Rick Perry

Perry Backs Radical National Sales Tax Plan To Starve Federal Government

Brian Beutler | August 23, 2011, 6:30AM

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

Rick Perry's recent political manifesto Fed Up doesn't just hint that Social Security should be privatized. It also advocates for a farther-reaching overhaul of the tax code than most conservatives support.

Perry says that government's access to new sources of revenue should be fundamentally limited -- either self-imposed by Congress, or by the Constitution itself. "One option would be to totally scrap the current tax code in favor of a flat tax, and thereby make taxation much simpler, easier to follow, and harder to manipulate," Perry writes.

"Another option would be to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution (providing the power for the income tax) altogether, and then pursue an alternative model of taxation such as a national sales tax or the Fair Tax. The time has come to stop talking about fixing the broken and burdensome tax code and to take bold action to replace it with one that is not a burden for the taxpayer and that provides only the modest revenue needed to perform the basic constitutional functions of the federal government."

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Ames Straw Poll

Perry, Palin, and Polls: The GOP Primary's Wild Weekend

Benjy Sarlin | August 12, 2011, 5:16PM

Ames, Iowa. 2011. Ron Paul Supporters

Saturday is easily the most important day of the Republican primaries so far as the candidates face a major test in Iowa -- and a new challenger enters the arena.

The bulk of the field has been gathered in Iowa all week mingling with locals and noshing on corn dogs as crowds of national reporters follow their every move. The big show is Saturday afternoon as candidates make their final appeal for votes in the Ames Straw Poll, with the ballots closing at 4 PM.

Candidates are already planning all sorts of stunts to attract supporters. Rick Santorum is handing out free jelly. Tim Pawlenty invited Christian rockers Sonicflood. Herman Cain will sing gospel. All three will receive a visit from 2008 Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee, who will play bass at their booths.

The poll is totally unscientific, but a strong showing can give candidates a nice shot of positive press. And every candidate besides the state-leading Michele Bachmann is in desperate need of some help in that category. The only other heavyweight in the national polls, Mitt Romney, is not participating (although he's spent the last few days in Iowa). Tim Pawlenty is staking big money on Ames to jolt his lackluster campaign back to life and said on Friday that a flop would require him to "reassess" his approach. For some of the less establishment candidates, like Ron Paul and Herman Cain, a straw poll win could vault them back into the national conversation, much like Huckabee's second place finish helped draw new attention to his campaign and built momentum for his eventual upset victory in the state.

For the middle of the pack candidates, that boost is especially important given who isn't at Ames. That would be Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is expected to announce his presidential campaign in Charleston, South Carolina at a convention organized by right-wing site RedState.com. Perry's perfectly timed entrance threatens to squash contenders' straw poll gains by dominating the news cycle. If they don't break out soon, they could become buried as the race turns into a top-heavy war between frontrunners Bachmann, Romney, and Perry.

As if Perry's announcement isn't enough of a news suck, candidates in Iowa will also have to share headlines with Sarah Palin, who's in Ames. Although there's little evidence Palin is still seriously preparing for a presidential bid at this late stage in the game, she's still doing her best to convince her supporters not to rule her out. "There is still plenty of room in that field for a common-sense conservative," Palin told state fair-goers on Friday. "Watching the debate, not just last night, but watching this whole process over the past year, it has certainly shown me there's plenty of room for more people."

Ames Straw Poll

No Favorites: Huckabee To Join Cain, Santorum, And Pawlenty At Ames

Benjy Sarlin | August 10, 2011, 9:26AM

Mike Huckabee

Not one to play favorites, Mike Huckabee will play bass for not only Herman Cain but Rick Santorum and Tim Pawlenty as well at the Ames Straw Poll this weekend.

The news takes some of the thunder out of Cain's earlier announcement that Huckabee would back him up while he sang gospel himself at the event. The former Arkansas governor won the state handily in 2008 and it was considered his to lose in 2012 if he had decided to run. He has yet to endorse any of the candidates.

Huckabee's daughter, Sarah Huckabee, is a top aide to Pawlenty and tweeted on Wednesday that her father would play bass with the bands Sonicflood and the Nadas, who are performing at Pawlenty's booth. As for his Santorum appearance, the Des Moines Register reports he'll play Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue."

