Flag City Politico

Republican Presidential Debate (New Hampshire)

Tonight, on ABC, six of the remaining Republican Presidential contenders square off live from New Hampshire. Sponsored by ABC and Facebook, this important debate is just a few days away from the NH primary.

For the Republicans, we will see John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Ron Paul.

7:07p

A different format to start off with. Charlie Gibson will have the candidates sit down and try to talk to each other.

7:11p

Will the candidate embrace the Bush foreign policy, or run away from it. Huckabee starts off with being asked to defend his comments about the US having a bunker mentality. Giuliani gives Bush credit for putting the US on offense instead of defense, and knocks Bill Clinton for slashing the military.

7:16p

McCain also gives Bush credit for the doctrine the US follows, and believes that the country is safer now. He points out that he also advocated the surge strategy before anyone else did. He wraps things up by giving Giuliani credit for handling 9/11

Romney points out that Bush is not arrogant, and that the US owes him a debt of gratitude for what he has done to make the US safer (who knew that Bush would be given this much support - especially in New Hampshire - it seems risky considering the independent nature of the state).

7:27p

Romney and Huckabee going after each other; McCain is in the corner, keeping quiet, holding onto his lead and smiling as the others leave him alone.

7:30p

I love the spirited back-and-forth. Charlie Gibson is going to have to remind everyone that he is paying for this microphone.

7:34p

Gibson wants McCain and Romney to talk about (to paraphrase) why they hate each other and accuse each other of following polls to create opinion. Neither takes the bait and keeps it civil. Gibson even points out that they both seem different tonight, and not like the candidates who are running the television commercials.

7:38p

Gibson goes right down the line and calls out each candidate for political/issue changes that they have made over the course of their lives, under the guise of scoring political points.

7:39p

I had to rewind that to watch it again; it was an amazing moment that I have not seen before from the media...especially in a national televised debate. I would love to see him do that to the Democrats as well just to see what he says about them.

7:44p

Health care is now the topic, and Gibson points out that the basic Republican philosophy is that free-market consumer-purchased insurance is better than government run. All the candidates generally believe that the US has the best health care system in the world, and as Giuliani said, this is where Canadians and the world come to get treated.

Ron Paul points out that we would have the money for a great health care system if we ended the war and got the billions back.

7:50p

You can tell I am a political junkie - I forgot there were NFL playoff games going on tonight. BTW, final score: Seattle Seahawks 35    Washington Redskins 14

7:53p

Some interesting ideas coming out about health care that I have never heard before. I want to know a little more about how Massachusetts set up a system where individual families could purchase insurance, and the prices of premiums eventually dropped to be half of where they started.

7:58p

McCain takes on pharmaceutical company policies; Romney defends how the companies operate.

8:00p

Commercial time. Besides the YouTube debate, this is the most substantive debate I have seen during this race. I really like how the candidates can speak to each other, and how fewer people allows for more time to answer (it ought to be even better for the Democrats).

8:05p

Second half starts, with direct questions to candidates and time limits. We start off with immigration, and McCain is reminded about the last debate in New Hampshire where he was hammered on the topic - coming on the heels of a failed Senate bill (remember when everyone thought McCain was close to dropping out?).

8:10p

Romney - all illegal immigrants need to leave the country and can then apply for entry and citizenship.

Giuliani - it is impossible to get everyone out. Focus on the people who are committing crimes and get them out first.

McCain and Romney go after each other. McCain calls him out on the attack ads he has been running about McCain's amnesty plan.

8:13p

(McCain to Romney) 'It is easy to get mis-quoted when you change your position on issues.' (or something close to that - whatever the words, it got an 'oooooooo' from the audience)

8:15p

Giuliani brings up the Reagan microphone incident (lol - video above) and says that Reagan's view on immigration would put him in one of Mitt's negative ads.

8:19p

Paul and Huckabee have been strangely quiet about this topic. Neither has spoken - and Gibson calls out Huckabee, saying he is sitting there with a smile on his face letting the others fight it out.

8:24p

Why to not vote for Obama?

