The Week: “In a short, seven-minute video, Christie manages to make fun of his own political aspirations, adoration of Bruce Springsteen, lovefest with MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and the idea that the suit makes the man — and he does it with the help of Alec Baldwin, James Carville, Jon Bon Jovi, Saturday Night Live’s Bobby Moynihan, celebrities not generally associated with Republican politics. The premise of the skit is that Christie’s enviable popularity is intimately tied to the fleece he wore in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.”
Quote of the Day
“I want to acknowledge a God not just of second chances. But a God of third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth chances because that is the reality of our shared humanity.”
— Rep.-elect Mark Sanford (R-SC), quoted by The State, in his special election victory speech last night.
Tell-All Offers Look Inside Romney Campaign
The Boston Globe notes the insider account of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign by Gabriel Shoenfeld — to be published next week — is an attempt to persuade the Republican Party to jettison “the mechanical poll- and focus-group-driven approach embraced by the Romney campaign.”
“Romney’s campaign was marked by its discipline and the tightknit nature of top advisers. They have remained relatively loyal even in the aftermath of a stinging defeat, so a tell-all book from a former adviser could provide a provocative account of what went on behind the scenes.”
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Clinton Frustrated Over 2016 Speculation
Bill Clinton insisted that his wife, Hillary Clinton, “hasn’t mentioned” to him whether she’ll run for president because she’s enjoying being a private citizen, ABC News reports.
Said Clinton: “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know this: that is the worst expenditure of our time.”
He added that it is “frustrating” that the conversation has gone back to politics so soon after the 2012 elections.
Bachmann in Talks to Settle Lawsuit
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) “is engaged in settlement negotiations in a lawsuit alleging that senior members of her presidential campaign stole a proprietary e-mail list of home-school families from the computer of an Iowa campaign staffer,” the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Sanford Wins Special Election
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R), looking for redemption after his political career was sidelined by scandal, easily won the special election for the congressional seat he once held for three terms, the AP reports.
Minnesota to Decide Same-Sex Marriage
The Minnesota House will hold a final floor vote on whether to legalize same-sex marriage Thursday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
“House Speaker Paul Thissen (D) said he would not bring the measure up for a floor vote until he was certain it had the votes to pass. The Senate is expected to take up the measure soon after. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton is a supporter of same-sex marriage and said he will sign the proposal into law.”
Brown Leads in Race for Massachusetts Governor
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Massachusetts finds former Sen. Scott Brown (R) leads every potential challenger in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race.
The poll might suggest to Brown he would be better off running for governor than challenging Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in New Hampshire, a possibility he’s hinted at in recent weeks.
Barrow Will Not Make Senate Bid in Georgia
Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) announced that he will not run for Senate, “leaving Democrats without a top candidate for now in the party’s best pickup opportunity in 2014,” Roll Call reports.
“Several other Democrats have been named as potential candidates. They include Michelle Nunn, the daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn; former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, who ran in 2008; state Rep. Scott Holcomb; Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr.; and former Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who ran for governor in 2010.”
New Worries for Democrats on Health Law
“As the administration struggles to put in place the final, complex piece of President Obama’s signature health care law, an endeavor on a scale not seen since Medicare’s creation nearly a half-century ago, Democrats are worried that major snags will be exploited by Republicans in next year’s midterm elections,” the New York Times reports.
“For the third time, Republicans are trying to make the law perhaps the biggest issue of the elections, and are preparing to exploit every problem that arises. After many unsuccessful efforts to repeal the law, the Republican-led House plans another vote soon. And Republican governors or legislatures in many states are balking at participating, leaving Washington responsible for the marketplaces.”
Can Ted Cruz Run for President?
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was born in Canada and his eligibility to run for president hinges over whether he is legally a “natural born” citizen, Noam Scheiber notes.
“The consensus among legal experts appears to be, emphatically, yes… But it turns out that there’s at least one legal heavyweight who would question Spiro’s argument–a guy who goes by the name of … Ted Cruz.”
A Meaningless Folly
Joshua Green says tonight’s special election result in South Carolina isn’t that important.
“So while today’s special election offers plenty of entertainment, it has about as much political import as any other reality TV show where the participants mostly embarrass themselves.”
A Bad Day on the Romney Campaign
Now available for pre-order: A Bad Day on the Romney Campaign: An Insider’s Account by Gabriel Schoenfeld.
A fascinating look at what went wrong with Mitt Romney’s White House bid.
Is Rush Limbaugh Bluffing?
The Week reports Rush Limbaugh is threatening to leave Cumulus Media after the company blamed him for declining revenue.
“If Limbaugh walks — his contract ends this year — Cumulus will lose the No. 1 rated talk radio program in the country, probably to rival syndicator Clear Channel. Limbaugh would lose access to 40 radio stations, including his flagship channel, New York’s WABC.”
Quote of the Day
“She’s taking a role in the foundation, she’s writing books, she’s having a little fun being a private citizen for the first time in 20 years.”
— Former president Bill Clinton, quoted by the Washington Post, asking for everyone to give her a break over 2016 presidential speculation.
Ayotte Says She Supports Gun Checks
“Facing a wave of intense criticism and plunging poll numbers after opposing a bill to expand background checks on gun purchases, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte tried some damage control in an op-ed published Monday,” Politico reports.
Wrote Ayotte: “Some of my colleagues want to expand the broken background check system we have now. In my view, we shouldn’t be expanding a flawed system. The focus should be on fixing the existing system, which criminals are flouting.”
Special Election Won’t Say Much About 2014
First Read says today’s special election in South Carolina is a race “that appears to signify, well, nothing, especially as it relates to 2014 and 2016. If Sanford wins — in a district where Mitt Romney beat President Obama by 18 percentage points, 58%-40% — it will be due simply to the district’s GOP tilt. And if Colbert Busch wins, it will be due simply to Sanford’s flaws and past baggage.”
Charlie Cook: “If Sanford wins by any kind of margin, it means that Republican voters simply held their noses and voted for him anyway. If Colbert Busch wins, it most likely means that a lot of Republicans chose to stay home rather than vote for either a candidate whom they thoroughly disapprove of or one with whom they thoroughly disagree.”
Yes, Booker is Still Running
In case you were wondering, Lloyd Grove confirms Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D), who has kept out of the spotlight for the last several months, is indeed running for U.S. Senate.
“He told me he has been interviewing potential campaign managers and other senior staffers in recent days and that he plans to raise $10 million by next January in hopes of discouraging other prospective candidates–such as Rep. Frank Pallone of the Jersey Shore and State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver–from opposing him in the Democratic primary.”
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