take to task Vice President Harris or whoever they nominate on this President's bottomless well of nepotism and corruption."

4. "Raise your hand if you believe the ongoing criminal case against Former President Trump is a politically motivated prosecution. One sentence or two can suffice for explanation."

*Raises hand* Do I really need to explain this one? The prosecution of President Trump is a sham and a farce.

5. "Would you support abolishing the IRS and the Federal Income Tax in favor of a nationwide sales tax? If not, what kind of cuts would you like to see?"

"Not the plan that's currently circulating, that's for sure. I'm sure many here on stage will rile up the audience boasting how much they support it. It sounds so nice when Washington politicians talk it up, but what they don't tell you is that it would raise taxes for working families. Sounds good, doesn't work. That's always the catch.

My plan would create twelve-thousand dollars in tax cuts for the middle class and pay for it by eliminating some of the biggest sweetheart deals Washington gives to companies like Disney and Amazon. I'd eliminate some of the biggest loopholes and deductions woke billionaires benefit from, cut the tax code down to just three brackets, and streamline the system by implementing a return-free option to relieve people from even having to file their taxes.

Now, Roger made an interesting point earlier. Americans shouldn't have to deal with the intricacies and complexities of a tax code created to cater to lawyers and accountants. He says your tax form should be no more than a piece of paper. I think your tax form should be done for you. It's what Reagan and other Presidents pushed for, but lobbyists and influence peddlers have killed it over the years in favor of big-whig tax filing companies. I'll take them on to make sure every American gets a fair shake.

Let me finish by saying, America is a strong and prosperous country. If we just give people the means to support themselves and earn a living, we will come roaring back from the Biden years like never before. That starts with giving working Americans - who have had to bore the brunt of his disastrous policies - a well-deserved tax cut."

To Senator Hawley: "What kind of consequences would you support for states and localities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities as President? Would you support sending in federal forces to enforce our immigration laws?"

"As a sovereign nation, we have a legal and moral duty to control our borders and enforce our immigration laws. Nothing has been a greater testament to that than the failure of Biden's open-border policies. People are suffering, crime is soaring, drugs are pouring through the border; it is absolutely unacceptable for states and localities to obstruct the rule of law even further. If I'm elected, I will use every tool available to me to ensure that all jurisdictions comply with federal immigration authorities, including imposing financial penalties, withholding federal funding, and taking legal action against them. That also includes using federal agencies like ICE and the DHS to enforce immigration laws in so-called sanctuary cities.

We cannot have a patchwork of laws and policies when it comes to immigration enforcement. This is a national security issue. When we allow gangs and cartels to harbor in America's largest cities, that has ripple effects, because that enables them to distribute drugs in - not just those states - but across the country, in Kansas, in Michigan, in my home-state of Missouri. It makes border states out of places that are hundreds of miles from our Southern border. I will stamp out these dangerous policies that put our citizens at risk and incentivize illegal immigration."

[oldkyhome]

March 8th

Public Domain, via Facebook

In the wee hours of the morning, Hawley landed in Ozark, MO to hold a meeting with high-level strategists in preparation for Mini Tuesday. Here, they assessed how the campaign would delineate its resources in the upcoming states. 'This is where delegate counts start to matter,' one aide remarked. Indeed, as great as Super Tuesday was for Hawley's campaign, it also increased the likelihood of a contested convention greatly, with each of the 4 major candidates easily crossing into triple-digit delegate counts. They opted to distribute their resources fairly evenly across the nine contests (save Hawaii), with an emphasis on Michigan, the greatest delegate prize on Mini Tuesday. Internal estimates showed that most of these contests possessed uniquely favorable demographics for Hawley's coalition. If he managed to run the table and win most of the contests on March 12th, it would easily position the Missouri Senator as the undisputed favorite for the nomination.

Public Domain, via Facebook

Hawley at Town Hall in Topeka: 'My campaign is about giving you the power to live your own life.'

