Political Wire

Romney Moves Aggressively to Rebuild Network

January 12, 2015 at 4:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 32 Comments

“Mitt Romney is moving quickly to reassemble his national political network, spending the weekend and Monday calling former aides, donors and other supporters — as well as onetime foes such as Newt Gingrich,” the Washington Post reports.

“Romney’s message was that he is serious about making a 2016 presidential bid. He told one senior Republican he ‘almost certainly will’ run in what would be his third campaign for the White House, this person said. His aggressive outreach over the past three days indicates that Romney’s declaration of interest to a group of donors in New York Friday was more than the release of a trial balloon but rather was the start of a concerted push by the 2012 nominee to be an active participant in the 2016 campaign.”

Mother Jones has compiled all the times Romney said he wouldn’t run for president again.

No One Has Given to Dick Morris’s Anti-Hillary PAC

January 12, 2015 at 4:13 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

Bloomberg: “Sixteen months ago, to some fanfare, Dick Morris re-entered the anti-Clinton fray with a new PAC. He launched Dick Morris’s Just Say No to Hillary PAC… But there is a rather glaring problem with adding Morris to this narrative: No one has been giving money to his PAC. Literally, no one.”

Where Do You Stand?

January 12, 2015 at 3:26 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 51 Comments

Michael Kinsley: “Is it too much to expect a politician running for president to have what the voters perhaps don’t? Call it a theory of government, or a framework for analyzing issues. Ron Paul, the curmudgeonly godfather of libertarianism and the actual father of Kentucky senator Rand Paul, says in the foreword to one of his son’s books: “The sole purpose of government is to protect our liberties.” Paul’s framework is pretty clear, and it rules out most of what the government does. He would privatize the Washington Monument if he could… Many people like to call themselves libertarians, but few would go as far as Ron Paul.”

“But at least you know where Ron Paul stands. Is there a similarly pithy summary of Hillary Clinton’s philosophy? Not where she stands on Issue A or Issue B but a philosophical framework that would predict where she might come out on some as yet unknown Issue C, which will inevitably blindside us during her presidency? Except for a vague notion that she is soothingly left of center, I have no idea where she would stand. What about the other people running or mentioned for president in either party? For that matter, what about the voters? What about you?”

Newsom Will Not Run for Senate in California

January 12, 2015 at 12:33 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 43 Comments

California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on Facebook that he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Barbara Boxer, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Said Newsom: “It’s always better to be candid than coy. While I am humbled by the widespread encouragement of so many and hold in the highest esteem those who serve us in federal office, I know that my head and my heart, my young family’s future, and our unfinished work all remain firmly in the State of California – not Washington D.C. Therefore I will not seek election to the U.S. Senate in 2016.”

McCaskill Will Stay in the Senate

January 12, 2015 at 12:19 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 32 Comments

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said she will not run for governor in 2016 — staying put in the U.S. Senate, USA Today reports.

“McCaskill’s decision to forgo the governor’s race comes after months of speculation about her political ambitions, fueled in part by her fundraising largess. She donated more than $500,000 to Democratic state legislative candidates and party committees in the 2014 election cycle.”

The GOP Keeps Lying About the Economy

January 12, 2015 at 12:17 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 27 Comments

Daniel Gross: “For years Republicans have been spewing doomsday rhetoric about the president’s policies, but the stock market is booming, the deficit shrinking, the economy adding lots of jobs and the dollar robust.”

“Virtually everything GOP critics have told us would follow from the policies put in place has not come to pass. You would think that this would occasion a few mea culpas, some rethinking, an admission of poor prognostication. But, alas, it continues. Rep. Paul Ryan is now warning in a column that Obamacare ‘is weighing down our economy and discouraging hiring’ and will ultimately ‘collapse under its own weight.’

Quote of the Day

January 12, 2015 at 12:03 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

“I’ve evolved. Part of wisdom is to learn from your experiences, and I think we learned the hard way that shutdowns are not well received by the American people.”

— Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), quoted by Roll Call, on now having “the responsibility to govern.”

Rick Scott for President?

January 12, 2015 at 10:37 am EST By Taegan Goddard 27 Comments

Insiders say Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) wants to become president, the Miami Herald reports.

