Overview for gop-primary

Can Bachmann Count?

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Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Thursday August 11, 2011

Perry's Highway to Nowhere

On Saturday, Texas Governor Rick Perry will announce that he intends to run for president. Perry will bring a lot of conservative rhetoric to the GOP field, but what about his actual record? The truth is, not all of Perry's policies have been successful and some of them may not fit the Tea …

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Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday August 9, 2011

Obama's Surprisingly Big Base

The downgrade of the national debt, sagging approval ratings and better poll numbers for Mitt Romney are giving many Republicans hope for a victory in the 2012 elections. Given the inherent differences between elections, I wouldn’t count on current polls or anything else (including what I’m about …

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Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday August 8, 2011

Inside Bachmann's Brain

Where is Michele Bachman coming from? What does the latest Tea Party champion really stand for? Ryan Lizza attempts an answer in a em> New Yorker profile.

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Written by David Frum on Monday August 8, 2011

Bachmann's Shameless Response to the Downgrade

Michele Bachmann seems to be competing for the heavily contested title of Most Shameless Politician. As the leader of the Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, she may bear more responsibility for the unprecedented downgrade of the US credit rating than any other individual. So what …

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Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Saturday August 6, 2011

Why 2012 is the Republicans' to Lose

As we get closer to 2012, there is one chart that pundits and columnists need to constantly refer back to in their writing - a scatterplot that shows how changes in real disposable income correlate with the success of the incumbent party in presidential elections: ( Courtesy of Seth …

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Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday August 4, 2011

Obama's New Talking Point

The debt deal raises additional hurdles for Republican presidential candidates, argues Ed Kilgore in The New Republic . The big debt limit vote in Congress, it is increasingly obvious, is just an appetizer for the divisive, voter-alienating struggles it has built into the schedule at key …

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Written by David Frum on Wednesday August 3, 2011

Snowe's Challenger: Obama is Not a Christian

The most prominent Republican challenging Olympia Snowe in the Senate GOP primary in Maine says President Obama is "exercising a lot of Muslim faith" and doesn’t believe he is a Christian. Scott D’Amboise, one of two Republicans challenging Snowe, has been endorsed by several organizations whose …

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Written by Nicole Glass on Tuesday July 19, 2011

Rick Perry Talks Like He is Running

Spend a couple of hours watching Rick Perry on YouTube, and you have to think, "Yes, he's running." Spend a couple of hours watching Rick Perry on YouTube, and you have to think, "Yes, he's running." Here he is in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, speaking both about compassion and the …

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Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Pawlenty Spins His Fundraising Numbers

The way they are trying to spin Pawlenty's fundraising numbers shows the dire situation his campaign is in. Today, Governor Tim Pawlenty’s spokesman, Alex Conant, released this statement: "Gov. Pawlenty will report that his campaign has raised about $4.2 million, and begins the third …

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Written by Robert Lee on Saturday July 2, 2011

Palin's PAC Piggy Bank

The release of Stephen Bannon's movie is prompting conservatives to wonder if Palin might after all run for president. But the Edwards indictment may give her pause. The release of Stephen Bannon's movie is prompting some conservatives to wonder hopefully or worriedly that Sarah Palin might …

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Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

Newt's Loss, Perry's Gain

The resignation of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign staff might turn out to be an epic win for Texas Governor Rick Perry. The big political news on Thursday involved the en masse resignation of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign staff.  It goes without saying that this isn't good news …

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Written by Mark R. Yzaguirre on Thursday June 9, 2011

Newt's Implosion

Newt's campaign has collapsed so rapidly, abruptly, and seemingly hopelessly that it seems incredible anybody could ever have thought of his as a serious candidate. The Gingrich campaign has collapsed so rapidly, so abruptly, and so seemingly hopelessly that it seems incredible that anybody could …

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Written by David Frum on Thursday June 9, 2011

Romney's Climate Change Straight Talk

Tim Pawlenty was rightly praised for speaking out against ethanol subsidies. But why hasn't Romney received accolades for telling a more dangerous truth? When Tim Pawlenty called for a (gradual) end to ethanol subsidies, he won accolades as a "truth teller." Surely he deserved them, even if (as F …

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Written by David Frum on Monday June 6, 2011

Palin's Mandate Hypocrisy

As Mitt Romney announced his bid for president, Sarah Palin took a shot at his health care plan by criticizing government mandates. But Alaska has a few of its own. On the day Mitt Romney formally announced his bid for the GOP presidential nomination, former Alaska Governor took a shot at his …

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Written by Zac Morgan on Thursday June 2, 2011

The Right's Coming Romneycare Defense

If Romney prevails in the GOP primary, give Hugh Hewitt credit for articulating the rationalization that will allow talk radio to swing back into line behind his campaign. Here's an interesting exchange: NRO's Kathryn Lopez and radio host Hugh Hewitt walking back from their ardent support for …

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Written by David Frum on Thursday June 2, 2011

The Huntsman-Pawlenty RINO War

Two slick new ads attacking Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty as reasonable moderates show just how divorced from reality today's GOP is. Two slick new ads are out attacking Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty as reasonable moderates. As I point out in my latest column for The Week , these ads show just …

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Written by David Frum on Wednesday June 1, 2011

How Palin Taps the GOP's Economic Fears

For non-wealthy Republicans - as for non-wealthy Americans generally - the past half-decade has been a terrible time. This is part three in a series. Click here for part one and part two . Not every Republican lives in Greenwich and earns millions. For non-wealthy Republicans - as …

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Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 31, 2011

Who Really Wins with Ryan's Budget?

Sarah Palin speaks to a radical mood: a mood of victimization and resentment. But Paul Ryan speaks to another radical mood: the radicalism felt by many affluent Americans. This is part two in a series. Click here for part 1 . Palin speaks to a radical mood in the country: a mood of …

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Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 31, 2011

Palin Storms Into Rolling Thunder

Sarah Palin made an appearance at the Rolling Thunder rally Sunday in Washington, stealing the spotlight away from organizers and their important cause. When SarahPAC treasurer Tim Crawford emailed Politico to tell them that updates for Sarah Palin’s weekend itinerary “will be posted on the …

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Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Sunday May 29, 2011