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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - November 23, 2015
From Ballotpedia
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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential Briefing was sponsored by the Leadership Project for America. | ||||
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Monday's Leading Stories
- On Friday, CNN announced its debate criteria for the upcoming Republican debate on December 15. To qualify for the primetime debate, a candidate must have achieved an average of at least 3.5 percent nationally or 4 percent in Iowa or New Hampshire over a six-week period. Under this criteria, Chris Christie is likely to return to the primetime debate, while Rand Paul is on the edge of only qualifying for the undercard debate. (CNN)
- Poll: In a nationwide online poll by Survey Monkey and NBC News, Donald Trump held his lead with 28 percent. Ben Carson and Ted Cruz were virtually tied in second place with 18 percent each. (NBC News)
- Poll: In a poll of New Hampshire residents conducted by Suffolk University and The Boston Globe, Donald Trump retained his lead in the state with 21.6 percent. Marco Rubio and Ben Carson followed with 11 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively. When respondents were asked if they would switch their support to former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) if he were a candidate, nearly 30 percent said they would. (The Boston Globe)
- Poll: FOX News released a national survey on Friday finding terrorism has unseated the economy as the most important issue facing the country today. For likely Republican primary voters, Trump led Carson 28 percent to 18 percent. Ted Cruz and Rubio tied for third with 14 percent each. Hillary Clinton tops the Democratic field with 55 percent. Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley follow with 32 percent and 3 percent, respectively. (Fox News)
- Poll: In the same FOX News poll, six Republican candidates – Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump – defeated Hillary Clinton in head-to-head matchups. With a margin of eight points, Rubio performed best against the Democratic frontrunner. (Fox News)
- Poll: An ABC News/Washington Post national poll released on Sunday found Clinton ahead of Sanders 60 percent to 34 percent. Trump still leads the Republican field with 32 percent support. “Forty-two percent of leaned Republicans say they trust Trump over his top four opponents to handle terrorism; his nearest competitor, Bush, gets just 18 percent. Trump prevails by a slightly wider margin on trust to handle the economy, with 47 percent [compared to] 15 percent for Carson,” according to Langer Research. (Langer Research)
Democrats
- James A. Barnes, a senior writer for Ballotpedia, published the latest in a series of insider polling for the Democratic nomination on Friday. Hillary Clinton received a rating of 83 percent. “It’s more likely that Hillary will derail herself than that Bernie will beat her, but you have to allow for that possibility,” one Democratic insider said.
- In a blind study of the accuracy of statements made by presidential candidates on climate change, eight climate and biological scientists found Hillary Clinton performed the best of any candidate in either party with a score of 94. Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley followed with 91 and 87, respectively. (Associated Press)
Hillary Clinton
- On Sunday, Hillary Clinton announced a new tax credit proposal to “give families up to $6,000 in caregiving costs for their elderly family members.” According to a white paper produced by the Clinton campaign, caregiving encourages “seniors to remain in their own homes, maintain independence, save costs, and still obtain the support they need.” (TIME)
- Last week, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to Heather Samuelson, an aide to Clinton who screened her emails while secretary of state to determine which were public or private, to ask that she explain when and how she reviewed those emails. This request came as part of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation into Clinton’s private email server. According to Politico, “The State Department responded that Grassley's ‘mounting requests ... contained nearly 200 detailed questions and 65 unique document requests’ and are overwhelming the department's resources.” (Politico)
Martin O’Malley
- At the South Carolina Democratic Party Blue Jamboree on Saturday, Martin O’Malley attacked Hillary Clinton’s political record. He said she has “has one foot trapped in the Cold War," “has never demonstrated a capacity to understand what comes after a regime is toppled,” and would "take orders from the big banks of Wall Street and create an economy of the few, for the few and by the few." He added, "I believe in fair market, American capitalism and that is a big difference between Secretary Clinton's Wall Street crony capitalism and Senator Sanders' socialism.” (WAPT)