“It’s anyone’s guess how a politician with such low favorability ratings who has never captured 50 percent of the vote in Florida can win nationwide (or in Florida in a presidential election year, when the electorate is more liberal-leaning).”

“There’s a small possibility he could run in 2018 for U.S. Senate against Nelson. Independently wealthy and a great fundraiser, Scott would be a force to be reckoned with in a federal race, where there are strict limits on raising outside campaign money.”

Scott Walker May Be a Bigger Threat to Jeb Bush

January 12, 2015 at 10:24 am EST By Taegan Goddard 41 Comments

Nate Cohn says the most compelling challenger to Jeb Bush for the GOP presidential nomination “may be Scott Walker, the battle-hardened governor of Wisconsin. He has made moves toward running, and on paper, he’s the type of candidate who should deeply concern Mr. Bush.”

“Unlike the flawed but better-known conservatives, Mr. Walker has the potential to have broad appeal throughout the Republican Party. Mr. Walker, born in Colorado Springs, is an evangelical Christian who defeated public employee unions in a high-profile battle over collective bargaining rights and who made big budget cuts in a state that has voted for Democrats in seven consecutive presidential elections.”

Waiting On Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris

January 12, 2015 at 10:11 am EST By Taegan Goddard 2 Comments

The exact timing of Sen. Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) retirement announcement caught California Democrats off-guard — and launched a fluid, high-stakes decision making process by Attorney General Kamala Harris (D) and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), BuzzFeed reports.

“The situation is more fluid than it is opaque. Most expect one to run for Senate in 2016, and the other for governor in 2018, succeeding Jerry Brown. In interviews this weekend, people close to Newsom and Harris described a fast-changing, somewhat uncomfortable three-day period of deliberation in which each has sought advice and consulted family, while navigating the concentric circles of their shared political universe, of which there are plenty.”

“Still, there is no ‘deal’ between Newsom and Harris. No ‘smoke-filled room,’ no secret pact that would install one as senator and the other as governor. The two Democrats, who share a long and complicated history, have not even spoken directly since before Boxer announced her retirement, according to a person familiar with their correspondence.”

How Will History Judge Barack Obama?

January 12, 2015 at 10:03 am EST By Taegan Goddard 54 Comments

Jonathan Chait: “He has amassed a record of policy accomplishment far deeper than even many of his supporters give him credit for. He has also survived a dismal, and frequently terrifying, 72 months when at every moment, to go by the day-to-day media, a crisis has threatened to rock his presidency to its core. The episodes have been all-consuming: the BP oil spill, swine flu, the Christmas underwear bomber, the IRS scandal, the healthcare.org launch, the border crisis, Benghazi. Depending on how you count, upwards of 19 events have been described as ‘Obama’s Katrina.'”

“Obama’s response to these crises—or, you could say, his method of leadership—has been surprisingly consistent. He has a legendarily, almost fanatically placid temperament. He has now spent eight years, counting from the start of his first presidential campaign, keeping his head while others were losing theirs, and avoiding rhetorical overreach at the risk of underreach.”

New York Magazine: 53 historians weigh in on Obama’s legacy

Why Wasn’t Obama in Paris?

January 12, 2015 at 9:56 am EST By Taegan Goddard 55 Comments

“Don’t look for the president or vice president among the photos of 44 heads of state who locked arms and marched down Boulevard Voltaire in Paris. Nor did they join a companion march the French Embassy organized in Washington on Sunday afternoon,” Politico writes.

First Read: “If you’re not a fan of President Obama and are looking to get outraged, here’s your latest chance: Obama or Vice President Biden, or Secretary of State John Kerry didn’t attend Sunday’s unity rally in Paris after the terrorist killings there… White House officials tell us that that they weren’t aware of the rally until Friday, and — for logistic and security purposes — they couldn’t have organized a trip that quickly. What’s more, Kerry was en route to his trip in India.”

Romney Begins Calling Donors

January 12, 2015 at 9:16 am EST By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

“If Mitt Romney decides to mount a third presidential campaign, his pathway to the 2016 Republican nomination could be far more difficult than in 2012, when he faced a weaker field of candidates who at times seemed to be auditioning for a reality television show,” the Boston Globe reports.

“Over the weekend, Romney and his advisers began calling former supporters, trying to test the waters and gauge what might lie ahead.”