2012

Mike Huckabee To Jam With Herman Cain At Ames

Benjy Sarlin | August 9, 2011, 5:05PM

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee, who won Iowa in 2008, will join Herman Cain at his Ames Straw Poll booth this weekend to lay down some bass grooves behind Cain's gospel vocals.

While not billed as a formal endorsement, Huckabee's appearance is a major boost to Cain, who has been counting on a strong performance at Ames to rocket him into the top tier of GOP contenders.

"I am honored to have the Governor join me on stage for this historic event," Cain, who like Huckabee is a Baptist minister, said in a statement. "We share many commonalities, including the deepness of our Christian faith and our love of music. I am humbled by his graciousness to share his musical gifts with me and I hope Iowa voters will enjoy the show."

Cain will also appear on Huckabee's FOX show the day after the straw poll.

Mike Huckabee

How Bush Killed Bin Laden: What's Really In Huckabee's 9/11 Cartoon

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 4, 2011, 2:45PM

TPM watched Mike Huckabee's new children's educational video about 9/11 so you don't have to. What's inside? A lot of talk about how "most Muslims" aren't terrorists, a reference or two to The Kite Runner, more than a couple scenes extolling America's commitment to Israel -- and no mention whatsoever of President Obama authorizing the mission that took out bin Laden.

Plus there's a really weird plot-line centering around a pre-teen girl never having known that her mother, with whom she lives in an archetypal American small town, was the town's mayor just a few years ago. But that's not even the strangest hole in Huckabee's telling of the 9/11 story.

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Iowa straw poll

Pawlenty Recruits Mike Huckabee's Daughter For Iowa Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | July 5, 2011, 3:06PM

Mike Huckabee and Tim Pawlenty

The Pawlenty campaign has announced a new senior political adviser in Iowa, with an important connection to the winner of the state caucuses from the last cycle.

Republican strategist Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of Mike Huckabee, is joining the Pawlenty camp's Iowa headquarters, and will lead the campaign's effort for the Iowa Straw Poll this August.

The elder Huckabee, of course, won the 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses with 34% of the vote in an upset, ahead of the previous frontrunner Mitt Romney who had 25%. After working on that campaign, Sarah Huckabee Sanders went on to become campaign manager for the 2010 Senate campaign of John Boozman in Arkansas, who defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln in a landslide.

Pres '12

Report: Bachmann Gets New Spokesperson -- And Ex-Huckabee Staffer

Eric Kleefeld | June 13, 2011, 4:13PM

Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who is expected to soon officially launch her campaign for president, is taking on more former staffers from Mike Huckabee's insurgent campaign in the 2008 cycle.

Fox News reported over the weekend that Alice Stewart, who served as a national press secretary for Huckabee's bid, is now joining Bachmann's campaign in a similar role.

Bachmann, who began her political career with the Christian right and has shot up through the Tea Party movement, has already signed on other former Huckabee staffers, most notably national campaign director Ed Rollins, and Iowa field organizer Wes Enos.

(Via Minnesota Independent.)

Rudy Giuliani

Poll: With Huckabee, Trump Out Of The Picture, Giuliani Leads GOP Primary Free-For-All

Jon Terbush | May 27, 2011, 1:57PM

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and GOP Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney

Despite making virtually no noise about a presidential campaign, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is the new frontrunner in the Republican primary, according to a CNN poll released today. But Giuliani's sudden emergence is less a sign of his strength than it is reminder of the nebulous nature of the GOP field, one which was thrown into flux recently with the news that Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump would not pursue White House bids.

In early polls of the race, support has generally ebbed and flowed among a handful of well-known candidates -- including Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich -- with little ground separating those in the top-tier. Huckabee and Trump each posted leads in a few national surveys, and with their departure, their supporters have sifted down to the remaining high-profile names.

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2012

Poll: With Huckabee And Trump Out, Romney And Palin Rise In GOP Primary

Jon Terbush | May 19, 2011, 3:20PM

Former Governors Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Sarah Palin (R-AK)

Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin received a boost to their presidential ambitions this week as voters who previously backed Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump went in search of alternatives now that each of the men has withdrawn from the presidential race, according to a Suffolk University poll released this week.

