2024: Open Season

[Roll Roons]

#Hoganmentum!!! 

[2016]

Given Haley being so close to Rubio I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't and angling for an VP Gig.

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Source: https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2015/1028/Absentee-senator-Vote-or-resign-Florida-paper-tells-Sen.-Marco-Rubio

Senator Rubio, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez Annouce Massive War Chest

April 17th, 2023

Huffington Post-To start the 2024 campaign, big names are already launching their campaigns and starting with massive war chests. Senator Marco Rubio who is one of the two main frontrunners for 2024 announced yesterday that within less than a month of launching his bid that he has raised over seven million dollars and has spent less than $500,000. Senator Rubio also announced that he would transfer two million dollars from his senate campaign account. meaning he will have more than eight million dollars on hand. Senator Rubio wasn't the only candidate with an impressive fundraising quarter with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raising nearly seven million dollars. Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez announced she still has over six and half million on hand and will not transfer money from her congressional account till December as a last-minute boost into Iowa.

The other candidates in the race also realised their finances with Josh Hawley having the most impressive out of the bunch raising four million dollars and having two million on hand. Still, those fundraising numbers for Hawley are far from impressive for someone who was pegged as a potential frontrunner when he first launched nor is it the finances of someone in third in Iowa. On the Democratic side, Governor Andy Beshear who told staff yesterday that Vice-President Yates waiting to make a decision regarding a bid hindered his fundraising was able to raise only one and half million dollars. Beshear still has more than one million on hand but that can quickly deplete in a presidential race especially facing a fundraising juggernaut like Ocasio-Cortez. The only other candidate that realised fundraising, Congressman Matt Gaetz, was able to raise one million dollars which is higher than his last quarter's fundraising which was only $150,000. Still, Gaetz continues to plow through money leaving his campaign with only one hundred thousand dollars which is far from enough to compete in Iowa.

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/acting-attorney-general-sally-yates/story?id=46444595

Yates Annouces She Will Not Run For President

April 18th, 2023

ABC News- Vice-President Sally Yates like President Biden was surrounding family and close colleagues including the President as she told the nation that she will not seek the presidency after four months of considering a run for the White House. Yates would've had a clear path to the nomination with already over fifty percent of voters supporting her in the average of the last ten polls and endorsements from key Senators and Congresswoman. Even without being in the race, Yates was a powerful figure and one of her potential opponents even declared he would suspend his campaign if she jumped in.

Yates in her statement, said, "joined this ticket in 2020 because I truly believed that was the best thing for this country. When the President asked me to serve as Vice-President, I could not have been more proud and the night we were able to overcome hate and division, I was overwhelmed with a sense of patriotism and pride. I believe the White House is the most important role in the shaping of not only our nation but world politics. After considering all the options, I have decided I will not be a candidate for the highest office in the land. I hope and pray for all other candidates in the race and hope whoever is the final victor will be filled with the same pride of our country that I was when I was elected to this office."

Yates continued and thanked President Biden for the opportunities he has given her and the trust he gave her. Yates also thanked her campaign team and specifically thanked the women that encouraged her to run. Yates stated, "I would like to personally thank Senator Gillibrand, Governor Kelly and all other women who urge me to run across the country. I know we will have a women president in my life even if it is not me and I ask all those leaders to continue to fight so women can be a president in your life time..."

Source: https://time.com/4781989/sally-yates-michael-flynn-warning/

Why Did She Not Run

April 20th, 2023

Iowa Starting Line- Just two days after the Vice-President's shock announcement that she was not going to pursue the White House, her staffers are opening up about the decision. Although she hadn't officially announced a bid for the White House, she had already brought on a team of around ten staffers to start the plans for a bid. Yates was seen as the clear frontrunner for the field and a clear frontrunner for the presidency considering she has one of the highest favorabilities of anyone in Washington. Yates surprised not only Iowa but the country with her decision even one of her staffers said they didn't know she was going to announce it. What was supposed to be Yates Iowa Director, Jake Braun, told the starting line that the top staffers had not even told him that Yates would not be running. When the news broke, he was actually on the phone with three potential field staffers.

Greg Schultz who was serving a role similar to the campaign manager and consulate told the starting line that Yates made the decision the day before. Schultz and other top staffers an ultimatum, the Vice-President either announces her decision or they all quit. Schultz believed the sooner the better and the later she stays out then the more candidates will jump in and the less money for her bid. Yates told the team a week before that she was planning on running and Schultz's office is now filled with Yates for President signs and buttons that will never have a use. Schultz even schedules a rally site in Fairfax, Virginia and told Senator Gillibrand, Senator Shaheen and multiple other women who pledged their support for Yates that they should attend and be able to speak on behalf of Yates. Just twelve hours before, Schultz got a call from the Vice-President telling him the plans had changed and cancel the rally. Yates soon had a conference call with Schultz and two other staffers to announce that she would not be a candidate.

Behind closed doors, there have been reports of multiple Democrats attacking the Vice-President for the late decision saying there was no time to build other campaigns for other candidates. Already another candidate has jumped in so he could be invited to the debate which is in under a month. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he would launch his campaign in two days in Buffalo, New York alongside his Lt. Governor and Attorney General. Multiple other Democrats including the Mayor of New York City, Bill De Blasio, have also now started talks about jumping in the field now that Yates is no go..."

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EP88Xl8fbY

Whitmer: "I'm In It To Win It"

April 25th, 2023

New York Times-Governor Gretchen Whitmer who survived a brutal reelection fight launched her presidential campaign with a video posted to her new website. Whitmer in her video said, "You want to win in 2024 then there is a clear choice. I have won every race even while a Republican wave swept over the country." Whitmer continued with the electability by saying at the end, "I'm in it to win it." before showing her presidential campaign logo. Whitmer has already brought on Jake Braun who was working for Sally Yates in Iowa till her decision was announced last week.

Whitmer has also gotten the endorsement of Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Gary Peters, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Attorney General Dana Nessel. Nessel and Dingell will help introduce the Governor at a rally in Lansing next week before during a tour of the first four states. The campaign has already announced within the past twenty-four hours since the launch that she has already raised eight hundred thousand which is less than the haul of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez but impressive by anyone's standards.

RCP Polling Averages

April 27th, 2023

Republican Primary Field

Mike Pence: 17.0%

Marco Rubio: 15.8%

Nikki Haley: 11.3%

Mike Pompeo: 10.6%

Josh Hawley: 7.2%

Greg Abbott: 5.8%

Rick Scott: 5.1%

Ron DeSantis: 3.2%

Tom Cotton: 2.4%

Tim Scott: 2.3%

Elise Stefanik: 2.3%

Larry Hogan: 2.0%

MUST BE ABOVE THIS LINE TO MAKE DEBATES

Rand Paul: 1.9%

Matt Gaetz: 1.7%

Chris Christie: 1.2%

Will Hurd: 0.6%

Mike Gallegher: 0.4%

Adam Kinzinger: 0.2%

Undecided: 9.0%

Democrat Primary Field

Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez: 18.4%

Pete Buttigieg: 18.2%

Kamala Harris: 12.9%

Joe Kennedy: 10.7%

Andy Beshear: 4.3%

Gretchen Whitmer: 3.7%

Amy Klobuchar: 3.4%

Gavin Newsom: 2.2%

Julian Castro: 2.1%

John Bel Edwards: 1.9%

Andrew Cuomo: 1.5%

Eric Swalwell: 0.6%

Undecided: 20.1%

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Source: https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a27455655/tom-cotton-donald-trump-trade-war-farmers-troops/

Two Candidates Annouce, Two Candidates Rejects Bid

April 31st, 2023

Des Moines Register- Senator Rand Paul and Senator Tim Scott have both ruled out a bid for the White House. Paul and Scott both had similar messages as they announced they would not be running for the White House. The two Senators stated that they didn't see a path forward, Scott added that she is eager to see Rubio running and the possibility of a Nikki Haley bid. Both Senators also said they would endorse down the road closer to the primaries and caucuses.

While two big names have written off a bid for the White House this year, two more major candidates enter the race as the debates are flying up on the candidates. Governor Gavin Newsom of California has entered the race even as the state's junior senator, Kamala Harris, looks at another bid. Newsom will have a struggle automatically if Harris jumps in but Newsom hopes the early state puts him out front. Newsom has been advertising since even before he was elected in 2018. Newsom wasn't the only one jumping in the presidential contest, Senator Tom Cotton launched his bid in Arkansas. Cotton has already come under attack by Congressman Matt Gaetz who attacked him for being a war-extremist. Cotton was endorsed by all four Representatives from Arkansas but Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised but stopped short of endorsing..."

Source: https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/417264-josh-hawley-will-defend-the-first-amendment-and-religious-liberty

Hawley Unviels New Endorsment and New Staff

May 5th, 2023

Wall Street Journal- After a bad fundraising period, Senator Josh Hawley is announcing a new series of endorsements and staff to restart his faltering bid. In a rally in Cedar Rapids, IA Senator Josh Hawley announced the endorsement of Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska, Former Senator Luther Strange of Alabama and Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. Rounds, Bacon and Strange all joined him on stage after and then went to energize volunteers as Hawley opened his first Iowa field office. Hawley also announced he will open three more offices in each corner of the state by the end of the month.

After the rallies and events, the Hawley campaign announced it had hired five more field organizers to be spread across the state. Hawley's campaign said that these field offices and field organizers would allow Hawley to continue to climb in the polls and remain a top-five candidate. This came after Hawley announced he only had two million on hand which he was spending rapidly. Since the news broke, Hawley also lost his finical director to the Rubio campaign and he had to hire another. Hawley hopes that Iowa can rocket his campaign into frontrunner status but the state looks loyal so far to the former Vice-President who still leads by double-digits over second place, Marco Rubio. Rubio leads Hawley in the state by four points on average..."

Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-concentration-camp-debate-explained/

Debate Stage Set For May 17th

May 10th, 2023

CNN- The debate stage is set for next week's debate with six candidates. Without Sally Yates in the race, it is wide open and the campaign is still waiting for multiple announcements still. The current frontrunner without Yates is Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has taken up the mantle of Bernie Sander's revolution. Ocasio-Cortez will be center stage right next to Governor Andy Beshear and Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Other than Ocasio-Cortez, all the other current candidates are Governors which is widely different than four years ago.

The current stage looks like:

Governor Andrew Cuomo/Governor Gavin Newsom/Governor Andy Beshear/Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez/Governor Gretchen Whitmer/Governor John Bel Edwards

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Source: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-16/democrat-edwards-reelected-governor-louisiana

The First Democratic Debate: Clear Winner Was Whitmer

May 18th, 2023

LA Times- Last night was the first Democratic debate with the six candidates all competing on the stage with five Governors and one Congresswoman. The sparks flew between the candidates with the start of the fights beganing with a battle between Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Governor John Bel Edwards over abortion. Bel Edwards was asked by one of the modorators wether he coud b successful in winning over the Democratic base as a pro-life Governor from the south. Bel Edwards stated, "I have always believed that this party is an open tent party, I believe every person is accepted in this party and I am proud to be a Democratic and be pro-life." Governor Gretchen Whitmer quickly responded, "Governor, you didn't answer the question. I want to know, if you are the nominee, if you can win if you are so far off base. I also want to know if you are going to regulate my freedom." Bel Edwards looking a little angered said, "First, I can win the base, I have contitued to pass Democratic legislation in an almost super majority Republican chamber in a Republican state which we will need in Washington where we can't get anything done..." Whitmer quickly cut him off and said, "If the voters really want an electable nominee than nominate a person who has won the states like Michigan that they need to win in Michigan." The modorators quickly cut off Whitmer to move the discussion but later in the debate when women's rights came up, Whitmer quickly brought up Bel Edwards past postions again by starting with, "unlike some of the candidates on this stage, I am proud to be pro-choice so every single women in this country can have access to their own damn rights."

Whitmer got into a another dispute with the frontrunner in the field, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, when Ocasio-Cortez was trying to defend her ability to get stuff done. Whitmer responded, "Congresswoman, you don't know a thing about getting a thing done. You proposed the Green New Deal and it failed, I passed bills after bill in Michigan passing progressive solutions that you support even with a Republican chamber. You won't be able to do that if we elect you. Ocasio-Cortez didn't exactly lose the debate but Whitmer did attack her on one of her weakest spots. Ocasio-Cortez was able to raise one million dollars within the last twelve hours which shows the strengths of the grassroots no matter how the candidate does. Whitmer also reported the strongest fundraising period of her campaign but she didn't discolse a number..."

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/21/us/politics/kentucky-primary-elections.html

Governor Beshear Wins Kentucky Endorsments, Attacks Bel Edwards

May 20th, 2023

New York Times-In his latest tour of Iowa, Governor Andy Beshear annouced he had been endorsed by Amy McGarth, Former Kentucky Minority Leader Rocky Adkins, Lt. Governor Coleman, and Congressman John Yarmouth. Beshear also annouced that Beshear would campaign with both McGarth and Yarmouth in Iowa in June. Beshear just finished his fifth tour of Iowa after entering the race four months ago. Beshear did have some fundraising troubles but blamed that and endorsment trouble on Sally Yates possible bid. When the idea was brought up, Beshear said the endorsment were obviously fixed and that he has already surpapsed his last fundraising quarter.

Beshear also went after another red state Governor that took heat on the debate stage. Governor Bel Edwards tried to claim that if you wanted to win a red state then you would have to be a modorate, Beshear repsonded when a voter questioned him an it and said, its bulls***. Beshear stated, "I am a progressive Governor and I got elected. It is truly insane that I would have to abonded my values to win a governorship, I didn't do that and voters still elected me..."

