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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - October 20, 2015
From Ballotpedia
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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential Briefing was sponsored by the Leadership Project for America. | ||||
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Tuesday's Leading Stories
- On Monday, Jim Webb announced that he was considering an independent run for president. He is set to hold a news conference on Tuesday to discuss his candidacy. (The Washington Post)
- Poll: In the inaugural presidential straw poll at the Georgia National Fair, Ben Carson topped the Republican field with 8,576 votes, narrowly beating Donald Trump by less than 500 votes. Carly Fiorina was a distant third with 1,203 votes. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders 2,513 to 929 votes. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
- Poll: According to a national Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton has expanded her lead over Bernie Sanders 49 percent to 29 percent following the first Democratic debate. (The Wall Street Journal)
- Poll: A Franklin Pierce-Herald poll, however, saw no such boost for Clinton in New Hampshire. Sanders led Clinton in the state 38 percent to 30 percent. (Boston Herald)
- Poll: A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll of the Republican field found Donald Trump slightly increase his lead nationally to 25 percent. Ben Carson followed closely behind with 22 percent. Marco Rubio, the only other candidate to received double-digit support, registered 13 percent support. Trump has also managed to raise his electability number with 59 percent of Republican voters saying they would consider voting for him. In contrast, Jeb Bush’s numbers have declined, with 51 percent of voters saying they would consider supporting him. (NBC News)
Democrats
Joe Biden
- Fox News reported on Monday that Joe Biden was expected to enter the presidential race and would potentially announce his candidacy at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Iowa on Saturday. U.S. Rep. Brennan Boyle (D-Penn.) also tweeted that a “very close source” to Biden had told him the vice president would run. (Fox News, CNN)
Lincoln Chafee
- On Monday, Lincoln Chafee tweeted that the European Union should offer $3 billion to Turkey to help them take in Syrian refugees. (Twitter)
- Chafee received no debate bump, according to a CNN/ORC poll released on Monday. He registered less than 1 percent support. (The Wall Street Journal)
Hillary Clinton
- USA Today reported on Sunday that less than 10 percent of President Obama’s 2012 campaign bundlers have raised cash for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. It is speculated that many of these wealthy Democrats are waiting for Joe Biden to make a decision about his presidential candidacy. (USA Today)
- U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the chair of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, said over the weekend that he has one pressing question for Clinton during her testimony this week: “What I want to know is while violence was going up in Libya why was our security profile going down?” Gowdy also said that his fellow Republicans “shut up talking about things that [they] don't know anything about." (CBS News)
- In a letter to the Food and Drug Administration on Monday, Clinton encouraged the agency to expedite review of Turing Pharmaceuticals for “artificially” increasing the price of a drug from $13.50 to $750. She also sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, writing that although she knows the agency has “limited authority to address price gouging when it is the result of unilateral action in a market with no competition,” it should examine the issue across the pharmaceutical industry. (Newsweek)
- Former President Bill Clinton will join Hillary Clinton at a rally in Iowa on Saturday before the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, marking his first high-profile campaigning event for his wife. (The New York Times)
- On Tuesday, Clinton is set to announce endorsements from 50 current and former black mayors, including sitting mayors Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, Kasim Reed of Atlanta and Steve Benjamin of Columbia. (NBC News)
- U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) suggested last week that Republicans would immediately attempt to impeach Clinton if she were elected president. “[S]he will be a unique president if she is elected by the public next November, because the day she's sworn in is the day that she's subject to impeachment because she has committed high crimes and misdemeanors," said Brooks. (The Huffington Post)
Lawrence Lessig
- Lawrence Lessig wrote an op-ed last week in The Atlantic declaring that he was no longer a referendum candidate. He wrote, “I am running for president. I am running with the purpose of restoring this democracy. I will make that objective primary. I will do everything possible to make it happen first, by working with Congress to pass fundamental reform first. After we pass that reform, I will remain as president to make sure the reforms stick. … But beyond that priority, I would do everything else a president must do, too. Which means I bear the burden in this campaign of convincing America I could do that well.” (The Atlantic)
