The Endorsements keep rolling in. First Rudy then Arnold, moderate Republicans both, endorsed McCain over the last two days. Now conservative former Solicitor General, Ted Olson announces he too will endorse John McCain.
This is an important endorsement for the Senator from Arizona who is viewed with suspicion by many conservatives. It may be the beginning of a slow acceptance by conservatives that McCain may become their nominee.
Olson endorsed him saying:
“I have long admired John McCain for his courage, character, and integrity,” said Mr. Olson. “He is the candidate best prepared to lead as commander in chief from day one. John McCain has a deep-rooted conservative philosophy and I trust him to appoint strict constructionists, like Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas and Alito, to judicial positions.”
John McCain thanked Mr. Olson for his support, stating, “Ted Olson is among our nation’s most distinguished experts on the rule of law. I am honored to have his support, and I look forward to his counsel and leadership on judicial issues.”
Meanwhile Mitt Romney’s campaign was quick to announce that former Senator Santorum was going to endorse him!
Mitt Romney’s latest TV ad jabs at Rudy’s liberal social views and McCain’s original opposition to the Bush tax. Without naming them, Romney casts himself as most sound on Reagan coalition social and economic conservatism.
Mayoral Money woes. The polls show John McCain breathing down Rudy’s neck, even in Florida. We have reported here for weeks that Hizzzoner was having cash problems. He’s been canceling ad buys in early states and in December redoubled fund raising efforts. There’s a great old political axiom that goes: “if you are explaining you are losing…”
FOX NEWS has learned Rudy Giuliani’s cash strapped presidential campaign has asked paid staffers to work without pay retro active to January first to save money. Senior staffers say it is VOLUNTARY and nobody will be forced to work free. The effort is to keep available the most resources for the Florida primary January 29th. Sources say the campaign has also contacted vendors to see what ways it can save money by cutting costs.
FOX NEWS has repeatedly led the reporting on Giuliani’s cash woes. Sources say they are NOT out of money, they have some cash on hand but need much more.
Gloves off doesn’t cover it. More like knives out and sharpened for the stretch run.
Mitt unleashes another attack ad on Huckabee citing Condi’s “ludicrous” line (though not perhaps as she meant it). One of Huckabee’s new ads calls his “opponents” (wonder who) “desperate and dishonest” but he wants a real debate, you know, for the kids.
Romney had a gift under the tree (a grenade?) for McCain in the form of a NH ad on taxes and immigration. But did he bring a knife to a gunfight? McCain ad responds with a blistering recitation of editorial opinions on Mitt (phony? ouch) that the governor thinks is (at least) a step over the line.
Huckabee puts Pakistan and illegal immigration together and comes up with a stew that may have a little too much salt. He also defended McCain’s honor in light of Mitt attack ad. Enemy of my enemy?
And Rudy wants to be part of the conversation (didn’t anyone notice the 9/11 ad?) but since he is not a player in the early states he is having a hard time.
Dems still debating Pakistan. Did Axelrod cross the line? Obama says it is HRC’s campaign’s fault. Does HRC know anything more about foreign policy that what she learnt at tea time?
The NH co chairman of veterans for Rudy has now tendered his resignation!!
Rudy Giuliani’s campaign was caught unawares when asked tonight about reports that the co-chair of “New Hampshire Veterans for Rudy” had made anti muslim statements to the Guardian and the liberal Talkingpointsmemo.com.
This story is spreading fast on liberal blogs.
After several post midnight calls between staffers Rudy Giuliani aides tell Fox News that if the anti muslim quotes & sentiments attributed to 80 year old WWII veteran John Deady prove accurate, they will ask him to separate himself from the campaign immediately.
He’s rising in New Hampshire, struggling in South Carolina, and uncompetitive in Iowa.
John McCain met with volunteers and staffers at his new Nashua, NH, campaign office Friday. He offered his own assessment of where he stands in the three early states, starting with New Hampshire.
done
Real Clear Politics, which averages national poll numbers, shows McCain in third place in New Hampshire with about 16% support. Mitt Romney leads with 33.7%.
In South Carolina, RCP puts the Senator at fifth with about 10%. Mike Huckabee is in front with 17.8%.
In Iowa, McCain has about 6%, with Huckabee pulling away from the pack at 29.2%.
Politico reported just a couple of hours ago that Rudy took trips to the Hamptons with Judith Nathan, while he was still married to Donna Hanover, and that the NYPD security detail was paid for out of obscure city departments.
Tonight is the CNN/Youtube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is sure to be asked more about these trips to the Hamptons. done
Kudos to Mosheh for grabbing Pete King! A NY republican congressman and Rudy Backer
The Romney- Rudy face off continued in Florida today. The past few days have been full of back and forth between the two Republican rivals and today was no different. Yesterday, Mayor Giuliani told Fox News’ Carl Cameron that Romney was running away from his record. Today Governor Romney responded, ”I’m very proud of my record and as you can probably tell here today I basically talk about my record everywhere I go. I’m very proud of our health care system that we were able to improve in Massachusetts. I’m proud of the fact that I turned in a 2 billion dollar rainy day fund at the end of my term in office. He turned in a 3 billion dollar budget gap. . . What Peter says about Paul usually tells you more about Peter than Paul. So I’ll be talking about my record and I get a good chance to do that pretty regularly.”
Romney toured a children’s hospital today in Florida and afterwards held a health care forum. At a press conference, he answered questions about Rudy’s attacks and counterattacks on Romney’s record and policies. The former Massachusetts Governor said ”I think Mayor Giuliani has a fact problem meaning that he makes them up.”
Over the past few weeks, but especially over the last few days Romney has been trying to compare Giuliani to Senator Clinton; trying to peg them as having similar policies. That was no different today even saying that Rudy supported Clinton’s health care plan in 1994, “When it first came out he was all roses and petals for Hillary’s plan. All full of praise.” The campaign sent out an e-mail today backing that statement up citing the New York Times; “In 1994, Mr. Giuliani. . .saluted the Clinton health care plan as ‘doing some pretty good things’ and boasted that New York offered’ universal health care.’
The Giuliani campaign has not responded to those charges yet.
All the Republican candidates are either in Florida or on their way for tomorrow’s debate in St. Petersburg. Will it be a Romney-Rudy Slugfest? We will have to wait and see! Keep checking back for updates.
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