US Presidential Race 2016

[neilm]

Rand PAC is repeating what it did with Jeb Bush last month and buying up advertising when people search Mike Huckabee taxes and so on.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Paul Ryan says he's not standing.

[Richard Cromwell]

Jan 12, 2015 21:37:30 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Paul Ryan says he's not standing.

Yay!!!

[Richard Allen]

Jan 12, 2015 21:37:30 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Paul Ryan says he's not standing.

Of course he isn't going to run, the only people who thought he might are blithering idiots.

He has just obtained the position that he has coveted for over a decade, Chairman of Ways and Means, and has extremely ambitious goals that he wants to achieve in that role. A successful 2 or 3 terms in that job will leave him with opportunities galore. Speaker of the House when Boehner steps down, a presidential bid 2020 or 2024, future Senator or Governor. He is still only 44 years old, time is on his side and he has absolutely no reason to fight a premature presidential campaign, especially when he has 3 children (aged 9-12). Much better to skip this election and wait a while.

[pragmaticidealist]

Meanwhile, Mitt Romney looks likely to run again.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

ABC News and the Washington Post wanted to look at how the various Republican challengers would fare against Hillary Clinton (already the presumptive Democrat nominee).

If Jeb Bush is the nominee, Clinton wins 54-41.
If Chris Christie is the nominee, Clinton wins 53-40.
If Rand Paul is the nominee, Clinton wins 54-41.
If Mitt Romney is the nominee, Clinton wins 55-40.

And if I was the GOP, the uniformity of those numbers would scare me.

[Richard Allen]

Jan 22, 2015 22:30:02 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

ABC News and the Washington Post wanted to look at how the various Republican challengers would fare against Hillary Clinton (already the presumptive Democrat nominee).

If Jeb Bush is the nominee, Clinton wins 54-41.
If Chris Christie is the nominee, Clinton wins 53-40.
If Rand Paul is the nominee, Clinton wins 54-41.
If Mitt Romney is the nominee, Clinton wins 55-40.

And if I was the GOP, the uniformity of those numbers would scare me.

If I was running the GOP my overriding concern for 2016 would be to retain control of the Senate and the House in order that President Clinton would have limited ability to govern.

[Devonian]

Report that Romney won't be running again

I’ve been emailed this text of remarks Mitt Romney will be making to his supporters shortly:

Let me begin by letting you know who else is on this call, besides Ann and me. There are a large number of people who signed on to be leaders of our 2016 finance effort. In addition, state political leadership from several of the early primary states are on the line. And here in New York City, and on the phone, are people who have been helping me think through how to build a new team, as well as supporters from the past who have all been kind enough to volunteer their time during this deliberation stage. Welcome, and thank you. Your loyalty and friendship, and your desire to see the country with new, competent and conservative leadership warms my heart.

After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I’ve decided it is best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee.

Let me give you some of my thinking. First, I am convinced that with the help of the people on this call, we could win the nomination. Our finance calls made it clear that we would have enough funding to be more than competitive. With few exceptions, our field political leadership is ready and enthusiastic about a new race. And the reaction of Republican voters across the country was both surprising and heartening. I know that early poll numbers move up and down a great deal during a campaign, but we would have no doubt started in a strong position. One poll out just today shows me gaining support and leading the next closest contender by nearly two to one. I also am leading in all of the four early states. So I am convinced that we could win the nomination, but fully realize it would have been difficult test and a hard fight.

I also believe with the message of making the world safer, providing opportunity to every American regardless of the neighborhood they live in, and working to break the grip of poverty, I would have the best chance of beating the eventual Democrat nominee, but that is before the other contenders have had the opportunity to take their message to the voters.

I believe that one of our next generation of Republican leaders, one who may not be as well known as I am today, one who has not yet taken their message across the country, one who is just getting started, may well emerge as being better able to defeat the Democrat nominee. In fact, I expect and hope that to be the case.

I feel that it is critical that America elect a conservative leader to become our next president. You know that I have wanted to be that president. But I do not want to make it more difficult for someone else to emerge who may have a better chance of becoming that president. You can’t imagine how hard it is for Ann and me to step aside, especially knowing of your support and the support of so many people across the country. But we believe it is for the best of the Party and the nation.

I’ve been asked, and will certainly be asked again if there are any circumstances whatsoever that might develop that could change my mind. That seems unlikely. Accordingly, I’m not organizing a PAC or taking donations; I’m not hiring a campaign team.

I encourage all of you on this call to stay engaged in the critical process of selecting a Republican nominee for President. Please feel free to sign up on a campaign for a person who you believe may become our best nominee.

I believe a Republican winning back the White House is essential for our country, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen.