Romney - he wants government to take over health care; Washington needs to change, and Romney has the experience of doing it

Thompson - Obama has adopted the position of every liberal interest group; his alternative to all issues is to have the federal government solve the problem

McCain - says that Romney is the 'candidate of change' (laughs from crowd); Obama does not have the knowledge and experience to do the job

Giuliani - Obama has never had executive experience; change is a concept, but change could be very bad versus good

Huckabee - differences on 2nd and 10th amendments, life, national defense, taxes, same sex marriage; points out that Obama has touched a chord with the voters, and has excited people about this election, and warns the party about not recognizing this fact

Paul - their campaigns are similar, using and welcoming young people; Paul talks more about economics and monetary policy, where Obama talks more about the welfare state

8:35p

Does it make Obama happy that he has the assumed the role of presumed Democratic nominee for purposes of these types of questions?

8:37p

Thompson would not tax excess profits of the oil companies, pointing out that we are not a country that regulates our economy. At least he is honest, by also pointing out that we are not going to be energy independent any time soon.

8:42p

And.....we're done.

WOW! How many times could Romney be accused of changing his positions?

All in all, I think Romney handled himself very well, and you could tell that he and McCain were the top two by the way they went at each other. Huckabee disappeared entirely (since no one thinks he can win in New Hampshire, it may have been his philosophy to get through this without doing any harm - but leaders should not act this way), and Giuliani reminded everyone that he is still running. Thompson woke up long enough to participate and show how he could be a force if he wanted to be. Who thought Paul would outlast Brownback, Hunter and Tancredo to make the final six?

Kudos to ABC for this debate. The first half went extremely well, and Gibson gave them all enough freedom to mix it up, and yet knew when to reign them in. I have to look this up to see if the moderators have been announced yet for the general election debates, but tonight was Gibson's application for doing one of them.

Gibson is also going to have candidates from both parties on stage at the same time. And out come the candidates - the audience gives them a well-deserved standing ovation. Onto the Democratic debate.

-RSKnopfJr

Hancock County Republican Fall Picnic

Tonight at the Koehler Center on the campus of The University of Findlay, I attended the 2007 Hancock County Republican Party Fall Picnic. Now, besides being a Republican and attending this annual Columbus Day tradition, this event holds another special memory for me.

Back in 1992 after I had recovered from cancer surgery and treatments, my family asked what I wanted to do for my birthday (which is on October 9th). Because of college, I hadn't been to this event for a few years, and I persuaded my family and fiance (now the FCP's wife) to forgo any presents and just join me at this BBQ. My mother got tickets for everyone, and they all joined me...my favorite hobby and my family together in the same room was very life affirming.

Anyway, tonight's event kicked off a little late, but soon got rolling as Judge Vern Preston got up and shared a few barbs about Democrats.

listen to Judge Vern Preston talk about Columbus Day or download the file

listen to Judge Vern Preston talk about famous books or download the file

After dinner, Congressman Jim Jordan got up and spoke to the crowd for a moment before introducing the main speaker...

listen to Congressman Jim Jordan address the audience or download the file

the Honorable Rob Portman.

listen to Rob Portman address the audience or download the file

For those who forget, Portman was a six-term Congressman from the Cincinnati area. He hit the national stage by serving on the House ways and Means committee, and later when he left to join GWB White House staff as a trade representative. He was later named budget director, but left the position this past June so he could spend more time with his wife and three children.

Portman might run for Governor or US Senate in a few years when Strickland or Brown come up for re-election...or maybe Voinovich will face a conservative challenge (unlikely, but possible considering some of the comments and votes he has made over the past few years). The crowd responded enthusiastically to his speech, and I believe he would make a great representative for the state.

I hope that the recordings and pictures are adequate. I am in the market for a nice unit to record audio at these events, so if you have any ideas, let me know.

-RSKnopfJr

Republican Presidential Debate (New Hampshire)

Tonight, on Fox, the Republican Presidential contenders square off live from the University of New Hampshire.

Everything's Bigger

The Texas GOP Straw Poll was held this past weekend, and the winner is...Duncan Hunter.

Going Up...Going Down - 08/17/07

A special Republican Party Presidential candidate issue of GUGD.

	Mitt Romney Anytime you win two straw polls within a week, you are doing something right. Let's see how he does outside the Midwest...let's say, South Carolina.
	Mike Huckabee Anytime you finish second in the Ames Straw Poll, you are doing something right. Let's see how he does with the other top-tier candidates in the mix.
	Fred Thompson Anytime you finish above other top-tier candidates in the straw polls, and you yourself have not yet announced, you are doing something right. Let's see how he does once he makes things official and appears side-by-side the others in a few debates.
	Rudy Giuliani Anytime you finish below a candidate who has not entered the race, you may have something to think about. Let's see how his strategy of waiting for Super Tuesday (Feb 5) works out.
	Ron Paul Anytime you finish higher in the straw polls then people expect, you must be doi...oh, forget it. Ron Paul (and his supporters) has to be excited. Top 5 in Ames, and Top 3 in Illinois? On to Texas!! Paul is going to be expecting some more questions and air time come the next debate in September.