- O’Malley distinguished himself from Ben Carson and Bernie Sanders at a forum on criminal justice and race relations on Saturday, saying, “While the other two candidates will talk about things we should do in criminal justice reform, I have actually done them. Every day we worked to improve policing-community relations and, in fact, we did. When we found things that work like drug treatment and civilian review, we have made them stronger and did more of it. When we found things that did not work like the death penalty that did not work, we stopped doing it and abolished it.” (The Post and Courier)
Bernie Sanders
- At a forum on criminal justice in South Carolina on Friday, Bernie Sanders called for the end of for-profit prisons. He said, “It is wrong for corporations to be making profits from the incarcerations of their fellow American. … I want to see incentives to get people out of jail or prevent people from going into jail.” He added, “By and large, we do a pretty bad job in making sure that when people are released from jail, they don’t end up in jail again. There needs to be a path back from prison.” (The Hill)
- On Sunday, Michael Briggs, Sanders’ communications director. described Hillary Clinton’s recent tax proposals as “tentative half-steps that sound Republican-lite.” He added, “Given the disappearing middle class and massive income and wealth inequality in America today, we clearly have to go a lot further than what Secretary Clinton proposes. We need to raise Social Security benefits by lifting the cap on taxable income above $250,000. We need to pass excellent legislation by leading Democrats in Congress to provide paid family and medical leave. We need to join the rest of the industrialized world in guaranteeing health care to all people as a right, not a privilege.” (Bernie Sanders for President)
- Sanders quadrupled the amount of money he spent in Iowa from the second quarter to the third quarter. According to The Des Moines Register, “Sanders has spent a total of $583,563 in Iowa for the duration of his campaign. That includes more than $125,000 on payroll, about $83,000 on rent and about $10,000 on lodging and hotels.” (The Des Moines Register)
Republicans
- In a blind study of the accuracy of statements made by presidential candidates on climate change, eight climate and biological scientists found the Republican field performed poorly. Jeb Bush and Chris Christie received the highest marks with 64 and 54. Ted Cruz was given a 6, the lowest score of any candidate in either party. (Associated Press)
Jeb Bush
- Appearing on CNBC on Friday, Jeb Bush said his first move as commander-in-chief would be to consult with the military on how best “to destroy ISIS.” He argued there are too many “conditions” in place restricting the actions the U.S. can take. He added that the Syrian crisis could not be solved “in concert with Russia. … Ultimately there needs to be a political solution where Bashar Assad leaves.” (CNBC)
Ben Carson
- During a campaign stop in South Carolina on Saturday, Ben Carson said that FBI surveillance funding should be increased since it can only monitor “30 to 60 people” under its current budget. He also said he “would be in favor of monitoring a mosque or any church or any organization or any school or any press corps where there was a lot of radicalization and things that were anti-American.” (NOLA.com)
- Appearing at a forum on criminal justice and race on Saturday, Carson said he did not believe there were a substantial number of incidents of racial bias by law enforcement. “I'm not aware of a lot of cases where a police officer just comes up to somebody like you and says, 'Hey, I don't like you. I'm going to shoot you. I'm still waiting for the evidence,” he said. (NOLA.com)
- ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked Carson on Sunday whether individuals named on the terror watch list should be barred from purchasing guns. He responded, “There are a lot of people on that watch list and they have no idea of why they're on that list, they have been trying to get their names off of it and no one will give them information. I am a big supporter of the Second Amendment and I don't want to deprive people unnecessarily of that. There needs to be better due process." (The Huffington Post)
Chris Christie
- While speaking about national security at a town hall in New Hampshire on Saturday, Chris Christie said the Paris terrorist attacks were the result of “an intelligence failure. They were planning that thing for awhile and over multiple countries and no one caught them beforehand.” He added, “My number one priority as a leader in this country is to ensure that there is not another generation of widows and orphans created because of a terrorist attack on the American homeland.” (The Boston Globe, WMUR)
- When asked if he saw "thousands of thousands of people ... cheering" on September 11, 2001, in New Jersey as Donald Trump has claimed, Christie said, "I don’t recall that. … I do not remember that, and so it's not something that was part of my recollection. I think if it had happened, I would remember it, but, you know, there could be things I forget, too." (Politico)
Ted Cruz
