Romney leads Gingrich in Florida 38-29 in new Quinnipiac poll Just four days before the nation’s first big-state presidential primary, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney opens up a 38 – 29 percent lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich among Republican likely voters in Florida, according to a Quinnipiac University poll taken Wednesday and released today. Only 6 percent are undecided, but 32 percent say they might change their mind by Tuesday.
This compares to results of a January 25 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University, showing Romney with 36 percent of likely primary voters to Gingrich’s 34 percent. Wednesday’s survey showed Gingrich ahead 40 – 34 percent among voters surveyed after the South Carolina primary. (MiamiHerald)
General Election: Romney vs. Obama: Obama 49, Romney 43
General Election: Gingrich vs. Obama: Obama 55, Gingrich 37
Politico: Newt's no-show debate With Florida and perhaps his presidential hopes in the balance, Newt Gingrich turned in an oddly passive debate performance that left his supporters scratching their heads and illustrated his unpredictable and even whimsical style. It served as a reminder of the essential trait of the Gingrich campaign: It is entirely dependent on the candidate’s impulse or mood. And the Gingrich who lit up a pair of moderators last week in South Carolina on his way to a thumping win didn’t show up here Thursday evening. He seemed more consumed with litigating the unfairness of Romney’s attacks against him than driving his own message. All told, Gingrich’s performance was more a throwback to the last days of his Iowa campaign — a floundering, listless, message-free affair – than an extension of his Palmetto State victory tour.
Again and again over the course of the two-hour CNN debate, Gingrich either soft-pedaled his attacks against Romney or failed to make them altogether. Asked to explain it afterwards, Gingrich backers offered a collective shrug – it wasn’t the performance they needed heading into Tuesday’s primary. Gingrich whiffed, fouled off or didn’t even swing at one easy pitch after another. When CNN’s Wolf Blitzer repeated an attack Gingrich leveled at Romney Wednesday — linking him to “Swiss bank and Cayman Island bank accounts” — the candidate said he’d prefer to “talk about issues that relate to governing America.”
“I’m perfectly happy to say that on an interview on some TV show. But this is a national debate, where you have a chance to get the four of us to talk about a whole range of issues,” Gingrich said, only engaging Romney on his finances half-heartedly and after repeated goading. He even offered to “have a truce” with Romney when it comes to discussing their “personal activities” — though Gingrich griped that “it would be nice if you had the same standard for other people that you would like applied to you.” The missed opportunities went on and on.
'That's Repulsive!' Romney Unloads on Gingrich for Calling Him Anti-Immigrant....'Our Problem Isn't 11 Million Grandmothers'
TIME's Mark Halperin grades the Jacksonville Debate: Mitt Romney (A), Rick Santorum (B-), Newt Gingrich (C-), Ron Paul (C-). He writes, "Defended his wealth and Cayman Islands account better than he has all week. Pivoted off the defensive whenever challenged, rising fast and strong to confront Gingrich when criticized on immigration, projecting indignation that seemed genuinely genuine… Might have even won back some of the confidence of conservatives that he can beat Obama. Tan, rested and ready to win Florida, unless Gingrich can find a way to change the game without the benefit of another debate."
Santorum Clears Air: Newt's a DC Insider, Romney's Rich...Let's Move On!
Another Stimulus-Backed Energy Company Files for Bankruptcy After months of financial turmoil, an Energy Department-backed lithium ion battery company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, Ener1, received a $118 million grant from DOE in 2010 as part of the president’s stimulus package. The money, which went to Ener1 subsidiary EnerDel, aimed to promote renewable energy storage battery technology for electrical grid use. But despite generous federal support for the company, Ener1 was racked by problems last year. In October, NASDAQ delisted the company due to non-compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission filing requirements. A month later, the company’s president, chief executive, and top financial officer were fired. On Thursday, Ener1 announced it will initiate a pre-packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan as part of an agreement to restructure the company’s debt obligations. Vice President Biden lauded Ener1 as a stimulus success one year ago – to the day. The stimulus was, Biden claimed, “not just creating new jobs, but sparking whole new industries that will ensure our competitiveness for decades to come — industries like electric vehicle manufacturing.” He went on to single out Ener1 specifically. (Heritage Foundation)
Pew Research Center: 43% of people say Obama is liberal, 37% say he's moderate Perceptions about President Obama's ideology are divided nationally and are strongly correlated with party affiliation. Overall, about four-in-ten (43%) say that Obama is liberal, while only somewhat fewer (37%) say that he is "middle of the road" ideologically. Far fewer (13%) people consider him to be conservative. This pattern is essentially unchanged since his presidency began in January 2009. However, views of Obama's political leanings differ greatly by party. Two-thirds of Republicans (67%) believe that Obama is liberal; only 30% of Democrats agree. A plurality of Democrats (46%) characterize Obama as middle of the road politically. Essentially equal numbers of independents see Obama as liberal or middle of the road (41% each), though 61% of Republican-leaning independents view Obama as a liberal. A majority of Democratic-leaning independents (53%) see Obama as middle of the road.