Source: https://time.com/5732232/mike-pompeo-kansas-senate-run-state-exit/

Mike Pompeo Annouces Bid For Presidency, Gaetz Goes After Rubio

May 27th, 2023

Times- Former Secertary of State Mike Pompeo officially launched his campaign at a rally at the Kansas Republican Party Headquarters. Pompeo self-classified as the most Trump candidate in the race and he will be fighting for the Trump with Nikki Haley, Mike Pence and other smaller candidates like Matt Gaetz that have either served in Trump's cabinet also or had been a big fan of Trump within congress. Pompeo will be a thorn in Pence's side and is betting on a strong result in Iowa which could hurt Pence in the caucus that is his firewall. Pence is leading by double digits but Pompeo hopes a early start will help him climb past Josh Hawley and Marco Rubio to be in second place by the end of the summer. With Pompeo in the race, it looks like there is four frontrunners, Pompeo, Haley, Rubio and Pence.

With Pompeo jumping in the race, Rubio is withstanding his first series of attacks from Congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz called Rubio a Never-Trumper who wasn't willing to work with Trump in congress and said that Rubio is a failed candidate and should go back home. Gaetz also made fun of Rubio for losing his home state in 2016 and claimed that Rubio no longer represents the party. Rubio's campaign sent a clear message back to the Congressman, "It's not 2016 anymore."

RCP Polling Averages

June 1st, 2023

Republican Primary Field

Mike Pence: 16.5%

Marco Rubio: 15.7%

Mike Pompeo: 12.4%

Nikki Haley: 11.1%

Josh Hawley: 7.9%

Greg Abbott: 5.2%

Ron DeSantis: 4.5%

Rick Scott: 4.3%

Tom Cotton: 3.7%

Elise Stefanik: 2.2%

Larry Hogan: 2.1%

MUST BE ABOVE THIS LINE TO MAKE DEBATES

Matt Gaetz: 1.3%

Chris Christie: 1.1%

Mike Gallegher: 0.9%

Will Hurd: 0.5%

Adam Kinzinger: 0.2%

Undecided: 11.4%

Democrat Primary Field

Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez: 19.9%

Pete Buttigieg: 18.2%

Kamala Harris: 14.5%

Joe Kennedy: 10.2%

Gretchen Whitmer: 6.5%

Andy Beshear: 4.7%

Amy Klobuchar: 3.5%

Gavin Newsom: 3.4%

Julian Castro: 2.0%

John Bel Edwards: 1.6%

Andrew Cuomo: 1.3%

Eric Swalwell: 0.6%

Undecided: 13.6%

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/politics-government/election/local-election/article218220280.html

Governor Newsom Annouces New Endorsment, Kennedy Launches Expolotory Bid

June 3rd, 2023

Union Leader- Governor Gavin Newsom in a press release announced that he has been endorsed by a series of endorsements. From his home state, Newsom announced he has been endorsed by Lt. Governor Eli Kounalakis, Treasure Fiona Ma, Attorney General Xterra Barreca, Tom Steyer, and Congressman TJ Cox. Cox joined Newsom to officially declare his endorsement in a really in Nevada. In his endorsement speech, Cox stated, "I am so proud of our Senator but I believe that the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is the best leader to assure us that we are having a progressive future."
Newsom also announced his first series of endorsements from early states. Newsom's biggest endorsement came from former Congresswoman Susie Lee who went after Senator Kamala Harris when she announced her endorsement alongside Cox and Newsom. Lee said, "I was so proud to have Senator Harris run in 2020 but I think after seeing that disaster, I don't want to see it again. Senator Harris, I believed was a progressive but she just kept flipping flopping and I didn't even know what she was. I know what Governor Newsom is and I am proud to endorse this progressive."

While Newsom starts to build momentum for his campaign especially in Nevada where he now has a staff of nearly twenty, another candidate was joining the race. Senator Joe Kennedy III announced his bid alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congressman Seth Moulton and Former Governor Janet Mills in an announcement in Washington. Kennedy announced he has hired Roger Lau as his campaign manager who served in the same role for Warren's 2020 bid and has hired Ben Halle to serve as his communications director, Halle worked for Buttigieg in 2020 and Planned Parenthood.

Kennedy announced after his launch that he would be going to all four states in the next week with a two day stop in South Carolina to start and end with a three-day tour through New Hampshire. The campaign will end the rest of the month doing small trips and mainly hiring new staff and finding buildings for their offices.

Source: https://www.wpr.org/rep-mike-gallagher-congress-broken

Who Might Not Be On The Stage?

June 7th, 2023

CNN- With the debate nearly a month away, multiple candidates and potential candidates are on the verge of being left off. Former Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland is the clearest example of someone who could be on or off the stage depending on how the next month goes. Hogan is currently just 0.1% above the line on the national polling but if he drops just 0.2% in the polls nationally then he will have to poll above two percent in one of the four early states. Currently, Hogan is the closest to the two percent needed in New Hampshire where he is at 1.5% from a high of four percent after his announcement. Still, he has been raising and starting to hiring staff in New Hampshire.

Hogan is the closet to falling out of the debates but many candidates are trying to climb in the debate. Congressman Matt Gaetz is under the needed poll requirement nationally and in early states but he is trying to make the stage by pouring his little money into a big ad buy in Iowa where he was the first candidate to have staff on the ground. Matt Gaetz is also trying to build momentum by doing well in the Southern Republican Leadership Summit which is in Florida this year next week. Gaetz isn't the only Congressman trying to make the debate through doing well in Iowa. Mike Gallagher from neighboring Wisconsin is just 0.2% below the requirement in Iowa but instead of investing in ads, is trying to invest in a ground game mainly new staff and offices who will be meeting real voters.

Three candidates who aren't in the race are also below the requirement, Chris Christie, Will Hurd and Adam Kinzinger which could scare them out of the race. Both Christie and Hurd have told they hope to wait till right before the debate so the post-announcement will put them in the debate and a good debate can sustain that momentum which is a path tested by Governor John Kasich in 2016 when he edged out Governor Rick Perry for a spot on the main stage..."

Source: https://today.citadel.edu/cadets-react-after-mike-pompeo-u-s-secretary-of-state-speaks-at-citadel/

Pompeo Wins SRLC Straw Poll

June 15th, 2023

Des Moines Register- Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who excited the crowd of Republican activists, won the Southern Republican Leadership Committee in Florida. Pompeo invested around fifty thousand to send staff and supporters to the committee to build up his support to make a strong performance to help him continue his surge after his announcement. Nikki Haley and Marco Rubio were close seconds with Haley just edging out Rubio for second place. Congressman Matt Gaetz had a surprise fifth place behind Pompeo, Haley, Rubio and Senator Josh Hawley. The former Vice-President who skipped the conference ended up in sixth place but Pence's team told reporters to not read too much into the results since Pompeo "basically shipped in his supporters." When asked if this will alter his presidential plans at all, the aide said the Vice-President is still considering and this very bias straw poll will not affect the decision of whether to enter a race he is winning.

The official straw poll results are below:
Mike Pompeo: 25%
Nikki Haley: 21%
Marco Rubio: 21%
Josh Hawley: 12%
Matt Gaetz: 10%
Mike Pence: 6%
Tom Cotton: 4%
Mike Gallagher: 1%
Will Hurd: 0%
Larry Hogan: 0%
Rick Scott: 0%
Liz Cheney: 0%
Ron DeSantis: 0%

Source: https://www.politico.com/story/2011/04/schmidt-defamation-suit-in-3rd-year-052950

Pompeo Campaign Unveils List Of Early Endorsers While Trumps Rule Themselves Out

June 17th, 2023

Politico-The Biggest news coming out the week political is that both Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. have both annouced that they won't be running for president. Both the Trumps had been looking at the White House since the start of Donald Trump's presidency but the hopes of their bids died after Trump's lose in 2024 and the party started to bury their dead. The Trumps saw the signs that there would be little chance of victory after the loses in the primaries and very few allies left that weren't already running. Even the Trumps believed they couldn't win the Trump mantle which really pushed them out of the race.

While the Trumps were making the news, Mike Pompeo was annoucing his first list of endorsments. At the top of the list, Pompeo was endorsed by Senator Roger Marshall, Former Secertary of State of Kansas Kris Kobach, Former Governor Jeff Coyler and Congressman Jake LaTurner. Pompeo was also endorsed by some smaller names inculding Former Congresswoman and Ohio State Represenative Jean Schmidt, Former South Carolina State Represenative Katie Arrington and Former Congressman Evan Jenkins. Pompeo has had a surge of momutum since his launch and he has been trying to sustain that momutum throughout the month but momutum can only last so long..."

RCP Polling Averages

June 23rd, 2023

Republican Primary Field

Mike Pence: 15.9%

Marco Rubio: 15.6%

Mike Pompeo: 14.7%

Nikki Haley: 10.9%

Josh Hawley: 8.1%

Greg Abbott: 4.8%

Ron DeSantis: 4.6%

Rick Scott: 4.2%

Tom Cotton: 3.4%

Elise Stefanik: 2.6%

MUST BE ABOVE THIS LINE TO MAKE DEBATES

Larry Hogan: 1.9%

Matt Gaetz: 1.4%

Chris Christie: 1.0%

Mike Gallegher: 0.8%

Will Hurd: 0.7%

Adam Kinzinger: 0.3%

Undecided: 9.1%

Democrat Primary Field

Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez: 20.3%

Pete Buttigieg: 16.7%

Kamala Harris: 14.8%

Joe Kennedy: 13.2%

Gretchen Whitmer: 6.7%

Andy Beshear: 4.5%

Gavin Newsom: 3.8%

Amy Klobuchar: 3.1%

Julian Castro: 1.9%

John Bel Edwards: 1.7%

Andrew Cuomo: 1.3%

Eric Swalwell: 0.2%

Undecided: 11.8%

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.axios.com/nikki-haley-2020-donald-trump-campaign-fundraiser-38b74ded-7a4b-4bf8-a473-7ae0c3b18646.html

Haley Launches Presidential Run

June 24th, 2023

Washington Post- Former Governor of South Carolina and Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley launched her much-anticipated bid for the presidency at her alumni, Clemson University. Haley in her announcement speech talked about American greatness and said, "When a first-generation American can be a frontrunner for their parties nomination, you know the American dream is not dead. This can only happen in one country in the whole world and that country is the country I am proud to be born and raised in, the United States of America." Haley went on to describe the future of the party and said, "This is the future of the Republican party!" As she raised her hands signaling to her audience which was filled with women and minorities.

Haley has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate since 2016 when she gained national recognition for endorsing Senator Marco Rubio and she grew her national profile as a UN Ambassador under President Trump where she grew a large following of women and younger voters. Haley started as a strong second place right under Former Vice-President Mike Pence but she has fallen to fourth after successful launches of Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Senator Marco Rubio. Pence also has started to show signs of weakening and is nearly in second and could quickly fall to third if Pompeo continues the quick rise he is on.

Soon after the announcement in South Carolina, the campaign announced the first series of hires and her first series of endorsements. The List of endorsements included high-profile politicians like Congresswomen Young Kim, Elise Stefanik who consider a bid herself, Michelle Fischbach, Beth Van Duyne, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Claudia Tenney. Haley also announced she had been endorsed by both Former Governor Tim Pawlenty and Bobby Jindal who both endorsed Senator Marco Rubio in 2016. On the bottom of the list of endorsements, the campaign announced it had been endorsed by twenty current and former state legislators across the nation.

Haley's campaign will be headed by Michael Grebe who previously worked for Scott Walker in his 2016 presidential bid and in 2010 and 2014. Grebe brought on an ally, Greg Slayton, to head the fundraising team. Slayton worked with Grebe on Walker's presidential bid but has worked with senators across the country including John McCain, Kelly Ayotte, and John Thune. On the communications side, the campaign has brought on Leslie Shedd as communications director. Shedd currently works at a consulting firm headed by two Rubio aides and has previously worked for Jim Renacci and Carly Fiorina. Shedd has brought on one of her allies to be press secretary, Brittney Martinez. Martinez worked with Shedd on the Renacci for Senate campaign in 2018 and has worked with Kevin McCarthy and Carlos Curbelo in the House.

Outside the top advisors, the campaign has hired fifteen field staffers with five staffers to start in Iowa, five staffers in South Carolina, three staffers in Nevada and two in New Hampshire. Haley also has followed Hawley and Rubio's lead and has hired a campus coordinator to win younger voters. The campus coordinator, Rose Laoutrous, has worked for Future Female Foundation, Lone Conservative and Senator Bill Cassidy.

Source: https://www.kpbs.org/news/2019/feb/09/watch-what-were-doing-could-maryland-gov-larry/

Hogan Leads Maryland Primary, Rises In New Hampshire

June 27th, 2023

Union Leader- "Former Governor Larry Hogan has gotten good news out of his home state from the latest University of Maryland poll. In the University of Maryland poll, Hogan leads his home state by double digits. Hogan has the support of thirty-seven percent which is eleven percent higher than second-place finisher in the poll, Former Vice-President Mike Pence. The former governor led the deep blue state for eight years and remained one of the most popular governors in the nation usually right below Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. Hogan also has the support of nearly the entire Maryland Republican party including the sole Republican Representative, Andy Harris. Hogan also this month opened his national headquarters right near Annapolis, Maryland.

the Former Governor also is gaining momentum in the first in the nation primary state. Hogan is rising in New Hampshire where he now is polling at an average of around seven percent in polls which is nearly a five percent rise since last month where he had trouble breaking two percent. The rise in polls helps him get much closer to not falling off the debate stage next month. The next trip for Hogan is scheduled for this weekend where he is supposed to announce the endorsement of two state Representatives in Concord..."

Source: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/10/rick-scott-florida-governor-ron-desantis-1093598

Rubio Meets With DeSantis, Scott and Gaetz

June 28th, 2023

Politico- "Reports are coming out of Florida where Senator Marco Rubio has reportedly met with Governor Ron DeSantis, Congressman Matt Gaetz and Senator Rick Scott at the Florida Republican Headquarters for dinner. The meeting was meant to urge DeSantis and Scott to not run and for Gaetz to drop out of the race. Gaetz and DeSantis both confirmed the meeting happened but neither commented further. Scott's team did not respond to comment but he was in Florida the day of the meeting.