- Ted Cruz said religious liberty was the “foundation” of all rights in the U.S. during the Family Leader’s Presidential Family Forum on Friday. He said, “It is the first right protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. It is the foundation of everything else in America. If you can’t worship God, all other liberties are taken away.” Cruz also questioned the intellectual environment on college campuses, saying, “We’re seeing universities all across this country with leftist, coddled kids — usually with trust funds — protesting against a horrible aggression, because the micro-aggression (of) ‘I heard a word that scared me.’ What is wrong with our universities?” (The Des Moines Register)
- During a campaign stop in Iowa on Friday, Cruz opposed establishing a database of Muslims. “On the question of should the federal government keep a registry of any religious group, the answer is, of course not … at the same time we need a federal government that is vigilant in going after Islamic terrorists,” said Cruz. (The Des Moines Register)
- Last week, Cruz opposed transgender youths being permitted to use the restroom or locker room corresponding to their gender identity. He said, “Look, these guys are so nutty that the federal government is going after school districts, trying to force them to let boys shower with little girls. Now listen: I’m the father of two daughters, and the idea that the federal government is coming in saying that boys, with all the god-given equipment of boys, can be in the shower room with junior high girls — this is lunacy!” (Advocate.com)
Carly Fiorina
- In a radio interview on Saturday, Carly Fiorina said the U.S. should “do whatever is necessary to ensure that we do not have terrorists coming into this nation.” She outlined her plan to combat ISIS by regaining ISIS-controlled territory, deploying more special forces to “direct” a “more effective bombing campaign,” and remaining vigilant against Iran and Russia. On the unrelated immigration issue of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, Fiorina said that the program was “unconstitutional” and she would “roll it back.” (Breitbart)
- On Friday, Fiorina discussed her support of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in Indiana earlier this year. She said, “RFRA in Indiana, I actually stood up and defended that law, vocally. And castigated some of my fellow technology CEOs who had the arrogance to say that they were going to boycott selling their products in Indiana. … My comment publicly was really, I don't see you boycotting the selling of your products to China or Saudi Arabia or Iran, where all manner of human rights are discriminated against day after day. I believe RFRA was misinterpreted by the media and by many to say that RFRA permits discrimination. No, RFRA does not permit discrimination, RFRA protects the exercise of religious liberty.” (On Top Magazine)
Jim Gilmore
- Jim Gilmore said on Friday that Donald Trump was “not a serious candidate for president.” He added, “I denounced many of his ideas, including the idea of some sort of federal deportation force, that’s he gonna put together. Some sort of local, domestic organization that’s gonna root people out. I just don’t agree with that kind of thing. I’ve said it’s fascist talk.” (BuzzFeed)
Lindsey Graham
- Lindsey Graham said on Friday that the Paris terrorist attacks have radically shifted the presidential race. “There’s two elections: Before Paris and after Paris. To those who say experience doen’t [sic] matter, I would point to Paris. To those who believe we’re going to win this war by having inconsistent thoughts and policies, I would say look at Paris,” Cruz said. He then accused Ted Cruz of being “wrong on almost everything” in Syria and said Hillary Clinton voted on national security matters in politically expedient ways. (New Hampshire Union Leader)
John Kasich
- John Kasich again defended his call to promote Judeo-Christian values through a government agency on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. After host Chuck Todd asked him if such a venture was not “a little anti-Islam,” Kasich responded, “Chuck you need to calm down. What I have said is when I look at Voice of America or Radio Liberty, what I’ve argued is the Western ethic, what is it about? It’s about life, it’s about equality of women, it’s about the freedom of religion. It’s not about going to church, that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about that every life has real meaning. … And if you had read more carefully what you would have noticed is that I’ve invited moderate Muslims into this discussion as well.” (Talking Points Memo)
- Last week, a super PAC backing Kasich, New Day for America, launched a $2.5 million ad campaign against Donald Trump. Trump responded, “I want to do negative ads on John Kasich, but he is so irrelevant to the race that I don’t want to waste my money.” He added, “Watch Kasich squirm --- if he is not truthful in his negative ads I will sue him just for fun!” (The Hill)
George Pataki
- On Sunday, George Pataki questioned Donald Trump’s claim that he saw in Jersey City “thousands and thousands” of people cheering after the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001. Pataki tweeted, “Not sure what luxury spider-hole @realDonaldTrump was hiding in on Sept11 but I saw Americans come together that day.” (NJ.com)
Rand Paul