-RSKnopfJr

Illinois Straw Poll - Results

Late announcement from the Illinois Republican Party...

“Congratulations to Mitt Romney, whose strong showing today indicates he has begun to put together a strong statewide organization. There’s no question that Illinois’ demographics closely match those of the United States and this could be an indication as to whom Illinois voters are leaning toward this coming February.”

Off his recent win in Iowa, Romney won the 'Land of Lincoln' straw poll, doubling up on runner-up Fred Thompson:

1. Mitt Romney – 40.35% 
2. Fred Thompson – 19.96%
3. Ron Paul – 18.87%
4. Rudy Giuliani – 11.61%
5. John McCain – 4.12%
6. Mike Huckabee – 3.04%
7. Sam Brownback – 1.08%
8. Duncan Hunter - .65%
9. Tom Tancrado - .33%

What's most surprising...

• Romney's win? Not really. With the proximity to Iowa, and coming off of Iowa, this can hardly be considered out of the ordinary.
• Fred Thompson doing better than Rudy Giuliani? Perhaps a little considering the spread between the two. Let's see what happens when the two are on the same stage.
• Ron Paul in third place?  Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. This shows that Iowa was not a fluke, and his supporters are a force to be reckoned with (at least in the midwest).

Next up: Texas at the end of the month.

-RSKnopfJr

The Man from Hope

Sure, Mitt Romney received the most votes at this week's Iowa Straw Poll, but that was expected. The biggest story to come out of Ames, however, was the surprise second-place finish of Mike Huckabee.

For those of you have regular FCPolitico readers, you know that I have (on more than one occasion) extolled the virtues of Huckabee, so it was a little satisfying to see him do so well. After the results were announced, you had the feeling that the press was going to pick up on this...and the reaction came fast and furious...

• Meet the Press - "T he Huckabee story is amazing for a couple of reasons. He didn't buy a single bus. ... The other thing is Huckabee actually had a negative ad run against him for this last week. The Club for Growth went after him. So here's somebody who didn't have any paid media up himself, had a negative ad criticizing him, and he finished second. It's a big deal. ... Huckabee may start inching up and saying, 'Hey, I belong in this first tier.'"
• Bloomberg - "He got more votes than he bought tickets, which is a rare thing in Iowa. You usually get what you pay for. Huckabee got more than that."
• Des Moines Register - "Governor Huckabee was arguably the biggest winner yesterday, because he did beat Sam Brownback, and the two of them were in a real contest for the hearts and minds of the social conservatives."

...and the candidate himself on Face the Nation...

"We're in fact in the first tier I think by everybody's estimation, and here's why. It wasn't just that we surprised people with a second showing. It's that we did it with so few resources. I mean, this really was feeding the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves. An amazing kind of day for us. Because if you look at how much money some of the candidate spent to get the votes they got, it's staggering. And we spent less than $100,000 on the straw poll.

If we add everything we did over the course of the last seven weeks in Iowa -- that includes paper clips and gasoline for the vehicles to get us from place to place -- our total expenses were $150,000. So when you look at what we were able to achieve, it was because people came to Ames to vote for us. And we had remarkable stories of people who came literally from all over America to work for us. And then people from Ames, one girl drove from Ames to Des Moines to get her driver's license because she forgot it, just so she could vote for me. I mean, it was a movement."

Still not convinced? Try these...

Easy style hits chord with Republicans
Strumming on his guitar, the presidential candidate from Hope, Arkansas knows informal southern manners go down well on the campaign trail. His easy way with people and self-deprecating humour helped to get him re-elected four times as governor of Arkansas.
Edward Luce
FT.com via MSNBC

Huckabee's Price of Admission: $100,000
Relishing his second-place finish in the Ames, Iowa straw poll on Saturday, Mike Huckabee yesterday noted that he managed to snare 18 percent of the vote despite investing much less in the event than his top rivals. "It wasn't just that we surprised people with a second showing, it's that we did it with so few resources," he said. "This really was feeding the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves."
Alec MacGillis
Washington Post

