New Hampshire GOP debate(s): Winners and losers
In the past twelve hours the six men running for the Republican presidential nomination have debated not once but twice.
We live-blogged both debates — the Saturday night set-to sponsored by ABC/WMUR and the “Meet the Press” debate this morning.
Why town hall protesters are helping Rick Santorum
HOLLIS, N.H. – If you didn’t know better, you’d think Rick Santorum enjoys being grilled by protesters.
In fact, he probably does. And he should.
The former Pennsylvania senator has been inundated at his New Hampshire events with questions from unsympathetic voices in recent days, pressing him mostly on gay rights but also on issues like the separation of church and state. It started with an exchange at a college Thursday in which Santorum set about comparing the legalization of gay marriage to the legalization of polygamy.
“Meet the Press” debate: The live blog!
Less than 12 hours after the six men competing for the Republican presidential nomination concluded their last debate, they’ll be back at it again this morning at 9 am eastern time on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
We will be there — assuming our typing fingers can recover — documenting every moment of the festivities in our live blog. Never participated in a Fix live blog before? Think “Mystery Science Theater 3000” but for politics.
Come hang out. It’s like breakfast at Wimbledon — without the white shorts or the class.
Ron Paul-Newt Gingrich bad blood gets personal
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul engaged in a very personal exchange in Saturday night’s debate in which Paul criticized the former House speaker for not serving in the military.
Paul has repeatedly criticized Gingrich for taking a deferment during the Vietnam War, calling him a “chickenhawk” for having no problem sending young men to war despite his lack of service. And Gingrich took exception to it during the debate.
New Hampshire ABC debate: The live blog!
The six major Republican presidential candidates will take the debate stage for the first time in almost a month tonight in New Hampshire — and the Fix will bring every minute of it to you live.
The debate, which is being sponsored by ABC and WMUR, gets started at 9 p.m. We’ll start live-blogging about five or ten minutes before the candidate hit the stage and continue until they leave it.
Never participated in one of our live blogs before? It’s kind of like sitting around watching a debate with a bunch of nerdy, wise asses. In other words, it’s fun. We promise.
New Hampshire debate: What to watch for
The first Republican presidential debate of 2012 is just hours away — 9 p.m. on ABC (or WMUR if you are in New Hampshire) to be exact — and we are, admittedly, a little too excited.
Since the last time the GOP candidates shared a debate stage, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich peaked too soon, Iowa voters, well, voted and one-time top-tier candidate Michele Bachmann ended her campaign. (Texas Gov. Rick Perry hinted at doing the same but decided to stay in while on a run in Iowa. Not kidding — that really happened.)
California Republican Rep. Elton Gallegly retiring
Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) is retiring in 2012 after 12 terms in Congress, he announced Saturday morning.
A new congressional map drawn up by the state’s independent redistricting commission significantly diminished Gallegly’s chances of reelection. His 24th district was drawn into the new 25th district held by the better-funded Rep. Buck McKeon (R), and his only other option was the 26th, which included part of his old territory but becomes more Democratic under the new map.
Afternoon Fix: Ron Paul ad savages Rick Santorum
Ron Paul goes up with a brutal ad against Santorum in South Carolina; Santorum super PAC counters with positive bio ad; and Cain will endorse Jan. 19.
Make sure to sign up to get “Afternoon Fix” in your e-mail inbox every day by 5 (ish) p.m!
Republicans unveil new Tennessee map
Tennessee Republicans sought to shore up freshman Rep. Stephen Fincher (R) in a draft congressional redistricting map released Friday.
Rather than targeting potentially vulnerable Nashville Rep. Jim Cooper (D), the GOP instead moved to solidify its gains from the 2010 election. Republicans gained three seats in Tennessee in 2010 and, under the proposed map, should have little trouble holding on to their newfound 7-to-2 majority in the state’s congressional delegation over the next decade.
New Hampshire and the battle for second place
Mitt Romney is going to win the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday.
Talk to any semi-knowledgeable political operative in the state or look at any semi-decent poll on the race and that reality becomes clear within seconds.
Given that, the real race to watch in the Granite State is for second place — a battle that, according to conversations with a variety of operatives in the state, is likely to come down to two men: Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum.
Latest Tweets
MT @amyewalter "Bottom line on NH debates: Romney wins. No other cand can/will/able to land substantive or sustained case agnst him" YUP.
RT @nickconfessore: PSA: Reuters published the Bain story everyone is talking about. Here is is: http://t.co/Kb61qp8x
Clip of Gingrich super PAC Romney doc: "For tens of thousands of Americans, the suffering began when Mitt Romney came to town.”
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