McCain Launches Attack Effort in NH

Arizona Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain issued a direct mail piece this week to further chip away at Governor Mitt Romney's front-runner status in New Hampshire.

McCain's mailer paints Romney as someone who can't be trusted and who has flip-flopped on many issues, highlighting in this piece his change on illegal immigration. Romney has held a lead in New Hampshire, but in recent weeks his lead has dwindled at the site of the nation's first primary. Romney also lost his lead in Iowa to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Will McCain's effort help his own numbers in the New Hampshire polls?

For more, click here.

McCain Launches Attack Effort in NH

Arizona Senator and presidential candidate John McCain launched direct mail attack against Governor Mitt Romney in an effort to chip away further at Romney's front-runner status in New Hampshire.

McCain's mailpiece paints Romney as someone who can't be trusted and who flip-flopped on many issues and highlights his change on illegal immigration. Romney holds a strong lead in New Hampshire, the site of the nation's first primary, but in recent weeks he has lost some of his momentum there along with losing his lead in Iowa to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Will McCain's effort to tell the truth about Governor Romney also help him in gaining groun in the NH polls?

For more, click here.

Special Elections in VA-01 and OH-05

Voters will head to the polls today in Virginia's 1st district to replace the late Rep. JoAnn Davis. There are three candidates for the race-- a Republican, a Democrat and an Independent. Unfortunately the Republican candidate, who has the strongest chance of winning in this solid Republican district, is a staunch conservative on social issues and more.

The same goes in Ohio's 5th district, where voters will choice between a far-right conservative and a Democrat to replace the late Rep. Paul Gillmor. This district is rated R+10 on the PVI scale. Certainly, had a moderate Republican been the GOP candidate, they would still have enough support to win in the general election.

If our moderate majority is to expand in the next session of Congress, we must have strong candidates who are willing to fight for the real Republican principles and stand up to the extreme faction of the GOP who is attempting to make our Party into one of extremists.

Romney to Give Speech on Mormon Fatih

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney will deliver a speech this morning on his Mormon faith and confront many of his critics who believe his faith is a detriment to his presidential aspirations.

Romney's speech will take place at the George H.W. Bush presidential library in Texas. Romney will say that no candidate should be rejected because of his religion and that, "Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate’s religion that are appropriate. “I believe there are. And I will answer them today.’’

For more on what to expect from Romney's speech, click here.

Giuliani and Norquist Exchange Letters

Rudy Giuliani's campaign yesterday released an exchange of letters between Mayor Giuliani and Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform. During last week's YouTube/CNN debate, Norquist asked the candidates whether, as president, they would oppose and veto any tax increase. Giuliani's response was "yes".

In what seems to be an endorsement, though not blatantly stated as such by Mr. Norquist, he has thrown his support behimd Giuliani's campaign by saying,

"I am grateful to you for highlighting your tremendous record of pro-growth tax policy as mayor of New York City. By cutting taxes 23 times in New York, you
saved New York City taxpayers more than $9 billion in taxes and lowered the tax
burden to the lowest it had been in decades. As you've said on the campaign
trail, these tax cuts worked and because of them New York City's economy has
flourished."

To read Norquist's letter in full, click here.

RMC Asks Romney to Flip-Flop Just One More Time

The Republican Majority for Choice will be up this Sunday with tv ads in Iowa and New Hampshire and newspaper ads in those same states.

To see the video, which focuses on Romney's ever-changing positions on abortion, click here.

To read more about the efforts, follow this link.

CNN/YouTube Republican Presidential Debate Tonight!

Tonight CNN and YouTube are hosting a Republican Presidential debate in St. Petersburg, Florida airing at 8 PM. The debate is different because the questions are coming from real people who have submitted a video question through YouTube. Forty people have been selected by CNN to ask their question directly to the eight Republican nominees.

This is the second time a debate with this format has been held. Over the summer the Democrats had their turn answering the YouTube submitted questions. Most notable was an animated snowman that asked about global warming.

Senator Lott Will Announce Retirement

In a surprise move, Senator Trent Lott (MS) will announce his retirement from Congress, expected around Noon, EST today.

Lott won re-election in November 2006, just over a year ago, and was soon voted minority whip. Lott had previously been stripped of his leadership position because of a racially insensitive comment made in 2002.

GOP Leadership was reportedly shocked by Lott's decision-- a decision made just over the Thanksgiving holiday. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour will appoint a temporary successor to the seat, expected to be vacated by the close of 2007, and a special election to fill the remaining time of Senator Lott's term will be held in November 2008.

Senator Lott's decision adds to the growing number of Republicans to vacate office. Though this and many other open seats will be targeted highly by the Democratic Party, this is also a clear opportunity to elect more moderate Republicans to office.

For more on Senator Lott's retirement, click here.

Ask the GOP Presidential Candidates a Question!

Do you have something you want to ask the Republican Presidential candidates? Now is your chance!

On Wednesday, November 28th, CNN and YouTube will co-sponsor a Republican Presidential debate in St. Petersburg, Florida. You can participate by submitting a question via www.youtube.com/republicandebate. In this all-important election, we must know full well how our GOP nominee, and potential future President, will protect personal freedom and privacy.

Submitting a question is simple and will take only a few moments of your time. Knowing candidates’ positions on issues of personal freedom and choice are essential for Americans nationwide to make an informed voting decision. You can pose questions such as: What is their proposal to ensure that our children, particularly those in middle school and high school, are taught medically-accurate, age-appropriate sex education? How will they address the spending and tax issues our nation faces today? How will they work to bring unity to our broken GOP?

If you need assistance in submitting a question, please call us at 202-887-11150 Already submit a question? Let us know that, too, by calling or emailing Info@RealRepublicanMajority.org.

Sen. Warner Criticizes GOP

Virginia Senator John Warner issued a sharp criticism of the Republican Party following Tuesday's elections at the local and state levels. He stated that the GOP seems to have no form of tolerance for any moderation within the Party. According to Warner, "The rigidity of this outfit is going to keep taking it down until they hit bottom. And I don't know when that will be. And I find it quite distressing."

Several moderates lost across the state on Tuesday, making Virginia even more "blue". Senator Warner, who votes moderate to conservative, recently announced that he would not seek re-election. His top replacement, Congressman Tom Davis, said last month that he would not seek the office due to the fact that the State Party would hold a caucus instead of a primary. The caucus will lend itself to the GOP nominating a more conservative candidate over Congressman Davis, and with recent turns in the state, more than likely the seat will be lost to the Democratic Party.

Senator Warner's insight comes from years and years of experience in public office. Both the Virginia GOP and National GOP would be wise to pay attention to his thoughts. Moderates are needed in the GOP to win critical seats in state, local and federal offices.

For more, click here.

Brownback and Robertson Announce Endorsements

This morning conservative activist Pat Robertson announced his endorsement of Mayor Rudy Giuliani for President. Former presidential hopeful Sam Brownback is expected to endorse Senator John McCain later today in Iowa, then travel with the Senator to two other cities in the state.

In his statement at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Robertson said:

“It is my pleasure to announce my support for America’s Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, a
proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans. Rudy Giuliani took a city that was in decline and considered ungovernable and reduced its violent crime, revitalized its core, dramatically lowered its taxes, cut through a welter of bureaucratic regulations, and did so in the spirit of bipartisanship which is so urgently needed in Washington today.”

Upon accepting the endorsement, Giuliani stated, "“I am very encouraged by Pat’s support. His confidence in me means a lot. His experience and advice will be a great asset to me and my campaign.”

Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani means a lot to Giuliani's efforts, particularly because of Robertson's affiliation with evangelical Christians across the nation who have been reluctant to throw their support behind any of the candidates. The endorsement came as a surprise to many, but really, this is just a sign that Giuliani is seen as a candidate that can bring unity to the GOP and who can be a much-needed leader in protecting our national security. Giuliani has shown to resepct the real Republican principles of limited government, fiscal restraint, and economic reason.

Robertson's endorsement is also a large blow to the Romney campaign, as Governor Romney was openly seeking the endorsement of Mr. Robertson. With only weeks before the presidential primaries begin, today's development will certainly impact the campaign going into the early states.

Stay tuned for more on Senator Brownback's endorsement of McCain. For more on the Robertson endorsement, click here.

Election Day Around the Country

Today, voters in many states across the country will head to the polls to elect state and local officials. Elections will be held in states including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It is imperative to get out and vote for candidates who reflect your views of limited government, individual freedom, fiscal responsibility and strong national security.

Candidates running for local positions are often up-and-coming leaders who will run for federal office in the future. That is why it is so important for them to win these seats today. They are the future of the GOP and we must ensure that moderates are represented in local seats now so that they have the opporunity to represent us in Congress in the coming years.

Mukasey Confirmation Threatened

Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey's confirmation may be threatened due to a non-committal answer on the issue of waterboarding, a form of CIA interrogation in which a prisoner is strapped to an inclined board and poured over with water to simulate drowning.