Responding to a question from a former DeSantis supporter about how he intended to address the rise of Critical Race Theory and left-wing gender ideology, Hawley touted his Parent Bill of Rights' proposal as a way of keeping 'rogue ideologues' in check and emphasized his belief in giving people the power to live their own life. An excerpt:

"It's a classic instance of Hollywood trying to push their values and their voices onto the heartland. As a parent of two young boys and a girl, it's personal to me because I don't want them to be taught that they should feel guilty because of the color of the skin when they're supposed to be learning fractions and division. It's outrageous and appalling. As I've traveled across this country, I've learned many others feel the same way. What's being taught fundamentally betrays the values we hold as Americans: that freedom and justice is for all, that people should be judged not by their color of their skin but by the content of their character.

As Americans, we should be proud, not ashamed, of our shared heritage and our country's founding principles of freedom, equality, and opportunity for all. It's what makes our nation unique and exceptional.

Now, I'm not here to make some grandiose, one-size-fits-all proposal. My campaign is about giving you the power to live your own life, so here's what I'd do. On day one, I'd repeal every disastrous Biden executive action that has enabled this racist ideology and stripped parents of the right to even challenge school boards. I'd appoint a Secretary of Education who recognizes and values the contributions of parents in their children's curriculum. I'd push for Congress to enact legislation requiring schools that receive federal taxpayer dollars to let parents know what their child is being taught and make decisions about their education.

There's nothing worse than when bureaucrats and celebrities think they decide our principles and values for us. Lucky for us, we don't have to stand here and take it. We can vote; we can send a message. That's what our great Republic is built on, the idea that we control our own future and destiny. That's why I want you to join me in standing up for our values and rejecting the divisive, identity-based politics of the woke left this Tuesday."

Press Release: National Border Patrol Council endorses Josh Hawley for President

The NBPC had never endorsed a candidate in a primary before Donald Trump. In many ways, he revolutionized the way we discuss border security and immigration. His Presidency marked a radical departure from political orthodoxy, which treated the mass flow of drugs and people through the border as a mere secondary issue. While the media was busy slandering his policies as cruel and inhumane, Trump made unprecedented progress on the border, cutting down illegal crossings, stemming the flow of drugs, and supporting the brave men who work in ICE and CBP. We know now just what a difference that makes as President Biden grapples with a border crisis of his own doing. The next President must be committed to ending this era of open borders for good.

With the prosecution of President Trump rendering him unable to run for another term, we carefully reviewed the new field of Presidential-hopefuls to determine which candidate is most committed to living up to his legacy and taking on the open-border establishment. In this, there is a clear choice.

After much deliberation and consideration of each candidate's record on border security and immigration, the National Border Patrol Council is proud to endorse Josh Hawley for President in the upcoming election. Senator Hawley has shown an unwavering commitment to fighting for the safety and security of the American people and the protection of our borders. Throughout this campaign, he has exemplified the resilience and grit we believe a President needs to take on the special interests that support lax immigration policies, and in the Senate, he has been steadfast in his charge for more funding for border security and against the reckless and irresponsible policies of this administration.

It further goes without saying that he has introduced by far the most comprehensive plan to address the border crisis and immigration at-large. Senator Hawley is right in pointing out that we must go beyond this election and view the issue from a generational perspective. By finishing the wall, creating a border security trust fund, and allowing states to have a role in the enforcement of federal immigration law, we can ensure that the rule of law is upheld no matter which party controls Congress or the White House.

Senator Hawley would live up to the legacy of President Trump and perhaps go beyond it. We have full confidence in his ability to address this issue with the urgency and severity it deserves. We urge the 18,000 agents we represent, and everyone else interested in making lasting progress on immigration, to vote for him this Tuesday and in primaries beyond that.

[oldkyhome]

March 9th

Josh Hawley by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr

Josh Hawley delivers fiery address at CPAC: 'We're up against a tidal wave of money and power.'

"Thank you, thank you, always an honor to be at CPAC.