For a Joke-Telling Candidate, a Second-Place Finish
“I can’t buy you — I don’t have the money,” Mike Huckabee, the Arkansas Republican seeking the presidency, told Republicans at the Iowa Straw Poll this weekend. He offered a mock frown.
Adam Nagourney
New York Times

Analysis: Huckabee's 2nd-Place 'Win' in Ames
The biggest political event of the 2007 calendar year gave former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney a victory, but the biggest winner may well be former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who placed a surprising second.
Chris Cillizza
The Washington Post

Huckabee media whirl: Empathy for life 'at the bottom of the mountain'
Mike Huckabee has parlayed his surprise second-place finish in the Iowa Republican Party straw poll into at least eight national media appearances so far. One of his most interesting encounters was with Chris Mathews on MSNBC's Hardball.
Jill Lawrence
USA Today

Huckabee's Fifteen Minutes
After his second-place finish in the Iowa straw poll, Mike Huckabee emerged as the mainstream media's favorite conservative.
Maggie Gallagher
Yahoo!

So what's next? Does this move Huckabee to the top tier? Maybe not all the way, but he is definitely closer to replacing McCain than ever before. Huckabee has until he end of September to translate this success into an increase in fundraising.

Talk has also surfaced of Huckabee being a possible choice for VP. I think that the idea has merit, especially if Giuliani is the Republican nominee and needs a southerner (Arkansas) with executive experience (governor) and who is a pro-life (and can balance Rudy's position) conservative (to balance Rudy being a moderate). Stranger things have happened...and this election cycle, anything is possible.

-RSKnopfJr

photos courtesy of Mike Huckabee's campaign website

Ames Straw Poll - Results & Recap

After a 90+ minute delay in announcing the results (due to problems with the Diebold machines counting the ballots), the results are in for the Ames Straw Poll:

1. Mitt Romney - 4516 votes, 31.5%
2. Mike Huckabee - 2587, 18.1%
3. Sam Brownback - 2192, 15.3%
4. Tom Tancredo - 1,961, 13.7%
5. Ron Paul - 1305, 9.1%
6. Tommy Thompson - 1039, 7.3%
7. Fred Thompson - 203, 1.4%
8. Rudy Giuliani - 183, 1.3%
9. Duncan Hunter - 174, 1.2%
10. John McCain - 101, 1%
11. John Cox - 41, .1%
Total Votes: 14,302

As expected, Romney won...and even though his percentage was about the same as GWBush in 1999, the difference between first and second was greater than Bush's victory over Steve Forbes eight years ago. Since he did just as good as Bush did, Romney can probably sleep well tonight knowing that he met the expectations that were out there.

In a surprise to many (but not, ahem, the FCPolitico), Mike Huckabee finished second. Since the first Republican debate, I have been impressed with him. His message really must have resonated with the Iowa voters because he did not have the money to spend (like Romney), and did not make this a make-or-break event (like Tommy Thompson). We'll see if this translates into more resources headed Huckabee's way.

Brownback and Tancredo did better than I expected, but it is a testament to the importance (and money) they threw at today's event. They were second only to Romney in the number of supporters being transported to Ames, and the effort certainly paid off.

Ron Paul's fifth place finish, despite a minimal effort to participate in the event, and a court challenge in the way the way the vote was held (he looks good now considering the technical issues of the night) that should have hurt him more, show that he is not a fringe candidate. Even though he is not near the top-tier, his message (and dedicated supporters) should not be dismissed. Paul's following reminds me of Howard Dean from four years ago; if a top candidate can get Paul's endorsement, there is a major grass roots organization that will follow.

I am waiting for the announcements from Tommy Thompson and Duncan Hunter that they are suspending their campaigns. Thompson said many times that if he didn't finish near the top, he was done; and considering how hard his campaign worked to do well in this event, the sixth place finish will assure that we will now have only one Thompson remain in the race. John Cox? At least his family and friends voted for him.

We knew that McCain was going to have a poor showing, but he actually received more votes than he did in 1999. Also, there may be something to Fred Thompson doing better than Rudy Giuliani, but it may be because a group paid $10,000 to be at the event, pass out material on Thompson's behalf, and broadcast audio of his speeches over a speaker. All three candidates who weren't here know who the competition now is, and need to get in position to do better in the Iowa caucus in January.

Tomorrow, Romney (FOX), Huckabee (CBS) and Brownback (ABC) will be on the Sunday news/talk shows...so tune in to see how they spin the results.