In his letter in response to whether or not he supported waterboarding, Mukasey could not affirm that the practice was illegal, but said that he found the interrogation method "repugnant" and seems "over the line".

Mukasey's confirmation hangs in the balance right now of whether the Senate Judiciary Committee will pass him through to the full Senate. When Mukasey was first nominated by President Bush for the Attorney General post, he gained support from an array of Senators, Republicans and Democrats alike, including NY Senator Chuck Schumer. Now, Schumer himself seems to be rethinking his support. We will know more after next Tuesday, when the Judiciary Committee meets privately to review the Mukasey nomination.

The American people deserve to have an honest and trustworthy Attorney General, ad thus far in the hearings, Mr. Mukasey has been that. A contentious battle in confirming a new AG may prove to be a detriment to the overall safety and security of our nation.

For more, click here.

Brownback Drops Out; Is Criticized for Meeting with Giuliani

Kansas Senator Sam Brownback dropped out of the presidential race last week in the wake of poor fundraising and polling numbers. Several of the remaining GOP candidates have contacted Senator Brownback in hopes of seeking his endorsement, including Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani and Brownback met in Washington, DC in Senator Brownback's office several days ago, after which Brownback stated his comfort with Giuliani's positions on social issues.

However, following the meeting, Jim Bopp, a lawyer for the National Right to Life, criticized Brownback for meeting with Mayor Giuliani simply because of their differeneces on issues such as abortion and stem cell research. The National Right to Life came to the defense of Senator Brownback in the situation. Jim Bopp is a noted far-right conservative who has often been in the headlines because of his extremist views. This is just another example of a far-right extremist being so focused on the issues that divide our Party that they are unable to see the reality that a moderate, common sense Republican who is leading in nationwide polls is the best opportunity for the GOP to retain the White House.

If the conservative Right to Life can see beyond the differences in Brownback and Giuliani, then Mr. Bopp should be able to do the same.

Giuliani Declared "Winner" of GOP Debate

The Republican Presidential candidates met last night in Orlando, Florida for a debate sponsored by Fox News and the Republican Party of Florida. One of the most notable round of questioning in the debate was the ability for the candidates to further discuss who the 'real Republican' candidate in the race is, and why they are the most conservative. In the days leading up to the debate, each campaign had been making a public effort to tout their 'Republicanism' and many attacked another candidate for why that person was not a true conservative.

The field of candidates argued over who would be able to beat Senator Hillary Clinton, whom many assume will be the Democratic nominee. In the end, many political pundits said that Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the victor of the night. He showed an understanding of all the issues and a passion that many did not see in some of the other candidates. Senator McCain was also strong, adding humor at many times. Fred Thompson waffled on some questions, but overall exhibited a passion that he lacked in his first debate performance.

For more, click here.

Mukasey AG Hearings

Attorney-General nominee Michael Mukasey testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday; hearings will resume today. Many believe Mukasey will receive unanimous approval from the committee, as he has thus far appeared as an independent thinker and someone who could disagree with Administration polices should the situation arise.

Mukasey clearly stated his intentions to keep partisan politics out of the Justice Department, something that former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was criticized for not doing. Mukasey's confirmation could be a breath of fresh air to the DOJ and to Washington as a whole. He has vowed to keep White House affairs separate from the Department of Justice and said he would resign if his legal or ethical questions about Administration policy are ignored.

Today, Senators will delve deeper into the topics of his view of executive power in regards to wiretapping. Could the confirmation of Mukasey bring back the approval ratings of the GOP? How will a unanimous, or near-unanimous, vote of confirmation impact the public's perception of politics?

For more, click here.

3rd Quarter Presidential Numbers are Reported

Presidential candidates had until midnight Monday to submit their quarterly reports to the Federal Election Commission.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the leading candidate in most national polls, raised $11.4 million during the three month span, the largest figure among the Republican candidates. He has $11.6 million available for use in the primary campaign. Senator Fred Thompson, who officially entered the race during this quarter, had $7.1 million on hand. He raised $12.8 million since June-- an extra month added since it was June when he started his exploratory committee.

Gov. Romney closed the quarter with $9.2 million cash on hand. In total, Romney has lent his campaign $17.35 million- a huge sum of money. Is Governor Romney trying to buy the nomination? He leads in polls in Iowa, where it should also be noted that he has spent the most on television advertisements, but falls behind the other leading candidates (namely Giuliani and Thompson) in several other statewide polls and has yet to lead in any national poll. Will voters buy the gimmick that Romney is as invested in the campaign as his supporters are, or will they see that he is lagging behind and his self-funding of the campaign is merely to keep his head above water?

Far Right Continues to Bash GOP

Family Research Council Tony Perkins has continued to lambaste the GOP and cause the Party further harm in his relentless statements attacking Mayor Giuliani's presidential campaign. Most recently, Perkins equated Giuliani with Senator Clinton, calling their positions on abortion "indistinguishable".

Perkins continued, "You don't beat a liberal with a moderate. "People are not going to get excited about Giuliani." Has Perkins been paying attention to the presidential race at all? Mayor Giuliani is leading the Republican field in all nationwide polls and enjoys a broad range of support, including many of Perkins own followers. Unline Perkins and his comrades, intelligent Americans recognize true leadership in someone who has proven to be a protector of our nation-- the majority of Americans want a president who can bring unity, not someone focused on a few divisive issues. Instead of "rallying the base" as Perkins is attempting to do, he may only alienate the members of his organization and cause the further demise of our GOP.

Candidates Spar at Economic Debate

Presidential candidate Fred Thompson's debate debut was overshadowed yesterday by leading candidates Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. Held in Dearborn, Michigan, the debate was dedicated solely to discussing economic issues-- including taxes and spending.

Governor Romney and Mayor Giuliani criticized each other's records while in office on the issue of tax cuts, claiming that the other's statistics were distorted. The biggest clash came on the issue of the presidential line-item veto, which was found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the 1990s. The line-item veto, which Mr. Romney favors, would allow a president to veto only a portion of a spending bill, while approving the remaining facets of the bill. Mayor Giuliani is adamantly against the use of the line-item veto and cited the Supreme Court's rejection of it during the debate.

Though the line-item veto could be useful in cutting prok barrel spending, SCOTUS has already ruled on the matter. To re-examine the issue, and go back on their ruling, could potentially give any president too much power.

Now that we've seen Thompson in a public forum debate his rival GOP candidates, does he have staying power?

For more, click here.

Real Republicans Respond to James Dobson

Last week, we spoke about the possibility of conservative far-right leaders such as James Dobson and Tony Perkins supporting a third-Party candidate if Mayor Rudy Giuliani were to win the GOP nomination.

Dobson's views were expanded upon in a New York Times op-ed article, published October 4th. His narrow opinion will only serve to further divide our already weakened Party, and many responded to his opinion editorial accordingly. Jennifer Blei Stockman, chairwoman of the Republican Majority for Choice, was featured in a response to his editorial. Her letter said:

To the Editor:

James C. Dobson is not only wrong, but desperate. His thinly veiled threat to take votes away from the G.O.P. clearly shows that he has realized that the Republican Party is moving back toward its core principles and away from a radical social agenda.

A look at the polls shows us that the G.O.P. can nominate a socially moderate candidate for president, and our own polling found that 72 percent of self-identified Republicans believe that the government should not play a role in controlling family planning choices for women.

The real Republican majority is socially tolerant and is demanding a return to the core issues that have historically defined the Republican Party: real economic growth, cutting government waste and ensuring the safety of Americans at home and abroad.

Jennifer Blei-Stockman

The writer is co-chairwoman of the Republican Majority
for Choice.

We would be wise as a Party to come together and support candidates who stand on principle rather than pander to the far-right minority.

GOP Economic Debate Held Today

CNBC/MSNBC/The Wall Street Journal will co-sponsor a Republican presidential debate today in Dearborn, Michigan. The debate will air on CNBC at 4pm EST and again on MSNBC at 9pm EST. This is the first debate of the election season that will focus purely on economic issues.

Additionally, voters for the first time will hear from former Senator Fred Thompson in his first official debate appearance as a presidential candidate. In national polls, Thompson has been running in 2nd and 3rd place. This debate is important for him as it will allow many voters to hear from him for the first time. The other candidates that will participate are Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, Sam Brownback and Duncan Hunter.

Log Cabin Launches New Romney Attack Ad

Yesterday, Log Cabin Republicans, a pro-gay rights GOP group, initiated an attack ad against presidential candidate Mitt Romney that will air locally in Iowa and on the Fox News network. The advertisement focused largely on Romney's flip-flopping on "social issues" such as abortion and gun rights.

Notably, Governor Romney has drastically changed his position on these issues in the past 2-3 years leading up to his decision to run for president. His ever-changing positions give little assurance to those on either side of these issues and more; he could continue to adjust his sails to the appropriate political wind. The Log Cabin ad underscores yet again that Governor Romney's stances on any issues cannot be full trusted.

