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Will Christie’s Courting of Iowa’s Governor Pay Off?

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National Journal: “For five years, Christie has methodically cultivated Branstad’s good graces. He’s come to Iowa whenever Branstad calls—for fundraisers, a birthday party, an inauguration, and even to help Branstad with one of his electoral pet projects. When Branstad fell ill last month and landed in the hospital, Christie was on the line, wishing him well. And when Christie took the helm of the RGA, he made sure to follow through on his financial commitments, even as Branstad waltzed to a blowout victory in 2014.”

“Now, the question is whether all the time and money Christie has invested in Branstad will pay any political dividends in 2016.”

Inside the Launch of Jeb Bush’s Campaign

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Politico: “So while even close Bush watchers began to doubt whether he was really serious about running, he and a close-knit group of advisers were following a careful plan aimed at maximizing his chances of winning the nomination, if and when he gave the thumbs up.”

“Their strategy was to publicly downplay his interest in the race and avoid media attention, while quietly laying the groundwork for a launch that would catch much of Washington – and many of his potential rivals – flat-footed. While the much of the political world focused on Chris Christie, Rand Paul, and even Bush’s fellow Floridian Marco Rubio, Bush was quietly collecting political chits, developing a cohesive platform, and preparing for a fundraising blitz intended to grab the front-runner’s chair, scare potential competitors like Mitt Romney and Christie, and put Bush on such a firm financial footing that he could devote more time to retail politics when it really counted.”

Rand Paul Is Strongest in Swing States

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In an early look at possible 2016 presidential matchups in three swing states — Colorado, Iowa and Virginia — new Quinnipiac polls find Sen. Rand Paul performs best among the Republican candidates against Hillary Clinton while Gov. Christ Christie is the worst performing. Gov. Scott Walker has the lowest name recognition of any of the candidates.

  • Colorado: Clinton 43%, Paul 41%
  • Iowa: Clinton 45%, Paul 37%
  • Virginia: Clinton 44%, Paul 42%

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Clinton Foundation Begins Taking Foreign Gifts Again

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“The Clinton Foundation has dropped its self-imposed ban on collecting funds from foreign governments and is winning contributions at an accelerating rate, raising ethical questions as Hillary Clinton ramps up her expected bid for the presidency,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Recent donors include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Australia, Germany and a Canadian government agency promoting the Keystone XL pipeline.”

Quote of the Day

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“I recognize that as a result, my views will often be held up in comparison to theirs. But I am my own man – and my views are shaped by my own thinking and own experiences.”

— Jeb Bush, quoted by the AP, in a speech referring to his father and brother.

Rand Paul Plans April Kickoff for White House Bid

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) “is eyeing April 7 as the day he will announce his plans to run for president, people close to him said, a step that would position him ahead of his potential Republican rivals as a declared candidate and allow him to begin raising money directly for his campaign 10 months before the Iowa caucuses,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky and the heir to the robust Ron Paul grass-roots network, will take the next month to continue talking with members of his family about whether they are comfortable moving forward with the exhausting and, at times, agonizing rigors of a modern presidential campaign.”

Democrats Brace for Backlash on Obamacare Penalties

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“The Obamacare window technically just closed this weekend, but a new round of political headaches could just be beginning for the administration,” the Washington Post reports.

“That’s because it’s tax season, and many Americans could soon be getting an unwelcome surprise that they owe the government a penalty for skipping health insurance coverage.”

Vin Weber Backs Bush Campaign

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“Vin Weber, a former Minnesota congressman and top policy adviser on Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, is assisting Jeb Bush’s all-but-certain bid for the Republican presidential nomination, adding yet another high-powered strategist to the former Florida governor’s political circle,” the Washington Post reports.

“Weber confirmed his move Tuesday, as did a Bush aide, after several GOP officials said Weber was working behind the scenes to win Bush support among influential donors and conservative intellectuals.”

Obama’s Legacy May Be Decided By Courts

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Washington Post: “Along with the immigration action, the fate of two of Obama’s other signature initiatives — a landmark health-care law and a series of aggressive executive actions on climate change — now rests in the hands of federal judges. It is a daunting prospect for a president in the final two years of his tenure who believes he is on the path to leaving a lasting impact on in­trac­table and politically perilous issues, despite an often bitter relationship with Congress.”

“Now, Obama and his Republican antagonists in Congress face the uncertainty of having their disputes mediated by the third branch of government.”

Kasich Studying Up on Foreign Policy

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“In a sign of his rising interest in a potential 2016 presidential bid, Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich (R) said Tuesday he is studying up on foreign policy and beginning to outline his worldview, which includes support for sending U.S. ground forces to fight the Islamic State,” the Washington Post reports.

Said Kasich: “You will not solve this problem with only air power. There needs to be a coalition of NATO, Arab states, and ultimately some boots on the ground to stop the advancement of that group.”

He added: “The Western world and the Arab world need to get serious about stopping this kind of radicalism. If not, it will continue to spread and just bombing is imposing the status quo at best.”

2016 Candidates Use Social Media to Show Personality

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Wall Street Journal: “For many would-be presidential candidates, Twitter and other social-media outlets have become an extension of their efforts to build a national following, and in many cases a way to mix personality with policy. Social media comes with a host of dangers, but for candidates, it can be a powerful tool to attract attention and engage voters.”

Judge Warns Cuomo He’ll Schedule a Special Election

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A federal judge warned New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) that if he doesn’t schedule a special election to replace former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) by the end of the week, the court will do it for him, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“It’s been almost a month and a half since Mr. Grimm, a Republican, resigned from office after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Special elections in New York take place 70 to 80 days after a governor issues a proclamation to fill a vacancy. That means that Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn that make up the district will have to do without someone to represent them in the House of Representatives for at least 111 days.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

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“If you ever come to the train station with me, you’ll notice that I have great relationships with them because there’s an awful lot of them driving cabs and are friends of mine. For real.”

— Vice President Joe Biden, quoted by Business Insider, saying he’s quite popular with the Somali community of Wilmington, Delaware.

Huntsman Won’t Run for Senate

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Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) said he won’t challenge fellow Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) next year, the Deseret News reports.

Said Huntsman: “I don’t rule out another run, but not against Mike. We don’t always agree (who does) but he’s very capable.”

Obama Delays Immigration Action After Judge’s Ruling

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“Just one day before undocumented immigrants were set to begin applying for work permits and legal protections, the Obama administration announced on Tuesday that it would delay carrying out President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, saying a federal judge’s last-minute ruling had tied the White House’s hands,” the New York Times reports.

Roll Call: “Republicans still aren’t yet ready to cave… But with Democrats pledging to once again block the bill next week, Republicans will now have to justify potentially shutting down parts of the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to stop a program that already is being blocked by the courts.”

Quote of the Day

By 26 Comments

“Wimps. Snowing in DC and they close the government. Imagine if the rest of the country closed when it snowed.”

— Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), quoted by The Hill.

About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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