I keep hearing that people are claiming it’s a problem that Mitt Romney is rich. Only no one actually seems to be saying that. I understand why Mitt Romney is claiming that, which he continually does. He’s changing the subject and trying to fight with a straw-man. But there’s abundant evidence — both negative and positive — that voters really don’t begrudge politicians their wealth. John Kerry, because of his marriage, was and is fabulously wealthy. Mike Bloomberg, not a problem. Bushes, Kennedys. It’s always a part of their public profile; but seldom an issue that cuts against them. So let’s cut the crap. It’s not an issue for Romney now. Everybody knows he’s worth somewhere between $150 and $250 million. He actually talks about it constantly, in as much as most of the premise of his campaign is his very real record of success as a businessman. Read More
RNC Chair Reince Priebus says a lengthy primary battle will be good for the GOP and its chances in November. Here’s why that’s not true.
Often in a primary cycle about now there’s fantasy talk about some other fantasy candidate to come in and save the day. This year, though, if you presuppose another Newt blowout in Florida, you’re going to have a lot of Republicans in panic looking for someone to come in to save the day.
But here’s the thing. It’s too late. Why? We explain here.
Before South Carolina, Mitt Romney was some 20 points ahead in Florida. Two new polls have come out in the last twelve hours. Both have Gingrich up by 9 points. Read More
TPM is announcing a new Senior Developer position working from our New York office. Full job listing after the jump. Read More
The first post-South Carolina poll of Florida is out. And it has Newt 9 points ahead of Romney.
PPP reports that their first night of polling Florida shows Newt and Mitt “neck and neck.”
As you can see Romney went to town on Newt Gingrich this evening in a newly aggressive stump speech taking Newt to task on pretty much all the signature Gingrich failings. But beyond the generally tough demeanor, there’s another meta-message: I can dog whistle and bloody Obama as well as Newt, or I know bitch-slap politics as well as the next guy. So don’t be worried that I won’t be ready for that epochal debate. Mitt’s new line is that we want someone in the White House who has “had a job” before. Unlike President Obama, who apparently has never had a job before?
“I think it’s time we had someone in the White House who knows how to create jobs because he’s had a job.”
So President Obama, the self-made man, has never had a job before, unlike Mitt Romney, the guy born into the highest realms of wealth and power. That’s where we’re going.