To view the full ad, click here. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/log-cabin-republicans-release-anti-romney-ad/

Far Right Conservatives will Further Divide the GOP

Conservative leaders James Dobson and Tony Perkins recently declared their intention to search for a 3rd Party candidate should Rudy Giuliani win the GOP nomination. Clearly, these leaders do not support Giuliani's more moderate views on social issues, but as a Party, we must ask ourselves, "How will statements such as these help to unite our fractured Party?" The answer is simply that inter-Party bashing only serves to bolster the Democratic Party and ensure that the GOP becomes a permanent minority.

Dobson and Perkins have been two of the most outspoken leaders on attacking moderate Republicans on issues such as abortion and stem cell research, calling the real Republican majority "RINOs". Yet now, it seems they have placed select issues ahead of the greater task of reclaiming the nation's agenda for the GOP. Are they willing to sacrifice the future of the GOP and our nation, or will they rally around the candidate, whomever that may be, who proves to be the best opportunity for the GOP to retain the White House?

For more, click here.

Third Quarter for Presidential Fundraising Ends Sunday

On September 30 the third quarter for Presidential campaign fundraising comes to a close. Early estimates, and numbers leaked from campaigns, can be expected next week while the final totals and the contribution reports will not be available until October 15.

Historically fundraising totals for the third quarter are lower than previous two quarters. Much of this can be attributed to the August vacation season and the fact that the easily accessible donors have already contributed to the campaign of their choice.

Whatever the totals are, they will surely reveal information about the direction GOP campaigns. In the coming weeks totals will provide greater insight in to Mayor Giuliani’s frontrunner status, the stability of Senator McCain’s campaign and the traction of Senator Thompson’s campaign.

Addressing the Needs of the People

Earlier this month Governor Schwarzenegger told a crowd at the California GOP convention "If our party doesn't address the needs of the people, the needs of Republicans themselves - the voters, registered Republicans included, will look elsewhere for their political affiliation." He went on to tout the importance of attracting moderate voters to the Party stating that "Our party has lost the middle, and we will not regain true political power in California until we get it back."

The Governor’s comments could not come at a more opportune time for California, or for our nation and our Party as a whole. If we want to gain back “true political power”-- as the Governor stated—including a majority in Congress, then now is the time to act. As we witness a divide in our Party widening, and as leaders and candidates alike continue pander to the far-right, it is time to let our leaders know where the Real Republican Majority stands. If you have not already, please join thousands of common sense Republicans across the nation in letting our Party leaders know where you stand. Click here to sign the Real Republican Majority proxy today. If you have already joined in our proxy, we invite you to forward the link on to friends and family, to help spread the word about the common sense, common ground Real Republican Majority.

Former GOP Candidate Attacks National Party in New Book

Exactly one year ago today, former Senator Lincoln Chafee (RI) successfully defeated his far-right primary opponent. Chafee went on to be defeated in the November general election in the anti-incumbent, anti-Republican wave that swept the nation, but it was in his moment of victory that the moderate wing of the Republican Party exhibited its great influence.

Now Chafee's GOP opponent, Steve Laffey (who is the former mayor of Cranston), has released a book entitled, "Primary Mistake: How the Washington Republican Establishment Lost Everything in 2006 (and Sabotaged My Senatorial Campaign)." The title, and likely much of the contents, of this book only serves to further divide the Republican Party. Of course, differing views are welcome within the 'Big Tent' GOP, but by placing blame on certain individuals for a loss Laffey has merely underscored what so many already have to say about the GOP.

Party leaders, political pundits and the general public agreed that Senator Chafee was the only Republican who would be able to pull off a win in the general election in 2006 due to the fact that Rhode Island is turning more and more to the left. Although Chafee ultimately did not win re-election, we do know that the margin of that loss would have been much greater if Laffey had been the Republican contender in that race.

Fred Thompson Formally Enters Presidential Race

Former Senator Fred Thompson formally entered the race for the presidency in an announcement that aired last night on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In a calculated move, Thompson took away some of the limelight from the other presidential candidates at the close of the debate by his appearance on the show.

At the UNH-Durham debate, candidates were quizzed on Thompson's late entry into the race and how they thought it would affect his chances of winning. Candidates responses were as follows:

MR. HUCKABEE: Well, Brit, I was scheduled to be on Jay Leno tonight, but I gave up m slot for somebody else because I’d rather be in New Hampshire with these fine people. You know, Brit, Fred is -- Fred is from Nashville, Tennessee, home of George Jones, who is often called "No-Show George" for not showing up at his concerts. And maybe Senator Thompson will be known as the no-show for the presidential debates.
But I’m proud to be sharing the stage with these guys, because we’re running for president, and we’re delighted to be here.
And I certainly appreciate getting this opportunity.

REP. PAUL: Well, I welcome him to the race because, very specifically, he will help dilute the vote for my benefit because he will be pro-war -- and I’m the anti-war candidate representing the Republican traditional position.

SEN. MCCAIN: Well, I think that’s a decision that Fred should make. Maybe we’re up past his bedtime, but the point is. You know, one thing I know about New Hampshire and I know well is that the people of New Hampshire expect to see you. They expect to see you a lot, and they expect to see you at townhall meetings and at places all over this great state of New Hampshire. And they expect to see you before they make up their mind.
One of the many Arizonans who ran for president of the United States unsuccessfully, like all of us -- Morris Udall. Once -- he was a very funny man. As you know, once he said -- a fellow in Manchester said to the other one, "What do you think about Mo Udall for president," and the guy said, "I don’t know. I only met him twice." And you know the reason why that joke is funny is because it’s true, and my advice to Fred is get out into the arena, Fred.

MR. ROMNEY: You know, the only question I have for Senator Thompson is, why the hurry? Why not take some more time off? Maybe January, February might be a better time to make a final decision about getting in this race.

MR. GIULIANI: I like Fred a lot. I think Fred is a really, really good man. I think he’s done a pretty good job of playing my part on "Law & Order." I personally prefer the real thing, and -- but I think Fred will add something to this race. But I think this is a nomination you have to earn, though.

The full transcript of last night's GOP debate is available by clicking here.

RealRepublicanMajority.org Live from the GOP Debate!

RealRepublicanMajority.org was on the ground today in New Hampshire speaking with NH Party leaders, leaders in Congress, Congressional candidates and more about the issues facing our nation today and that were the major topics of tonight's 'First in the Fall' debate.

Immigration, the war in Iraq and the war on terror were the major topics of discussion. Each candidate was given the opportunity to make clear their position and policy on these issues and more. There was a noticable absence of time placed on 'moral issues'-- those issues that tend to divide our GOP instead of providing solutions and a united front to Republican voters and Americans nationwide.

Stay tuned to this site tomorrow for a complete review of the First in the Fall debate.

RealRepublicanMajority.org Live from the GOP Debate!

RealRepublicanMajority.org, a co-sponsor of tonight's 'First in the Fall' debate, is in New Hampshire and ready for tonight's GOP debate! Eight leading candidates will participate in the debate which will air live on Fox News at 9pm EST.

We are looking forward to listening to what each candidate has to offer on leading issues of our day. It is imperative that these presidential candidates show broad appeal and can bring in moderate Republicans and Americans across the nation.

Stay tuned to this blog for updates throughout the day!

First in the Fall Debate Tomorrow

With Labor Day behind us, the presidential campaign season is officially underway. Over the next few months, leading up to the super-primary day of February 5th, all eyes will be on the GOP and Democratic candidates alike to see who will put out the nomination.

The 'First in the Fall' debate, to be held tomorrow, September 5th, presents an opportunity for the GOP candidates to prove their staying power. The debate will be held at the University of New Hampshire-Durham and will air nationally on Fox News at 9pm EST. Eight candidates will be present for the debate, including all but Senator Fred Thompson who will appear on The Tonight Show with jay Leno, airing immediately after the debate. It is being reported that Thompson will formally announce his candidacy this week.

For more, click here.

States to be Penalized for Holding Early Primaries

The Republican National Committee announced that any state that holds a primary prior to February 5, 2008 will be penalized by losing half of its convention delegates.

From the New York Times: "'The rules are clear,' said Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee. 'Any state that holds their primary outside of the window shall be penalized delegates.' States are not allowed to hold primaries before Feb. 5."

This statement means that New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Wyoming and Michigan will be penalized for holding early primaries. Two other states, Nevada and Iowa, do not fall under these guidelines because those states hold non-binding caucuses, not primaries.

There is still time for these states to adjust their primary dates to comply with RNC rules and therefore be allowed all of their delegates at the convention. However, Michigan and Florida officials believe that they will not, and should not, be penalized for holding early primaries. New Hampshire GOP Chair Fergus Cullen said the state is willing to lose half its delegates in order to maintain their status of being the state to hold the nation's first primary.