Aides to Rubio stated that the Senator Rubio left the meeting happy. Gaetz campaign responded by saying that there is no plan to suspend and the Congressman when asked at an event in Iowa responded, "I met with him and I respect him but he doesn't represent the current Republican party Beyond that, I have a strong team and I have been working my ass off across the country. I think it is paying off so I will not leave this race and endorse a candidate I have serious concerns about." DeSantis' aides said that this meeting did not change his plans at all, Scott's aides did not respond but he has contitued to build relationships in South Carolina according to the Post Courier..."

RCP Polling Averages

June 30th, 2023

Republican Primary Field

Marco Rubio: 16.4%

Nikki Haley: 15.7%

Mike Pence: 15.5%

Mike Pompeo: 14.3%

Josh Hawley: 7.5%

Ron DeSantis: 4.7%

Greg Abbott: 4.1%

Rick Scott: 4.0%

Tom Cotton: 3.5%

Larry Hogan: 2.4%

Matt Gaetz: 2.0%

MUST BE ABOVE THIS LINE TO MAKE DEBATES

Mike Gallegher: 1.1%

Chris Christie: 0.9%

Will Hurd: 0.6%

Adam Kinzinger: 0.4%

Undecided: 6.9%

Democrat Primary Field

Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez: 21.8%

Kamala Harris: 17.3%

Pete Buttigieg: 16.1%

Joe Kennedy: 15.2%

Gretchen Whitmer: 6.4%

Andy Beshear: 4.2%

Gavin Newsom: 3.9%

Amy Klobuchar: 3.0%

Andrew Cuomo: 1.9%

Julian Castro: 1.8%

John Bel Edwards: 1.2%

Eric Swalwell: 0.0%

Undecided: 7.2%

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/09/21/joe-kennedy-iii-launches-u-s-senate-bid-in-east-boston/

Joe Kennedy Launches Campaign In Concord

July 4th, 2023

Union Leader- Senator Joe Kennedy launched his bid today in Concord, Massachusetts right next to the first in the nation primary, New Hampshire. Kennedy has already built a qualified team of strategists including Elizabeth Warren's former campaign manager, Roger Lau, who will reprise the role for the Senator. Kennedy has already traveled to all four early states after announcing an exploratory committee last month. After announcing his run, his campaign also announced a tour of New England states starting with New Hampshire and ending in Norwalk, Connecticut. On the trip, the Senator plans to meet with many high profile politicians including former Governor Janet Mills, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Former Governor Gina Raimondo. Kennedy will be asking those to endorse his candidacy or withhold from endorsing in the cases of Shaheen and Sanders.

Kennedy is the second major candidate the race after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez but multiple candidates have started to make their claims and rise in the polls like Governor Gretchen Whitmer who had a stand out performance at the last debate. The goal of the campaign according to advisors is to stand his ground in Iowa and win a few delegates then win New Hampshire and Nevada then run the table on Super Tuesday. The lack of effort in Iowa could allow other dark horse candidates to come out of nowhere like Whitmer or Governor Andy Beshear who has poured money into the state since entering. It could also allow Ocasio-Cortez to win and have the momentum to whip out Kennedy in New Hampshire and Nevada.

Kennedy in addition to his announcement revealed a list of policies he is hoping to accomplish including a Green New Deal, Medicare for All who want it and prison reform. Kennedy's platform is very similar to Pete Buttigieg's in 2020 but Kennedy believes that the former Mayor will not be a factor in 2024.

Source: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/15440/cd23-republican-candidate-will-hurd-wants-to-slash-benefits-for-texas-veterans

Will Hurd Launches Presidential Campaign on "Electabilty"

July 9th, 2023

Texas Tribune- Former Congressman Will Hurd announced his bid for the presidency via video on his social media platforms and his new website Hurd2024.com. the Former Congressman was the only African-American Republican left when he left congress in 2020 to start building a national brand. In Congress, he was known as a moderate and bipartisan Representative that prioritized national security that was very present in his video announcing his bid. Hurd had been a former CIA operative before joining Congress and was able to win his leaning blue state for three terms before retiring.

Hurd currently is far from frontrunner but he is hoping the late start will propel his bid so he can make the first set of debates which will be his crucial first test as a candidate. Hurd did win over some endorsements from former allies in Congress including former Representatives Ted Poe and Scott Taylor. Many Representatives from Hurd's home state of Texas praised the congressman and wished him well but held back on endorsing till the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott makes a decision regarding his own bid.

The main goals of the campaign according to advisors are to stand out on the debate stage, win over voters based on national security knowledge and electability and then start investing heavily in New Hampshire and Nevada. Hurd's campaign manager, Wesley Hunt, said that the Congressman isn't ruling out Iowa but doesn't believe there currently is a lane for his moderate views..."

Source:https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/south-carolina/article219300030.html

Haley Wins Western Conservative Summit Straw Poll

July 10th, 2023

Post and Courier- In a surprise upset, Former Governor Nikki Haley won the Western Conservative Summit Straw Poll yesterday. Haley ended up sneaking out a victory over both Mike Pompeo and Governor Ron DeSantis. Haley ended with a little more than two hundred votes or twenty percent of the vote with Pompeo in second with eighteen percent and DeSantis in third with seventeen percent.

This victory comes after the successful launch of her campaign late last month and helps boost her campaign that has had trouble in recent straw polls which usually show grassroots support for a candidacy. Pompeo has usually been the leader in wins in straw polls but Haley, since launching, has invested heavily in developing grassroots even hiring Leslie DeWees from Haley's policy group, Stand for America, as her grassroots outreach director. After the loss, Pompeo told the press that Haley was "buying grassroots which won't work in the long term. Unlike the former Governor, we have actual grassroots support behind our campaign."

Pompeo came under a similar attack by Former Vice-President Pence's team last month when he won a straw poll through buying all tickets at launch and selling tickets to supporters so there were little left for other competitors..."

Hogan annouces new staff and new field offices, Christie Launches Bid

July 15th, 2023

Union Leader- Former Governor Larry Hogan who has been climbing in New Hampshire polls has realised his first list of new staff since launching his bid. Hogan has appointed his former Lt. Governor, Boyd Rutherford, to his national campaign co-chair and has appointed State Representative Betsy McKinney to be his New Hampshire chair. Hogan also announced that he had brought on five field staffers who would go to New Hampshire. That means Hogan currently has ten field staffers in New Hampshire and two in each of the other four early states. Following the lead of other campaigns, to build enthusiasm for his campaign and the Republican among youth, he has hired Ben Hitchcock as his campus coordinator. Hitchcock has previously worked for Congressman Jim Renacci and State Senator Ron Falconi.

While Former Governor Hogan is building out his team in New Hampshire and nationally, a new (or old) candidate is jumping in the race. Former Governor Chris Christie under his banner of telling like it is, announced his bid this morning in his home state of New Jersey. Christie was met with protestors outside but his rally had at least two thousand supporters and press. The former Governor has announced he will spend the first week of his campaign in New Hampshire before traveling back to New Jersey to open his national headquarters.

Christie will automatically face a huge hurdle, whether he will make the debates. Currently, he is just below the polling threshold in New Hampshire but he is hoping his announcement will put him over the top..."

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ron-desantis-wins-republican-primary-florida-trump-2018-8

Governor DeSantis Running For President

June 19th, 2023

Miami Herold- "Governor Ron DeSantis joins two other Florida Republicans in the field for the presidency. DeSantis at a rally in his home district announced he would be joining the race to be new executive leadership into the mix. The Governor was asked to not run by another Floridian candidate, Senator Marco Rubio, who currently leads the field but DeSantis said it did not change his plans.

This announcement came a day before the deadline to qualify for the debate meaning he will be able to be on the stage alongside the current frontrunners Nikki Haley and Marco Rubio. DeSantis will tour South Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire then attend the debate before coming back home to Florida to announce his staff and open his headquarters. DeSantis is in alongside Rubio and another fellow Floridian, Congressman Matt Gaetz who was the first to enter the field..."

Source: https://cnncommentary.com/2016/01/18/cnn-gets-nbcs-gop-super-tuesday-debate/

Debate Stage Is Set

July 27th, 2023

CNN- The debate stage for Republicans for the first debate in a week is officially set. Alongside the announcement of the stage, the RNC also announced its next debate will be on September 15th, 2023 and candidates must make three percent nationally or four percent in one of the four early states. The DNC earlier this week announced its next debate will be in October to allow more candidates to jump in since so few attend their first debate in May where Governor Gretchen Whitmer was the winner according to most outlets. Candidates in that field just need two percent nationwide to make the debate stage.

All major candidates were able to make the first debate with Mike Gallagher and Chris Christie both barely making the debate in the twelfth hour after CBS realised their first early state polls last night. Below is the list of candidates that qualified and in what areas they qualified:

1.Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL): National, IA, NH, SC, and NV
2.Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (R-SC): National, IA, NH, SC, and NV
3.Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R-KS): National, IA, NH, SC, and NV
4.Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO): National, IA, NH, and SC
5.Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL): National, IA, NH, SC, and NV
6.Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR): National, IA, and SC
7.Former Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD): National and NH
8.Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL): National
9.Former Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX): NH and NV
10.Former Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ): NH
11.Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI): IA

This may be the last attempt to make a pitch to voters before being cut from the debate stage as Hurd, Gaetz, Christie, and Gallagher all are below the current threshold for the second debate which will potentially hurt their voter and donor outreach. This is exactly what happened in 2020 with multiple Democrats including Michael Bennet and Andrew Yang.

CNN also announced how the stage will look with the eleven candidates:

Gallagher/Hurd/Hogan/DeSantis/Pompeo/Rubio/Haley/Hawley/Cotton/Gaetz/Christie

Source: https://www.vox.com/2018/11/6/18057018/senate-midterm-results-missouri-josh-hawley-winner

Hawley Turns Around Fundraising, Other Candidates Annouce Massive Hauls

July 23rd, 2023

Vox- After the first quarter, many Republicans were worried for Senator Josh Hawley who only reported to raise four million in the first quarter and just two million on hand. Hawley after realising the report was forced to fire his finance director and spend far less time on the campaign trail and more in fundraisers. This quarter, Hawley announced he had raised thirteen million dollars which is more than 300% more than quarter one. Hawley wasn't the only one raising massive hauls before the start of fall campaigns. Below is a list of all campaigns and their fundraising:

Candidate/Raised/On Hand
Republicans:
Marco Rubio: 19.8 million/17.5 million
Mike Pompeo: 13.2 million/9.6 million
Josh Hawley: 13.0 million/ 7.3 million
Tom Cotton: 10.5 million/4.3 million
Nikki Haley: 8.7 million/8.2 million
Larry Hogan: 4.5 million/2.3 million
Matt Gaetz: 2.1 million/398,000 thousand
Mike Gallagher: 1.4 million/740,000 thousand

Democrats:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 23.6 million/13.4 million
Gretchen Whitmer: 10.6 million/7.8 million
Andrew Cuomo: 8.9 million/3.5 million
Gavin Newsom: 7.1 million/5.0 million
Andy Beshear: 3.2 million/450,000 thousand
John Bel Edwards: 1.7 million/1.2 million

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/07/politics/chris-christie-republican-debate-race-changed-jake-tapper/index.html

Debate Fireworks Leave No Clear Winner

July 28th, 2023

Politico- Coming out of last night's debate, we got to see the first debate for Republicans with many new faces and some old. The fireworks did go off last night with fire aimed at both Nikki Haley and Marco Rubio with an intense standoff between Former Governor and Senator Tom Cotton. The fireworks didn't leave a clear winner but some key moments that will be remembered throughout the next few weeks.

The first major moment came between Congressman Matt Gaetz and Senator Marco Rubio over comments made by Gaetz attacking Rubio for not being pro-Trump enough. The moderator, Jake Tapper, asked the Senator if he viewed Gaetz's attacks as fair in which he responded with, "It is ironic that Gaetz attacked me as not being pro-Trump enough since he was the Congressman to vote against a budget that would've have supported President Trump's border wall, one of his biggest projects. I have proudly supported the former President throughout his general election and throughout his presidency including his major projects in his administration." The Congressman responded, "What is actually ironic Senator is trying to smear me since all the voters know your liberal voting record on immigration. Senator, the voters haven't forgotten about the gang of eight that would've made this country less safe." Senator Tom Cotton came to Rubio's defense and attacked the Congressman for his nationalist position by interrupting, "You know what actually makes this country less safe, withdrawing our troops from a destabilized region that will come after us if we aren't there. Which is something you are proud to support. Maybe if you wanted to make our country safer then you wouldn't continue to push for an insolation agenda that is a far-left idea." Senator Rubio jumped into the debate saying, "Congressman, you voted against the NATO support act. Not only is that a liberal policy, but it is also a policy that makes us less safe. Look at your own record!" Quickly responding the Congressman said, "Why did you endorse me then? Why did you endorse and campaign for me in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022?" Tapper stopping the debate with Gaetz still trying to finish his last answer.

The battle for Trump's mantle didn't stop there with a small argument between Haley and Mike Pompeo over the former President. Pompeo in one of his answers implied Haley had hurt the president after leaving his administration. Haley quickly responded, "It is incredible that Mr. Pompeo has to restore to these desperate attacks. Nearly everyone on this stage did everything they could to make the President successful no matter what the former Secretary would like to claim." Pompeo failed to respond but Senator Rubio did but in defending Haley saying, "I'm a little sick and tired of this Trump test, all of us supported the President. All of us campaigned for the President but none of us are Trump and some of us should stop acting like it and get back to the main messages of our campaigns. Ambassador Haley doesn't deserve these attacks, I don't deserve these attacks and no one else does."