The poll was originally conducted before Huckabee and Trump withdrew, but the pollster went back to respondents who had initially supported those two, and found them breaking largely in favor of Romney and, to a slightly lesser extent, Palin.

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2012

MIke Huckabee Out Of The Running: 'My Heart Says No' On Presidential Bid

Benjy Sarlin | May 14, 2011, 9:11PM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Mike Huckabee formally bowed out of the presidential running on Saturday, announcing on his FOX News show that he had decided not to enter the race even as he believed he was a top-tier contender.

"All the factors say go," he said, "but my heart says no."

The former Arkansas governor said that he had concluded that he could raise the necessary funds and build the necessary campaign infrastructure to win the nomination, but that he felt an "inner peace" in contemplating his final decision, which he said was borne out of prayer and meditation.

"I don't expect everyone to understand this, but I'm a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ and that relationship is far more important to me than any political office," he said. "For me the discussion and decision is ultimately not a political one ... it's a spiritual one."

In a bizarre twist, Huckabee's announcement was immediately followed by a surprise appearance from Donald Trump, who praised the decision with a wink towards his own presidential ambitions.

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Mike Huckabee

Huckabee E-mail: 'Once I Pull The Trigger Saturday Night, Things Will Get Even Crazier'

Benjy Sarlin | May 14, 2011, 4:07PM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Mike Huckabee, who is expected to announce whether or not he will run for president on his FOX News program tonight, hinted at a possible run in an e-mail to his closest confidantes.

Although Huckabee did not tip his hand as to his final decision, an email obtained by Time's Mark Halperin asked his friends: "Please be patient if I don't respond immediately to an email because I expect that once I pull the trigger Saturday night, things will get even crazier, as if that's possible."

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Mike Huckabee

Huckabee Kicks Off Campaign Coyness Offensive This Weekend

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 13, 2011, 10:31AM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Is Mike Huckabee running for president? Polls show he'd be a serious contender if he does, though few seem to know exactly what he's planning. That could change this weekend.

In an tweet and on the radio today, Huckabee is teasing "a very important announcement" for this Saturday.

ABC News's Michael Falcone picked up on the radio announcement, which came on Huck's syndicated show, "The Huckabee Report."

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Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee Fixes American History (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 11, 2011, 7:49PM

Don't worry, American youth: Mike Huckabee has fixed American history. No longer will you suffer under what Huckabee calls "the 'blame America first' attitude prevalent in today's teaching."

Late Wednesday, Huckabee announced LearnOurHistory.com, a sort of BMG Music Club for what he calls "unbiased" historical lessons for kids. For around $15 each, the company will send you a new animated tale of American history each month, told through the eyes of a gang of time traveling kids.

The first video (available for just $9.95, with a gift bag full of goodies)? "The Reagan Revolution." Naturally.

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Pres '12

Despite Approval Rating Spike, No Boost For Obama In 2012 Hypotheticals

Jon Terbush | May 11, 2011, 2:12PM

President Barack Obama

The death of Osama bin Laden gave a sizable boost to President Obama's approval ratings over the past week and a half. However, a PPP poll released on Wednesday finds that despite that bin Laden bump, Obama has not increased his leads over the big-name Republicans who may challenge him in next year's election.

Compared to one month ago, the latest survey did not show Obama pulling away from several prominent GOP candidates, though he did maintain his already comfortable leads over each of them.

In the poll, Obama beat each of the six Republicans tested against him, winning each contest by at least a five-point spread.

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Donald Trump

Poll: Trump's Support Implodes, Drops Him To Fifth In GOP Primary

Jon Terbush | May 10, 2011, 11:59AM

Donald Trump

Donald Trump's brief run as the "frontrunner" in the Republican primary is over, according to a PPP poll released on Tuesday.

One month ago, a handful of surveys showed Trump trouncing the GOP field, leading all comers by as much as a nine-point margin. But now, after a month of bruising press coverage, the latest PPP poll shows that Trump's support has quickly dried up, as he's dropped back to a tie for fifth place.

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Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee: 'Welcome To Hell', Bin Laden

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 2, 2011, 9:46AM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Mike Huckabee took a page from a tabloid headline writer's book this morning when he put together his statement on the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of American forces Sunday.