This announcement by the RNC, and subsequent actions by the states, could truly reshape the campaign season. Candidates have focused much of their attention in these states; it is typical in presidential elections that the candidate who wins in the first few states will go on to win the nomination. However, if these five states comply with RNC rules and move back to the February 5th date, candidates will have to expand their focus to emcompass approximately 20 states who will hold February 5th primaries.

Click here for a full article.

Romney's Interview on Abortion

In what has become seemingly a weekly story for Gov. Mitt Romney, he has once again confused the American public on his true stance on the issue of abortion. In an interview Tuesday in Nevada, Romney stated that he supports letting states make their own decisions regarding laws on abortion. He stated:

"My view is that the Supreme Court has made an error in saying at the national
level one size fits all for the whole nation... Instead, I would let states
make their choices."

Earlier in August, Romney stated his support for legislation that would ensure that the protections of the 14th amendment applied to the unborn, essentially making it impossible for Nevadans to hold onto their state's right to legal abortion.

John Ralston, who interviewed Romney Tuesday, commented following the interview. According to this article in the Washington Post, Ralston said:

"I thought that was a perfect example of Mitt Romney trying to thread a needle
that's very difficult to thread...I don't see how you can be antiabortion, be in
favor of a constitutional amendment and be in favor of states' rights. . . . I
don't see how you do it."

Romney has further proved his willingness to abandon his own "principles" to fit the mold of the people he addresses at any one time. His consistent flip-flopping on this one issue should translate into mistrust of his positions on other issues.

Michigan, Arizona Change Primary Dates

Arizona Govenor Janet Napolitano confirmed Tuesday that the state will officially move its presidential primary date to February 5, 2008 joining roughly 20 other states. This move gives Arizona, a state moving further left, more clout in the election battle. This is also the home state of Senator John McCain, who trails largely in nationwide polls against Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson. Thompson has not officially declared himself a candidate.

In addition, Michigan may decide this week to move its primary to as early as January 8th or 15th. Republicans and Democrats have agreed to work together and make a unanimous decision on their primary date. Because New Hampshire state law says that the state must hold its primary seven days before a similar contest, New Hampshire could hold its primary in the opening days of the year, thereby forcing Iowa to hold its caucuses in December.

Stay tuned to RealRepublicanMajority.org for update on these developing stories.

Congresswoman Pryce Will Not Seek Re-Election

Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) is expected to announce today that she will not seek re-election in 2008. Her announcement comes after several other Republicans announced, or are expected to announce, that they will retire from Congress as well. Those members include Dennis Hastert of Illinois (who will make a statement Friday) and Rep. Ray LaHood whose statement was made in July.

Congresswoman Pryce was the 4th highest-ranking Republican prior to the Party losing its majority status in the 2006 midterm elections and herself faced a difficult election battle against Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy. Pryce won by a small margin after a recount took place. Kilroy is already planning another run in 2008.

Rep. Pryce has been a strong moderate Republican throughout her tenure in Congress and her voice will be missed by real Republicans across the nation.

For a full story, click here.

Results of the Iowa Straw Poll

Former MA Governor Mitt Romney finished first in this weekend's straw poll in Iowa-- an expected victory. Romney, who received 32% of the vote, was trailed by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who got 18% and Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas with 15%. Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo came in fourth with 14% and former WI Governor Tommy Thompson came in with 7%. Thompson later dropped out of the presidential race; he had said earlier that he would do so if he did not finish in the top two.

Notably missing from the fray were Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Senator John McCain, who both opted to not participate in the straw poll and instead have chosen to focus their efforts on the early primary states. The results of the straw poll are not binding, meaning essentially that they count only as a measure of public opinion. Each ticket to "vote" in the poll costs $35-- a pricey expense that campaigns and candidates are able to pay for and distribute to their supporters. Governor Romney has spent the most of any other candidate in the state of Iowa, including funds of advertising and getting supporters to participate in Saturday's poll. He is currently leading in polls in Iowa but trails Giuliani and Fred Thompson on the national scale and in polls specified to other early primary states, such as South Carolina and California.

Click here for a complete story.

The Race to be First

In the race to hold the first presidential primary/caucus in the nation in the 2008 election, South Carolina GOP Chair Katon Dawson announced today that he has moved his state's primary up to January 19th. Previously, the primary was scheduled for January 29th. Dawson made the announcement in New Hampshire, traditionally the site of the nation's first primary, following the Iowa caucuses.

In response to this, Iowa Governor Chet Culver recommitted his state to being first in tha nation, which means the caucuses could be held in Iowa in late December. In a statement, Culver said:

“All I can tell you is that as governor, I’ll do everything in my power to
make sure Iowa has the first caucus in the nation. I’m confident that we
will... We will do whatever we have to do to protect Iowa,” Culver said. I
don’t think as long as we give appropriate notice and timing that the date
matters a whole lot. We just need to get it set.”

Many political analysts note that if Iowa does move its causcus to December, it will lose some of its impact as the media story following it will not be as strong. With each of the candidates polling differently in each of these states, the date of each primary and caucus truly will have a huge impact on the nominating process.

Stay tuned to RealRepublicanMajority.org for more on this developing story.

Pander Alert!

****PANDER ALERT****

MITT ROMNEY: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE POLL NUMBERS
72% of Republicans Believe in a Woman’s Right to Choose

Washington, D.C. – Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney wriggled his way through Sunday’s debate in a transparent display of pandering to the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party. When questioned on his record as a pro-choice Governor of Massachusetts, Mr. Romney did all he could to deny his past and portray himself as an opponent of choice. This comes from a man who can be seen in a 1994 Senatorial debate on YouTube burnishing his pro-choice credentials, and whose past campaign literature lauded him as “a strong supporter of a women’s rights” who “has promised to protect a woman’s right to choose.” It seems that Mr. Romney has flip-flopped on the issue of choice under the assumption that the majority of Republicans want the issue of the right to choose to be a central focus point of the GOP. This assumption is wrong. Real Republicans are far more socially tolerant that Mr. Romney believes. Recent polling from a renowned Republican polling agency suggests that his anti-choice rhetoric does not speak to the real Republican majority; rather, it is geared toward a small, vocal minority, the “super-moralists.” Here are some noteworthy findings from the poll:

• 72% of Republicans asserted the government should not play a role in controlling choices for women, believing instead that the decision to have an abortion should lie with women, their doctors, and their families.

• 53% of the Party believed that the GOP has spent too much time focusing on moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

• Within the 24% of Republicans who comprise the “moralist” wing of the Party, more than one-third of those could support a candidate who differed with them on the issue of abortion if they agreed on other issues. Thus, only 15% of the GOP is comprised of the “super-moralists”-- narrowly-focused, single issue voters for whom opposition to abortion is the primary issue driving their vote.

• An overwhelming 71% of Republicans ranked issues such as national security, balancing the budget, Social Security and education as top GOP priorities.
(Fabrizio/McLaughlin poll, June 2007)

Mr. Romney needs to wake up and smell the poll numbers. Candidates who wish to lead the country and lead in Congress must appeal to the broadest spectrum of voters, and not twist their positions and the facts to fit the mold of the far right’s obstinate ideal. Real Republicans seek to bring people together and forge common sense solutions. Real Republicans value privacy, responsibility, small government and individual liberty. Most importantly real Republicans understand that our country is at a crossroad and we need true leadership and a focus on urgent issues like the war on terror, solutions to the crisis in Iraq and reigning in government waste and spending. Now is the time for real Republicans to remember our roots, our history and our record for success in this country.

The time for pandering is over.

GOP Candidates Debate in Des Moines

Nine GOP presidential candidates gathered Sunday morning in Des Moines, IA, the site of the nation's first presidential caucus in 2008. This was the fourth debate of the election cycle for the Republican candidates, and like in past debates, the candidates for the most part stayed away from attacking one another and instead attacked both the Democratic candidates as well as some of President Bush's policies, particularly that of the Iraq war.

One of the more notable exchanges came in the opening moments on the issue of abortion. In recent weeks Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas issued attack ads against former MA Governor Mitt Romney for flip-flopping on abortion. Romney accused Brownback of sending out false information on his record; Brownback defended the attack as being entirely truthful.

For a complete synopsis of the debate click here.

The Impact of a New Super Tuesday

As more and more states consider moving their presidential primary to February 5th, many analysts believe that the contests on both the Republican and Democratic sides may not be decided until the Conventions. Unlike elections in years past, states large and small, traditionally important and unimportant, are attempting to move their primary up in the calendar year to influence the outcome of the primary elections.

Because most Republican states' primaries are decided by a "winner-take-all" process, that is, the nominee who wins the majority of votes in a given state wins the entirety of that state's delegates, it will be easier for a GOP candidate to be declared prior to the Convention and possibly by February 5th. However, this will not be an easy feat-- a candidate would need to win basically all the early states to shore up the nomination.

With so much hanging in the balance of the primary process and 2008 election, it has never been more important to ensure that the moderate majority is represented and reflected in the make-up of the Convention delegation. Stay tuned to RealRepublicanMajority.org to find out how you can become a delegate in your state!

For more, click here.