So how did I do? Here's my prediction again for you to compare:

1. Mitt Romney - 36%
2. Mike Huckabee - 19%
3. Tommy Thompson - 11%
4. Rudy Giuliani - 8%
5. Fred Thompson - 7%
6. Tom Tancred - 6%
7. Sam Brownback - 5%
8. Ron Paul - 5%
9. Duncan Hunter - 2%
10. John McCain - 1%
11. John Cox - 0%

Hey...I got the top two, and bottom three, correct...not too bad. As for everything in between, I blame it on Diebold.  ;-)

-RSKnopfJr

Ready...Ames...Fire!

Imagine enjoying a nice summer day at a park, one where you don't have to drive to get there, all your food and drinks are free, and there is plenty of entertainment for you and the kids...and all you had to do was cast a ballot for the person picking up the tab. Every four years, this is what Iowans go through. Tough gig, isn't it?

No candidate has ever won the Iowa caucuses without placing in the top two at the Ames Straw Poll, so there is some historical credence to doing well. Even though the results have nothing to do with the caucus that will take place next January, this is an important test for candidates. With all the money going to the Iowa Republican Party, this is not much more than a fund-raiser; however, to those running for President, this is an opportunity to show Iowa (and the nation that is watching) that they have the ability to organize a state-wide campaign, the spirit to motivate voters, and the financial resources to be viable. 

Even though there is nothing official riding on the results, there are still plenty of storylines. This year's straw poll has all the makings of a great political drama...

Will Mitt Romney win?
By all estimates, it is a foregone conclusion that Romney is going to receive the most votes. The bigger question to ask is, what constitutes a victory? Let's face it, Romney is in a no-win situation. The absence of Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Fred Thompson already taints the results in the eyes of many voters. Also, when competing against the second-tier (and below) candidates, how much a margin of victory is needed to proclaim victory? Simply winning by five percent or receiving 35% of the vote may not be good enough. Finally, what happens if he finishes second (or worse)? For Romney, there is no upside to competing in this event, but plenty of downside if his victory is not strong enough.

Who emerges as the conservative voice?
Over the past month, there has been a lot of back and forth between Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownback. Both are vying to be the voice of social conservatives, and the e-mails and accusations between the two camps have have flying. Brownback's campaign has been calling McCain supporters, urging them to vote for their candidate since McCain is sitting this one out...Huckabee is rumored to be running a quiet but effective ground campaign that could surprise some people. The best they can (reasonably) expect to finish is second, but doing so will go a long way in establishing their campaign and continuing on to 2008.

What about the candidates not participating?
You have to think that Giuliani, McCain and FThompson are strong enough candidates that the results of the poll won't affect them much. If they do better than those participating, it is a testament to their campaign. If they don't, they can also say that they weren't vested in the process anyway. There is a feeling that Giuliani and FThompson might do better than expected, but that McCain will be hurt by voters upset that he is skipping this event for the second time.

What about outsiders affecting the outcome?
Don't think for a second that Iowa Democrats or supporters of Giuliani/McCain/FThompson are going to stay at home watching events unfold on television. $35 a ticket may be expensive, but if someone was looking to upset one of the Republican front-runners or throw a party into chaos, the opportunity is certainly there.

What about a wild card?
Ron Paul's supporters have shown that they are an on-line force to be reckoned with, and when Paul was excluded from an opportunity to speak at a Republican gathering several weeks ago, the meeting he independently staged drew more people than the official event. Paul only purchased 500 tickets for the straw poll; will his supporters reach into their own pockets to pay the fee, or are they savvy enough to get a different candidate to pay their way?

So with all of that to think of, who is going to come out ahead? With so many candidates and so many variables, the outcome is virtually impossible to predict with any accuracy, but that's what makes this so fun...so let's give it the ol' FCPolitico try...

• Mitt Romney - 36%
• Mike Huckabee - 19%
• Tommy Thompson - 11%
• Rudy Giuliani - 8%
• Fred Thompson - 7%
• Tom Tancred - 6%
• Sam Brownback - 5%
• Ron Paul - 5%
• Duncan Hunter - 2%
• John McCain - 1%
• John Cox - 0%

Results will roll in around 8:00p, so please go ahead and add your predictions to the comments section before then. Check back later Saturday night for results.

-RSKnopfJr

Straight Talk

"Politics is not like an ocean voyage or a military campaign… something which leaves off as soon as reached. It is not a public chore to be gotten over with. It is a way of life."
Plutarch

...and with it being a way of life, it is very hard for some people to understand that their personal political aspirations are never going to come to fruition.