The Trump attacks failed to come up again but policy debates still remained heated between the diverse candidate base. When national security was brought up again, Former Governor Larry Hogan had to defend his position to allow refugees in Maryland. When finishing his defense, Senator Cotton went after Governor saying, "Governor, it is simple, by allowing this policy, you made Maryland less safe." Hogan responded, "No Senator, I made my state more accepting which I will never apologize for." Wolf Blitzer interrupted by asking Senator Cotton whether the nation is more or less safe with refugees. Senator Cotton responded, "I believe immigration makes a country strong when we allow them in legal and know that they are here to help our nation. Now, to my response to the Governor, by allowing potential terrorists into your state you are not making a state that is more safe or accepting. You are making a state filled with fear of attack by the people that live next to them." "I'm sorry, I didn't think we could make up our own facts." Hogan responded and quickly followed up with a defense, "Exactly zero of the refugees my accepted were terrorist or potential terrorists. We have our government screen every single one of the refugees we accepted. What is actually making our neighbors fear each other is the rhetoric you have used at tonight's debate and your whole career to describe immigrates escaping dangerous home countries." Senator Cotton quickly followed up the Governor's repute with, "Governor, refugees are proven to make a nation less safe and that is what a majority of our nation realizes and it has nothing at all to do with immigration or race. It is sad to see you bring that in the debate, obviously, you are in the wrong party." Blitzer following Cotton's response stopped the debate to go to commercial but tensions couldn't rise as Hogan's team responded on social media with a gif of a wrestler body-slamming somebody with the tag @tomcotton which the Cotton team responded by changing Hogan's logo to look like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's logo.

Two more smaller debates came about throughout the debate with smaller candidates. One debate was between Matt Gaetz and Will Hurd over Gaetz's support for a war power bill that was supported by only three Republicans. The biggest moment of that argument was when one of the other Republican supporters of the law, Thomas Massie, said on Twitter that Hurd cared more about invading other countries than protecting personal liberties. Chris Christie and Tom Cotton got into a little argument after Tapper asked Cotton to support his Op-Ed in the New York Times in support of buying Greenland with which Christie rolled his eyes and responded, "you know voters can smell pandering from a mile away."

The overall outcome of the debate is unclear but Mike Gallagher, Ron DeSantis and Josh Hawley did a huge disservice to their campaigns by not engaging in debate and making the news today. Two other pull aways, Gaetz got way more attention than a candidate at two percent deserves and Haley, Rubio, and Pompeo all held their own even with light attacks.

Source: https://runt-of-the-web.com/mike-huckabee-facts

Huckabee, Huckabee-Sanders Endorse Cotton

July 29th, 2023

Des Moines Register- Former Governor and caucus winner Mike Huckabee and his daughter, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders who was President Trump's second press secretary joined their states Senator, Tom Cotton, in Cedar Rapids to endorse Cotton. Huckabee in his speech declared that a victory for the Senator would be a victory for religious freedom which has been a central part of the Senator's messaging in the state. Huckabee-Sanders brought up the debate in her speech slamming both Congressman Matt Gaetz and former Governor Larry Hogan when she was quoted as saying, "Cotton put two people in their place for trying to enforce liberal policies that make our nation less safe." The Governor didn't mention either by name but it was clear who was being mentioned after the harsh exchange between Gaetz, Hogan, and Cotton.

This is a big early endorsement for the Senator who originally didn't earn either endorsement as they wanted to see the plans of the Trump children. Cotton was also joined on stage by other smaller endorsements including former treasurer for Ohio, Josh Mandel, who endorsed Senator Marco Rubio in 2016 and Congressman French Hill who already announced his endorsement.

The Senator's bid has stalled since launching but has remained strong in Iowa where he remans near double digits but he hopes to make a big play in Iowa in the next months before August and the next debate which will be in the neighboring state of Minnesota..."

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gov-andrew-cuomo-make-america-great-great/story?id=57202455

Julian Castro Launches Bid, Cuomo at War With AOC

July 31st, 2023

ABC News-Former 2020 presidential candidate Julian Castro launches second bid in his home state of Texas. Castro hopes with a smaller field he will be able to stand out as the only Latino in the race with a progressive platform that can be "elected, unlike a certain congresswoman." This is the first attack on Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on electability but yesterday, her home state Governor went further with attacks against her.

Governor Andrew Cuomo at a town hall in New Hampshire called the Congresswoman, the biggest hypocrite of New York. Cuomo attacked her for playing the populist against big money while she was advertising a Political action committee to help fund building a national brand. The Governor also attacked her for not paying party dues, calling her not a team player. The Congresswoman team responded by saying, "Unlike Governor Cuomo, our candidate believes she shouldn't be a rubber stamp for a single party. Cuomo might need to go back home and fix the subways before he can start attacking his only Representatives..."

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/sally-yates-emails-justice-department-andrew-weissmann-travel-ban-2017-12

Report: Yates Reconsidering Bid

August 3rd, 2023

Bloomberg- Vice-President Sally Yates has been a non-factor in the presidential contest the last few months since she decided to forgo has started to reconsider a presidential bid. Aides in the Vice-President's office have told Bloomberg News that Yates has rehired Greg Schultz and other Biden alum to rebuild campaign infasture. When asked for a comment, Biden's former campaign manager, Schultz told Bloomberg that he didn't have news at the time but could confirm that he was working with Yates again.

If Yates does change plans then she will have upset many prominent members of her party who waited to jump in the race till she made a decision including Senator Joe Kennedy and Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer and Kennedy may even decide to stay in the race if she jumps in which would further complicate a bid that had a clear shot at the nomination just a few months ago. When another candidate, Governor Andy Beshear, was asked about Yates, he reaffirmed he would suspend if she joined the race. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Jennea Sheheen both confirmed the would still support the Vice-President in a bid for the White House if she changed her plans but have not heard from anyone regarding a late entry..."

CBS Poll of Registered Voters

July 28th, 2023

"Who Won the Republican Debate on July 27th"

Marco Rubio: 15%

Nikki Haley: 10%

Tom Cotton: 6%

Mike Pompeo: 5%

Larry Hogan: 4%

Matt Gaetz: 3%

Ron DeSantis: 3%

Chris Christie: 3%

Josh Hawley: 1%

Mike Gallagher: 0%

Will Hurd: 0%

No Winner or Unsure: 49%

"Favorability of Each Candidate"

Marco Rubio: +65%/-32%

Nikki Haley: +49%/-11%

Mike Pompeo: +37%/-18%

Tom Cotton: +25%/-21%

Larry Hogan: +19%/-10%

Matt Gaetz: +15%/-14%

Ron DeSantis: +19%/-5%

Chris Christie: +56%/-34%

Josh Hawley: +21%/-3%

Mike Gallagher: +7%/-1%

Will Hurd: +11%/-2%

[Illini Moderate]

This is really good so far! Hope u can keep it up

[President Johnson]

GO ANDREW CUOMO!

Andrew Cuomo/Gretchen Whitmer would be an absolute dream ticket for me in such a scenrio (or any 2024 scenario that doesn't involve Joe Biden).

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/picture-gallery/news/2019/03/30/vice-president-mike-pence-greenville-sc-lindsey-graham-reelection-2020/3313069002/

Pence Enters Race

August 5th, 2023

Washington Post-As Washington whirls with speculation of Vice-President Sally Yates entering the race, another Vice-President has entered the race. Former Vice-President Mike Pence at a rally in Indiana University announced his long-awaited bid for president. Even without Pence in the race, the former Vice-President remained in the lead in Iowa but continued to fall in national polls behind Nikki Haley and Senator Marco Rubio. Pence is hoping that Iowa will be his firewall to kill some candidacies like Senator Josh Hawley, Senator Tom Cotton and Congressman Matt Gaetz who all are betting on strong finishes in Iowa.

Pence is joining after the first debate but has secured the endorsements of multiple crucial politicians. Pence has introduced by Senator Linsdey Graham and has been endorsed by Governor Eric Holcomb, Senator Mark Meadows, Former Governor Mitch Daniels, Congressman Greg Pence, Senator Marsha Blackburn, and Governor Bill Lee. These endorsements will allow Pence to have a nice boost to his campaign in hopes of rocketing to first place nationally.

Pence hopes by the next debate that he will be able to scare some candidates out of running and run some candidates of the race like Mike Gallagher and Chris Christie who are running similar messages to President Trump which Pence hopes to be his base..."

Source: https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/27/expansion-executive-power-gov-greg-abbott-orders-agency-heads-run-rule/

Governor Abbott Jumps In

August 9th, 2023

Texas Tribune- Governor Greg Abbott in Houston announced his long-awaited bid for the White House. Abbott under his new banner, A New America, said, "We need leadership in Washington, we cannot stand four more years of an administration run by another Senator or Washington insider who has created these problems for our average American. I am running so we can have new leadership in Washington." After finishing his speech, Abbott answered questions from the press in a sperate location where he went after some of his opponents in the race. Abbott called Rubio, "somebody who seeking a higher office over and over and voters can see right through it." and Abbott also went after Pompeo which he called, "somebody who would kiss the President's boots no matter what the President does."

Abbott waited to join the race until he knew there was a spot in the field for his view. Abbott believes that voters will want a Washington outsider and that he is the most serious challenger to the frontrunners who he claimed were all Washington insider. Abbott most likely will make the next debate stage but he did fear he wouldn't make the third debate if they keep heightening restrictions so he jumped into the race to start building field operation in the early states.

Abbott was joined on the stage by Senator Ted Cruz and Senator John Cornyn. After his speech and press event, Abbott and his press secretary, Calli Norton, announced that he had been endorsed by former Governor Rick Perry, Congressman Dan Crenshaw, Congressman John Ratcliffe, Congressman Chip Roy, Congresswoman Kay Granger, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Congressman Pierce Bush, St. Land Commisnor George P. Bush and Attorney General Ken Paxton..."

Source: https://www.vox.com/2018/11/12/18086580/sally-yates-attorney-general-justice-department-doj-donald-trump-corruption-kara-swisher-podcast

Vice-President Yates Launches Bid For White House

August 12th, 2023

Politico- A week full of announcements has a cherry on top with Vice-President official switching her mind on a presidential bid. In a rally in Fairfax, Virginia, Vice-President Sally Yates announced her bid for the president by saying, "When I withdrew my name from consideration a few months ago, I believe that we, as Democrats, have other options that could continue win in November and continue the legacy of President Biden. As I look at the field today, I either believe a candidate cannot beat the Republican nominee or will not continue the unifying legacy of the President which is why I started to reconsider my bid." Yates went on to say, "I believe we can make history with the first women president which is why I am running for President and would thank all women who encourage this bid and all the people who have supported over the past four years."

Yates is the third candidate to announce a bid this week after Governor Greg Abbot and Former Vice-President Mike Pence. Yates was a much stronger candidate a few months ago when she first decided to forgo a run but multiple candidates have been in talks of suspending their candidacies if Yates entered. Candidates like Governor Andy Beshear said that with Yates in the race, establishment figures would not look for another candidate to fund or support. Within the first ten hours of her bid, her campaign had already announced that Yates had raised two million dollars which is already more money on hand than Beshear and multiple other candidates including Governor John Bel Edwards.

Not only has Yates boosted a strong announcement and strong fundraising, but the Vice-President also announced the first series of staff and endorsements. Yates had already previously announced her main staff which will be headed by Joe Biden's campaign manager, Greg Schultz. Yates has also brought on Jake Braun again from the Gretchen Whitmer campaign and has hired Simone Sanders from the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaign to be her press secretary. Yates did announce she had been endorsed by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Governor Laura Kelly, Senator Jennea Shaheen and all those who had previously endorsed her campaign before her announcement. Yates also announced she had been endorsed by Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker, Governor Roy Cooper, Senator Cathrine Cortez-Mastro, Congressman Eric Swalwell and Former Governor Steve Bullock.

Whitmer responded to Yates once again taking Braun back by stating, "It is sad to lose a strong member of our team who has built a strong organization in Iowa which we will use to win in February. As for the Vice-President entering the race, we are a strong team that will prevail not only for the nomination but next November." Congresswoman Ocasio Cortez's campaign was much harsher against the new entry by saying, "The President has done nothing and we don't need to continue a legacy that is of doing nothing. We need new progressive leadership which is a Yates presidency..."

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/politics/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-governor.html

Governor Whitmer, Governor Beshear Suspend, Endorse Yates

August 26th, 2023

New York Times- The shocking news of the Vice-President Sally Yates entrance has shaken up the field once again. While appearing in her first tour of Iowa as a candidate, the Vice-President was endorsed by two of her fellow candidates. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Governor Andy Beshear who both had invested months into Iowa suspended their campaigns and endorsed the frontrunner in the race. Whitmer in her endorsement speech she reminded the voters of 2020, "With a large field, we are only dividing are party further hurting our potential nominee which will prevent our nominee from being successful, it will prevent us from flipping the house and it will prevent us from finally taking out Mitch McConnell." Whitmer continued, "Today, I cannot see a path to the nomination but I see someone who does and who can guarantee that we have a woman in the White House next year. So, I have decided to exit the race and endorse the Vice-President who leads with dignity and grace." Beshear followed Whitmer and echoed many of the same parts and told his supporters to never stop dreaming.

Beshear had told press when news first broke that Yates was reconsidering a bid, that he would hold to his promise to suspend his campaign if the Vice-President entered. Beshear, the day of the announcement, was in Iowa campaigning and met with his campaign manager, communications director, Iowa director and had the rest of his top staffers on a conference call to inform them that he would remain true to his promise. Whitmer, on the other hand, told her team on the day of the announcement that she would fight it out till at least Iowa but three days ago met with the Vice-President and had told her campaign staff in Michigan that night that she would suspend. Whitmer had traveled to each campaign office in the early states to tell them of the decision before today. Whitmer's entire staff was in the crowd and they were easy to support as they waved Go Gretchen signs and many left in tears.

