The Hotline: “The
White House continues to talk about its ability to contest Arizona, but
polling data suggest otherwise — and underscores the fact that
immigration right now is a losing issue for President Obama and
Democrats… While the Hispanic growth in the state is significant, the
percentage of those who are registered is relatively low – and there
have been few signs of any significant uptick in political
participation. The numbers also provide a cautionary tale to the party’s
likely Senate nominee, Richard Carmona, who is an attractive recruit
because of his Hispanic heritage, but could lose support from white
voters over his opposition to SB 1070… There was a good reason
why Janet Napolitano didn’t run for Senate — her involvement in the
White House’s lawsuit against the state immigration law would have
handicapped her campaign from the start.”
Wyoming Advances Doomsday Bill
Wyoming state representatives “advanced legislation to launch a study into what Wyoming should do in the event of a complete economic or political collapse in the United States,” the Casper Star Tribune reports.
The bill “would create a state-run government continuity task force, which would study and prepare Wyoming for potential catastrophes, from disruptions in food and energy supplies to a complete meltdown of the federal government.”
Santorum Way Ahead in Tennessee
A new Vanderbilt University poll in Tennessee finds Rick Santorum leading the GOP presidential primary with 33%, followed by Mitt Romney at 17%, Ron Paul at 13% and Newt Gingrich at 10%.
That said, an additional 27% “either said they wouldn’t vote for any of the four major remaining candidates, didn’t know how they would vote or refused to answer.”
The Tennessee primary is on March 6.
Quote of the Day
“Republicans being against sex is not good. Sex is popular.”
— GOP strategist Alex Castellanos, quoted by Maureen Dowd.
Romney Preps for Long Primary
“Whether Mitt Romney wins or loses the Michigan and Arizona primaries on Tuesday, his advisers are warning donors and other supporters to prepare for a longer, more bruising and more expensive fight for the Republican presidential nomination that may not be settled until at least May,” the New York Times reports.
“That is prompting a new round of intensified fund-raising by his financial team, which had hoped by this point to be collecting money for a general election match with President Obama. The campaign is increasingly trying to quell anxiety among Republican leaders, while intently focusing on the mechanics of accumulating delegates needed to secure the nomination.”
GOP Establishment Worries About Santorum
The Kansas City Star editorial page asked economist Art Laffer — “yes, he of the famous Laffer curve” — whether Rick Santorum would be the Republican presidential nominee.
“Laffer’s answer was non-verbal. His hands went up on each side of his head. He leaned forward, bug-eyed at the imagined horror of Santorum as the GOP nominee — a response that reflects the fears of many on the Republican side.”
The Ford Field Fumble
The DNC put together a video of highlights from Mitt Romney’s speech before a nearly empty stadium yesterday.
How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics
In honor of Oscar weekend: Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics by Steven J. Ross.
Romney’s Wife Says No More Debates
Ann Romney told an audience in Michigan that she has decided “no more debates” for her husband, according to BuzzFeed.
Said Mrs. Romney: “If we’re going to do another debate, he’s going to sit in the audience and watch me.”
The Republican Break Up
John Heilemann notes many Republicans “are already looking past 2012. If either Romney or Santorum gains the nomination and then falls before Obama, flubbing an election that just months ago seemed eminently winnable, it will unleash a GOP apocalypse on November 7 — followed by an epic struggle between the regulars and red-hots to refashion the party. And make no mistake: A loss is what the GOP’s political class now expects.”
Said GOP strategist Ed Rollins: “Six months before this thing got going, every Republican I know was saying, ‘We’re gonna win, we’re gonna beat Obama.’ Now even those who’ve endorsed Romney say, “My God, what [an effing] mess.”‘
More Divided Than Ever
The latest National Journal congressional voting ratings finds polarization “remains endemic. Lawmakers march in lockstep with their party. Heretics are purged.”
“For the second year in a row but only the third time in the 30 years that National Journal has published these ratings, no Senate Democrat compiled a voting record to the right of any Senate Republican, and no Republican came down on the left of any Senate Democrat. (The first time this happened was 1999.)”
“The 435 members of the House are as polarized as their Senate colleagues. Only six Republicans — Chris Smith of New Jersey, Tim Johnson of Illinois, Justin Amash of Michigan, Ron Paul of Texas, Steven LaTourette of Ohio, and Walter Jones of North Carolina — compiled a slightly more “liberal” voting record than the most conservative Democrat, Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma.”
Quote of the Day
“I’m in the camp that believes that these folks are being refined and improved by this very difficult process.”
— Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R), quoted by NBC News, dismissing the notion that a long and bruising primary is cause for concern from Republicans.
Florida Lawmaker Quits After Stalking Prosecutor
Under Secret Service investigation “for sending stalker-like texts to a federal prosecutor,” Florida state Rep. Richard Steinberg (D) abruptly resigned his seat, the Miami Herald reports.
Throughout the summer, Steinberg used a disguised account to send text messages to Assistant U.S. Attorney Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos sending “suggestive messages, calling her ‘sexxxy mama’ and asking about her infant son.”
Romney Holds Edge in Arizona
A new American Research Group poll shows Mitt Romney with a slim lead in the Arizona GOP primary at 39%, followed by Rick Santorum at 35%, Newt Gingrich at 11% and Ron Paul at 9%.
Gingrich Way Up in Georgia
A new Landmark/Rosetta Stone poll in Georgia shows Newt Gingrich with a double-digit lead over the GOP presidential field at 38%, followed by Rick Santorum at 25%, Mitt Romney at 19% and Ron Paul at 4%.
The number of undecided voters remains at 13% before the March 6 primary.
Santorum Attends Super PAC Event Despite Denials
Politico caught Rick Santorum in a lie this afternoon after he “slipped away from the campaign trail” to speak to a super PAC fundraiser, despite denying previous reports that he planned to do so.
When Lawmakers Don’t “Get Lucky”
In one of the weirdest speeches you will ever see on the floor of a legislative body, Virginia Del. David Albo (R) spoke to
his colleagues (and television cameras) about his failed attempt to
seduce his wife as a result of the contentious abortion debate in the state.
Artist Pleads Guilty in Criminal Case Over Obama Poster
Even though Shepard Fairey already settled his case with Associated Press over using their photo as the basis for his iconic Obama “Hope” poster early, the Los Angeles Times reports the artist today entered a guilty plea to related criminal charges.
Fairey was charged with criminal contempt for destroying documents and manufacturing evidence, once again proving the cover up is almost always worse than the crime.
He now faces a maximum of six months in prison.