When Bob Dole won the Republican nomination in 1996, it was widely considered to be a reward for a lifetime of public service and dedication to the GOP. Dole had a challenge in the primaries (Pat Buchanan, Steve Forbes, Phil Graham, Lamar Alexander...people do not know how close Dole came to dropping out of the race - a second place finish in Arizona [foreshadowing] kept him going). He was a war veteran, he was well respected by his colleagues, and a political issue hurt his candidacy and political party (budget stalemate - government closing).

With John McCain, certain parallels can be seen: a moderate Senator from Arizona respected by those on both sides of the aisle...a war veteran...an issue that hurt his candidacy (immigration) and a tremendous challenge in the primaries (Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson).

With his loss to GWBush in 2000, McCain earned a lot of respect and praise for his 'straight talk'. A darling of independents and respected by Democrats, there were rumors in 2004 of him being John Kerry's VP choice, or at the very least, running as an independent. Staying true to his party, McCain was banking on the philosophy that not only was he the heir apparent for the Republican nomination, he had earned the opportunity through his loyalty and longevity.

Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the nomination. In the early debates, observers and critics almost universally agreed that McCain 'won'...he had the presence and answers. Since then, things have gone downhill. In the past few weeks, McCain has disclosed that he did not raise much money during the second quarter of this year (and 'fringe' candidate currently has more money in the bank than McCain). He had to cut back on field offices and workers in states where the primaries came later.

Earlier today, in a dramatic turn of events, McCain accepted the resignations of campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver. When you jettison two of the top three people on your staff (to go along with the primary fund-raiser), something is seriously wrong. All signs are pointing to a campaign whose message is not resonating with Republicans; and with no money rolling in (the gas in the campaign engine), things are sputtering.

Ironically, it appears that issues that plagued Dole during many of his attempts for the Presidency are happening within McCain's campaign (doesn't anyone remember the saying 'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it'?). Like Dole, McCain has numerous people trying to run the campaign or pull it in different directions; instead of one vision, there are multiple people who believe their way is best and would go directly to the candidate with their opinion. Like Dole, McCain has tried to micromanage instead of leaving key decisions up to his campaign manager; his refusal to give up control has led all to this point.

I am not saying that McCain is going to, or should, drop out of the race. He certainly has the aptitude to hold the office, and his knowledge should not be discarded just because of some poor decisions on this year's campaign trail. It is, however, up to Republican voters to decide if they want this particular man (with his particular plan and vision) to be their flag-bearer.

Ultimately, this will be decided early next year in the primaries; for practical purposes though, money is the only thing that will be able to get him to that point in time. If Republicans do not want him, they are not going to reach into their pockets...he may be able to get through more debates and might last until the new year, but without the resources, his candidacy is doomed. And that is the kind of straight talk that McCain does not like to hear.

-RSKnopfJr

Spotlight on...Republican Presidential Candidates

Rudy. Hillary. Obama. McCain. Mitt. Edwards. And let's not forget Fred Thompson.

Day after day, the media talks about these candidates, and chooses to ignore the other people running. Pretty soon, you are going to start hearing the term "threshold". Groups sponsoring debates will start limiting the candidates they invite unless they are at a certain level in the polls. Before they do, I encourage you to take a moment to see what these other candidates have to offer. They may surprise you.

Today, the spotlight is on...Republican Presidential Candidates.

Sam Brownback

Jim Gilmore

Duncan Hunter

Mike Huckabee

Ron Paul

Tom Tancredo

Tommy Thompson

Tomorrow, the Democrats.

-RSKnopfJr

Fred Thompson launches website

On FOXnews Hannity & Colmes this evening, Fred Thompson was on for 27 minutes. During his interview, he announced that there is now a website up and running. In line with his populist appeal, it is called I'm With Fred.

-RSKnopfJr

Ken Blackwell Job's Plan

Remember Ken Blackwell? A long time state office holder and a candidate for governor way back in 2006, Blackwell was a darling of the Ohio Republican Party. Here is a campaign advertisement that ran during his campaign.

Independence Day for Republican Conservatives?

If you have an extra $100k laying around and are looking for something to do with it, then next Monday is your lucky day. With a call to action via a conference call earlier today, Fred Dalton Thompson announced his intentions to enter the Presidential race (everyone knows it - let's not pretend anymore).