Yates's other competitors have been much more reluctant to her bid with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez already attacking the new entry. Ocasio-Cortez has tried to portray Yates as the past and the moderate party that gets nothing done. Julian Castro who entered the race right before the announcement announced that he would fight it out and not let the establishment push him out of the race. Governors Gavin Newsom, Andrew Cuomo and John Bel Edwards all promised to stay in the race. Newsom and Cuomo both have war chests that could last some time but Bel Edwards will have to fight for every penny being the only candidate to have less than two million on hand.

Senator Joe Kennedy could not respond to comment but field staffers who have been asked have told reporters that Kennedy's campaign will not be leaving and that they have not heard anything about an exit. Kennedy is reportedly meeting with the Vice-President before the next debate but Kennedy could be Yates strongest competition when it comes to establishment support..."

Republican Primary Field

Mike Pence: 16.2%

Marco Rubio: 15.7%

Nikki Haley: 15.4%

Mike Pompeo: 13.2%

Josh Hawley: 6.1%

Tom Cotton: 5.4%

Greg Abbott: 4.6%

Ron DeSantis: 4.5%

Rick Scott: 3.7%

Larry Hogan: 3.1%

MUST BE ABOVE THIS LINE TO MAKE DEBATES

Matt Gaetz: 1.4%

Mike Gallegher: 1.2%

Chris Christie: 1.0%

Will Hurd: 0.7%

Adam Kinzinger: 0.2%

Undecided: 7.6%

Democrat Primary Field

Sally Yates: 40.4%

Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez: 25.4%

Joe Kennedy: 13.2%

Gavin Newsom: 2.9%

Andrew Cuomo: 2.1%

Julian Castro: 1.8%

John Bel Edwards: 1.%

Undecided: 13.1%

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.westernjournal.com/congressman-backs-trumps-emergency-declaration-border-deployment-saw-really-disturbing/

Congressman Kinzinger Endorses Rubio

September 3rd, 2023

Washington Examiner- Forgoing a presidential run of his own, Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois endorsed Senator Marco Rubio in Iowa over the weekend. Kinzinger was rumored to be building a political team to run for president and advisors had said the Congressman was planning on announcing in May but worried about not making the debate stage so he decided to push it till past the first debate. Kinzinger soon after met with Rubio who pushed him to forgo a run and endorse him which would be a much smarter political move.

Kinzinger previously endorsed Rubio in 2016 and in his speech endorsing the Senator brought it back up saying, "I was right when I endorsed this man in 2016 and I am right again to endorse Senator Rubio who will bring a new American century forward." Kinzinger will be a strong asset for Rubio since many Iowans were able to get to know Kinzinger as he continued to look at a bid so he will be a key asset in a state Rubio is worried will boost Pence with momentum.

Senator Rubio is hoping to gain a burst of momentum going into the second debate where he will face Mike Pence for the first time who has once again climbed into the frontrunner position. Rubio's momentum from the first debate all but fizzled after Pence and Governor Greg Abbott joined the field further enlarging the field..."

Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/18/joe-kennedy-formally-announce-run-for-senate/YGYTqnr197ahCYtQupxwqM/story.html

Kennedy Pledges To Stay In, Newsom Invest In Campaign

September 6th, 2023

Boston Globe- Over the past week, rumors have swirled that another candidate would suspend their campaign and endorse Vice-President Yates who rocked the political world with her announcement last month. Senator Joe Kennedy made clear when asked by the press at his campaign headquarters in Boston that he was not that campaign and he would continue on. Kennedy pledged to stay in the race till New Hampshire where he has made a large investment of time and effort.

Yates has already been endorsed by two of her former opponents, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Governor Andy Beshear. Beshear and Whitmer suspended their campaign days after Yates launch seeing her dominating presence in the race and endorsed the Vice-President. Kennedy will still meet with the Vice-President next month ahead of the debate but when asked he said, "the Vice-President and I have worked together closely and like to talk which is friends do. I am in third place with the money and resources to compete so no, I will no leave this race."

Another campaign was also making clear that they were staying in. Governor Gavin Newsom who spent the last week in South Carolina invested one million dollars into his campaign. Newsom said the investment would allow this to ramp up earlier than expected to compete with Yates. Even with the Vice-President in the race, Newsom still believes he has a shot at the nomination but it has gotten dimmer he does admit..."

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/fox-news-and-google-to-host-gop-presidential-debate-on-sept-22

Debate Stage Is Set For September 15th

September 8th, 2023

Fox News- The debate stage is officially set for Republicans second set of debates in Minnesota, a state they have come so close to taking the last two cycles. The next debate will be on September 15th with a slightly smaller stage as the Republican capped the stage at ten candidates or less depending on who made the cap. The Republicans will be allowing the candidates that made stage last time but not tonight to have a smaller forum that will air on ABC News earlier in the day.

Below is the list of the candidates that qualified and how they qualified:
Mike Pence: USA, NH, IA, SC, NV
Marco Rubio: USA, NH, IA, SC, NV
Nikki Haley: USA, NH, IA, SC, NV
Mike Pompeo: USA, NH, IA, SC, NV
Josh Hawley: USA, NH, IA, SC
Tom Cotton: USA, IA, SC, NV
Greg Abbott: USA, IA, SC
Ron DeSantis: USA, SC, NV
Larry Hogan: USA, NH
Chris Christie: NH

That means, ten candidates which are the max will be on the stage with two new faces who announced after the last debate, Governor Greg Abbott and current frontrunner Former Vice-President Mike Pence. Abbott and Pence will be new but this debate will also be losing three candidates on the last debate stage. Congressman Mike Gallagher, Congressman Matt Gaetz and Former Congressman Will Hurd all have accepted the earlier forum invitation but missing the debates will be a crucial blow to their presidential bids.

Along with who made the stage, the RNC announced two more things in their press release with Fox News. The RNC has decided to make the next debate in November on the twnety-seventh and will only allow ten candidates to compete who got above four percent in the early states or four percent nationally which is just a little above current standards. The second major announcement was the order of the stage which is shown below with Rubio and Pence in the middle and Haley and Pompeo flanking them:

Christie/DeSantis/Cotton/Pompeo/Rubio/Pence/Haley/Hawley/Abbott/Hogan

Source: https://capitalresearch.org/article/boycottabc-trends-after-debate-night-over-ad-against-socialism-and-ocasio-cortez/

Progressives Line Up Behind Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez

September 11th, 2023

New Yorker-Vice-President Sally Yates has taken endorsements from local county commissions all away up to former opponents. The entrance of Yates took the Ocasio-Cortez team by surprise who thought the Bloomberg piece would all they would hear about it, the campaign manager even went on record as saying that the campaign was not expecting her entrance. Still, Yates entrance has reinvigorated Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez on the campaign trail as it becomes clearer the race could soon be a head to head match up unless Senator Joe Kennedy surprises. Ocasio-Cortez has started to do what really comes naturally since she started to get into politics which is attack the people in leadership which makes Vice-President Yates a perfect punching bag.

Now, Ocasio-Cortez is realising a list of her own to counter the lines of people endorsing Yates. The list includes people from community activists to many prominent politicians including former 2020 candidate Mayor Bill De Blasio. The list also included Congressman Ro Khanna, Former Vermont Lt. Governor David Zuckerman, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Elison, Mayor Ted Terry, and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. This will allow Ocasio-Cortez to stand out as the progressive in the race that could go head to head with the more moderate Yates..."

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/republican-matt-gaetz-supports-trump-war-powers-resolution-2020-1

Early Debate Forum: Fire Aimed At Rubio, Pence

September 15th, 2023

ABC News- Before the main show on Fox News, the candidates that didn't make the debate stage were allowed to participate in a small forum. Congressman Matt Gaetz, Congressman Mike Gallagher, and Former Congressman Will Hurd all were on the debate stage in July but none of them were able to make tonights debate in Minnesota where ten other candidates will be debating. Gaetz, Gallagher and Hurd's bill all will become much more a longshot as it isn't likely they will make the debate stage unless a polling surge and another candidate drops out since requirements are still rising and only ten candidates can be on the debate stage. To help gain attention for their flattering bids, all three joined in the forum where the main fire was aimed at the frontrunners who will be on tonight's stage.

There were very few conflicts between the candidates on the stage but Gaetz continued to fight with Senator Marco Rubio. This feud had started since the start of Rubio's campaign and boiled over at the debate. Once again when the feud came up, Gaetz knocked Rubio again for his lack of support for President Trump. Gaetz claimed, "The party is extremely favorable to President Trump and I don't think we should nominate someone who didn't constantly undermine the President." and the Congressman continued to defend himself by saying, "Rubio would like you to believe, as he did at the last debate, that I was the person undermining him but that is the furthest from the truth. I was one of his biggest allies, Politico called me "Trump's best buddy", Buzzfeed called me "Trump's ultimate defender." Rubio is trying to play himself like a Trump-loyalist but that is the furthest from the truth. I supported President Trump and I am running on finishing his agenda since we finally have both houses again filled with strong conservatives." Congressman Hurd quickly came back and said, "Congressman, I really don't think we should be looking to the past for the answers for the future. The thing is, you aren't running in Trump's party, you are running in the Republican party so I don't understand why we constantly bring up President Trump as a purity test than actual values of a Republican." Congressman Gaetz responded, "I have much respect for you Congressman but you don't pass the Trump purity and you wouldn't pass a Republican purity test. Look at your record, we should make sure our nominee supports the wall, you do not. We should make sure our nominee doesn't support loose immigration laws but you do support loose immigration laws like the DREAMERS. For all you talk about national security, I don't think you truly understand what you are talking about." Congressman Hurd who looked visibly angry sat up in his chair and said, "Unlike you Congressman, I have actually served in our intelligence community. I don't think we should be comparing national security chops because I have served in CIA and I have taken a tour overseas with them while you were arguing against the war in the middle east. And for the border wall, I do support more security but it should be through technology, not a nineteenth-century border wall." David Muir moved the topic on stopping the debate but after two attacks against Gaetz at the forum and the debate in July, it shows that if the Congressman does keep going on offense he should be prepared to defend his own record especially involving the middle east

later on in the forum, Mike Gallagher took his first shots at the current frontrunner, Mike Pence. Gallagher called Pence a "career politician" and brought up Trump again by saying, "Truly, Pence is the opposite of Trump's message of anti-career politician and anti-DC insider considering Pence has spent the majority of his life making money off the taxpayer's dime." Gallagher also took a shot at one of his past scandals saying, "If we send Pence as our nominee then we will be torn apart, he couldn't even campaign for congress without committing election spending fraud." Gallagher also went after Mike Pompeo said, "For a man trying to play the outsiders in the race, it sure seems like he has a lot of insider connections. I guess anyone can claim they are an outsider now"

At the end of the debate, most pundits believed Gallagher was the clear winner but the effect of the forum probably won't be seen in polls since it is so small but any small victories can help the campaign. Gaetz came away from the debate in a worse position then he started and has seemed desperate as he constantly brings up the Trump mantle. One reporter after the forum compared him to Eric Swalwell, desperate for attention with pity attacks that make him seem weak..."

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/06/us/politics/who-won-debate.html

Fire Aimed At Pence As He Sticks To Policy

September 16th, 2023

New York Times- With the Former Vice-President finally in the race, candidates were able to take their first shots at the Vice-President in person. Vice-President Pence already was clearly going to be the punching bag of the night as the earlier forum with Congressman Mike Gallagher aimed the fire at Pence.

The first main shots were fired directly at the Vice-President from Governor DeSantis who repeated Gallagher's earlier statements attacking the Vice-President as a career politician. "When the Vice-President first started his career in politics, I wasn't even able to drink." DeSantis followed up with, " If you, at home, believe that Washington is broken then I do not think it is a good idea to send in the guy we have already tried. It is time for someone that is willing to stand up, even when it is unpopular, to get something done. As Governor of Florida, I have passed the conservative legislation that many of these Washington politicians dream of and I still was able to be reelected in a swing state by an impressive margin." Pence failed to defend himself and it wasn't the first attack coming his way.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley fired the next shot attacking Mike Pence's electability. Haley commented, "voters across this country are sick and tired of the old Republican party of the old white man and the good old' boy club that has controlled Washington for the past two hundred plus years. Voters want people that are younger, more diverse and that was our winning formula for 2022 and if we truly want to win we shouldn't nominate the old white man that has been in control of Washington for years (gesturing towards the Vice-President), we need someone that actually looks like America!" Once again the Vice-President wasn't willing to be pushed towards defense as he remained Lazor focused on policy during the debate. His campaign team after the debate did attack Haley for the electability argument by arguing the Vice-President has won every single election when he was the top of the ticket.

Former Governor Larry Hogan took on the Vice-President by address the need of business leaders needed in government. Hogan said, "what I truly thought was compelling about President Trump's message was that he was a business leader trying to shake things up in Washington. That is exactly what I tried to do as the Governor of Maryland which is the only job I have ever been elected too, before that I was a business leader just like the President. Now, I want to go to Washington and put a business leader back in the oval office and you will only get that if you nominate me, not the Vice-President or any of these Senators. There is just one business leader on this stage who will shake up Washington." Hogan's attacks were the only that Pence was willing to respond to on the stage by saying, "Governor, if you thought the President's message was so compelling then why did you not endorse him? I fondly remember you considering even primarying the president." Governor Hogan quickly responds, "Vice-President, I found the President's message compelling and believed what he did was almost entirely commendable but like I believe most Americas I couldn't support a man that had done so many morally wrong things." The Vice-President tried to attack Hogan for saying Trump voters were immoral but Hogan defended his point, "Vice-President Pence, I don't believe people that voted for Trump were immoral. I believe, and I know I might lose votes for this but it has to be said because I am willing to as Trump would say "say it as it is", I believe that the president is immoral, not his supporters." Bret Baier interrupted the debate to start another heated debate between two other candidates over the issue of Climate Change.