"Welcome to hell, bin Laden," Huckabee said. "Let us all hope that his demise will serve notice to Islamic radicals the world over that the United States will be relentless is tracking down and terminating those who would inflict terror, mayhem and death on any of our citizens."

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2012

How Haley Barbour's Departure Affects The 2012 Field

Benjy Sarlin | April 26, 2011, 1:36PM

Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS)

While many observers were skeptical of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's ability to capture the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, his decision not to run frees up an elite group of donors and operatives to find new homes and could leave a crucial bloc of voters up for grabs.

Barbour's campaign was considered a magnet for top quality staff and the remaining candidates will undoubtedly be reaching out to stranded politicos. Some already have ties to 2012 contenders while Barbours' close relationship with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) has led to speculation that an outsize number will join Daniels' campaign -- if he decides to run.

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: Trump, Huckabee Tied For GOP Prez Lead in West Virginia

Jon Terbush | April 26, 2011, 12:12PM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AK) and Donald Trump

A Fox News host and an NBC reality television star are tied as the top choices for the Republican presidential nomination in West Virginia, according to a PPP poll of registered voters released on Tuesday.

In the survey, Trump and Huckabee easily led the rest of the GOP field at 24% each. Sarah Palin placed third with 13%, followed by Mitt Romney (11%) and Newt Gingrich (9%).

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Fox News

Glenn Beck vs. Mike Huckabee Goes to Round 3

Benjy Sarlin | April 22, 2011, 2:02PM

Mike Huckabee and Glenn Beck

The ongoing feud between Fox hosts Glenn Beck and Mike Huckabee shows no signs of slowing down as Beck slammed the former Arkansas governor as unqualified to run for the President on Friday.

To recap the story so far: Earlier this week, Beck called Huckabee a "progressive" for supporting Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign. In response, Huckabee issued a lengthy and hard-hitting condemnation of not only Beck's statement but his entire conspiracy-laden ouevre.

On his radio show this morning, Beck went another round, claiming that Huckabee's reaction to his previous attacks proves he isn't White House material.

"If, sir, you are this thin-skinned about your politics, it might be best for you to stay on the sidelines" and not run, Beck said.

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Glenn Beck

Mike Huckabee Tears Into Glenn Beck For Labeling Him 'Progressive'

Benjy Sarlin | April 21, 2011, 3:34PM

Mike Huckabee and Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck has seriously irked fellow FOX News host Mike Huckabee, whom he labeled a "progressive" on his radio show yesterday over the once-obese governor's support for Michele Obama's campaign to promote children's health. A clearly upset Huckabee fired back at Beck today with a statement that not only addressed the individual incident but broadly condemned the host's trademark fearmongering against the left.

"This week Glenn Beck has taken to his radio show to attack me as a Progressive, which he has said is the same as a 'cancer' and a 'Nazi,'" Huckabee said. "What did I do that apparently caused him to link me to a fatal disease and a form of government that murdered millions of innocent Jews? I had the audacity -- not of hope -- but the audacity to give respect to the efforts of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign to address childhood obesity."

While noting that he's "no fan of her husband's policies for sure," Huckabee said Beck misrepresented the First Lady's program "either out of ignorance or out of a deliberate attempt to distort them to create yet another 'boogey man' hiding in the closet that he and only he can see."

Defending Michelle Obama's approach as "about personal responsibility" and not big government, Huckabee repeatedly took dead aim at Beck's notorious penchant for conspiracy theories.

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: Over Half Of Republicans Not Enthusiastic About Any GOP Prez Candidates

Jon Terbush | April 21, 2011, 2:51PM

Former Governors Mitt Romney (R-MA), Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), and Sarah Palin (R-AK), and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA)

In the buffet of their party's presidential aspirants, Republicans aren't finding much that they like.

According to a New York Times/ CBS poll released on Thursday, 56% of Republicans said they do not "feel enthusiastic" about any of their party's likely presidential candidates. Further, no candidate cracked double-digit support in the survey, which left the question open-ended by not providing respondents with a list of candidates to choose from.

Nine percent of Republicans said they were excited about Mitt Romney, while 8% said the same about Mike Huckabee. Donald Trump came in third with 7%, followed by Newt Gingrich (6%) and Sarah Palin (5%).