It's been quite a year, huh? (applause)

For many reasons. It's been a tough year for the American people, who have had to put up with another round of rising costs and falling wages because of this disastrous administration, but it's also been a great year for the hard-working people who are eager to see them defeated in November. I can tell you, from what I've seen on the ground, people are angry, they want new leadership, and - well, if we nominate the right candidate, - (laughter and applause) ... they are prepared to defeat whoever the Democrats nominate and send a message to the world that America is ready to be free, it's ready to be sovereign, it's ready to start making decisions that benefit us and not global bureaucrats. (applause)

But I want you all to know we can't make that happen unless we work towards it. We're up against, not just the Democratic Party and its entourage of crooked politicians, but a tidal wave of money and power. We have to bring everything to the table if we want to take back our country. We need your energy and enthusiasm. The 2022 midterms showed we can't sit idly by and expect America's independent voters to show up if we don't offer them a vision and a platform. We know what we're against, how about what we're for? (applause)

We are the party of freedom. We are the party of opportunity. We are the party of faith and family, and the rule of law, and the sanctity of life, and fewer wars. (applause) To believe in those principles is to be a Republican. It's to be a conservative. But we also need a vision that embraces something grander, that embodies the type of country we can be.

We must never forget that this great Republic was founded on a revolutionary faith that changed the course of human history. We were founded on the belief that all people are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that government derives its power from the consent of the governed. We would like to believe these values still define our Republic, but today in America, just 20% of Americans trust their government to do the right thing. That is outrageous. It is appalling. But I'm afraid it's not surprising.

Just look at the towns across America filled with people who have lost faith and hope in our nation's future. In the places where TV cameras never go, where town squares sit half empty, where businesses stand shuttered, where you can buy fentanyl with the snap of a finger on any street corner. Here, the great challenge of our age is unfolding.

I’ve seen it in country places where meth is so common they tell me dealers hang bags of drugs from tree branches for their buyers to retrieve, a literal landscape of addiction and despair. I’ve heard it from young mothers raising kids alone, and working a job, and trying to go to school at night, and trying to shield their children from the drugs and the pathologies online. I’ve heard it in the words of young men who graduated high school only to find no jobs, and no place to learn a trade and no hope for anything better.

And so have many of you. This is the struggle millions of Americans face today under President Biden.

It is a struggle shared by white and black alike, and those of every race, because the breakdown of family and neighborhood, the loss of good work, and the epidemic of addictive drugs—these things know no racial boundaries. This is a struggle we are in together, a struggle that brings us together, a struggle for the things we love together, for home, family, and country.

The future of our Republic will be defined by how we meet this challenge.

Theodore Roosevelt wrote that “the Roman Republic fell” when “the sturdy Roman plebeian, who lived by his own labor, [and] who voted without reward according to his own convictions” ceased to exist. Our present-day leaders, and especially this administration, seem determined to repeat the experiment.

They would have us believe that our future is one in which we work and pay taxes to support a government that doesn't respect our values or our convictions. They would have us believe that we are powerless to change the course of our country, and that we must accept their vision of an America growingly resentful of the ranchers, miners, and engineers who sustain it. But I am here to tell you today that this is not our destiny. (applause) This is not the end of the story, but only if we are prepared to stop it.

We must rise to the challenge and reignite the revolutionary spirit that birthed our great, old Republic. We must move beyond stale platforms and hollow truisms to demand something different and better. We must forge a coalition of forgotten Americans of different backgrounds and creeds all united around a similar cause, an American cause, to take on and defeat the entrenched powers of Washington D.C. Are you with me? (raucous applause)

Conservatives, the road won't be easy. The past four years have shown that enough, between historic amounts of media and tech censorship, a weaponized DOJ and FBI, and an onslaught of dark money pouring into our elections. The powers that be are against us at every turn, but if we remember what is at stake at this defining point in our nation's history, we can muster the courage to challenge the status quo and the resolve to stand strong in the face of adversity.

The strength is in you. The strength is in us together. Let me close with a line I’ve thought a lot about the past few months, a quote from Daniel Webster, who in some trying years of his own that he knew, a trying time before the beginning of the Civil War, he used to end his speeches in the United States Senate by saying, “Union now, union forever.” What he meant was is that for those who said that America’s time had passed, that the country was hopelessly divided, that it was irredeemable... Sound familiar? He said, “No. Union now, union forever.” In our times, my friends, it is America now, America first, America forever. God bless you all and good night! (applause)

[oldkyhome]

March 10th

Public Domain, via Facebook

'What kind of President would Josh Hawley be?' Chris Wallace asks in prime-time interview

Two nights from Mini Tuesday, Josh Hawley sat down with Chris Wallace for a one-on-one interview to answer questions about the kind of vision he had for the Oval Office and the priorities he would set if he were elected. An excerpt:

WALLACE: "Senator, you're on the rise of the polls. You have a number of states that are about to vote- that pollsters think you have a good shot of doing very well. So let's say you win the Republican nomination and then get elected President. What are your day one objectives?"