When asked to defend previous comments on climate changed, Secretary Mike Pompeo once again downplayed climate change. Governor Ron DeSantis came out swinging again attacking Pompeo and responding with, "Secretary Pompeo, you don't need to pass liberal policies to try and protect our environment. As Governor, I have protected our environment and done everything I could to protect my citizens from potential man-made climate harm instead of just telling them to move which has been your approach to the issue. I think as a party we must realize that we cannot continue on the path we are on and we must pass business-friendly but also environmentally-friendly legislation." Secretary Pompeo was able to say, "what are you going to do regulate? Put up red tape? That's not what this party stands for." Before DeSantis cut him off to respond with, "No Mr. Secretary. As I said in my first answer, I want both legislation that is business-friendly and environmentally friendly. That is exactly what I did in Florida and I was able to get bipartisan praise for it. If I can do it in Florid then I can do it for America!"

The rest of the debate stayed relatively tame with little disagreements between candidates except for Senator Tom Cotton's last statements. Cotton went after the field especially the frontrunners in his address where he started with, "While the media is trying to anoint Senator Rubio and Ambassador Haley as our nominee, we must look through the media BS and see who the actual conservative candidate is in this race. I can promise it is not the man who constantly raised taxes as Governor, nor is it the candidate that has spent his entire adult life working off the taxpayer's dime with little results unless he is bending over backward to help Democrats in Congress nor is it the woman who spent the final years of her governorship plotting a presidential run nor is it the man who allowed potential terrorist into his state. I am the conservative race no matter what the media would like to claim about the frontrunners. I am a veteran, I am the Senator from Arkansas and I am running for president as a proud conservative outsider."

Through the candidates didn't respond on the stage, former Governor Larry Hogan in the spin room told reporters that he was more of an outsider than Senator Cotton. Hogan said, "Look, I am more of an outsider than the Senator. For the past ten years, Senator Cotton has spent in Washington as a Senator and for the two years before that he was in Washington as a Representative. Senator Cotton truly doesn't understand businesses or the people he is going to serve as president and he should stop pretending to be an outsider." Representative Mike Gallagher called the comments around Ambassador Haley spending her last part of her governorships building a campaign, absurd and said, "The Senator is really the one who has spent the past one and half-term as a Senator building a presidential campaign. If he wanted to go after someone, maybe he should not be so hypocritical in his attacks."

The debate has been called mainly a draw with little attacks sticking on Pence but Cotton has taken heat which could stall his momentum that he gains in the previous debate. Once again, Senator Hawley is doing harm to his campaign by not making a major moment at the debate.

Source: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/06/nyt-op-ed-pence-pompeo-809125

The Tiers Of The Primary

September 22nd, 2023

New York Times- As start of primary season is officially under way, already tiers have started to estblish in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. Currently the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination is clear, Vice-President Sally Yates. Yates has already forced two candidates out of the race and has reportedly raised more than twelve million since she annouced a month ago. Yates also reportedly about to force another candidate out of the race which means it seems more and more like Yates will be a head on head race or a three way race which is far from what was execpted just before her launch. The Vice-President leads for field by nearly a two to one margin over her closet competor, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The frontrunner in the Republican fields frontrunner is much more divided between four candidates. Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Marco Rubio and Nikki Haley all are within three points of each other and the only candidates within double digits within the race. Both Pence and Rubio lead the field at one point and they plus Pompeo and Haley have been raising massive warchest. All the Republican frontrunner have taken attacks from lower candidates. Pompeo seems to be the weakest of the candidates listed above as he has contitued to fall since his launch and could soon fall below double digits into the next tier, the also rans.

The also rans in the race are the candidates that have been discussed as strong candidates for years and have been building campaigns and name recogntion for years but still hasn't taken off yet. In the Democratic race, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Joe Kennedy are the current also rans. Ocasio-Cortez and Kennedy will both be the strongest competion to Yates but still have yet to take off and make a serious bid for the frontrunner postion. In the Republican race, candidates inculde Senator Tom Cotton, Senator Josh Hawley, Governor Ron DeSantis, Governor Greg Abbott and at the very tail end, Former Governor Larry Hogan. Hogan has barely escaped the bottom tier of candidates who are rarely taken seriously after November or December.

The bottom tier of candidates inculde candidates that will struggle from making the debate stage to making out the pay check to their staffers. this tier inculdes Congressman Matt Gaetz, Former Governor Chris Chrisite, Congressman Mike Gallagher, Fomer Congressman Will, Governor Andew Cuomo, Governor Gavin Newsom and Governor John Bel Edwards..."

Source: https://www.news-press.com/story/news/education/2019/01/09/governor-plans-make-water-policy-announcement-bonita-springs/2529807002/

American Conservation Coaltion Endorses Governor Ron DeSantis

September 24th, 2023

CNN- After a sittiring rebutal to Secertary of State Mike Pompeo regarding climate change at last weeks debate, Governor Ron DeSantis has picked up the endorsment of the American Conservation Coaltion (ACC). The American Conservation Coaltion who is led by Benji Backer is a group aimed at winning over Republican voters on the topic of climate change. Backer estblished the group in hopes of spreading a business conscience climate legislation to protect the envorment. This is the first endorsment by the group in support of DeSantis and they have promised to send field staffers from their orginzation in the final weeks before the Iowa caucus to give him a final boost.

DeSantis and his viral moment with Secertary Pompeo has helped boost his fundraising and he has risen in recent polls. DeSantis hopes to captlize on this momutum by launching a ad in all ealy states and mutiple super tuesday states. The Governor will also travel to Iowa and South Carolina tomorrow for a tour of the states..."

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/08/democrats-debates-2020-elections-853029

Second Democratic Debate Stage Set

October 2nd, 2023

MSNBC- The stage for the second Democratic debate on October 9th on MSNBC is set after a co-press realise by the DNC and MSNBC. All the major candidates will be on the stage in Arizona next week. Governor John Bel Edwards was close to falling off the stage but an impressive poll from Quinnipiac University in South Carolina helped secure his spot on the stage. The current stage will look like:

John Bel Edwards/Andrew Cuomo/Joe Kennedy III/Sally Yates/Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez/Gavin Newsom/Julian Castro

This stage means that the Vice-President will be a center stage which many political scientists will be filled with electrifying moments between Yates and Ocasio-Cortez.

Source:https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_d970cbd0-8486-11e9-bb8a-cf565198aa1f.html

Governor Bel Edwards Suspend Campaign Citing Lack of Support

October 6th, 2023

Washington Post- A field that once was projected to be in double digits has lost another competitor in the already dwindling field. Governor John Bel Edwards who is in his final term as Governor issued a statement late this evening that he would not continue his campaign. Bel Edwards has been running for months and had based his campaign on a strong performance in South Carolina. Still, Governor Bel Edwards remained in only the high single digits in South Carolina far behind Vice-President Sally Yates and at least five points below Senator Joe Kennedy. In his suspension letter, Bel Edwards cited lack of support for the main reason he suspended his campaign and claimed that he did have the resources to compete but didn't feel the Democratic electric would support him.

In one of the biggest moments of the campaign so far, the Governor came under attack at the first Democratic debate over his pro-life views. Governor Gretchen Whitmer who suspended last month attacked the Governor during the debate and on the campaign trail constantly told voters that they have to put up a woman to fight the anti-abortion extremist in the Democratic party and in the general election. Bel Edwards did admit to reporters that funds had dried up after the debate but once it was not fresh on voters' minds anymore the money started to roll in again.

In his statement, Bel Edwards did take some final shots at Former Vice-President Mike Pence saying no matter the Democratic nominee they will have my full support if they have to face the man who wouldn't even help Lousianna when it was hurting most after Hurricane Katrina. Bel Edwards did not endorse any candidate in his letter unlike his fellow also-rans, Whitmer and Governor Andy Beshear who lined up behind Yates..."

Source: http://www.startribune.com/sally-yates-important-questions-unanswered-in-nixed-ketamine-investigation/505522362/

Yates, Ocasio-Cortez Spar At Second Debate

October 10th, 2023

New York Times- Just days after another Democratic candidate left the race, the Democrats met to debate for the second time in Phoenix, Arizona. Unlike the Republican side, the fireworks were mainly coming from the middle of the stage instead of the outside candidates who are low in the polls and need to stick out moments.

On the Democratic stage, the first big moment came at the very start with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's beginning speech. Ocasio-Cortez specifically mentioned the Joe Biden-Sally Yates administration when she said, "If you want more of the same which is a plate of nothing then go ahead and vote to continue the President Biden/Vice-President Yates administration with a vote for Vice-President Yates but if you want real progressive solutions and you want something on your plate since you no longer have to be gouged by the pharmcultcal industry and the health industry then you should look for the progressive in this race." Yates after finishing her own speech went after Ocasio-Cortez responding with, "Congresswoman, we have delivered victories like securing funding to research climate change and reducing marijuana to a Schedule III drug with a Republican Senate. That is impressive, if you went in their guns blazing then you will have a realty check when you get there too about how devasting a Republican Senate and House will be to your plans." Ocasio-Cortez ready attacked back saying, "You know Ms. Yates, you are trying to once again on electability and that was the whole debate in 2020 which allowed President Biden to win the nomination. I truly don't think President Biden was the most electable, Senator Sanders beat Trump every single time but the media always distorts the electability to an argument to favor two types of people, men, and moderates." Looking down at her notes then raising her head, the Vice-President responded, "Senator Sanders would have never won the presidential election, he would have alienated half of America by just debating for medicare for all because the average American really doesn't want an increase in their already high taxes."

Governor Andrew Cuomo came in to break up the debate by responding, "Can we break up this catfight so we can get back to the issues." Visibly annoyed, the Vice-President responded, "First Governor, electability is crucial in a nomination process because I truly believe that Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez will lose if she is on the ballot in November which means everything that we debate today will mean nothing because we will have no power in Washington. Second, if we want to call out sexism, let's look at the term catfight. The only time you would ever hear those words used is in an argument between two women because if it was between two men then everyone would call it a debate." This was the most talked-about moment of the night since Yates has been known to be a policymaker that isn't willing to be the loudest voice in the room. Yates won praise from many groups including Planned Parenthood that applauded the response and said, "women need to call out sexism when they see it, that is exactly why the Vice-President made us so proud tonight."

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, Vice-President Yates and Senator Joe Kennedy did argue about medicare for all. When asked about his healthcare plan, Senator Kennedy discussed a healthcare plan similar to Mayor Pete Buttigieg's healthcare where it's for all that want it. Ocasio-Cortez quickly reminded the audience of her position stating, "Senator, that is not going to work for the American people. If we want to solve our healthcare problem there is only one solution which is medicare for all not medicare for all who want it which is a watered-down version that is only half a solution." The Vice-President admitting to faults within the Biden administration stated, "While we are talking about healthcare, I do truly believe I must admit that I believe the biggest fault of our term was not passing a healthcare plan. That really should show you that we need an electable nominee because they need to carry the senate with them so we can get healthcare reform right when we get there during the honeymoon period." Kennedy responded, "Vice-President, with all due respect, if we win the senate then we can't just pass watered-down healthcare plan because then we are failing the American people who are struggling the most." Ocasio-Cortez quickly cut in before Yates had a chance to respond by saying, "Senator, you must agree then to support Medicare for all if we have a Democratic senate because your plan is just a watered-down version of mine." Kenedy defended his statement by responding with, "Congresswoman, my plan is a completely different plan. I truly have strong concerns with your plan mainly raising taxes on middle-class households who are already struggling." Yates jumping back in the discussion said, "Senator, you can't just throw around the term watered down then because all are plans are extremely different even if we have the same goals of helping the American people with the healthcare crisis." Rachel Maddow quickly cut off the debate to move to the next topic of climate change.

Ocasio-Cortez during climate change said one of the greatest dangers posed by the 2024 elections was electing somebody that didn't care about climate change and Kennedy attacked her for saying everyone on this stage cared about Climate Change but didn't want to risk destroying the whole economy. That was the last small argument during the debate but going away from the stage the winners have mainly been claimed to be Kennedy and Yates but Ocasio-Cortez has rallied her base which has helped raise over one and half million since the end of the debate yesterday. The main loser is Governor Cuomo who had his worst moment of the debate stage go viral.

Source: https://apnews.com/9660e548ebd146b0b93751c5e25121a1

Yates, Haley Hire Super Tuesday Staff

October 13th, 2023

Politico- Two campaigns have started to expand ground operations into Super Tuesday states. Vice-President Sally Yates after an impressive debate performance and an impressive fundraising haul of three million in three days has announced her staff in multiple Super Tuesday states. In Alabama, Former Senator Doug Jones will serve as the state chair and Lizzie Grams who served on Jones' unsuccessful reelection campaign will serve as the state director. In Arkansas, Hanna Humphreys who also worked for Jones' 2020 campaign will serve as the state director in Arkansas. In California, the Yates campaign has hired fire field staff and a state director, communications director and a specific press secretary to make sure they have the operations to win one of the largest delegate states on Super Tuesday. In Texas, Abe Rakov will serve as the state director. Rakov has previously worked for Beto O'Rourke and Deval Patrick. In the final state where Yates hired staff for super Tuesday, In Virginia, she will have two field staffers and the state director will be Tim Hogan who previously worked for Amy Klobuchar.

On the Republican side, Nikki Haley has announced a series of new staff hired including super Tuesday states. In the early states, Haley has hired twenty more field staffers with eight of those going to her home state of South Carolina and four each to the other three. In three Super Tuesday states, she has officially hired a state director with a promise to expand field staff in those three states by the end of the month. In Georgia, Chris Riley who currently works for Governor Brian Kemp will take over the position of state director. In Virginia, Ben Hitchcock who currently works for Governor Larry Hogan's campaign will resign his position within that campaign and join Haley's campaign as a state director. Hitchcock worked closely with two of Haley's top campaign staffers on a Senate campaign in 2018. In Texas, Haley has brought on Teresa MacCartney. MacCartney worked closely with Haley's communication director during 2014 and worked with Riley in the Kemp administration.