Giuliani Holds Wide Lead in New Washington Post Poll

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani has held a consistent lead in the race for the presidential nomination in 2008 and in a new poll conducted by the Washington Post, 37% of Republicans favored Giuliani, compared to 16% for Senator John McCain, 15% for former Senator Fred Thompson. Romney placed fourth with 8%.

According to the poll.

"Nearly half of the Republicans polled said that Giuliani represents their
party's best chance to win in November 2008; that is three or four times as high
as the percentage who mentioned other candidates."

It is important to note that this poll was conducted nationwide; analyzing poll numbers in specific states will reveal somewhat different numbers. It is the early primary states, such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina that give a better view of where candidates stand. If candidates do better than expected, or worse than expected, in those early states, there chances could change drastically across the nation.

For more on the poll, click here.

Romney Scaling Back Efforts in IA Straw Poll

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced this weekend he would be scaling back his efforts towards the Iowa Ames straw poll to take place on August 11th. Romney stated that the poll had lost much of its influence since the other leading candidates, Rudy Giuliani and Senator John McCain, have already decided they will not participate at all.

Romney has poured millions of dollars into Iowa and is expected to come out on top in next month's poll. Could this latest development be a sign that Romney has seen figures showing his efforts-- time and money-- already spent in Iowa will not be enough to give him a big enough win over lower-tier candidates?

For more, click here.

****PANDER ALERT**** FAR-RIGHT WING FLIES INTO SURGEON GENERAL’S MOUTH

Last week, we learned that the Administration’s incessant pandering to the fringes of the Republican Party served to silence our nation’s top public health official to the detriment of both our country and the Republican Party. Catering to extremist elements to mold objective science to fit an out-of-touch social and religious agenda is unacceptable and un-American. Republican Presidential candidates must reject such pandering by our government and return to the core principles of the Party if they hope to not only gain the Presidential nomination but also restore trust in the moderate majority of the GOP.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona’s testimony in front of Congress last week was deeply disturbing, and revealed the extent to which extreme ideology pervades public policy reasoning in this current political climate. Objective science has often been replaced with theological interpretation, and playing politics is now trumping public health. Here are a few of Dr. Carmona’s more disturbing allegations:
Dr. Carmona was ordered not to discuss or issue reports about embryonic stem cells, emergency contraception (Plan B), sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/washington/11cnd-surgeon.html?ex=1341720000&en=0ca10e032df9e70f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
On the issue of embryonic stem cell research, Dr. Carmona stated that he was “told to stand down and not speak about it.” He further explained that, “Much of the discussion was being driven by theology, ideology, [and] preconceived beliefs that were scientifically incorrect.” http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/tucker/stories/2007/07/13/tucked_0715.html
While Dr. Carmona favored comprehensive sex education, the Bush administration favored abstinence-only education. Dr. Carmona stated that the Bush administration “did not want to hear the science, but wanted to quote, unquote preach abstinence, which I felt was scientifically incorrect.” http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-carmona_11jul11,1,2126192.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
Dr. Carmona asserted that the Bush administration repeatedly made decisions about important public health issues based solely on political considerations. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/washington/11cnd-surgeon.html?ex=1341720000&en=0ca10e032df9e70f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
In Dr. Carmona’s words, “Anything that doesn’t fit into the political appointees’ ideological, theological or political agenda is often ignored, marginalized or simply buried.” http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-carmona_11jul11,1,2126192.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

The Surgeon General should not be a political tool, but rather a national ombudsman for public health. Objective science must trump ideological fancy. Candidates who wish to lead the country and lead in Congress must appeal to the broadest spectrum of voters, and not twist their positions and the facts to fit the mold of the far right’s obstinate ideal. Real Republicans seek to bring people together and forge common sense solutions. Real Republicans value privacy, responsibility, small government and individual liberty. Most importantly, real Republicans understand that our country is at a crossroad and we need true leadership and a focus on urgent issues like the war on terror, solutions to the crisis in Iraq and reigning in government waste and spending. Now is the time for real Republicans to remember our roots, our history and our record for success in this country.

The time for pandering is over.

Senate Stages All Night Session on Iraq

Last night, the U.S. Senate participated in an all-night session to debate the Iraq war and troop withdrawal. As a part of their staging this debate, Democratic leadership rolled cots into the halls of the Capitol.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) initially threatened to schedule votes through the night and into the morning but then delayed votes until 5am. Many labeled the all-night debate a publicity stunt and said that nothing would be accomplished through holding session at such hours. The debate on setting a timetable for withdrawal and putting an end to the war has been the biggest issue in this session of Congress. For a full story, click here.

****PANDER ALERT****

FRED THOMPSON, ACTOR/POLITICIAN,
PERFORMS TO THE DELIGHT OF THE CONSERVATIVE RIGHT

THOMPSON PLAYS THE PART OF A STRICT PRO-LIFER
DESPITE HIS REAL-LIFE MODERATE STANCE ON ABORTION

Fred Thompson, former Senator and likely presidential candidate, is so eager to capture the votes of the extreme right wing of the Republican Party that he has changed his stance on abortion and is denying previous work he has done in support of abortion rights.

As the Los Angeles Times reported this week, the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), a Washington nonprofit organization that advocates "reproductive freedom" and broad access to birth control, hired Thompson to lobby the White House to relax a rule barring abortion counseling at clinics that received federal money. Although this story was verified by numerous credible sources, including NFPRHA’s president in 1991, Judith DeSanto, and former Congressman Michael D. Barnes, who worked with Thompson at the same lobbying and law firm in 1991, Thompson denies ever having done the work. Thompson has also denied that he was "opposed" to a constitutional amendment protecting "the sanctity of human life," even though he indicated as much in a 1996 Christian Coalition survey.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-thompson7jul07,0,54260.story
http://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2007-07/31063804.pdf

Throughout his political career Thompson has often taken a moderate stance on abortion, but has now changed roles in a performance aimed at capturing the Evangelical audience. Here are the facts:

• A questionnaire submitted during Mr. Thompson’s 1994 Senatorial campaign contained a handwritten note that stated: “I do not believe abortion should be criminalized. This battle will be won in the hearts and souls of the American people.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/07/us/politics/07thompson.html
• When filling out a 1996 Christian Coalition survey, Thompson marked himself as "opposed" to a constitutional amendment protecting "the sanctity of human life." http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-thompson7jul07,0,54260.story?page=2&coll=la-home-center
• In a televised debate during Thompson’s 1994 Senate race, Mr. Thompson appeared to tell the moderator that he personally disagreed with outlawing abortion. “Should the government come in and criminalize let’s say a young girl and her parents and her doctor?” Mr. Thompson said. “I think not.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/07/us/politics/07thompson.html

The tme for pandering is over. Candidates who wish to lead the country and lead in Congress must appeal to the broadest spectrum of voters, and not twist their positions and the facts to fit the mold of the far right’s obstinate ideal. Real Republicans seek to bring people together and forge common-sense solutions. Real Republicans value privacy, responsibility, small government and individual liberty. Most importantly real Republicans understand that our country is at a crossroad and we need true leadership and a focus on urgent issues like the war on terror, solutions to the crisis in Iraq and reigning in government waste and spending. Now is the time for real Republicans to remember our roots, our history and our record for success in this country, and to stop pandering to the Republican Party’s fringe groups.

Surgeon General Says He Was Stifled by Bush Politics

Earlier this week, former surgeon general Richard Carmona testified before a House committee that he was often muzzled by the Bush Administration on issues such as stem cell research, emergency contraception and sex education because the science did not align with the political views of the White House.

This development is disheartening to the Republican Party and raises a red flag about the direction our nation is headed in. USA Today noted that President Reagan backed his surgeon general, C. Everett Koop, for seven years despite calls from aides to let him go. Koop was active in pursuing scientific policies to increase the health and safety of Americans such as promoting contraqception along with abstinence and making public the negative side effects of smoking.

It is extremely unfortunate that politics seems to have trumped science in the Carmona case. While millions of Americans suffer through disease without the hope of stem cell research, access to emergency contraception is stifled and schools provide inadequate sex education, it is revealed that these policies are politcal and not based on any science.

Romney Clarifies Position on Abortion, Again

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, while campaigning in Iowa, again clarified his position on abortion to say that he was not against it in the case where the mother's life was in danger and in cases of rape and incest.

Romney has become a target for his 'flip-flopping' on issues such as abortion. While taking a pro-choice stance as he ran for Senate in the 1990s and Governor of Massachusetts, Romney later retracted his postion, saying he had a change of heart and no longer supported the pro-choice stance.

How will his latest statements impact the presidential race?

For more, click here.

Second Presidential FIling Period Closes

Saturday marked the close of the second filing period of the year. Candidates have until June 15th to submit their fundraising totals to the Federal Election Commission. So far, Senator John McCain is in the only Republican candidate to have publicly reported his numbers; he fell far short of his goal and brought in only $11.2 million from April 1st-June 30th. With this low total, McCain was forced to cut staff and reduce the salary of some of his top aides. The campaign is also considering accepting public matching funds. What will this mean for the future of the McCain campaign?