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Pres '12

Poll: Obama Loses Ground To 2012 GOPers, Leads Romney By One Point

Jon Terbush | April 20, 2011, 12:17PM

Former Governor Mitt Romney and President Obama

As Obama's approval rating has slipped in the past few months, so too have his leads over potential 2012 challengers.

In a McClatchy-Marist poll released on Wednesday, Obama posted a one-point lead over Mitt Romney, down from a robust 13-point edge just three months ago. Obama still notched comfortable leads on Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, though both Republicans have gained some ground since January as well.

That indicates that while Obama enjoyed a brief honeymoon to start 2011, the bump has quickly evaporated, and his reelection prospects remain far from certain.

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: 40% Of Republicans 'Dissatisfied' With GOP Prez Options

Jon Terbush | April 20, 2011, 9:08AM

Former Governors Mitt Romney (R-MA), Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), and Sarah Palin (R-AK), and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA)

Forget enthusiasm. Republicans are so jaded about their party's current crop of presidential contenders that barely a plurality say they're even 'satisfied' with the likely GOP candidates, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll.

In the poll, 43% of Republicans adults said they were satisfied with the potential GOP contenders. But nearly as many, 40%, said they were dissatisfied with the party's options for president. Only 5% of respondents said they were very satisfied with the Republican field.

By comparison, Republicans were far more excited about the GOP field last time around than they are now. In a February 2007, a em>Washington Post/ABC News poll found that almost three-fourths of Republicans (73%) were satisfied with their choices. While that number dipped slightly to 69% at the end of 2007, it was still much higher than the level of satisfaction found in the latest poll.

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2012

Poll: Huckabee Still Dominating GOP Field In Iowa

Jon Terbush | April 19, 2011, 3:35PM

Fmr. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R)

Mike Huckabee continues to own the entire GOP field in early polls of the Iowa caucus, with a PPP poll of registered voters released on Tuesday showing the former Arkansas governor winning several hypothetical ballots by big margins.

And interestingly, Mitt Romney emerged as the second choice for Iowa Republicans in the poll, even though nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would not consider voting for a candidate who supported a state-level universal health care law, which is precisely what Romney did as governor of Massachusetts.

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Presidential Approval Ratings

Poll: Obama's Approval Rating Dives As Economic Pessimism Hits Two Year High

Jon Terbush | April 19, 2011, 9:56AM

President Barack Obama

The percentage of Americans who say the economy is getting worse has risen to the highest level since the early months of President Obama's presidency, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Tuesday.

At the same time, Obama's approval rating has slipped to the point where a majority of Americans now disapprove of his job performance. But despite Obama's shaky standing, the president still led every potential Republican rival paired against him in potential head-to-head 2012 matchups, a sign that while he is weak, the GOP field right now is weaker.

In the poll, 44% of respondents said the economy was getting worse, up 10 points since last October. That's the highest level notched in the Washington Post-ABC News poll since March 2009 when 48% of Americans thought the economy was headed in the wrong direction.

Additionally, only 28% of adults now say the economy is headed in the right direction.

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Donald Trump

Poll: Donald Trump Beating Entire GOP Field By 9 Points

Jon Terbush | April 15, 2011, 11:15AM

A new PPP poll released on Friday shows Donald Trump leading the Republican presidential primary race by much more than a hair.

In fact, the poll shows the brash real estate tycoon turned reality TV show host posting a large nine-point lead on the nearest competition. It's the latest in a flurry of recent surveys to show the Donald running strong in the GOP field, but it's the first to show him all alone at the front of the pack.

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2012

Poll: Obama Leads GOPers For Reelection Despite Low Approval Rating

Jon Terbush | April 14, 2011, 3:43PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama comfortably led a slate of potential Republican challengers in a PPP poll released Thursday, even though a slim plurality of voters disapproved of his job performance.

That's likely because while voters weren't too thrilled with Obama, they were even less excited about his potential challengers. Every Republican tested in the poll posted a net negative favorability rating, the most extreme example being Sarah Palin, whom 61% of respondents viewed unfavorably.

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2012

CNN Poll: Donald Trump Ties Huckabee For Lead In GOP Primary

Jon Terbush | April 12, 2011, 12:48PM

Donald Trump

Eccentric billionaire, real estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump is now tied for the lead in the Republican presidential primary race, according to a CNN poll released today.

