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Evidence Shows Christie Knew of Bridge Lane Closures

May 1, 2015 at 2:29 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 44 Comments

After David Wildstein pled guilty to blocking traffic on the George Washington Bridge as political retribution, his lawyer said outside the courtroom that his client was still being questioned by government investigators and was “prepared to testify,” the New York Times reports.

He repeated that Gov. Chris Christie (R) “knew of the lane closures as they occurred” and that “evidence exists” that proves it.

However, Politico reports the U.S. attorney for New Jersey did not implicate Christie directly in the alleged crime, adding that “based on the evidence that is currently available to us, we are not going to charge anybody else in this scheme.”

Search Advertising May Soon Dominate Campaigns

May 1, 2015 at 12:27 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

Google highlights Gov. Scott Walkers’ re-election campaign’s use of advertising tied to search terms in an interesting new case study.

Wall Street Journal: “Among the findings: Mr. Walker’s re-election team raised more money from ads pegged to Google searches than it spent to buy space above those search results, an unusually high return-on-investment for political campaigns; his team also worked with the company to reach more than 5 million targeted voters in key ZIP codes through YouTube ads in the weeks leading up to Election Day.”

“Some people are ditching their TVs entirely in favor of the Internet. The shift means political candidates will have to employ a more sophisticated media mix to reach the highest-value voters – like loyal Republicans in a GOP primary or the ever-dwindling sliver of truly undecided swing voters in the general election. The most nimble campaigns will use these new technologies to their advantage by adjusting their message — and the delivery mechanism for that message — throughout the race.”

The Latest on Wonk Wire

May 1, 2015 at 12:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 2 Comments

Here are the most popular stories on Wonk Wire today:

Flirting with a Presidential Campaign

May 1, 2015 at 10:42 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

Washington Post:”This is the flirting season in American politics: Right now, more than 20 politicians are officially ‘considering’ or ‘exploring’ a run for president. The key to understanding this strange every-four-years ritual is to understand that there are actually two kinds of flirting.”

“For the big-name candidates, the presidential flirt is a useful, temporary, legal dodge. They will run. They are basically running already. But they don’t want to admit it yet, because that would bring on tighter fundraising rules.”

“For the others — particularly the eight or so who had fallen out of the political spotlight — the flirt can be an end in itself. It allows them to experience some of the most pleasant parts of a campaign: audiences, media attention, a chance to raise money. And then it lets them escape before they have to face the less-pleasant parts. Like getting crushed.”

Huckabee Runs Against ‘Bill Clinton’s Arkansas’

May 1, 2015 at 10:20 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 30 Comments

Mike Huckabee targets “Bill Clinton’s Arkansas” in a new video which notes “all the apparatus of the Democratic Party” were “aligned against” Huckabee, and yet “all of a sudden this Republican comes out of nowhere and wins.”

How Bernie Helps Hillary

May 1, 2015 at 9:12 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 58 Comments

First Read: “Bernie Sanders’ official entrance into the 2016 presidential race is most likely a good outcome for Hillary Clinton. Why? He will elevate many of the issues that Clinton and the entire Democratic Party want to discuss during the primary season (income inequality, curtailing the role of big money in presidential politics, climate change). And he’ll do so as someone who isn’t interested in scoring political points — especially in the form of negative attacks — against Hillary. Hillary’s Harlem (err Brooklyn) Globetrotters now has its Washington (err Vermont) Generals. The question we have is whether it’s enough competition to up Hillary’s game.”

Why So Many Republicans Are Running for President

May 1, 2015 at 9:10 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 54 Comments

Charlie Cook: “People embark on a presidential odyssey for a wide variety of reasons. Some have very plausible chances of winning, but in the back of their minds, they might also see a running-mate slot or Cabinet position as a possible consolation prize. Others—à la Jimmy Carter—may not seem obviously viable but are hoping for lightning to strike. Some may have a specific issue or agenda that they want to spotlight or advance, while others are just looking to boost book sales or speaking gigs. For good measure, toss in a little ego gratification from the attention.”

“But the fact that we are looking at such an enormous number of GOP candidates in this year’s cycle tells us a few more important things. First, there is a strong sense that the hierarchical tradition of Republican presidential nominations may not apply in 2016. Jeb Bush is not intimidating anyone out of this race; the fact that this field is expanding rather than contracting underscores that point and reflects the reality that this is a wide-open contest, more so than any GOP nomination race in modern history… Second, it is a sign that with our political process awash in money, the financial barriers for entry aren’t really there anymore.”

Walker Plugs Religious Book and Sales Skyrocket

May 1, 2015 at 8:58 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 11 Comments

After Gov. Scott Walker read from a book called Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence at an event in Iowa last week, “the book shot to the top of a couple of online retailers’ best-seller lists, including Amazon,” according to Religion News Service.

Gowdy Might Take Clinton’s Word on Emails

May 1, 2015 at 8:56 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC), “who heads the House committee investigating the 2012 Benghazi attacks that left four Americans dead, says he might be willing to accept assurances under oath from Hillary Clinton that she has provided all her relevant emails to the panel — dropping requests for an independent examination of her computer server,” USA Today reports.