The other 2 top candidates, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, are expected to release their numbers in the coming days. A full listing of fundraising totals will be listed in the RealRepublicanMajority.org presidential section when they become available.

New GOP Poll Reveals Interesting Findings

A new poll commissioned by Fabrizio, McLaughlin and Associates finds that a majority of the GOP believes the Party is too focused on moral issues and instead should get back to the core Republican agenda including strong national security, fiscal responsibility, the protection of Social Security and promotion of education. It's clear that the focus needs to be on common ground issues and solutions in order for the GOP to regain control of the national agenda.

Click here for a related press release.

This poll was featured today at MSNBC.

Rothenberg Reports on Status of Senate Races

Stuart Rothenberg, one of the most respected political analysts, released a report of the vulnerability of Senate seats across the country. Three Republican Senators – Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Susan Collins of Maine and Wayne Allard’s open Colorado seat—are on Rothenberg’s Most Vulnerable list.

Gordon Smith (R-OR) and John Sununu (R-NH) made the “Watch” list and yet another ten Republicans are on the current safe list, but as we saw in the 2006 election, any of these seats could become competitive over the next several months. Without these and other real Republicans in office, the national agenda will continue to remain out of the control of the GOP.

Click here to see Rothenberg’s full report.

Barrasso Named New Wyoming Senator- Important Issues Hang in the Balance of His Appointment

Wyoming State Senator Dr. John Barrasso was appointed Friday to temporarily fill the seat of the late Senator Craig Thomas who passed away earlier this month.

Barrasso is expected to be sworn in today and begin serving immediately. This temporary appointment, which will last until a special election in November 2008, is critical to the moderate majority. Important issues, such as stem cell research, hang in the balance and Barrasso's vote could make the difference in overriding President Bush's veto. Senator Barrasso needs to hear from the real Republican majority that his support for this potentially life-saving research is vital.

Bush Issues Veto on Stem Cell Research

President Bush issued his second veto yesterday to prohibit the advancement of stem cell research, which holds the promise of finding cures for some of the most devastating and debilitating diseases millions in our country and around the world are faced with today.

With this veto, President Bush ignored the majority of Republicans and Americans who have overwhelming showed support for stem cell research. The President's own personal views have inhibited him from proving that he truly is a "compassionate conservative".

The Senate will vote in the coming days on a potential override of the veto; they are near the 2/3 majority needed to complete the override. However, votes are still needed in the House to make this vital research law.

With Democrats in control, it's likely this is not the last time that we will see a bill on stem cell research. Will President Bush come around and see the potential this research holds?

Bloomberg/Schwarzenegger in TIME Magazine

A new TIME magazine article highlights NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as two of today's strongest leaders who have successfully worked across Party lines to produce results for their respective constituencies.

Schwarzenegger and Bloomberg also happen to be mainstream, common sense Republicans who have refused to play partisan politics and instead worked to accomplish real results-- exactly what those of us 'real Republicans' want to see done on the national stage. Legislators in Washington could learn a thing or two by watching what Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger have done; they have listened to the people and taken action to solve problems that the people in California and New York City have faced.

As the article stated:

"So they're not exactly playing politics as usual. But their model of crossing party lines to act where Washington won't is increasingly common. As D.C. politics has become more of a zero-sum partisan game, Mayors and Governors in both parties have taken on predatory lending, obesity, energy, health care and even immigration. 'It's innovation by necessity,' says Stephen Goldsmith, a former Republican mayor of Indianapolis who oversees Harvard's Innovations in American Government wards. This year hardly any federal programs applied. 'Very unusual,' Goldsmith says."

As Americans across the nation become more disenchanted with politics in Washington, perhaps our federal legislators will begin looking to state and local governments on how to achieve real results.

Giuliani Releases '12 Commitments'

Yesterday, Rudy Giuliani released his 12 Commitments to the American people. These commitments are what he plans to put in place if he is elected president. The 12 Commitments are below:

1. I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists' War on Us.
2. I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders, and identify every non-citizen in our nation.
3. I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending.
4. I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.
5. I will impose accountability on Washington.
6. I will lead America towards energy independence.
7. I will give Americans more control over, and access to, healthcare with affordable and portable free-market solutions.
8. I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our
children.
9. I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.
10. I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
11. I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.
12. I will expand America's involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.

Mayor Giuliani appeared on Hannity & Colmes on Tuesday to discuss these commitments. In the interview, Giuliani said,

"The idea of it is, these are the things that we want to base our campaign on, presidency on, things about the future. A campaign should be about ideas, and
about ideas for the future. And so much of the debate, and particularly on the
Democratic side, has been about going in reverse, going back to the 1990s.
And you listen to that last Democratic debate. They must have said that a
half a dozen times, want to go back to the 1990s on terrorism, where we're sort
of in denial. We want to go back to the tax rates of the 1990s. This is just the
opposite. This is, let's turn America around. Let's head toward the future.
Let's take a look at, how can we make the tax code fairer, simpler? How can
we actually lower taxes and put more money back into the private economy? How do we deal with terrorism, this war they have against us, by being on offense, rather than going back to the way we were on defense in the 1990s."

Wyoming Senate

Last week, Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas passed away after a seven month battle with leukemia. As the state grieves his loss, the WY GOP is responsible for presenting three candidates to Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal as possible replacements.

Fred Parady, the State GOP Chair, announced yesterday that interested parties have until Thursday to present their applications to the GOP for consideration. A candidates forum is expected to be held Sunday, when each candidate will have the opportunity to present their own ideas for the future of Wyoming. The GOP will narrow the field to three, from which Governor Freudenthal will choose the ultimate successor.

The successor will be in office until the special election in November 2008. Through the special election, voters will have the opportunity to fill the seat for the remainder of the late Senator Thomas' term, which would expire in early 2009.

There is a wide array of candidates throwing their hat into the ring for this race, including Colin Simpson, son of former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson; Matthew Mead, a U.S. attorney who resigned his post late last week; even some are speculating that Lynne Cheney will seek the nomination. What effect this appointment will have on the future of the moderate bloc of the GOP remains to be seen. Will the state GOP nominate a real Republican candidate that all GOP'ers can rally around?

For more, visit http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/06/12/news/wyoming/50-succeed.txt

Giuliani, McCain to Skip Iowa Straw Poll

In an announcement made on Wednesday, presidential hopeful Senator John McCain declared he will skip the August 11th Iowa straw poll after it was reported former Mayor Rudy Giuliani would skip the poll.In the past the straw poll has been a strong indicator of who the Party's nominee would be and all candidates worked to win the poll. However, with 2 of the leading candidates not participating, the influence of the straw poll is diminished.Why are McCain and Giuliani opting to skip the poll? How will the straw poll affect the caucus/primary process in 2008?
Click here for more.

3rd GOP Debate, Tonight, June 5th

This evening, St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire will host the 3rd GOP debate of the presidential election season.
As the home of the nation's first primary, all eyes will be on New Hampshire and this debate. We will see the re-appearance of the 10 candidates from the previous 2 debates. These candidates are: Senator John McCain (AZ), Senator Sam Brownback (KS), former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (NY), former Governor Mitt Romney (MA), Congressman Ron Paul (TX), former Governor Jim Gilmore (VA), Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA), former Governor Mike Huckabee (AR), Congressman Tom Tancredo (CO) and former Governor Tommy Thompson (WI).
Notably missing from the debate will be former TN Senator Fred Thompson who last week all but threw his hat in the ring by announcing he would set up a 'testing the waters' committee. Thompson will appear, however, on the Fox News Channel for post-debate commentary.

Fred Thompson will Run for Presidency

It is confirmed-- former Senator and actor Fred Thompson will set up a committee as early as this Sunday, June 3rd to test the waters of a presidential campaign. This effort precedes an official exploratory committee and will prevent Thompson from saying officially he is a candidate but he will be able to raise money and hire staff.How will Thompson's entry into the fray affect the other candidates?
Click here to read an article on this subject.

Iowa August Straw Poll

The Executive Director of the Iowa GOP expects a crowd of 50,000 to attend the August 11, 2007 straw poll at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
The event will be the first true field test for the GOP candidates. All of the candidates except for Mayor Giuliani, have confirmed they will attend. Though Giuliani is presently undecided, it is expected he will participate.
With so much on the line in this first test, what will candidates do to better their standings between now and August?

Democrats Play Nice During First Debate

The first Democratic debate of the 2008 presidential election took place last night in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Below is a link to an article summing up the debate, which covered a wide array of topics, from the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the federal abortion ban, to the war in Iraq, and to the negative perceptions that surround all of the candidates.
The debate was cordial and polite on the whole and contained little, if any, controversy among the candidates. As the media has reported today, there was no winner of the debate but rather gave some “second-tier” contenders an opportunity in the spotlight.