Martin O’Malley
- Although Martin O’Malley received no debate bump in recent polls from CNN/ORC or NBC News/The Wall Street Journal, he said last week that his performance would be a “shot in the arm for fundraising” and he expected to be able to compete in early voting states. (The Baltimore Sun, The Wall Street Journal)
Bernie Sanders
- Bernie Sanders has entered the next phase of his campaign, according to his campaign adviser Tad Devine. Hosting smaller campaign events, increasing ad buys and appearing in more mass media interviews, Devine described this shift as “a phase of persuasion, as opposed to introduction.” (NBC News)
- According to a spokesman for Sanders, his concerns about government surveillance of private citizens extends to “the lack of privacy consumers have, and how their information is often unwittingly collected, shared, and sold.” (VICE)
Republicans
- Over the weekend, six Republican presidential candidates appeared at a Texas megachurch to court support from evangelical voters. Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum discussed their personal faith and commitment to religious liberty. (Associated Press)
Jeb Bush
- Jeb Bush is scheduled to announce his platform on the management of Western land and resources on Wednesday in Nevada. (KOLO)
- On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that the Bush campaign had scrapped plans to contract with one data company to provide voter information to both the campaign and the pro-Bush super PAC, Right to Rise. Although the arrangement would have given Right to Rise “a good idea who the campaign was trying to reach — and [it] could complement that effort or expand on it,” Bush’s campaign withdrew over concerns it could be perceived as improper coordination. (Associated Press)
Chris Christie
- Although Chris Christie has recently emphasized his concern that Americans are unable to find affordable housing, The New York Times reported on Monday that as governor of New Jersey, Christie has attempted to undo a state court ruling requiring zoning laws in wealthy areas to allow for housing for low- and moderate-income residents. He also attempted to strike the agency that oversees affordable housing in New Jersey. (The New York Times)
- Christie released the video “It's About You” on Monday. It focuses on voters’ fears of a government shutdown and how Christie would work to prevent another one. He says, “A Christie presidency won't be about me, it will be about you. Our presidency will be about enforcing the law, level the playing field for everybody and once again reward those folks who play by the rules and think that justice means more than just a word but it means a way of life." (The Washington Examiner, The Hill)
- More than 50 percent of Christie’s $4.2 million fundraising haul came from New Jersey. (National Journal)
Ted Cruz
- Ted Cruz released the following statement on Monday praising Texas’ decision to end Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood: “Today, my home state of Texas proved that states can make a real difference in the fight to block taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. I’m proud of Texas for leading the way in affirming the sanctity of life, and I thank Gov. Abbott for his principled commitment to protecting the lives of unborn children. I encourage every state to follow Texas’ lead in stopping taxpayer funds from going to Planned Parenthood, and I will continue to lead the fight in the United States Senate to defund Planned Parenthood at the federal level.” (Breitbart)
- In a recent filing with the Federal Election Commission, Cruz sent a payment of more than $122,000 to his publisher, HarperCollins, for copies of his own book, A Time for Truth. According to The New Republic, this practice can be profitable for both the publisher and candidate if he is able to sell the book stock he purchased as signed memorabilia at $85 per unit. (New Republic)
- Over the weekend, former President George W. Bush reportedly criticized Cruz for being “opportunistic” in his apparent alliance with Donald Trump. “I just don’t like the guy,” Bush said. (Politico)
Carly Fiorina
- Carly Fiorina’s super PAC released a video contrasting Fiorina with Hillary Clinton. The video shows “the differences between the two candidates on several key issues including immigration, national security, and Clinton’s emails,” according to Fortune. (Fortune, The Washington Examiner)
- On Monday, Fiorina announced the names of the members of her campaign team in Virginia, comprised primarily of state grassroots activists. Fiorina’s campaign released the following statement: “Together, these Republicans join a growing group of Americans nationwide who have been moved to support Carly’s candidacy because of her willingness to challenge the professional political class and take on the status quo. They will help build a grassroots network of support in Virginia and communicate why Carly’s unique and impressive background is what we need in the next President of the United States.” (The Washington Post)
- Fiorina criticized Ben Carson and Donald Trump’s requests for a shorter debate last week. “Maybe it says something about their endurance and their comfort or discomfort with having a real debate about the issues,” Fiorina said. (Talking Points Memo)
Lindsey Graham