Said Gowdy: “If she were, under some theory, able to say, ‘yes, I can promise you under penalty of perjury you have every single document you’re entitled to,’ that would probably shut off that line of inquiry. If she can, then it will be a short conversation.”

Carson Pulls In Small Donors

May 1, 2015 at 8:50 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 9 Comments

Ben Carson told the Detroit News that since he “launched his official exploratory committee in March, it has attracted more than 50,000 donors.”

Bring Back the Smoke-Filled Rooms

May 1, 2015 at 7:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 15 Comments

Just published: Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Back-Room Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy by Jonathan Rauch.

Amy Walter: “The first thing we need to do, argues Rauch is to acknowledge that not all reform is good reform. The primary process, for example, was supposed to bring the candidate selection process out of shadows and into light. Smoke-filled rooms of power brokers would be replaced by engaged citizens who picked the candidate best representative of their views. It hasn’t really worked out that way, has it? “

Indictments Coming After Guilty Plea in Bridge Scandal

May 1, 2015 at 7:40 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 8 Comments

As former Chris Christie ally David Wildstein pleads guilty today in the George Washington Bridge closures, the New York Times reports the U.S. Attorney “is expected to announce other indictments in the case, but it was not clear who would be among those indictments.”

“The exact charges Mr. Wildstein would plead guilty to were not immediately clear. Typically, he would appear in court to answer a series of questions confirming the details he was acknowledging in his plea. That plea will be heavily watched for what Mr. Wildstein indicates about what role – if any — Mr. Christie had in the lane closings, which gridlocked the town of Fort Lee, N.J., over four days, stranding emergency vehicles, commuters and school buses.”

Marco Rubio vs. Scott Walker

May 1, 2015 at 7:13 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

“Republican insiders in early-voting states say a crucial battle is emerging in the 2016 presidential race between Marco Rubio and Scott Walker, competing to establish themselves as the party’s ‘bridge’ candidate who can appeal to both the establishment and grass-roots activists,” Politico reports.

“As it has become increasingly apparent that they are key rivals, the men have started taking regular, subtle but unmistakable, shots at one another. Walker talks about the need to nominate someone who is not from Washington and implicitly compares Rubio to Barack Obama. Rubio suggests that there is ‘no way’ a governor like Walker is prepared to deal with global crises facing the United States.”

Role of Super PACs Expand

May 1, 2015 at 7:08 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 2 Comments

Wall Street Journal: “The 2016 election cycle is seeing an expansion not just of super PAC fundraising but of the PACs’ responsibilities. The main reason: Super PACs can accept donations of unlimited size, while donations to candidate campaigns, such as Carly for President, are capped at $2,700 per election. The new arrangement means fewer donors, writing larger checks, can bankroll the basics of electioneering, freeing candidates from having to raise large sums in small increments. But it also raises thorny questions, because super PACs and candidates are barred by the Federal Election Commission from coordinating their strategy and messages.”

“It is a big shift from four years ago, when super PACs supported a favored candidate primarily by creating and airing TV ads to attack opponents. The main super PAC backing GOP nominee Mitt Romney in 2012 didn’t even have a website or an aide to handle press inquiries.”

Baltimore Hurts O’Malley’s Already Slim Chances

May 1, 2015 at 6:13 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 5 Comments

Politico: “Martin O’Malley’s political career, which started on the streets of Baltimore, may also end there: Half of Democratic insiders in the early states believe this week’s riots have hurt the former mayor’s already long-shot presidential hopes.”

Another Bonus Quote of the Day

April 30, 2015 at 9:02 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 35 Comments

“I do not come to you tonight with the ability to speak Spanish. But I do speak a common language. I speak Jesus.”

— Mike Huckabee, quoted by the Wall Street Journal, speaking to a Hispanic audience.

Cruz Ducks Question About Blacks Panhandling

April 30, 2015 at 8:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 28 Comments

“One day after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said Hispanics don’t panhandle because it would be shameful for them, the Republican presidential contender is refusing to offer an opinion about African-Americans who beg for money on the street,” the AP reports.

“Asked Thursday what he thought of them, Cruz turned away without speaking, striding into a senators-only elevator in the Capitol and waiting for the doors to close.”

House Approves Republican Budget Deal

April 30, 2015 at 8:37 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 12 Comments

“The House on Thursday passed a final budget deal, bringing Republicans one step closer to enacting a spending blueprint that sets the stage for this summer’s spending bills,” Politico reports.

“The chamber passed the framework, 226-197. It would balance the budget in 10 years without raising taxes, and pave the way for sending an Obamacare repeal to the president’s desk. The Senate will take up the measure next week.”

Wall Street Journal: “Top lawmakers said this week they would consider replacing those across-the-board curbs, known as the sequester, with a deal similar to a two-year accord struck in 2013 by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), which raised spending in exchange for savings found elsewhere in the budget.”