Click here to read an article about the debate from the New York Times.

Boston Globe Editorial Reviews GOP Debate

Today's Boston Globe editorial takes a look at this week's GOP debate in South Carolina. With the future of our nation at stake, which of these candidates will step up and lead our GOP?

Click here for the full oped titled "Rudy makes it look easy".

Newsweek Article: "Children of Iconic Republicans May Vote Dem"

Very interesting story in this week's edition of Newsweek. If the children and grandchildren of the greatest leaders of America thinking of leaving the GOP, what does that mean for the future of our Party?

Click here to read "Children of Iconic Republicans May Vote Dem The sons and daughters of some iconic Republicans (Ike! T.R.!) are contemplating crossing the aisle."

2nd Republican Debate -- Tuesday, May 15th

TONIGHT'S GOP DEBATE WILL AIR ON THE FOX NEWS CHANNEL AT 9:OOPM EST.

Tonight the Republican contenders for the GOP presidential nomination will meet for a 2nd time in South Carolina to debate.
This debate will be quite different to the debate earlier this month which was held in the Reagan Presidential Library in California. In that debate, each candidate attempted to tie themselves to the late President, but in South Carolina, many candidates will try to tout their conservative credentials to appeal to the voters there.
Will the top-tier candidates pander to the far right? Or will they state their intentions to represent all Republicans and all Americans?

Click here to read a full story from the Washington Post.

Democrat Enters ME Senate Race

Earlier this week, Democratic Rep. Tom Allen officially entered the Maine Senate race to challenge Senator Susan Collins.
Collins is a true moderate Republican and one of the strongest leaders in the Senate today.
This race will be one of the most-watched in 2008.

New USA Today/Gallup Poll Showcases Giuliani's Solid Lead

In a survey conducted over the weekend, a new USA Today/Gallup poll shows Giuliani leading McCain 34%-20%. Fred Thompson, who is not (at least yet) a candidate, finished third with 13%.
This poll is only one in a series that Giuliani has held a consistent and strong lead. With Election Day still 18 months away, it is still too soon to tell what, if anything, these polls actually mean.

Click here to see the poll on USA Today's website.

GOP Candidates Debate Top Issues of the Day

With First Lady Nancy Reagan and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the front row of the audience last night, 10 Presidential hopefuls participated in the first GOP debate of the 2008 election.
Topics ranged from taxes, to immigration, to war, to abortion and stem cell research and much more. Governor Mitt Romney was forced to defend his often-changing positions, particularly on abortion. McCain was the only candidate to forthrightly state his support of the advancement of embryonic stem cell research.
All of the candidates cited President Reagan at some point and stated why they were the candidate who would successfully emulate his legacy. Despite what some claimed during the debate and what they will continue to claim in the future, their records speak for themselves. The GOP needs a candidate that all Americans can embrace and that will support a 'big tent' Republican Party.
What did you think of last night's debate??

First Republican Debate to be Held Thursday

Tomorrow evening, 10 Republican presidential hopefuls will gather in the Reagan Presidential Library in California for the first GOP debate of the 2008 Election.
With such a large field of candidates, it may be difficult for any one candidate to steal the spotlight and increase his numbers in the polls. It is very interesting that the debate will be held in the Reagan Library, as many Republicans and Americans nationwide are seeking to support a candidate that they feel represents the values and ideals of President Reagan-- a promoter of the 'big tent' Republican philsophy.
The debate will be aired on MSNBC at 8:00PM ET and is co-hosted by the Politico and the Reagan Library.

Click here to read an article about the debate from The Politico.

Who will be the Reagan in '08?

On Monday’s Rothenberg Report Stuart Rothenberg asked “Who’ll Be GOP’s ‘Next Ronald Reagan’ in ‘08 Presidential Race?” citing President Reagan’s advocacy for less government, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility, among other issues. Rothenberg also wrote that today some hold up President Reagan as a cultural conservative even though he did not make cultural issues a legislative priority.
Today, we’d like to ask you – Who do you think will be the next Reagan? Who lives up to the real Republican core principles and can carry on the tradition of our Party? Who is willing to move beyond divisive cultural issues to focus on the things that we can all agree on to lead our Party and our nation?

Click here to read the full article from The Rothenberg Political Report.

Schwarz Considering '08 Run in MI-7

Former MI-7 Congressman Joe Schwarz has publicly stated his consideration to run to reclaim his seat in 2008. Schwarz, a moderate Republican, was defeated in the August 2006 primary. Tim Walberg, the present Congressman, went on to win in the general election by less than 50% of the vote.
This tally was alarming given the fact that the district has been a stronghold for the GOP for many years. The Democratic Party has this seat at the top of their target list and has been actively recruiting candidates.

Click here to read the full article in the Lansing State Journal.

SCOTUS Releases Decision on Federal Abortion Ban

Yesterday, the Supreme Court handed down a decision to uphold the ban on a certain type of abortion procedure with no exception to preserve the health of the mother.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the 5-4 majority opinion and was joined by Chief Justice John Robert and Justices Scalia, Thomas and Alito. Justice Ginsberg wrote the minority opinion.
No matter how one feels about abortion, we must recognize what the Court actually said in this decision; the careful balance between the rights of the state and those of the individual has been blurred. The Court seemingly has placed priority of personal objections of legislators over the health and safety of women.
Yesterday's ruling only opens the door for other decisions that will further limit personal privacy.

Candidates File with the FEC

All first quarter reports for the 2008 presidential race have been submitted to FEC. A true test of a campaign is often the measure of its cash on hand, rather than the actual amount of money raised in a given period.
In the first quarter, John McCain raised $13.1 million, yet ended with $4.7 million on hand-- spending at a rate of 61.4%, an extremely high rate.
Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani each ended the quarter with more than $10 million on hand and now have an advantage over McCain heading into the second quarter.

Click here to read a story on the reports from the Washington Times.

Stem Cell Bill Passes in Senate

The U.S. Senate last night voted to approve S5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The final vote was 63-34, unfortunately not enough votes to muster a veto-proof margin.
We must commend the GOP Senators who recognized that this bill is about advancing science and were able to put politics aside:Olympia Snowe (ME), Susan Collins (ME), Arlen Specter (PA), Gordon Smith (OR), Richard Burr (NC), Thad Cochran (MS), Judd Gregg (NH), Orrin Hatch (UT), Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Trent Lott (MS), Richard Lugar (IN), John McCain (AZ), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Ted Stevens (AK), John Warner (VA).
Will President Bush recognize the need for the science that could produce life-saving cures for millions of Americans, or will he once again play politics with the health and lives of those in need?

Fred Thompson Once a Pro-Choice Advocate

"Government should stay out of it... The ultimate decision must be made by the women... Government should treat its citizens as adults capable of making moral decisions on their own." -- Fred Thompson, July 1994
Yet another potential GOP presidential candidate has flip-flopped on this important issue of personal freedom. Will any candidate stand by a truthful position?American Spectator first reported on this story.

Conservative Wing Poses Threat to Senator Smith

Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, a moderate Republican on many issues, has already drawn opposition for his re-eletion in 2008. But now, it appears the far right will try to produce a challenger to him in the primary.
Once again, it appears the far right conservative group Club for Growth has not heeded the lessons of 2006. In a blue state such as Oregon, an ultra-conservative will certainly not win office, but will only cause the Party to lose the seat entirely. Smith is the only GOP Senator serving the West Coast and the only Republican serving Oregon at the federal level.
The far right needs to leave this race be or the GOP will become a permanent minority.

Click here for a related article from Oregon Live.

Romney Once Again Tries to Appease the Far Right

On a visit this week to New Hampshire, the state slated to hold the nation's first primary in 2008, Mitt Romney once again referred to himself as a life-long hunter. The problem with this statement? Romney admittedly has only been on two hunting trips in his life-- one when he was 15 and the other just last year with the Republican Governor's Association, which he headed at the time.
He has blatantly softened his position on gun control since being Governor of MA. When asked why he joined the NRA last August as a lifelong member, Romney replied, "I'm after the NRA's endorsement. I'm not sure they'll give it to me. I hope they will. I also joined because if I'm going to ask for their endorsement, they're going to ask for mine."
This is just another issue that Romney has changed his position on for mere political gain. What issue will he choose next?

First Quarter Fundraising Numbers Released

The first quarter of the year closed on Saturday, March 31st. Though the official reports are not due to the FEC until April 15th, most campaigns have released their numbers. Here they are below in order of most funds raised.

Mitt Romney
•Raised $20.63 M in primary contributions
•Total receipts are $23M; includes $2.35M loan from Romney and a $20,000 transfer from his 1994 Senate campaign

Rudy Giuliani
•$15 M raised during the first quarter; $2 M raised prior to January 1, 2007
•$11 M cash on hand
•Stated most of these funds were for primary

John McCain
•Raised approximately $12.5M
•Last week he lowered expectations, which had reached as high as $30 M, saying he got a late start and doesn’t like raising money

Tom Tancredo
•His campaign will report about $1.3M raisedMike Huckabee
•Stated had met his goal of $500K for the Q and would report roughly $300K CoH

These numbers differ drastically from what all the polls show-- Giuliani has consistently come in first in all major polls, with McCain second and Romney trailing much further behind, often behind GOPers who have not even formed exploratory committees such as Fred Thompson.