That finding caps off a stunning two weeks that have seen Trump rising in the GOP field nationally and polling near the front of the pack in crucial early primary states. And while the primaries are still a long way off, and only a few candidates are officially in the field, it raises the question of just how viable a Trump candidacy would be.

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2012 elections

Poll: Obama Trails Huckabee, Romney In Florida

Jon Terbush | April 11, 2011, 10:19AM

President Barack Obama

A majority of Florida's registered voters disapprove of President Obama's job performance, and as a result, Obama trails Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney in hypothetical 2012 matchups there, according to a new Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll.

In the poll, 43% of respondents said they approved of Obama's job performance, compared to 56% who disapproved. Further, only 34% of independents -- who could play an important role in picking the state's winner -- approved of Obama's job performance,

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Government Shutdown

2012ers Michele Bachmann and Mike Huckabee Call On GOP to Cut a Deal

Benjy Sarlin | April 8, 2011, 7:31PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

The GOP's hardline stance on budget negotiations is proving increasingly brittle as more and more prominent Republicans express concern about shutting down the government rather than accepting a deal. Now two potential presidential candidates, both with impeccable social conservative credentials, are signaling that it's time to throw in the towel.

The most surprising is Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), the head of the Tea Party caucus in the House and exactly the kind of popular right-wing politician that Boehner would fear alienating by announcing a compromise. In a post on RedState titled "Not a Big Enough Fight," Bachmann suggested on Friday that Republicans might be better served holding their fire now in favor of more significant battles down the road, like raising the debt limit and passing the 2012 budget. While not a direct call for surrender, it appeared to be an implicit signal that it's time to move on.

"We must answer the bell that was rung last November when the American people called us to fight for deep cuts in spending, for the full repeal of ObamaCare, for an end to taxpayer funding of abortion, and for a government that will live within its Constitutional boundaries," she wrote. "Those would be the kind of large-scale fights that could change the arc of history. Unfortunately, the fight that's happening today in Washington is not even close to being on the same scale."

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: Two-Thirds Of Voters Unimpressed With Potential GOP Prez Candidates

Jon Terbush | April 8, 2011, 12:29PM

In a sign of the weak state of the Republican presidential field, a Fox News poll released this week finds that nearly two-thirds of registered voters nationwide are not impressed with the potential GOP presidential nominees.

In the poll, 65% of respondents said they were to some degree unimpressed with the Republicans who have made noise about possible White House bids, including 38% who said they were "not at all impressed" with the GOP field. At the same time, only 31% said they were "very" or "somewhat" impressed with the GOP field.

Only 5% of registered voters said they were very impressed with the potential GOP presidential candidates.

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Interracial Marriage

Nearly Half Of Mississippi Republicans Think Interracial Marriage Should Be Illegal

Jon Terbush | April 7, 2011, 4:18PM

Americans nationwide are evenly divided over the issue of same sex marriage. But Republicans in Mississippi are divided over a wholly different wedlock issue: interracial marriage.

In a PPP poll released Thursday, a 46% plurality of registered Republican voters said they thought interracial marriage was not just wrong, but that it should be illegal. 40% said interracial marriage should be legal.

Read more »

Iowa caucus

Poll: Huckabee Still Leads GOP Field In Iowa, Trump In Third

Jon Terbush | April 6, 2011, 1:20PM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AK) and Donald Trump

A Neighborhood Research poll of likely Iowa caucus voters released this week found Mike Huckabee once again leading the pack, while Donald Trump placed a surprising third place, ahead of big-name GOPers including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich.

That affirms previous polls that have shown Huckabee comfortably leading all comers in Iowa, which holds the nation's first -- and therefore highly important -- primary nominating contest. And it seems to show that Trump, the eccentric business tycoon who has recently made some noise about a possible presidential bid, may be a viable candidate after all.

Read more »

Pres '12

Former Huckabee Aide In Iowa Joins Bachmann

Eric Kleefeld | April 4, 2011, 12:34PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), the Tea Party star who is considering a run for president, has just brought on board a top aide from a 2008 presidential campaign: Wes Enos, who served as Mike Huckabee's Iowa political director in the 2008 cycle, when Huckabee won the caucuses in an upset, and who will now serve as a consultant for Bachmann's PAC.