HAWLEY: "Certainly an important question for anyone wanting to run for such a high office. To start, I would sign the most sweeping anti-corruption reforms since Watergate, taking on pay-to-play, getting the government out of speech, expanding disclosure rules for lobbyists. There would be a fundamental shift in how the White House treats service in government. I'd also repeal all of Biden's executive actions on immigration. I've said before and I will here, but border security isn't just a legal issue. It's a moral issue, and we ought to treat it with the urgency it deserves knowing that people are dying today because cartels and gangs are going unchecked. We have to get control of the border immediately, and I will if I'm elected."

WALLACE: "Alright, immigration and ethics reform. What about China? You said at the debate the other day you think they're America's top threat. What steps would a President Hawley take to defeat a rising China?"

HAWLEY: "Yeah, well first, we have to recognize we are behind the game on addressing the China threat. We have a jumbled supply chain, we have a massive trade deficit, it’s just a mess. I'll do everything in my power as President to reshore jobs to communities that have been devastated by outsourcing. Tariffs, tax credits, trade renegotiations, you name it. That's number one. We also need to realign our foreign policy focus around this threat. President Biden and those before him has had us constantly embroiled in conflicts we have no busy being in. First it was Iraq, then it was Libya, then it was Syria, now it's Ukraine. We have to pull the plug. I'll continue Trump's legacy of not starting wars, and I'll pull out of ones we're in right now, because I want to build a foreign policy that serves American interests and American needs."

WALLACE: "Speaking of President Trump's firsts, he was also the first President to move the U.S Embassy to Israel's capital in Jerusalem. Where does Israel fit into your foreign policy vision? Would you commit to supporting them with monetary aid?"

HAWLEY: "Absolutely. I would absolutely commit to supporting Israel. They are a sovereign nation, that has stood by America through thick and thin, and shined as one of the most prosperous democracies in the Middle East. They've also been among our most reliable allies in international votes, so I think if we are going to forge a coalition of nations that will stand true to our struggle against China, Israel will need to be apart of it."

WALLACE: "Moving on to economic growth, you've placed a $12k tax credit proposal at the heart of your tax plan. You've dubbed it the 'Parent Tax Credit', somewhat of a rebranding of the already-existing Child Tax Credit although it's significantly larger. Some say this abandons the principles of supply-side economics, that you need to cut taxes on businesses and job creators in order to produce prosperity. Would that be apart of your tax plan? If so - or if not - what is your plan to spur economic growth and reduce inflation?"

HAWLEY: "I, first, I reject the notion that a middle-class tax cut would be ineffective at driving growth. The people my plan would benefit are the people who deserve a tax cut the most in this economy. It's the engineers, the carpenters, the construction workers that are getting squeezed, not Disney and Amazon. And make no mistake, this tax cut will produce results. It'd put our consumers on a level-playing field with China, which would give a boost to manufacturers who make and sell right here at home. Call that a departure from orthodoxy, I don't care.

But it's also just a small part of my plan to bring America back roaring on the world stage. I'd cut down and simplify the tax code and give breaks to businesses that build in America. I'd gut a lot of these useless new regulations the Biden administration implemented and I'd return to the Trump-era policy of removing at least two regulations for every new one. I want everyone to get a fair shake, but we have to really assess our priorities. Who actually deserves a tax break? It's not the companies that are making jobs in Mexico and China."

WALLACE: "That segways into another topic I was about to ask you on. Your campaign has drawn the ire of some in the upper echelons of the Republican Party for your unorthodox positions on economics and foreign policy. Do you intend to reconcile with these people to unite the party or to form an agenda, if you are elected?"