Morning Line: “Pardon those of us who followed both of the Romney presidential campaigns closely and watched the ‘Mitt’ documentary for being skeptical. One other factor adding to skepticism: the lack of build-up and preparation. Romney has yet to hire staff and begin setting up the outlines of an organization. And while candidate Romney sold off homes ahead of 2012, after his defeat, he filed to nearly quadruple the size of his La Jolla, Calif., beachfront home — the one with the car elevator — and was buying up property again in Utah, including a home with a Batman-like secret room.”

First Read: “People close to Romney still can’t imagine him doing the little things one often needs to do to win the presidency — in addition to a party’s presidential nomination. Hitting the constant fundraisers. Attending to the constituency groups. Courting local politicians in key states. That’s probably why, at the end of the day, Romney ultimately doesn’t run. But he definitely wants to be a part of the conversation.”

Santorum Calls Possible GOP Rivals ‘Bomb Throwers’

January 12, 2015 at 8:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

Rick Santorum dismissed possible 2016 primary competitors Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) as “bomb throwers” with few achievements, the New York Times reports.

Said Santorum: “Do we really want someone with this little experience? And the only experience they have basically — not Rubio, but Cruz and Paul because I don’t think Rubio is going to go — is bomb throwing? Do we really want somebody who’s a bomb thrower, with no track record of any accomplishments?”

Rubio Says Family Supports a Presidential Bid

January 12, 2015 at 7:42 am EST By Taegan Goddard 11 Comments

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) told National Journal that his family “is on board for a White House campaign in 2016, and he insists that no amount of money Jeb Bush raises will deter him from running.”

Said Rubio: “When it comes to the aspects of running for president, I think we clearly understand what it means, the sacrifice it entails—not just for the next 18 months, but for the next eight years of service to our country. And it’s a decision we’ve made in terms of being prepared to do that. So that issue has been surmounted in my mind.”

The Miami Herald says that should Rubio give up his Senate seat to run for president “there’s increasing political chatter that Rubio is well-positioned to run for governor in 2018.”

GOP Hopefuls Try New Pitch

January 12, 2015 at 6:45 am EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

“Several Republicans eyeing presidential bids in 2016 are tackling policy questions not typically identified as conservative priorities, including wage stagnation and aid for the poor, an early bid to address a political weakness that helped sink the party’s last White House nominee,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“For Republicans circling the 2016 race, the focus on struggling segments of the population is a response of sorts to the 2012 contest, when the party’s nominee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney , struggled to present himself as an empathetic figure. Many Republicans considering bids this time seem set on forging a new path, one that stays true to conservative beliefs but with a firmer eye on seeking potential solutions to address Americans’ continued frustration with the economy.”

Washington Post: “Economic mobility and the middle class are expected to be major themes in the White House race.”

Paul Taps Veteran GOP Adviser

January 12, 2015 at 6:43 am EST By Taegan Goddard 1 Comment

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) “is bringing on Republican strategist Chris LaCivita as a senior adviser as he prepares for a likely presidential campaign,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“As Mr. Paul seeks to bridge the gap between his tea party base and the party’s establishment wing, Mr. LaCivita can offer perspective from both sides. Most recently, he was dispatched to Kansas to help Sen. Pat Roberts beat back a challenge from an independent candidate, Greg Orman. Mr. LaCivita worked as political director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2002 and in 2010, during Sen. Paul’s Senate campaign.”

Democrats Back Massive Tax Break for Middle Class

January 12, 2015 at 6:20 am EST By Taegan Goddard 19 Comments

“Senior Democrats, dissatisfied with the party’s tepid prescriptions for combating income inequality, are drafting an ‘action plan’ that calls for a massive transfer of wealth from the super-rich and Wall Street traders to the heart of the middle class,” the Washington Post reports.

“The centerpiece of the proposal, set to be unveiled Monday by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), is a ‘paycheck bonus credit’ that would shave $2,000 a year off the tax bills of couples earning less than $200,000. Other provisions would nearly triple the tax credit for child care and reward people who save at least $500 a year. The windfall — about $1.2 trillion over a decade — would come directly from the pockets of Wall Street ‘high rollers’ through a new fee on financial transactions, and from the top 1 percent of earners, who would lose billions of dollars in lucrative tax breaks.”