Perry presidential security cost taxpayers $800,000 Texas taxpayers were billed almost $800,000 in travel costs for a security detail to travel with Gov. Rick Perry largely on out-of-state events tied to his presidential campaign from September through November, state figures show. Most of Perry's 48 out-of-state destinations were to the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to a report released late Thursday by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which provides security when Perry and his wife, Anita, travel. For security reasons, DPS does not reveal how many troopers accompany the governor or how far in advance they arrive at Perry's destination. The DPS report listed only broad categories of expenses for airfare, food, lodging, fuel and other expenses. (Austin American-Statesman)
In Airport Run-In, Democrats See Help for Obama Among Hispanics Democrats see the chance that President Obama’s heated exchange with Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona on the airport tarmac in Phoenix could help him with the Hispanic voters he came West to court this week. The run-in, captured in a photograph of the governor wagging a finger at the president as they discussed her book, “Scorpions for Breakfast,” lit up Hispanic radio stations and blogs all over the state. While it is difficult to judge whether the moment will have any lasting impact, Hispanic leaders said that what is being dubbed by some as the “dustup in the desert” could play in the president’s favor given the unfavorable view many Hispanics have of the governor for her advocacy of tough immigration measures. “For that incident alone,” Robert Meza, a Democratic state senator from Phoenix, said Thursday, “85 percent more Latin people will gravitate toward the president.” (NY Times)
Barney Frank plans to marry partner US Representative Barney Frank, one of the first openly gay politicians in national office, confirmed through a spokesman yesterday that he is planning to wed his partner of five years, Jim Ready. Frank’s spokesman, Harry Gural, said he could not yet provide details on the wedding, including the date and exact location. But the marriage will take place in Frank’s home state of Massachusetts, the first in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2003 that same sex marriage is a right under the state’s Constitution. Frank, 71, a Newton Democrat, plans to leave Congress when his term expires in January 2013. He chose not to seek reelection after his district was redrawn. (Boston Globe)
30 Pounds of Cocaine Turn Up in U.N. Mailroom If you are a United Nations diplomat missing 30 pounds of cocaine, it is now in the hands of the New York Police Department. The shipment turned up last week in the mailroom of the world body, where phony diplomatic pouches into which the drug had been stuffed attracted the staff’s attention, the head of security, Gregory Starr, said Thursday. Authentic pouches have the words “United Nations” and “Diplomatic Mail” printed on the outside, as well as the body’s logo. But these cheap cotton bags had only the logo. There was no wording, no address, no manifest, no airway bill. They had been delivered from Mexico by the courier company DHL, according to diplomats who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the seizure. When the bags were opened, the contents appeared to be 14 notebooks wrapped in cellophane, Mr. Starr said, but on further inspection they were found to be hollowed out and each one filled with a kilogram, about 2.2 pounds, of cocaine. (NY Times)
In Libya, rebels still dominate Tripoli streets Despite repeated pledges by Libya’s transitional government to find jobs for the rebel fighters who forced Moammar Gaddafi from power, tens of thousands of them are still operating in armed militia groups, patrolling streets and guarding buildings in Tripoli and other cities. The fighters’ continued presence is adding to an atmosphere of insecurity, officials and ordinary Libyans say, as efforts to incorporate more than 50,000 fighters into defense and interior ministry forces has lagged. Authorities say the presence of the irregular forces has made it difficult to distinguish between legitimate fighters and criminals, thousands of whom were freed by rebel forces and by Gaddafi during the months of fighting that eventually toppled the autocratic leader (Washington Post)
Mom Who Lost Kids, Parents in Christmas Fire Attempted Suicide: Report Madonna Badger, the New York woman who lost her three daughters and parents in a tragic Connecticut Christmas fire, attempted suicide last week. Badger, 47, was reportedly hospitalized after hurting herself in an attempt to kill herself, the New York Daily News reported. "She is okay...She is out [of the hospital] and somewhere safe," a relative told the paper. "It's just terrible--nobody could really hold up well under the circumstances." One person close to Badger would not confirm the report, saying that the matter was very personal and difficult to discuss due to the circumstances, but also declined to deny the report. The Stamford, Conn., fire in the early hours of Dec. 25 claimed the lives of Badger's parents Lomer and Pauline Johnson, and her three daughters Lily, 10, and 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah. Badger and her friend Michael Borcina were the only survivors. (ABC News)
Jeopardy contestants have NO idea who Rachel Maddow is!
