A new Florida Atlantic University poll in Florida finds Donald Trump leading the GOP presidential race with 32%, followed by Marco Rubio at 19%, Jeb Bush at 11%, Ben Carson at 10% and Carly Fiorina at 8%.
Quote of the Day
“We should not have a multicultural society. When you create pockets of isolation — and in some places the process of assimilation has been retarded because they’ve slowed down — it’s wrong. It limits people’s aspirations.”
— Jeb Bush, quoted by ABC News.
Huckabee Says Obama Pretends to be a Christian
Mike Huckabee told Newsmax that President Obama “pretends to be” a Christian.
Said Huckabee: “I’m less concerned about what faith the person has. I’m more concerned about the authenticity of their faith and how that plays out in their politics … I’m also concerned about a guy that believes he’s a Christian and pretends to be and then says he is, but then does things that makes it very difficult for people to practice their Christian faith.”
Trump Feuds with Fox News Again
Donald Trump announced that he “won’t be doing any more Fox shows for the foreseeable future,” as the channel “has been treating me very unfairly,” Politico reports.
“He was scheduled to appear on The O’Reilly Factor at 8 p.m. Thursday. The show is the most watched program on cable news, and Trump has appeared every now and again during the course of his campaign.”
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Trump Quote of the Day
“Senator Marco ‘Amnesty” Rubio, who has worst voting record in Senate, just hit me on national security — but I said don’t go into Iraq. VISION.”
— Donald Trump, on Twitter.
FBI Recovers Clinton’s Deleted Email
“The FBI has recovered personal and work-related e-mails from the private computer server used by Hillary Clinton during her time as secretary of state,” Bloomberg reports.
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s success at salvaging personal e-mails that Clinton said had been deleted raises the possibility that the Democratic presidential candidate’s correspondence eventually could become public. The disclosure of such e-mails would likely fan the controversy over Clinton’s use of a private e-mail system for official business.”
First Read: “This entire story has continued to drip-drip for her, and Clinton’s next best chance to try to completely put it behind her is next month during her testimony before the House Benghazi committee.”
Walker’s Bid was Shortest in Two Decades
“The complete and utter collapse of Scott Walker’s presidential bid appears to bring to an end the shortest presidential campaign since at least 2000,” the Washington Post reports.
“Walker’s bid began with his announcement July 13 before a fancy backdrop and in front of an energetic crowd in Waukesha, Wis. It ended in Wisconsin on Monday, in front of a drab background and with only a few reporters listening in. From start to end, the campaign lasted 70 days — a shorter campaign than even Rick Perry’s, since Perry started earlier.”
“Looking back at major candidate campaigns since 2000, 70 days appears to be the shortest, by at least a week. Jim Gilmore’s 2008 bid lasted 79 days. Tim Pawlenty hung on for 83 days in 2012.”
Carson Dismissed Big Bang Theory
In a speech delivered in 2012, Ben Carson said the big bang theory was part of the “fairy tales” pushed by “high-faluting scientists” as a story of creation, BuzzFeed News reports.
He also said he believed the theory of evolution was encouraged by the devil.
Said Carson: “I personally believe that this theory that Darwin came up with was something that was encouraged by the adversary, and it has become what is scientifically, politically correct. Amazingly, there are a significant number of scientists who do not believe it but they’re afraid to say anything.”
Carson Says Comments on Muslims Misunderstood
Ben Carson “says his controversial comments about opposing a potential Muslim president were taken out of context,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Said Carson: “It seems to be hard for people actually to hear English and understand it.”
Most of Walker Fundraising Team Moves to Rubio
Sen. Marco Rubio “is set to inherit about two-thirds of” Gov. Scott Walker’s “big-donor fundraising apparatus,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“A migration of donors, surrogates and perhaps staff to Mr. Rubio would provide momentum for a candidate who performed well in the two televised debates but hasn’t seen a bump in polls.”
Talk of Ousting Boehner Has GOP on Edge
“Growing chatter about a possible coup against Speaker John Boehner has set Capitol Hill on edge,” The Hill reports.
“Talk that conservatives might use a government-funding showdown to overthrow the powerful Ohio Republican has triggered a flurry of behind-the-scenes jockeying among lawmakers eager to move up the leadership ladder. And that has lawmakers wondering more than ever if Boehner’s days as Speaker are numbered.”
Clinton Finally Comes Out Against Keystone Pipeline
After months of declining to take a position on the Keystone XL pipeline, Hillary Clinton says she opposes the construction of the project, NBC News reports.
Said Clinton: “I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone XL pipeline as what I believe it is: A distraction from the important work we have to do to combat climate change, and, unfortunately from my perspective, one that interferes with our ability to move forward and deal with other issues. Therefore, I oppose it. I oppose it because I don’t think it’s in the best interest of what we need to do to combat climate change.”
First Read: “Consider the political expediency: Had Hillary Clinton supported Keystone, it might have led to a donor meltdown.”
Quote of the Day
“This year is different, and what is happening now is leaving a searing impression. This is toxic for the Republican Party — potentially lethal for it.”
— Ex-Bush official Peter Wehner, quoted by the Washington Post, on the “shrill rhetoric” of GOP presidential candidates.
Kasich Looks to Capitalize In Iowa
Gov. John Kasich is making a more aggressive play in Iowa now that Gov. Scott Walker — “the candidate who pinned his hopes on winning the Hawkeye State — has dropped out of the race,” CNN reports.
“The Ohio governor, who has visited Iowa only twice since announcing his presidential bid, plans to spend more time in the state and build out his political operation there. The goal, campaign aides said, is not to win Iowa, but to notch a strong finish that could help generate momentum and propel him to victory in New Hampshire.”
Account of Email Request Differs from Clinton’s
Washington Post: “Throughout the controversy over her use of a private e-mail system while she was secretary of state, Hillary Clinton has described her decision last year to turn over thousands of work-related e-mails as a response to a routine-sounding records request.”
“But State Department officials provided new information Tuesday that undercuts Clinton’s characterization. They said the request was not simply about general record-keeping but was prompted entirely by the discovery that Clinton had exclusively used a private e-mail system. They also said they first contacted her in the summer of 2014, at least three months before the agency asked Clinton and three of her predecessors to provide their e-mails.”
Trump Still Leads in Iowa
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Iowa finds Donald Trump leads with 24%, followed by Ben Carson at 17%, Carly Fiorina at 13%, Marco Rubio at 8%, Jeb Bush at 6%, Mike Huckabee at 6% and Scott Walker at 5%.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton leads with 43%, followed by Bernie Sanders at 22% and Joe Biden at 17%.
Biden Moves Up In Poll
A new Bloomberg poll finds Vice President Joe Biden edging Sen. Bernie Sanders, 25% to 24%, in the race for second to Clinton who continues to lead the Democratic presidential field with just 33%.
