There’s good news for Jon Huntsman in the latest Fox News poll: He’s got 4% support nationally, which more than the minimum threshold to qualify for the next Republican presidential debate on October 18.
Giuliani Still Flirting with Presidential Bid
Rudy Giuliani “dispatched a key emissary to New Hampshire on Wednesday to gauge their interest in his possible presidential bid,” the AP reports.
“Giuliani has visited the first-in-the-nation primary state four times already this year and advisers have maintained regular contact with potential staffers in the event he decides to seek the presidency. During his last trip in July, Giuliani said he wasn’t convinced any of the candidates were strong enough to defeat President Barack Obama. Until he is, he said he wouldn’t rule out a run of his own.”
Lawmaker Asked Police to Ignore Husband’s Call
After locking her husband out of their home, Illinois state Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R) “called 911, identified herself as an elected official, asked police to ‘ignore’ her husband if he called and said he feared her because she had ‘connections,’ according to newly released police reports and recordings of the call,” the Chicago Tribune reports.
“Amid a host of allegations — that the Republican senator rammed her car into her husband’s during a subsequent row in August and then, just this week, bit him and struck him with a cellphone — the recordings raise the question of whether Schmidt was seeking to use her political clout to influence Lake County authorities.”
Hispanic Vote May Swing Key States
“The surging Hispanic population in several states that figure to be crucial to the outcome of next year’s election” — particularly Florida, Nevada and New Mexico — “is prompting an early scramble by both parties to influence Hispanic voters,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The trend is particularly important to President Obama, who has seen his support among white voters sag, putting his hold on several swing states in danger. He is ramping up an urgent effort to win support from Latinos, while Republicans are trying to build on doubts among them about his stewardship of the economy.”
Romney Retakes National Lead
A new Fox News poll shows Mitt Romney leading the Republican presidential field with 23%, followed by Rick Perry at 19% and Herman Cain at 17%.
Since last month, Romney is up one point, Perry is down 10 points and Cain is up 6 points.
The remaining field: Newt Gingrich is at 11%, Ron Paul is at 6% and Michele Bachmann is at 3%.
Why Not Romney?
David Frum: “Attention, Chris Christie fans. If you are looking for a Republican
nominee who could actually do the job of president, who does not repel
independent voters, who can survive a 90-minute debate without saying
anything foolish, why the hell not Mitt Romney?”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“Why am I in it? It’s not the next step of my career, by the way. I don’t have a
political career.”
— Mitt Romney, in an appearance on Morning Joe, which leads Jonathan Chait to note it’s not for a lack of trying.
The Election of 1944
Just published: FDR, Dewey, and the Election of 1944 by David M. Jordan.
“A fast-moving, blow-by-blow account of the often neglected wartime
campaign that pitted Franklin Delano Roosevelt against
Republican Thomas E. Dewey, with pollsters divided to
the very end. For political junkies there is suspense,
backroom dealing, and surprises about both presidential and
vice-presidential nominations, as well as where the
parties would stand on the future both at home and
abroad.”
Shays Would Make Connecticut Race Competitive
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Connecticut finds Rep. Chris Murphy (D) leading Chris Shays (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 43% to 39%, and beating Linda McMahon (R), 50% to 43%.
However, Shays would beat Susan Bysiewicz (D) if she was the Democratic nominee, 48% to 37%.
Though primary numbers were not released, they show McMahon “has a large lead” in the GOP primary contest with Shays.
Republicans Face Halloween Deadline
Attention Chris Christie and Sarah Palin: The deadline to get on the Florida Republican party ballot is October 31, CNN reports.
The next filing deadlines: South Carolina on November 1, Michigan on November 15 and Missouri on November 22.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire’s filing period ends November 18, but Secretary of State William
Gardner has the authority to change the filing period to accommodate a possible earlier primary date.
Quote of the Day
“Not sure if he saw the movie?”
— Mitt Romney, quoted by Politico, on David Axelrod’s comment that Obama’s re-election was going to be a “titanic struggle.”
Romney Grabs Lead in Florida
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Florida finds Mitt Romney leading Rick Perry in the GOP presidential race, 30% to 24%, followed by Newt Gingrich at 10%. All other candidates are in the single digits.
Key finding: “We started this poll on Thursday night before the debate and in those interviews the race was neck and neck with Romney at 33% and Perry at 31%. But in interviews done Friday-Sunday Romney’s lead expanded to double digits at 29-19. More telling might be what happened to Perry’s favorability numbers after the debate — on Thursday night he was at 63/23 with Florida Republicans. Friday-Sunday he was at 48/36. Perry’s poor performance may or may not prove to be a game changer nationally but it definitely appears to have hurt his image in the key state where it occurred.”
Christie’s Father Doesn’t Know Either
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) father tells National Review that his son will make the final decision about a presidential bid. But he claims not to know much about his son’s thinking.
Said Bill Christie: “I’ve never asked him if he’s going to run. I trust if it’s going to happen, I’d be hearing it from him. I tell him, just let me hear any good news, but let me hear it first, or at least before you announce it to the world.”
However, the elder Christie added: “I know he’d be a great president. He has always been a leader. I think he would beat Obama.”
Romney Leads in New Iowa Poll
A new American Research Group poll in Iowa finds Mitt Romney leading the GOP presidential field with 21%, followed by Michele Bachmann at 15%, Rick Perry at 14%, and Ron Paul at 12%.
All other candidates are in the single digits.
Punking the City Council
A video suggests someone played a childish joke on the Los Angeles City Council last night.
Kindle Fire
A reader has just confirmed that Political Wire looks great on the new Kindle Fire tablet.
At just $199, they’re going to sell a ton of these.
Alabama Lawmaker Sorry for Racial Remark
Alabama state Sen. Scott Beason (R) apologized for referring to blacks as “aborigines” and says his words were “careless and unnecessary,” the Montgomery Advertiser reports.
Beason was heard on FBI recordings made while helping investigate claims of gambling corruption.
Lip Reading Rick Perry
This is a very funny video.