The question remains, how will these fundraising tallies affect public opinion polls? Will we see a shift in the coming weeks?

Showdown on Iraq Vote

The U.S. Senate voted yesterday, largely on partisan lines, to approve a measure to grant $122 billion in funding to the troops in Iraq and a non-binding resolution to pull the troops out by March 31, 2008.
The measure passed 51-47 with only Republicans Chuck Hagel and Gordon Smith voting in favor of the resolution. Immediately following, President Bush summoned the House Republican caucus to the White House to reiterate his intention to veto any legislation that would limit his authority as Commander in Chief. If the GOP continues to side with the President, the House will be unable to muster the 2/3 majority necessary to muster an override.

CT Likely to Hold Primary February 5th

Connecticut is expected to approve a measure later this week to move their primary to February 5, 2008, adding to the list of states to hold primaries on that date.

Rumors of a Bloomberg Bid for the Presidency

Today's Washington Post featured a story about NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's possible run for the WH. Though he currently denies any intention to assume the office, it is widely known he could enter the race at a later date because of his ability to self-fund the race.

McCain Bashes Club for Growth

Senator and presidential candidate John McCain bashed the Club for Growth on the Christian Broadcasting Network for its involvement in the midterm elections. He stated that he believes it was the Club's fault that the GOP lost major races, including that of former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee. McCain expressed his support for a 'big tent' Party and questioned what he and the Club for Growth had in common. Perhaps McCain is hearing the cry of the real Republican majority?

Click here for the clip.

More States Moving to Feb. 5th Primary Date

Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a measure to officially move the California presidential primary to February 5, 2008. This move adds California to the long list of states to hold primaries on that date, and attempting to make the state more important in the primary process.

Moving primary dates up, in California and around the country on the whole, only adds to the notion that the most heavily-financed candidates can win. In the past, through having spread out elections, more candidates were able to enter the game in hopes of gaining name recognition through earned media and word of mouth. But with the primary process now so heavily front-loaded, it will only be the wealthies of candidates who can even make it to February 5th.

EC Bill Passes in Colorado

There is a trend beginning to sweep across the nation to promote the common sense, preventative measure of providing information about emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault in emergency rooms.
Yesterday, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill into law that does just this. It is because of the dedication and hard work of the Republicans within the legislature and constituents across the state that made this possible. Without the much needed support of those real Republicans, victims of sexual assault would continue to receive substandard medical care in emergency rooms.
In Connecticut, the legislature is currently debating a similar bill, and will hopefully produce the same outcome as Colorado. These aren't the only two states-- the Oregon state House advanced legislation with an EC provision, and Pennsylvania passed a similar bill recently.
As real Republicans, emergency contraception for survivors of sexual assault is something we can all rally around. It is a way to decrease the number of abortions, which is something we can all support and shows true compassion for women who have just been through a very traumatic experience.
This trend of common sense legislation must continue to show across the country.

GOP Opportunity in Massachusetts

MA Rep. Marty Meehan (MA-05) announced he will not seek re-election in 2008. This presents a unique opportunity for the Republican Party to gain a seat in the MA delegation-- one that is now entirely composed of Democrats.
To date, there are 3 Republicans and several more Democrats who have expressed interest in assuming the seat, but as we all know, if a Republican actually expects to win, he or she must embrace the real Republican values of limited government and individual liberty. Without these basic standpoints, the GOP does not stand a chance.
Clearly, Governor Romney, who is now running as far right as one can go, understood this philosophy, and until his views "evolved" (as in he was seeking higher office and abandoned his principles) he embraced these basic tenets.
Hopefully the MA Republican Party and voters in the state will recognize the need for a centrist candidate who they can all rally around-- Massachusetts could prove to be a bright spot for hte GOP in 2008.

Rothenberg Reports on ME Senate Race

The latest Rothenberg Report talks about the upcoming Maine Senate race, where Senator Susan Collins already has a tough race heating up.

Click here to read the article on the Rothenberg Report's blog.

Coleman a Centrist?

As the Minnesota Star Tribune reported today, it is becoming common to see once far right conservative members of Congress move to the center. Senator Norm Coleman, who is up for re-election in 2008, is slowly becoming more of a moderate. Is this a sign he is worried about his chances of re-election? Has he recognized that the American public overwhelmingly rejects the social policy of the far right? This will be yet another seat to watch in '08.

CPAC Straw Poll Results

Last week, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) was held in Washington, D.C. Giuliani, Romney, and Brownback were all in attendance. McCain did not make an appearance. A straw poll was conducted among attendees of the conference, and Romney came out on top. However, it is important to note that each of the candidates was able to bring in supporters to participate at CPAC and vote in the straw poll- Romney bussed in loads of college students. Each candidate's support increased or decreased in various categories, such as Giuliani's increased support when viewed as a national security candidate.

Click here for a link to the story in the New York Sun.

McCain's Campaign Collapsing?

Interesting story on the possible collapse of McCain's presidential campaign. His poll numbers already dropping, this is evidence that pandering to the extreme right will only get you so far.

Click here to read Dick Morris' article from NewsMax.com.

Interview with Giuliani

On Friday, Hugh Hewitt interviewed Rudy Giuliani about his potential nominees for the Supreme Court. Mayor Giuliani proves to have a thoughtful approach in how he would choose his nominees-- judges who are not activists and who have a strict understanding of the Constitution.
Segments of the interview are posted over at GOPProgress.com. Click here to read the full interview:

Schwarzenegger Speaks at National Press Club

Gov. Schwarzenegger gave a great speech this afternoon at the National Press Club on the importance of working in a bi-partisan manner. He is truly a common sense Republican leader who sees beyond the game of politics and into what Americans really care about.

Click here to read the speech on the Governor's website.

McCain Moves to the Right

Senator and Presidential Candidate John McCain showed his true colors earlier this week when he blatantly stated his disregard for personal privacy and freedom, saying that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.
Please check out our pander alert for more information on his statement.

Senate Will Remain in Session on Saturday

In a rare move, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday that the Senate will remain in session Saturday to continue to debate the Iraq war. The House of Representatives is expected to end debate today and vote on a non-binding resolution condemning the proposed troop escalation.
The issue of the war and how we as a country should proceed is complex, and to date, no solution has been set forth that the majority of our nation can agree upon. Even within the GOP there are several viewpoints; those that think we need an exit strategy now, those that would like to see and end but are not willing to stop supplying our troops with necessary equipment and supplies, and those that believe we must stay the course. While once it seemed that viewpoints depended on "loyalty" to the President, the Party itself has broken down on different sides of the debate.
Several presidential contenders have had to cancel trips and rearrange plans to remain in Washington and be a part of this important discussion. It will be interesting to follow the debate and see what actually comes of an extra day in session.

Brownback Labels Romney a Flip-Flopper

Yesterday Senator Sam Brownback’s presidential campaign accused Mitt Romney of being a “flip-flopper” on social issues, particularly the right to choose.
Both of these candidates are sparring for the support of the conservative base. In recent weeks and through this latest attack, Brownback has attempted to position himself as the true conservative candidate.
What could likely happen as the next several months pass is that both Romney and Brownback go so far to the right that they alienate the majority of mainstream, common sense voters and cause their own demise. For us moderates, nothing could be better than to watch 2 candidates fall because of their narrow-minded views, allowing a more inclusive and tolerant GOP candidate to lead our Party on the 2008 ticket.

2007 California Republican Convention

This weekend, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered a speech at the 2007 California Republican Convention. Governor Schwarzenegger placed much of his focus on moving away from partisanship and towards a society based on a philosophy of inclusion and tolerance. To illustrate his message, Gov. Schwarzenegger quoted 2 of the presidents viewed as the leading real Republicans—Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

Click here to read the speech on the Governor's website.

Polls Already Emerging in 2008 Race

The next presidential election is still nearly two years away, but most of the readers taking part in the Triad Business Journal's weekly online poll already have some strong opinions about which way they'd cast their ballot if the election was today.
The poll, which ran from Jan. 31-Feb. 6, offered up six choices for the question: Which of these potential nominees would be most likely to get your vote if the presidential election was held today? There were three Republicans and an equal number of Democrats on the "ballot."
Of the 509 responses, 24 percent said they'd be most likely to vote for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Another 21 percent said they'd pick Arizona Sen. John McCain, 11 percent went for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, 10 percent said they'd vote for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and another 10 percent said Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, while only 4 percent said they'd pick Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts.
Another 13 percent checked the answer "none, I'll wait for a better candidate," while 4 percent chose "other." Of those selecting other, former Vice President Al Gore, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich all got votes.