To all my supporters, friends and family who worked both tirelessly and loyally to support my campaigns in the past, I will always be deeply appreciative. What you have already done is a tribute to your patriotism. We are overwhelmed and humbled by your loyalty to us, by your generosity of spirit, and by your friendship. God bless you all.

www.hughhewitt.com/romney-statement-not-running-ive-decided-best-give-leaders-party-opportunity-become-next-nominee/

[carlton43]

Jan 22, 2015 22:30:02 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

ABC News and the Washington Post wanted to look at how the various Republican challengers would fare against Hillary Clinton (already the presumptive Democrat nominee).

If Jeb Bush is the nominee, Clinton wins 54-41.
If Chris Christie is the nominee, Clinton wins 53-40.
If Rand Paul is the nominee, Clinton wins 54-41.
If Mitt Romney is the nominee, Clinton wins 55-40.

And if I was the GOP, the uniformity of those numbers would scare me.

It depends who produced those figures and on what question model?

I still find it very difficult to believe that over half of the actual repondents want Hilary. That is the scarey item.

[carlton43]

Jan 30, 2015 16:07:42 GMT Devonian said:

Report that Romney won't be running again

I’ve been emailed this text of remarks Mitt Romney will be making to his supporters shortly:

Let me begin by letting you know who else is on this call, besides Ann and me. There are a large number of people who signed on to be leaders of our 2016 finance effort. In addition, state political leadership from several of the early primary states are on the line. And here in New York City, and on the phone, are people who have been helping me think through how to build a new team, as well as supporters from the past who have all been kind enough to volunteer their time during this deliberation stage. Welcome, and thank you. Your loyalty and friendship, and your desire to see the country with new, competent and conservative leadership warms my heart.

After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I’ve decided it is best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee.

Let me give you some of my thinking. First, I am convinced that with the help of the people on this call, we could win the nomination. Our finance calls made it clear that we would have enough funding to be more than competitive. With few exceptions, our field political leadership is ready and enthusiastic about a new race. And the reaction of Republican voters across the country was both surprising and heartening. I know that early poll numbers move up and down a great deal during a campaign, but we would have no doubt started in a strong position. One poll out just today shows me gaining support and leading the next closest contender by nearly two to one. I also am leading in all of the four early states. So I am convinced that we could win the nomination, but fully realize it would have been difficult test and a hard fight.

I also believe with the message of making the world safer, providing opportunity to every American regardless of the neighborhood they live in, and working to break the grip of poverty, I would have the best chance of beating the eventual Democrat nominee, but that is before the other contenders have had the opportunity to take their message to the voters.

I believe that one of our next generation of Republican leaders, one who may not be as well known as I am today, one who has not yet taken their message across the country, one who is just getting started, may well emerge as being better able to defeat the Democrat nominee. In fact, I expect and hope that to be the case.

I feel that it is critical that America elect a conservative leader to become our next president. You know that I have wanted to be that president. But I do not want to make it more difficult for someone else to emerge who may have a better chance of becoming that president. You can’t imagine how hard it is for Ann and me to step aside, especially knowing of your support and the support of so many people across the country. But we believe it is for the best of the Party and the nation.

I’ve been asked, and will certainly be asked again if there are any circumstances whatsoever that might develop that could change my mind. That seems unlikely. Accordingly, I’m not organizing a PAC or taking donations; I’m not hiring a campaign team.

I encourage all of you on this call to stay engaged in the critical process of selecting a Republican nominee for President. Please feel free to sign up on a campaign for a person who you believe may become our best nominee.

I believe a Republican winning back the White House is essential for our country, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen.

To all my supporters, friends and family who worked both tirelessly and loyally to support my campaigns in the past, I will always be deeply appreciative. What you have already done is a tribute to your patriotism. We are overwhelmed and humbled by your loyalty to us, by your generosity of spirit, and by your friendship. God bless you all.

www.hughhewitt.com/romney-statement-not-running-ive-decided-best-give-leaders-party-opportunity-become-next-nominee/

Good.

[mrhell]

Surely Romney will support Bush (or possibly Christie).

[Richard Allen]

Jan 30, 2015 18:42:17 GMT mrhell said:

Surely Romney will support Bush (or possibly Christie).

Romney is not really a fan of Bush which is partly why he considered running again. Bush was however locking down support of many long time Romney donors and political operatives which is partly why Romney has declined to run again.

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 16:07:42 GMT Devonian said:

Report that Romney won't be running again

www.hughhewitt.com/romney-statement-not-running-ive-decided-best-give-leaders-party-opportunity-become-next-nominee/

[Richard Allen]

[Richard Allen]

Jan 31, 2015 18:33:07 GMT @boogieeck said:

bad news for Mitt Romney's dog, as the family plan a holiday.

[Ben Walker]

If of any interest.

[Richard Allen]

Those numbers will be very disappointing for Jeb Bush given that his brother polled well (relatively speaking) among Latino voters, he is pretty liberal on immigration, has a Latina wife and a son who speaks Spanish. Chris Christie having such good numbers, albeit with a lot of unknowns, is a bit of a shock.

[neilm]

When is that poll from? The date at the bottom is 2013.

[Andrew_S]

[iain]

She looks like Rebecca Front