The Kansas caucuses are today. Here are 10 things you need to know.
- Kascus caucuses start at 10 CST: The Kansas Republican caucuses start today at 10 a.m. Central, and the party faithful will have until 1 p.m. to cast votes in the race. Results are scheduled to be announced by the Kansas GOP at 5 p.m. Central. There have been no recent polls of the state, but the consensus is that former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who has made a strong push with the social conservative wing of the party, is the overwhelming favorite to win the biggest chunk of the 40 delegates up for grabs.
- Paul campaigns for Kansas: Santorum will be campaigning in Missouri all day, as the state will be holding non-binding caucuses on March 20 (after holding a non-binding primary on Feb. 7). Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) will be at the University of Kansas on Saturday night, but will spend most of Saturday in Missouri as well. On Friday Paul hit Topeka, Wichita and Lawrence, Kansas.
- Romney touts Southern endorsements: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign tactics in Alabama and Mississippi haven’t really deviated from his pitch outside the region. Romney’s campaign announced that he’d gained the endorsement of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard on Friday while Romney campaigned in the state, a day after touring Mississippi with another Gov. Phil Bryant (R-MS), whose endorsement Romney also won. “Mitt Romney continues to demonstrate that he is the only candidate who can unite the Republican Party and lead us to victory in November. On the issues about which Alabamians are most concerned, jobs and our federal spending problem, Mitt Romney has proposed bold solutions to fix our economy and fiscal mess,” Hubbard said in a statement.
- Santorum hits Gingrich on past supportive comments on Romneycare: In an attack that involved three Republican presidential campaigns, the Santorum campaign blasted out an article from the Wall Street Journal that cited favorable comments Gingrich made on Romney’s health care reform plan in Massachusetts. From the WSJ: “‘The health bill that Governor Romney signed into law this month has tremendous potential to effect major change in the American health system,’ said an April 2006 newsletter published by Mr. Gingrich’s former consulting company, the Center for Health Transformation.”
- Santorum attacks Obama as commander in chief: Rick Santorum hit President Obama while campaigning in Alabama on Friday. “American military does something that may offend the sensibilities of people whose sensibilities are easily offended and yet doesn’t stand up for our men and women in uniform as they are fragged, as they are attacked by mobs in Afghanistan,” Santorum said. “Ladies and gentlemen, we need a new commander in chief in America.”
- Birmingham mayor welcomes GOP candidates by calling them “carpetbaggers”: Democrats blasted out a story about Birmingham’s mayor, a Democrat, “welcoming” the Republican candidates to his state with a few choice terms. “They’re changing their accents and talking about eating grits, but we’re not going to be fooled by that,” Mayor William Bell said, according to the Birmingham News, needling Romney on his public statements in the state. “We’ve had a long line of carpetbaggers coming in here.”
- DSCC using Blunt Amendment opposition to tout female candidates: In a dual attack, the campaign arm of Senate Democrats are attacking Republican male Senate candidates on their support of the Blunt Amendment that would have allowed employers to deny coverage on moral grounds, and saying that the GOP isn’t talking about the issue most Americans care about — jobs. in a new web ad produced by Democrats called “War on Women,” they argue that the GOP should “end the culture wars” and send more women to the Senate, touting their candidates.
- NRSC suggests independent candidate in Maine was part of a “backroom deal” with Dems: The Republican Senate Campaign Committee put together a video based on its own theory that former independent Maine Gov. Angus King, who recently declared his intention to run for the seat opened up by the retirement of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), was party to a “backroom deal” in which Senate Democrats offered to clear progressive Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) out of the way. Watch it here.
- Walker sets up legal defense fund: As Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) gears up for a recall election this summer, the investigation into possible charges against former campaign aides who worked for Walker when he was Milwaukee County Executive continues, and the governor has set up a legal defense fund supporters can contribute to. “For nearly two years, Milwaukee County officials have been examining issues related to former employees of the county,” Walker said through his campaign. “I have repeatedly pledged my cooperation with that inquiry. I also made it clear that no public money has been used, or will be used, to pay for the attorneys needed to review documents and assist me in cooperating. To fulfill my commitment, I have today formed a legal fund to pay for the expenses incurred in cooperating with the inquiry.”
- Polling on Mississippi, Alabama mixed: Three polls of Mississippi produced three different leaders (Romney, Gingrich and Santorum) in the state, while credible polling of Alabama has been even lighter. Public Policy Polling (D) will release surveys of both states Sunday night, which should provide come clarity.