HAWLEY: "Let's step back a little bit. I'm not running to burn bridges with anyone, but if you're asking me if I'm going to cave or go back on my promises to appease people who didn't elect me, who don't represent me or my values, you're asking the wrong guy. If I am the nominee, it will be because most Republican voters believed in my visions and positions. It will be because they believe I should represent the Republican plank. They will have to reconcile with the fact that their beliefs were unpopular, and I believe that would make them the unorthodox ones.

Now, it's important that we unite the party for November, but I'm not running to be the arm of some shadow aristocracy. Americans are looking for a President who's willing to lead from the front and take on our country's challenges with a clear set of principles and convictions. I'm running to be that leader."

WALLACE: "In one word, what would you like your legacy to be?"

HAWLEY: "Passion."

Self-made material

EDITORIAL: Our Very Own Josh Hawley for President.

"Missourians in both parties will have the chance to participate in this year's very contentious primary on March 12th. While the Democratic contest is expected to be a nail-biter, the Republican one is all but decided. Still, in as consequential an election season as this one is, we would be remiss not to emphasize the importance of making our voice heard. Voters will not just be deciding who wins the Missouri contest but who they want to represent them at the convention. In the Republican primary, there is a clear choice who stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of leadership and conviction: our very own Josh Hawley.

We know him for his record as the Show Me State's top lawyer, where he showed us, for the first time, the tenacity and courage he brought to his work, taking on opioid companies and special interests to protect Missouri citizens. Two years later, we sent him to Washington to continue that fight against the most entrenched powers in the country, and Hawley didn't budge. He forged new debates and articulated different priorities, acting as a stern voice for our concerns and frustrations in the out-of-touch world of Washington.

He's been a leader in the fight against big tech censorship, fighting for the First Amendment rights of all Americans. And he's shown time and again that he's willing to stand up to the swamp, even when it means going against his own party. His record of conviction and courage is unmatched by any of his primary challengers, and we have no doubt that he will continue to be a champion for Missouri and for the country as a whole.

Beyond his record, Hawley possesses a rare quality in today's political climate: authenticity. He speaks plainly and directly to the issues that matter to everyday Americans, and he doesn't shy away from taking on the political establishment when it's necessary. As a result, he's earned the trust and respect of Missourians and conservatives across the country. This kind of leadership is sorely needed in our national dialogue today, where the political discourse is often muddied by pandering, equivocation, and insincerity.

Now, as he builds a national movement the likes of which our country has never seen before, we have no doubt that he will continue to be a champion for the people, and that he will make us all proud.

For these reasons, we at the St. Joseph News-Press enthusiastically endorse Josh Hawley for President of the United States. We believe that he has the leadership qualities, the vision, and the moral compass necessary to steer our country through the difficult challenges that lie ahead. We urge all Missourians to vote in the primary on March 12th, and to cast their vote for Josh Hawley."

[oldkyhome]

March 11th

Senator Hawley arrived in Washington early in the morning to finish strong and energize his team for a rigorous GOTV operation. Joined by Joe Kent and his wife Erin, he brought an assortment of flavors from Dunkin' Donuts to discuss plans for tomorrow with the state's leadership team. After, he delivered a passionate pep talk to campaign workers, reminding them of their strong Super Tuesday performance and urging them to 'seal the deal' with a win in tomorrow's Washington primary. The campaign was unsure they could cap off a win in the state and hesitant to make any predictions, but they knew a strong showing or even a 1st-place finish would be a testament to their national appeal.

The late endorsement of Joe Kent, who enjoys strong connections with the state's activist base, greatly helped build the campaign's ground game in the days leading up to the primary. While he can not dedicate himself exclusively to the Hawley campaign, since he was running for Congress in his own right, his name alone brought considerable weight, especially as right-wing activists in the state scrambled to find a firebrand to lead the MAGA movement into the 2024 election. Hawley made sure to thank his volunteers for their hard work before holding a dozen zoom calls with state leadership teams across the country to address the state of the campaign going into Mini Tuesday.

