Rick Perry

What Kind Of Debater Is Rick Perry? A Good And Cautious One

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 6, 2011, 9:30AM

Rick Perry speaks at a campaign stop in Florence, SC, August 19, 2011.

Politico's Molly Ball takes a deep dive into Texas Gov. Rick Perry's past debate performances as his first appearance in a presidential debate approaches Wednesday night.

What did she find? A man who has kept off the debate stage as much as he could during his unprecedented three terms as governor of Texas (he's debated just four times since he got the job), but "rarely makes a mistake" when he takes the stage "and almost always manages to win by not losing."

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Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann: Obama's Trying To Keep America's Eyes Off Us With Jobs Speech

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 31, 2011, 5:03PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Michele Bachmann says President Obama scheduled his job speech on the same night as one of three nationally televised Republican presidential debates in the month of September because he wants to prevent Americans from seeing the group of Republicans who may face him next fall.

Earlier Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) called on Obama to move the speech, citing the time needed "for a security sweep of the House Chamber before receiving a President."

Bachmann supports Boehner's move, and said "clearly the administration has a great deal of insecurity about their job plan and the lack of it."

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Bachmann argued, "Boehner is saying... rather than the president hiding his speech, and trying to divert the American people away from hearing from the presidential candidates on their assessment of his job that he failed to do for the economy."

She continued, "John Boehner is rightly saying, let's have the American people watch you."

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Tea Party Express

Tea Party Express Kicks Off Bus Tour To 'Reclaim America'

David Taintor | August 29, 2011, 1:33PM

Anti-tea party protesters attended the Tea Party Express' rally in Napa, California.

Fresh off conservative criticism of President Obama's Midwest bus tour, the Tea Party Express is kicking its own tires. Leading up to the CNN/Tea Party Express Republican presidential debate Sept. 10, the tea party group on Saturday launched a bus tour in Napa, California.

"We want Washington to live within its means, just like we do," Tea Party Express chairwoman Amy Kremer told Reuters. "We're in an economic downfall. Meanwhile, politicians are busy attending cocktail parties instead of focusing on the issues."

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Gets Asked: 'As President, Would You Be Submissive To Your Husband?'

Eric Kleefeld | August 11, 2011, 11:09PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Debate host Byron York asked Michele Bachmann about her past quotes that she became a tax lawyer at her husband's insistence, citing Biblical passages that a wife should be "submissive" to her husband.

"As president, would you be submissive to your husband?" York asked -- prompting vociferous booing from the audience.

"Thank you for that question, Byron," Bachmann responded, to applause. "Marcus and I will be married for 33 years this September 10th. I'm in love with him, I'm so proud of him. And what submission means to us -- if that's what your question is -- is respect. I respect my husband...and he respects me as his wife. that's how operate our marriage. We respect each other, we love each other."

Bachmann then added that together, she and her husband had built a business, raised their children, and raised 23 foster children. "I'm very proud of him."

Debates

Iowa Showdown: Five Stories To Watch In Tonight's GOP Debate

Benjy Sarlin | August 11, 2011, 6:00AM

Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

You might say that 2012 really starts tonight. At 9pm Eastern time, the declared Republican presidential candidates take the stage at Iowa -- barely two days ahead of the Ames Straw Poll, which many consider the unofficial first round of the primary season.

Of course, this debate will also be interesting for who it doesn't have: Texas Governor Rick Perry. Today he made it official that he'll be declaring his candidacy on Saturday. His shadow is sure to loom large over tonight's proceedings.

TPM's livewire will keep you updated of the night's events as they happen. We'll also be posting blog posts, fuller articles, and video throughout the evening.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the debate itelf, here's TPM's advice on what to look for:

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Debates

Democrats On GOP Debate: What The Hell Was That About? (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 14, 2011, 10:55AM

GOP Presidential Candidates Debate, Jun 13, 2011

Democrats have found their response to last night's big Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire.

"Really??"

The DNC put out a web video this morning highlighting what was not said in last night's battle of the Republican stars. What was said, Democrats say, was less than impressive.

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Bachmann To Join GOP Debate In New Hampshire On June 13

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2011, 6:23PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has yet to officially launch an increasingly expected presidential campaign -- but she is now set to take part in a Republican candidates' debate in New Hampshire, the surest sign yet that she is getting in.

Bachmann aide Andy Parrish, who is leaving as her Capitol Hill chief of staff to take an unspecified new position with her (it is believed that he will be her campaign manager) told the Associated Press that Bachmann will be on stage at the June 13 debate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

This debate would be Bachmann's first presidential debate -- and also put her on stage alongside her fellow Minnesotan, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, among the other candidates.

Bachmann has said she will announce her plans this month in Waterloo, Iowa, the town where she was born. It is hard to imagine a politician putting together a big rally in Iowa, only to deliver a speech announcing that they were not running.

Tea Party Express

CNN, Tea Party Express To Host A GOP Presidential Debate

David Taintor | December 17, 2010, 1:24PM

Tea Party activists in Washington, D.C.

In what promises to be a bizarre pairing, CNN and the Tea Party Express are joining forces to co-host a Republican presidential primary debate in September 2011.

The Tea Party Express' hits have been no stranger to TPM's pages. Over the summer, for example, Tea Party Express' Mark Williams said the NAACP's use of the word "colored'" makes the organization racist. Williams, who was an occasional guest on CNN, was eventually forced to resign from the Tea Part Express.

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2012 elections

First 2012 Debate Coming This Spring To Reagan Library

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 11, 2010, 1:15PM

Former candidate for Vice President Sarah Palin

Just a few months after the 2010 mid-term elections ended, the 2012 presidential cycle will begin. Politco and NBC News will co-sponsor the first Republican presidential debate "during the spring of 2011," the website reports today. The debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.

A spring presidential debate, though it comes months before caucusing begins in Iowa or most Americans are paying any attention, is becoming a tradition of the now elongated presidential election process. The Democratic candidates for president in 2008 gathered in Orangeburg, SC on April 26, 2007 for what was then the earliest presidential debate. The organizers of next year's debate did not announce specific dates for the forum, but there's a chance it could come even earlier than the '07 debate did. (The Reagan Library was also the site of the first Republican debate of 2008, but it took place in May after the Democratic forum.)

For Republicans, the early debate comes in a much different environment than the Democratic debate three years ago did. Democrats, newly unified by their party's win in the 2006 Congressional elections, were vying for the nomination in a world where there would be no incumbent in the presidential race and most gave the advantage to the Democratic nominee.

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CA-SEN

Fiorina Tries To Avoid Roe v. Wade Questions In First California Debate

Christina Bellantoni | September 2, 2010, 10:00AM

Carly Fiorina (R-CA), and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Sen. Barbara Boxer and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina clashed Wednesday night in their first debate, as the political novice tries to unseat the longtime senator with 28 years in Washington. Boxer (D) and Fiorina (R) sparred on their records, agreed on some social issues but provided the sharpest contrast when it came to the economy and jobs. Boxer went after Fiorina's HP record while Fiorina attacked Boxer as a liberal who has accomplished little despite her time in Washington.

Debate moderators pressed Fiorina on her abortion rights stance after she tried to deflect and said the main issue was jobs. She explained her personal reasons for being pro-life, and admitted, "not everybody agrees with me on this."

Then there was a moment that will likely be spliced into a Boxer ad for broadcast on the majority pro-choice state's airwaves.

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