The move could be a further sign that Bachmann is serious about getting in the race, and that she will perhaps pursue the same Christian conservative base that went for Huckabee last time. What's more, it could be a further sign that Huckabee might not be putting his hat back in the ring.

Minnesota Public Radio reports:

Bachmann chief of staff Andy Parrish confirmed Enos will serve as a consultant to Bachmann's MichelePAC. Bachmann is weighing a bid for the 2012 GOP nomination. She has made numerous visits to early nominating states.

Enos, of Bondurant, IA, helped Huckabee win Iowa's precinct caucuses. Referencing the Enos hire, Parrish told MPR News, "The more money we raise, the more help we need."

2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: Prominent GOP Prez Hopefuls Have Grown More Unpopular

Jon Terbush | March 28, 2011, 8:43AM

Former Govs. Mike Huckabee (R-AR), Sarah Palin (R-AK), Mitt Romney (R-MA), and Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA)

The four biggest-name Republicans believed to be considering presidential bids have all grown more unpopular over the past two years.

As Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen notes, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have all lost support among registered voters since PPP began polling their net favorable ratings in April 2009.

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Gallup: Huckabee Leads 2012 GOP Field, Palin Loses Ground For First Time

Jon Terbush | March 25, 2011, 2:54PM

Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin

For the second straight month, Mike Huckabee topped Gallup's poll of the 2012 Republican presidential primary. Meanwhile, for the first time, support for a potential Sarah Palin candidacy shrank.

Nineteen percent of self-identified Republican adults nationwide chose Huckabee, who led a crowded slate of potential candidates. Mitt Romney came in second at 15%, followed by Palin (12%), Newt Gingrich (10%), Ron Paul (6%), and Michele Bachmann (5%).

In addition, 4% of respondents said Mitch Daniels was their first choice, while 3% backed Tim Pawlenty, and 2% chose Haley Barbour, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman, and Gary Johnson. Donald Trump garnered 1%.

Read more »

2012 Presidential Primaries

CNN Poll: Huckabee Tops 2012 GOP Field, Trump Almost Ties Palin

Jon Terbush | March 23, 2011, 3:32PM

Donald Trump

Could Republicans really hire Donald Trump to run for President?

In a CNN poll released today, self-identified Republican adults named the usual suspects as their top choices to represent the party in next year's presidential election. But behind Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin came business mogul and reality television host Donald Trump, placing fifth, just two points back of the former Alaska governor.

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Mike Huckabee

Huckabee Wants To Reverse Repeal Of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Melissa Jeltsen | March 23, 2011, 3:06PM

Mike Huckabee

In an interview with One News Now, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) said that he supports reinstating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- legislation repealed by Congress in December, which prohibited gay men and women from serving openly in the military.

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Pres '12

As Ohio GOP Goes After Unions, Obama's Support Rises

Jon Terbush | March 17, 2011, 4:15PM

President Barack Obama

Only once since 1944 has Ohio voted for a losing presidential candidate, and if the 2012 election were held today, President Obama would be breathing easy, as a new PPP poll of registered voters shows him building on his lead over a slate of potential Republican challengers.

On Wednesday, PPP released poll results showing that as voters rapidly soured on Republican Gov. John Kasich -- who has pushed to strip unions of their collective bargaining rights -- they were simultaneously sounding much more positive about reelecting Sen. Sherrod Brown. Now, it appears that same Democratic bump has buoyed Obama's reelection odds as well.

In December, Obama led four Republican challengers by between one and seven points; he now leads them all by at least six.

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Scott Walker

Republican Voters Like Scott Walker More Than Top GOP Pres. Candidates

Jon Terbush | March 17, 2011, 1:26PM

Scott Walker's approval rating may be in the dumps with his constituents, but by taking on public employee unions, he's made himself quite popular with Republicans nationwide.

In fact, a new PPP poll of registered voters finds that Republicans actually like Walker better than the big-name GOPers who are considering presidential bids. That shows that Walker, like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, has become a Republican favorite for his tough budget talk and his willingness to butt heads with unions. But it also underscores how tepid Republicans are toward their current slate of presidential aspirants, and how a fresh conservative face could shake up the GOP primary next year.

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