Sarah Palin by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr

PALIN HOT-MIC: Calls Roger Stone a 'p-ssy lipped master grifter' moments before endorsing Hawley

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin made headlines on Monday when a hot-mic moment caught her demeaning Republican candidate Roger Stone as a "p-ssy lipped master grifter." The incident occurred as Palin took the stage at a Hawley campaign rally in Boise, ID when she made the comments not realizing the mic was still on. She cleared up the remark in her speech, stating it was 'just a blip' and 'lacks context', but it quickly circulated on social media, drawing ire from certain MAGA conservatives who already doubted Stone's authenticity. It's unclear who she was speaking to or what prompted the comment.

In spite of this, Palin went on to deliver a rousing speech endorsing Hawley to the Idaho crowd, anointing him as the 'no-nonsense, get-it-done conservative' that would 'lead MAGA to victory' in the 2024 election. She delivered stinging criticism to his main rivals, including Stone, who she described as leveraging 'unfair, slanderous attacks against Senator Hawley' and encouraged him to 'take a chill pill' with recent accusations that he's a warmonger. Hawley declined to comment on her hot-mic moment but embraced her shortly after the speech, thanking her for the endorsement and praising her as a champion of conservative values and a dedicated advocate for the American people.

"I am humbled and honored to have the support of Governor Palin, a fearless fighter who has never backed down from a challenge," he said. "Her endorsement represents the sentiment of many more MAGA voters across this country who have come to join our movement to drain the swamp and take America back."

While the incident may have stirred some controversy, Palin's endorsement of Hawley ultimately stole the show, firing up the crowd and leaving many convinced to bring others to vote for him in the upcoming caucus. It comes just on the eve of Mini Tuesday, in which 9 states will cast their ballots to decide who will become the Republican nominee for President. As the Hawley campaign seeks to consolidate MAGA voters and establish the Missouri Senator as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, only time will tell if this endorsement proves pivotal.

Public Domain, via Facebook

Hawley closes Mini Tuesday stretch in Spokane: 'It's time to take our country back.'

Wrapping up a tumultuous week in the lead-up to 9 contests on Mini Tuesday, Senator Hawley addressed a packed crowd at the Spokane Convention Center, where he declared to his supporters that 'this is a time for action', predicting that, if turnout is high enough, it would be a 'crushing victory' for his campaign. He urged listeners to make that happen by turning out in droves to 'take our country back.' An excerpt:

"Thank you, Spokane! What a great turnout tonight. It's been a whirlwind week, but we made it through (laughter). I've been traveling across the country, speaking to Americans from all walks of life, and I can feel the momentum building. We saw it on Super Tuesday, where our campaign captured the most votes, the most delegates, the most contests, and if we show up and make our voice heard, we're going to see it again tomorrow. (applause)

We've seen a lot of division and chaos in the past few years, but as I've traveled throughout this country, from small towns in the South to booming metros in the Northeast to every other part of this country, I've met a country that is incredibly united in the things we hold dear. I believe what we need is a nominee who acknowledges that, who can build a coalition of people from different creeds and different backgrounds, but united in our shared American beliefs, to come together and defeat this corrupt administration. Don't you agree? (applause)

And that is why it is the honor of a lifetime to run for President, because I have the privilege of getting to see America for what it truly is, and what it truly is right now is a country in peril. We face countless threats, abroad, at home, and otherwise. I've seen it in the faces of young men afflicted by fentanyl addiction because of the short-sighted greed of special interests. I've seen it in the frustration of single moms who can't spend more time with the kids because prices are up and wages are down. I've seen it in the pleas of farmers and factory workers who feel their line of work is going out of business because this administration seems intent on rigging the game against blue-collar work.

In spite of that, they have shown remarkable resilience and grit in the face of overwhelming hardship. There's just no quit in America. (applause)

So I'm asking you to show that same resilience tomorrow by storming the polls and delivering a message about the kind of party we want to be, about what we want for our children and grandchildren, and who we want to put up against Kamala or whoever the Democrats nominate. Show them that we are the masters of our own destiny, we are the ones who decide who gets to represent us.

We can't make that happen if we nominate another insider who talks a big game but doesn't show up when it matters. I'm here to tell you I won't play ball with special interests,  I won't go along to get along, and I won't back down from the fight. Because the fight we're in right now is about more than just this election. It's about the future of our country, about whether we're going to continue to let the crooks and cronies in D.C run roughshod over the rest of us, or whether we're going to stand up and take our country back. Washington, it's time to take our country back. (applause)"

[oldkyhome]

Self-made campaign material

Ad #11: D.C DeSantis.