- Rand Paul criticized Donald Trump and Marco Rubio for their policy positions on monitoring Muslims and mosques on Sunday. “Yes, we should follow people who are a risk. Should we talk to their neighbors and friends, should we talk to their Imam, sure all of that is legitimate. But should we target mosques and have a database of Muslims - absolutely not,” Paul said of Trump’s plan. On Rubio’s suggestion that any institution “where radicals are being inspired” should be closed, Paul said, "I think that's really disqualified Rubio. That would require some sort of religious czar that I think isn't consistent with our freedom." (CBS News)
Marco Rubio
- Marco Rubio released his first national television ad, “A Civilizational Struggle,” on Sunday. Speaking directly to the camera, Rubio says in the ad, “What happened in Paris could happen here. There is no middle ground. These aren't disgruntled or disempowered people. These are radical terrorists who want to kill us, because we let women drive, because we let girls go to school. ... There can be no arrangement or negotiation. Either they win or we do.” (The Huffington Post)
- In an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Rubio said the “only way” to defeat the Islamic State would be to use a ground force “made up primarily of Arab Sunnis.” He added, “There will have to be American operators embedded alongside them. Special operators are combat troops. This is not a return to Iraq. We're not talking about 100,000 people or 50,000 armed soldiers. But we are talking about a significant force with special operators and others with specific missions that will have to be embedded alongside that Sunni Arab coalition that this president and the United States must put together if we are to defeat ISIS on the ground.” (Fox News)
- Rubio expressed support for the House bill to restrict Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. on Sunday, calling it “an appropriate response.” He said, “My argument is that we can’t allow anyone in this country that we can’t vet. And I believe that the vast majority of refugees that are trying to come here are people that we will not be able to vet. … Does common sense still apply? Of course, it does. A 5-year-old orphan, a 90-year-old widow, a well-known Chaldean priest, these are obviously common-sense applications that you can clearly vet them just by common sense. But what about someone who doesn’t fit that profile? There is no reliable database that we can rely on.” (Politico)
Rick Santorum
- Rick Santorum said on Saturday that Syrian refugees should be placed in resettlement camps in the Middle East. He said, “We have to stop playing these foolish games that radical Muslims can live comfortably in the United States. They cannot.” (Cleveland.com)
Donald Trump
- Following reports that Republican operatives were considering allying with donors to weaken Donald Trump’s campaign, Trump said he would again consider a third-party presidential run on Sunday. “I’m going to have to see what happens. I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly." (The Washington Post)
- At a rally for Trump in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday, several attendees reportedly assaulted a Black Lives Matter demonstrator after Trump asked for him to be removed. Video from the event and witness accounts suggest the man was kicked, punched and choked. On Sunday morning, Trump said, “Maybe he should have been roughed up, because it was absolutely disgusting what he was doing.” (The Washington Post)
- In an interview on ABC News on Sunday, Trump said he supported reinstating waterboarding. “I would bring it back, yes. I would bring it back. I think waterboarding is peanuts compared to what they’d do to us, what they’re doing to us, what they did to James Foley when they chopped off his head. That’s a whole different level and I would absolutely bring back interrogation and strong interrogation,” he said. (Talking Points Memo)
- On Saturday, Trump said he witnessed “thousands and thousands of people” cheering in New Jersey as the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001. When George Stephanopoulos of ABC News sought verification of the statement because law enforcement denied it happened, Trump said, “George, it did happen. There were people that were cheering on the other side of New Jersey where you have large Arab populations. They were cheering as the World Trade Center came down. I know it might be not politically correct for you to talk about it, but there were people cheering as that building came down — as those buildings came down, and that tells you something. It was well covered at the time." (NPR)
- On Sunday, Trump retweeted an image of statistics on crime and race from a government agency that does not exist. The figures also radically diverge from those released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. (CNN)
Third Party Candidates
Jill Stein (Green Party)
- Jill Stein is leading the Green Party field with 63 percent, according to an online poll conducted by Green Party Watch on Sunday. (Green Party Watch)
See also
- Presidential election, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
- Important dates in the 2016 presidential race
- Polls and Straw polls
- 2016 presidential candidate ratings and scorecards