Both Yates and Haley are the first campaigns to invest in Super Tuesday states which will be crucial for success later on after the early states. Only one campaign responded to request whether they were planning hiring in Super Tuesday states and only Matt Gaetz campaign responding that all field staffers will be placed in early states till the primary and caucus is over then they will flood the Super Tuesday states with those staffers..."

[Grassroots]

This TL is awesome, keep it up!

[BigVic]

Enjoying this TL

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.axios.com/tom-steyer-q3-fundraising-9aeb9b73-5edc-4332-9892-2be4cbb870dc.html

Steyer Launches Bid For Senate

October 16th, 2023

Axios- Tom Steyer has launched a bid for Senate in his home state of California. Steyer, who dropped out after a poor performance in 2020 primary, announced that he would run at a rally in Los Angles. The billionaire businessman has already announced he will self fund his campaign and has already hired forty staffers with nine out of ten of them coming from his presidential campaign.

Steyer is the first major candidate in the race after Senator Dianne Feinstein announced she would not run for reelection. Steyer has already gained the endorsement of Governor Gavin Newsom who Steyer has endorsed for president. With the endorsement from Newsom, this shows that the Governor is committed to the presidential race and doesn't want a backup option..."

Source: https://whyy.org/segments/in-philly-sally-yates-commends-librarians-as-holders-of-truth/

Sally Yates Attacks Back At Ocasio-Cortez

October 24th, 2023

CNN-"Vice-President Sally Yates has held back her criticism of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has been harming the Vice-President for the past few months. Ocasio-Cortez did go after Yates at the debate but was restrained from how she and her surrogates have been on social media and the trail. Now, Yates is attacking back at Ocasio-Cortez.

Yates outside an event in her home state of Georgia defended herself against attacks from the Congresswoman and her surrogates to press. Ocasio-Cortez attacked Yates and said that she was out of touch with the base. Yates told a local newspaper reporter in Atlanta that Ocasio-Cortez, "is the one out of touch with the best. The Democratic base easily nominated President Biden in 2020 and the party has moved more towards the center during the administration not further to the radical socialist agenda that the Congresswoman is preaching." Yates also went after Julian Castro, Gavin Newsom, and Andrew Cuomo. Yates said, "I truly don't know why these candidates are running, they have no reason to run and the voters can see that. This race is a three-person race, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Kennedy and me, the rest all have no impact on this race and are draining money from the potential nominee."

In her speech, Yates attacked her chief opponent in the race, Ocasio-Cortez. Yates said, "The Congresswoman does not have the experience to the commander and chief. She has not even served six years in the House and now she thinks she has the governing experience to be the leader of the free world. After serving as Vice-President for the past two years, I can tell you that serving just six years in the house is far from enough experience to lead this country." Yates went on to say, "I don't know if I actually trust the Congresswoman becoming the president of the United States. If we learned anything from President Trump's administration is that we shouldn't someone with no experience become president."

These are the first attacks from Yates on other candidates in the race other than defending herself from attacks from the other candidates. Multiple advisors have told CNN that she held back attacks hoping more candidates such as Cuomo and Newsom would suspend and endorse her candidacy as Gretchen Whitmer did..."

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/political-surrogate-nina-turner-heart-attack-stop-bernie/story?id=66161995

Proxy War In Ohio

November 2nd, 2023

New York Times- As the presidential race heats up, another race is also heating up as a proxy war of the national environment. The Ohio senate race is wide open after Senator Sherrod Brown announced last summer that he would not run for reelection and the race already has two candidates on both sides that represent two widely different ideological points of view.

In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ally and former State Senator Nina Turner announced last week that she would pursue the seat. Turner has already been endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and has already raised one million dollars for the bid. The state senator has already run statewide and lost by nearly twenty percent in 2014 to then Treasurer Josh Mandel. Along with Turner, Former Representative Tim Ryan announced he was running soon after Brown announced he was not running for reelection. Ryan lost to Governor Mike DeWine in 2022 but he has once again won much of the support of the establishment in the race including the Ohio Democratic party. The former Congressman is supposed to appear at a rally in Dayton with Vice-President Sally Yates for an endorsement.

On the Republican side, Congressman Anthony Gonzalez is the frontrunner in the race. Gonzalez has represented the sixteenth district after Congressman Jim Renacci ran for the Senate six years ago. Gonzalez is the first Hispanic member of the Ohio delegation and would be one of the rare Hispanic members in the Senate and the only from the rust belt. Gonzalez is favored by the establishment and has been endorsed by Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott who have all campaigned with him in Ohio. On the other side, State Senator Mellisa Ackison is running as a die-hard conservative and has turned the Republican race nasty as she has slandered Gonzalez as a DC insider and a RINO. Ackison has also been endorsed by a presidential candidate, Matt Gaetz..."

Source: https://www.kuer.org/post/combative-tribal-angry-newt-gingrich-set-stage-trump-journalist-says

Gingrich, Cain Endorse Pompeo

November 7th, 2023

Des Moines Register- "Two former presidential candidates will appear with former secretary of state Mike Pompeo in Sioux City to endorse his candidacy. Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain who both ran for president in 2012 will endorse Pompeo and call him the conservative in the race. This is after an increase of effort by Pompeo to turn around his race in Iowa where he is poling in fifth behind Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, Mike Pence, and Tom Cotton. Cotton has surged since his past debate performances and even after his rough debate where he took attacks from multiple candidates including Pompeo. More information will be coming regarding the event later."

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-shoes-making-fashion-history-20181122-story.html

Candidates Are Falling Behind Frontrunners In Fundraising

November 14th, 2023

Fox News- All candidates have officially reported their third-quarter finances. The biggest news is the frontrunners are flying far and ahead of the other candidates who continue to fall behind and spend big to catch up to frontrunners spending. Below are all the candidate's finances:

Republicans (Raised/Cash on Hand):
Nikki Haley: 20.4 million/14.8 million
Marco Rubio: 19.9 million/14.9 million
Mike Pence: 15.4 million/11.5 million
Mike Pompeo: 14.6 million/9.8 million
Tom Cotton: 11.7 million/8.1 million
Ron DeSantis: 6.5 million/2.9 million
Greg Abbott: 6.1 million/4.2 million
Josh Hawley: 3.7 million/965,000 thousand
Larry Hogan: 3.5 million/1.2 million
Matt Gaetz: 2.6 million/1.0 million
Mike Gallagher: 2.5 million/784,000 thousand
Chris Christie: 2.4 million/1.1 million
Will Hurd: 905,000 thousand/287,000 thousand

Democrats (Raised/Cash on Hand):
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 26.7 million/17.9 million
Sally Yates: 24.1 million/18.4 million
Joe Kennedy III: 19.6 million/14.7 million
Gavin Newsom: 10.4 million/2.6 million
Gretchen Whitmer (Suspended): 9.7 million/5.6 million
Andrew Cuomo: 6.7 million/1.3 million
Julian Castro: 3.4 million/2.3 million
Andy Beshear (Suspended): 2.5 million/569,000 thousand
John Bel Edwards (Suspended): 1.0 million/47,000 thousand

On the Republican side, Nikki Haley and Marco Rubio both raised the most money and Rubio has the most on hand at the end of the quarter with one hundred thousand dollars more than Haley who has started to invest in Super Tuesday states. One worry of Republican candidates is Mike Pompeo who is far below the other frontrunners even Mike Pence who just jumped into the race. On the Democratic side, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just outpaced Sally Yates but Yates did have less time to raise money since she jumped into the race just around a month before the third quarter deadline.

Source: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/hawley-reaffirms-support-kavanaugh-calls-senate-vote-soon

Hawley Aims To Fix Fundraising

November 18th, 2023

CNN- Senator Josh Hawley has realised his third-quarter finance reports which showed he raised a dismal three million dollars making him dig deep into his cash on hand from the second on hand leaving him with a million dollars. Hawley has not had smooth sailing in the third quarter with two debates where he was basically forgotten. As he had been forgotten, he had fallen in the field both nationally and in the crucial state of Iowa where he has already twenty-five field staffers. Currently in Iowa, Hawley is sitting in seventh behind Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Mike Pompeo and Ron DeSantis which is far behind where his advisors wanted him to be at this point.

Hawley now has released a press statement announcing he will aim to fix fundraising within the next week. Senator Hawley has announced that he would have a meeting with his senior advisors in Washington D.C. this week to discuss what he needs to fix his fundraising. The Senator has already announced he will transfer all his current senate funds to his presidential account which is only seven hundred thousand dollars. The campaign did not rule out staff cuts but said that it would be a last resort measure to cut spending but they do not believe they need spending cuts yet.

Staff cuts do usually mean that a campaign could soon end with examples being Bernie Sanders in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2020..."

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republican-presidential-debate-moments-mattered/story?id=36286627

Third Republican Debate Details

November 20th, 2023

LA Times- The Republican National Committee and Politico have realised the first details regarding the third presidential debate including who will be on the stage. The RNC also announced its fourth debate will be held just three days before the Iowa caucus in Ames, Iowa. The RNC has announced that the standards will stay the same for the debate as they were at this debate.

The debates has been shaken up a little bit with Chris Christie failing to make the debate stage while Mike Gallagher after a late-night surge in Iowa will take his place. Both Christie and Gallagher made the requirements but Gallagher was polling higher nationally which was the tiebreaker. The former Governor has said his campaign team will try to appeal to the RNC to expand the debate stage since they created no tie-breaker process till the very end. The RNC did not comment if the stage would be expanded but did say they would be happy to sit with any candidate or campaign to discuss the process.

The debate stage is shown below with Mike Pence and Nikki Haley in the middle for the first time flanked by Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton who just barely got the spot over Mike Pompeo who had been considered one of the four frontrunners but has been unable to carry more momentum since the launch:

Hogan/Abbott/Pompeo/Cotton/Haley/Pence/Rubio/DeSantis/Hawley/Gallagher

Source: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article235521402.html

Nikki Haley Meeting With Josh Hawley In Iowa

November 23rd, 2023

CNN-Reports have just come out of the Hawley campaign that the Senator will be meeting with former Ambassador Nikki Haley in Iowa before the third Republican debate. Senator Josh Hawley met with staff on the twenty-first in Washington D.C. to discuss ways to better fundraising and how to fix his campaign that has continued to drop in the polls since his announcement. The Senator was viewed as a prospective frontrunner even just a month ago and now he will be near the edge of the stage at the third debate where both Ron DeSantis and Tom Cotton has passed him in the national polls.

Nikki Haley is now planning on meeting with the Senator and is rumored to ask the Senator to suspend and endorse her campaign. The Marco Rubio campaign, when asked for comment, has told CNN that the Senator has already had phone conversations with Senator Hawley since news broke that he will readjust the campaign. Rubio and Haley both realized that Hawley could be ending his campaign soon and was aiming to make sure Hawley's endorsement goes their way. Hawley's campaign also said that the Senator has talked with Governor DeSantis and Vice-President Pence but also denied reports that he was planning on suspending and that the meeting in D.C. was very successful..."

[terp40hitch]

Republican Primary Field

Mike Pence: 17.7%

Nikki Haley: 16.3%

Marco Rubio: 15.1%

Tom Cotton: 7.9%

Mike Pompeo: 7.1%

Ron DeSantis: 6.3%

Josh Hawley: 5.2%

Greg Abbott: 4.3%

Larry Hogan: 3.6%

Matt Gaetz: 1.7%

Mike Gallegher: 1.3%

Chris Christie: 1.0%

Will Hurd: 0.5%

Undecided: 12.0%

Democrat Primary Field

Sally Yates: 50.3%

Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez: 26.7%

Joe Kennedy: 14.1%

Gavin Newsom: 2.5%

Andrew Cuomo: 1.3%

Julian Castro: 1.0%

Undecided: 4.1%

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.stltoday.com/news/missouri-attorney-general-josh-hawley-campaigns-for-u-s-senate/collection_a229955e-b86f-5110-927c-860722d23440.html

Hawley Fires Nevada Staff, Says He Will Contitue

November 25th, 2023

Washington Post- Senator Josh Hawley just his most brutal week for his presidential campaign with an awful rollout for his fundraising numbers, announcing he will meet with advisors to shake up the campaign, falling polls forcing him near the end of the debate stage, and then rumors of a suspension after staffers leaked that the Senator has talked with Senator Marco Rubio. Hawley has just announced the result of his meeting with his advisors in Washington D.C. last week.

The Senator announced that he would spend the two weeks after the debate staying off the trail and raising funds for his campaign. In the statement, the Senator wrote, "I wouldn't be running if I didn't believe I was the strongest candidate in the race so I am staying in this fight. I will spend the next two weeks off the trail to build a war chest so I can get back in Iowa as soon as I can." Along with a two-week hiatus from campaigning, the campaign also announced that it would let go of all of its Nevada staff.

Hawley currently employs over fifteen staffers in Nevada but had still remained stagnant in the state polling around four percent. Already two staffers have spoken out attacking the campaign's decision. One staffer who currently is a field staffer in Nevada and decided to remain anonymous told the Washington Post that, "It is embarrassing that this campaign has decided to continue to fight this out when it is clear that the Senator has no political future on the national stage. The Senator remains so clearly the Scott Walker in this race. A candidate with such an impressive resume and background but little depth." Another staffer that remains with the campaign said, "this campaign could've have been laid to death peacefully but the Senator has chosen to drag it out with little hope of winning. I believe the Senator is the best candidate but it is clear that the voters don't agree with my assessment of the Senator."

Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/tom-cotton-pulls-out-a-shank-in-prison-reform-debate

Cotton, Pompeo Bring Fire to Third Debate

November 27th, 2023

Politico- Just days ago, it was reported that the Republican National Committee contacted all the candidates and campaigns to tone down the tension at the debates. The frontrunners in the race, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, and Marco Rubio, took the advice and stayed on policy and if they attacked it was because they were forced into defense by the other candidates. The second tier of candidates didn't take the advice from the Republican National Committee as Senator Tom Cotton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went on offense against the other candidates.

Pompeo was the first to attack another candidate after just thirty minutes in the debate going after Senator Josh Hawley. Pompeo who was attacking career politicians turned his attention to Hawley near the end of his answer saying, "We even have a few career politicians on the stage right now. Those people that are just born to be president no matter how many times the voters abandoned him. Just a word of advice for some of the candidates, if you were hyped up to run by the media and then when you started running voters realized you are no different than the other politicians than don't blame your staff, just drop out." With the crowd roaring with laughter, Hawley realized the attack was about him and tried to get the moderator's attention, "Obviously you are just trying to come after me and I think I deserve a response." Tim Alberta pointed to Hawley for a response, and the Senator responded, "I don't believe I am born to be president but I do believe I am the best candidate in this race. I wouldn't be running for president if I didn't. Also, it's a little hypocritical that you are talking about my poll numbers when you cut your support in half since the start of your campaign and let's talk about career politicians. You have spent the last fourteen years building up your political career in Washington. You are more self-serving and cowardly than anyone on the stage." These are the first attacks that Hawley has taken and the first attacks that Hawley has leveled back. After the response, the moderators moved on but Pompeo's campaign wasn't ready to let the attacks go. On social media, Pompeo said, "Funny that is accusing the Secretary of climbing laters. Even his logo looks like a ladder which is definitely ironic since he keeps jumping from one position to the next. Maybe the Senator can for Governor next."

Senator Tom Cotton was the next candidate to level a series of attacks against Marco Rubio. Cotton said, "When I first ran for Senate, I ran against a liberal-Washington insider who didn't understand the area he was representing. Now, we have a liberal-Washington insider in this nomination fight and we have to make sure he doesn't make on the general election ballot. Senator Rubio has spent the last fourteen years in Washington breaking his two-term pledge to remain in his senate seat so he could run for president again as Senator not as a former Senator." Governor DeSantis came to Rubio's defense, saying, "Senator, that is far out of line. Senator Rubio has been a conservative fighter in Washington and calling him a liberal-Washington insider is out of line and is the rhetoric that really shouldn't be used against members of your own party. With regards to a third term, I do not blame him at all, if he wasn't on that ballot then most likely we would have lost that seat which is something we couldn't lose if we wouldn't to grow the Senate majority." Congressman Gaetz in the spin room after the debate came to Cotton's defense but wouldn't attack DeSantis, saying, "Senator Cotton was exactly right about the attacks against Senator Rubio. I don't believe he is the conservative fighter that he and his allies are trying to describe him as I have constantly seen him choose the Democrats side on issue after issue and I don't want that in my president."

The only other major attacks came from Pompeo again after Former Vice-President Mike Pence. Pompeo attacked Pence as the "Biggest thorn in the side of Trump" and said the Vice-President was only on the ticket because "it was just a step away from the president." Pence in his response said. "The Secretary must be joking or very very desperate because all the voters can see through this attack from someone who I consider a friend."

Pence was declared the winner as he stuck to policy and showed his skills with policy but Cotton and his rhetoric have gotten him a deep base of support within the party which could grow after his attacks on stage. Compared to past debates this was relatively tame but Hawley, Pompeo, and Cotton all showed they were ready to fight this election out."

Source: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Will-Hurd-a-rare-moderate-in-Congress-scores-a-13432502.php

Hurd Out Of Race, Runs For Senate

November 30th, 2023

Texas Tribune- Former Congressman Will Hurd is the first Republican to drop out of the presidential race after being unable to make the last two debates. Hurd constantly remained near the bottom of the field and was unable to find footing in any of the early states. Earlier this month, the Hurd campaign realsed his finances showing that he had less than half a million dollars left on hand less than all other candidates. To make matters worse, multiple staffers threatened to quit the campaign according to the Campaign manager after Hurd announced his exit. All the staffers that threatened to quit were field staffers who were constantly being forced to change states where they were organizing as the campaign changed their game plan. The staffers threating to leave the campaign and multiple Hurd's endorsers asking for his exit so they could endorse other candidates forced the former Congressman's hand on a suspension.

The Congressman announced his exit at his campaign headquarters in front of staff, supporters and press. The Congressman also announced that he would jump into the race for Senate in Texas that was being left open by Senator Ted Cruz who will not run for a third term. Hurd has no major opponent in the Republican primary but rumors say that one of the Castro brothers could potentially run for Senate on the Democratic side and will announce by the end of the month..."

Source: https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/12/17/claiming-fdrs-mantle-cuomo-lays-out-his-2019-agenda-750985

Governor Cuomo Endorses Senator Kennedy, Suspends Bid

December 6th, 2023

New York Daily News- The field is quickly thinning on both sides as it becomes clear who has the abilty to win and not and as donors start to close their wallets to candidates that have already sucked them dry. Once again, another presidential hopeful suspends today. Governor Andrew Cuomo in a letter to his staff told them that he would be leaving the race last week and today officially annouced his suspension with a video on his social media.

Cuomo in his video said, "It is clear that I will not be succesful in this fight so I am going back to New York to contitue to pass progressive legislation that I have done for the past ten years." the Governor contitued and said, "Though I will not be on the ballot in November, I know a candidate in the race will contitue to push for winning progressive legislation like paid family leave and a raised minnium wage, Senator Joe Kennedy." This is the first major endorsment from a former competor to go to Senator Kennedy with the three other also rans endorsing the Vice-President or noone..."

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/09/politics/pierce-bush-texas-congress/index.html

Texas Senate Race Heats Up As Julian Castro Suspends Presidential Bid

December 8th, 2023

New York Times-Within just two weeks, Former Congressman Will Hurd has two oppents in his new bid for Senate after his failed presidential came to an end in November. Congressman Pierce Bush launched his bid just two days after Hurd and came out swining attacking the former Congressman for using the Senate as a backup for his failed presidential ambitions. Bush said, "After running for president for basically four years, now the former Congressman is back and now begging to be a Senator."

Bush wasn't the only one jumping in the race, Julian Castro suspended his second presidential bid just two days after another one of his oppenents, Governor Andrew Cuomo, did the same. Castro also annouced he would be seeking the Senate seat. Castro is a top recuirt for the Democrats in Texas but he still will have a long road to the senate espically with strong Republican oppenents like Hurd and Bush. No matter how strong Castro truly is, Hurd's path to the Senate is much more complicated then when he joined just two weeks ago..."

Source: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/11/07/love-gave-me-no-love/

Mia Love Annouces Bid For Senate

December 16th, 2023

Desert News- With Senator Mitt Romney not seeking reelection, Former Congressman Mia Love annouced her bid for Senate to the press before a rally in Saratoga Springs. Love is the first major candidate to jump in the race for Senate in Utah and she comes with heavy backing from both the grassroots and establishment figures. At her annoucment rally, Mitt Romney and Ann Romney both gave the introduction to Mia Love's speech. Along with the Romney's endorsment, Love was endorsed by all three frontrunners in the presidential bid, Mike Pence, Nikki Pence and Marco Rubio, and was endorsed by Senators Mike Lee, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell and Rob Portman.

Love along with annoucment said that her campaign raised around $500,000 within the first sixteen hours. Half a million is an impressive haul for almost any candidate but espically in Utah where most Senate races cost only around two million in total..."

Source: https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/on-marco-rubio-and-the-issue-of-missed-senate-votes/

Rubio Leads New Hampshire, Expands Staff into Super Tuesday

December 21st, 2023

Union Leader-Senator Marco Rubio in the latest poll in New Hampsire by the Union Leader shows that he is leading the field by six percent. Ambassdor Nikki Haley is in second and Former Vice-President Mike Pence is third. Rubio is currently in second place in Iowa and hopes New Hampshire will be his launching pad into a victory in Nevada which will help him surge into Super Tuesday. Rubio also annouced that he has started hiring in Super Tuesday states, the third candidate to do so after Nikki Haley and Sally Yates. Rubio has hired state directors in every single Super Tuesday states and added heavy investments in Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont.

The biggest suprise coming from the New Hampshire poll is a strong fourth place showing from Former Governor Larry Hogan. Hogan is the only other candidate outside the top three who are in double digits and he is just a point behidn Pence. After low polling in Iowa and South Carolina, Hogan reinvested all his effort into the first in the nation primary which has helped him surge in the state. Hogan also removed all but one field staffer into New Hampshire from Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina..."

Republican Primary Field

Mike Pence: 18.4%

Nikki Haley: 16.2%

Marco Rubio: 15.3%

Tom Cotton: 8.1%

Ron DeSantis: 6.9%

Mike Pompeo: 6.4%

Josh Hawley: 5.3%

Greg Abbott: 3.4%

Larry Hogan: 3.2%

Mike Gallegher: 1.3%

Matt Gaetz: 1.1%

Chris Christie: 0.9%

Undecided: 13.5%

Democrat Primary Field

Sally Yates: 52.7%

Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez: 30.0%

Joe Kennedy: 14.3%

Gavin Newsom: 2.1%

Undecided: 0.9%

[terp40hitch]

Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/matt-gaetz-hires-dr-darren-beattie-speechwriter-fired-from-white-house-over-white-nationalist-conference

Gaetz Readjust Campaign Plan

December 28th, 2023

The Daily Beast- Congressman Matt Gaetz met with all his staff pulling away from his team from the field. Gaetz held the all-staff meeting in his campaign office in Washington D.C. to discuss a new strategy for the last month before the caucus. Gaetz missed the last two debates and has remained at near two percent for the last few months and only broke the two percent margin-right before the first debate.

Gaetz started the race with a big bang including top hires for the campaign like Katrina Pierson who worked as a communications team member on both Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Throughout the campaign, the Congressman has been one of the chief rivals of the frontrunner who he has been attacking throughout the campaign especially Marco Rubio. Rubio at first responded to the Congressman's attacks but most aids just say whenever they see another attack from the Congressman they just roll their eyes. Gaetz has tried to seek attention but has continued to fly under the radar especially since he has not been invited to the last two debates.

Still, the Congressman has told members of the press that he sees a path forward since Iowa always chooses at the last second which is why he is readjusting campaign strategy. Gaetz is removing all field staff from Nevada, South Carolina, and New Hampshire and moving them all to Iowa. In Iowa, the Congressman is polling at his highest just around four percent. This new plan, the Congressman, hopes will help get him into the fourth debate just a few days before the Iowa caucus. This isn't the first campaign to put all their field staffers into one state, Former Governor Larry Hogan has surged in New Hampshire since the switch of staffers into the state..."

Source: https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/03/13/fixing-congress-fighting-china-an-interview-with-rep-mike-gallagher/

Congressman Gallagher Suspends

January 2nd, 2023

CNN- Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher in a statement to the press announced that he would be suspending his bid for president tomorrow in a speech to the Iowa Republican Party. Gallagher was a surprise candidate and did surprisingly well considering other better-known candidates like Will Hurd and Chris Christie had polled below them. The Congressman had hired an impressive team in Iowa where he is currently in seventh place right below Mike Pompeo. Already his communications director and his Iowa state director have been hired on the Mike Pence campaign.

Gallagher did announce he would be speaking at a Marco Rubio event next week in Iowa. The Congressman did not announce whether he would endorse but Gallagher and Rubio have been friendly on the campaign. There were rumors that the Congressman would run for Senate but Gallagher said he has made no decision regarding a Senate bid and said, "I am dropping out this race because I don't think I can win not because I am running for another position other than Congress..."

Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2018/07/19/john-cox-and-gavin-newsom-should-have-healthy-debates/

Democrats Annouce Last Debate Stage Before Iowa

January 5th, 2023

NBC- The Democratic National Committee and NBC has announced the stage for the last Democratic debate before Iowa. All four of the main candidates will be on the stage which is two less than the last debate where both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Julian Castro were still in the race. Vice-President Sally Yates and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are in the middle the stage is flanked by Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Joe Kennedy III. Kennedy and Newsom will have to make their final appeals if they want to surge before Iowa so they don't fall into the also-ran column like Cuomo and Castro.

Source: https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/TheBattery/archives/2013/09/12/gov-haley-has-neglected-to-appoint-nearly-600-positions-on-state-boards-and-commissions

Romney Annouces Support For Haley, Santorum Endorses Cotton

January 11th, 2023

Des Moines Register- Senator Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, endorsed Former Governor Nikki Haley in a rally in Nevada. Romney called the Haley, "the future of not only the party but of the country. What is better than putting her up as our nominee." The Senator went on to say, "I truly respect everything that Nikki has ever done. A first-generation American, A Governor, an Ambassador to the United Nations and a future President." Romney and Haley will also appear together in New Hampshire just days before the primary.

While Romney is endorsing Haley, another 2012 presidential candidate is endorsing one of her opponents. Former Senator and Former Iowa Caucus winner Rick Santorum endorsed Senator Tom Cotton. Both Cotton and Santorum have heavily campaigned on religious freedoms and the two will appear in multiple rallies together across Iowa along with another Iowa caucus winner, Mike Huckabee. Cotton has told the press that he needs a top-three showing to continue and he currently is in fourth after he fell behind Mike Pompeo once again.

[2016]

Wonderful TL Keep it up. However I don't think Senator Lindsey Graham would have endorsed Pompeo over Haley. That doesn't make any sense. It looks like Hogan is trying to pull a "Kasich '16" in New Hampshire. Lot's of Endorsements still up for grabs. Romney endorsing Haley is a big one.