Senator Josh Hawley, via Flickr.

VO:"I'm Josh Hawley, and I approve this message."

Ron DeSantis by Matt Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons.

"We all know the Florida DeSantis,"

Ron DeSantis by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons.

"But what about the D.C DeSantis?"

Ron DeSantis, via Wikimedia Commons.

"D.C DeSantis voted for trade deals that outsourced millions of good jobs, and supported legislation that would slash Social Security by hundreds of billions."

Ron DeSantis by Matt Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons.

"It's no wonder he's flipped and flopped on abortion too."

Ron DeSantis, via Wikimedia Commons.

"If this is what he does when he gets to Washington, why would we ever send him there again?"

Ron DeSantis, via Wikimedia Commons

"D.C DeSantis: Leading from behind, just more of the same."

Ad #11: "D.C DeSantis" will be reaired in all Mini Tuesday media markets until March 15th, along with Ad #1: "Flyover Country" (in KS, WI, ID, ND), Ad #13: "Stops With Me" (in MI, WI, OH), and Ad #8: "Values First" (in LA, MS).

[oldkyhome]

Mini Tuesday: Full Steam Ahead

Hawley's commanding performance on Super Tuesday came just in time for these consequential nine contests. As early as July last year, his leadership team identified this string of states as a potential inflection point that could allow Hawley to capitalize on momentum and soar ahead as the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Now, with his volunteers energized, his voters galvanized, and a public that was paying close attention to his next moves, Hawley sought to win big on Mini Tuesday. A crushing victory could mark the point of no return for his ascension to the nomination, just as Super Tuesday did for Trump in 2016.

To that end, his national leadership team pursued an aggressive strategy of narrative control and coalition consolidation. If it wasn't any clearer, Governor Youngkin would receive the bulk of the campaign's negative focus, as he was the only other candidate to emerge from Super Tuesday on similar footing. They highlighted parts of his record that had yet to be fully explained by the Virginia Governor with a scathing new ad buy, then thrust it into the national spotlight by recruiting Carlyle victims to speak on behalf of the Hawley campaign.

It played neatly into the Missouri Senator's overarching narrative: that he was the clear face of the MAGA movement, that he knew how to throw punches and take some too, and that he had the guts to take on the country's most rotten special interests. The idea here is simple. Hawley's campaign wanted to capture the attention of the broadest swath of voters possible, drawing in holdouts from the MAGA base, especially those who saw little left in Governor DeSantis, and peeling off disillusioned independents, long seen as in the 'peripheral regions' of Hawley's coalition.

It also worked to steal air from Mr. Stone, whose campaign has been defined by his anti-establishment antics shaping headlines and attracting curious or angry voters. Surprisingly, Stone seemed to make less use of that for this stretch, instead opting to stake out in one of these sparser, western states in hopes of a grassroots upset.

Hawley's push was the complete opposite. He rejuvenated his effort to define himself as the nominee Republicans have been waiting for with a rousing speech at this year's CPAC, which left little ambiguity about the type of campaign he would run in a general election, a prime-time interview with Chris Wallace, which presented a hypothetical Hawley presidency to a nationwide audience, and a renewed focus on trade and immigration, which earned him the endorsement of major organizations and activists, including Sarah Palin and the NBPC.

The momentum was palpable. His campaign team hit the ground in all 9 states, mobilizing volunteers and donors across the country to spread his message far and wide, feeling strongly that they had a chance in each and every one. It was clear that Hawley's push was not just a short-term effort but a sustained, strategic campaign to win the hearts and minds of voters and become the Republican nominee for president.

After a brutal campaign season, nine contests were the difference between a drawn-out convention process or a quick and decisive end. The stakes were high, and tensions were even higher as the candidates jockeyed for position in the days leading up to Mini Tuesday, but Hawley's campaign believed there was light at the tunnel. They had faith that this would be their moment if they charged full steam ahead.


OOC: I know this doesn't count for anything but I like to cap off each turn with a brief summary of my strategy. Hope that doesn't bother anyone .