- Lindsey Graham said Hillary Clinton would “mop the floor with” Ben Carson and Donald Trump if they suggest that the U.S. should not have gone into Afghanistan to attack the Taliban after 9/11. Graham also criticized Trump’s assertion that stricter immigration laws would have prevented the attacks. (WPTZ)
- Graham received 1 percent support in a recent CNN/ORC poll, qualifying him to participate in the undercard debate next week. (FiveThirtyEight)
Mike Huckabee
- On Monday, Mike Huckabee said he was not concerned with his lack of campaign cash. He said, “People look at these numbers and they forget it's not how much you raise, it's what you do with it. We keep a low overhead. We run the campaign like most people wish the federal government would be run: very frugally." (CNBC)
Bobby Jindal
- According to the Washington Examiner, Bobby Jindal is considering skipping the Republican debate in Colorado next week unless CNBC agrees to change their criteria. Jindal wants polls in early primary states to count, rather than only national polls. The change in criteria would allow Jindal to participate in the prime-time debate because he is polling well in Iowa but not nationally. (The Washington Examiner)
- Jindal’s administration worked to strip Planned Parenthood of funding this summer after the Center for Medical Progress released controversial videos about the healthcare organization’s aborted fetal tissue practices. On Sunday, a judge blocked the defunding effort, but Jindal’s administration vowed to fight the decision. A spokesman for Jindal said that the administration will "appeal this decision and continue to fight to ensure Planned Parenthood no longer receives taxpayer funding." (NOLA.com, Business Insider)
John Kasich
- John Kasich received $2.1 million of the $4.4 million he raised last quarter from Ohio donors, according to The Columbus Dispatch. (The Columbus Dispatch)
George Pataki
- George Pataki discussed how his love of bird-watching has informed his “progressive stance on climate change” during an interview on Monday. He said, “There’s no question that human CO2 emissions are contributing, in some way. And to the extent it's consistent with a strong economy and a strong America, we should be taking steps to help the future generation deal with that.” (ABC News)
- In response to Donald Trump’s controversial comments about George W. Bush and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Pataki said, “My reaction is Donald Trump is like an eighth-grade schoolyard bully spewing nonsense. This is all complete nonsense. Whether it’s [Sen.] John McCain is not a war hero or Mexico’s going to pay for the wall or now, today, if his immigration policy had been in effect, Sept. 11 might not have happened. He just continually says things that make it plain that this man is not fit to be president of the United States.” (The Hill)
Rand Paul
- During an interview that was scheduled to air on Monday night, Rand Paul criticized Donald Trump for making “polarizing” comments about women and Hispanics. “We’d get just swamped in a landslide,” Paul said of a potential Trump nomination. (Talking Points Memo)
- Paul discussed his non-interventionist foreign policy perspective on Monday. He said, “I don't think anyone questions that I'm the least likely of all the candidates to take us to war. I also have been the biggest critic of our foreign policy, in the sense that, both under President Obama and under the previous president, we've done things, interventions, that have led to untoward results. For example, why are we bombing anything in Afghanistan? What is the mission and why are we there? The right, the neo-cons, complain, ‘Well, President Obama's not doing enough.’ And my complaint is, ‘Why are we still there at all? Why are we involved with a war in Afghanistan when we've put more money into Afghanistan than the entire Marshall Plan?’” (CNBC)
Marco Rubio
- On Sunday, Utah's Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) endorsed Marco Rubio using social media. Cox tweeted: “I am excited to announce that Abby and I are officially joining #TeamRubio! We can't wait to welcome @marcorubio to Utah tomorrow.” (KUTV)
- At a campaign event in New Hampshire last week, Rubio criticized pharmaceutical companies of “pure profiteering.” According to The Wall Street Journal, Rubio argued that high drug prices are the result of government regulations and the companies’ attempt “to offset declining consumer demand as their products lose market share to newer rival treatments.” Rubio said, “You ask yourself, how is this possible? There are less prescriptions being written for that drug and yet you’re making more money on it than you ever have. The answer is they’re raising the prices dramatically, and the reason they’re raising the price dramatically is because they can. … The market will bear it. It’s just pure profiteering.” (The Wall Street Journal)
Rick Santorum
- Jeffrey Dorfman, a professor of economics at the University of Georgia and Forbes contributor, explained that Rick Santorum’s tax plan includes “full business expensing for all purchasing of plant and equipment, including inventory element,” which would help small businesses. He wrote, “Rick Santorum’s plan, by allowing immediate, full expensing will stimulate businesses to invest more in growing their businesses, thus helping to grow the economy.” (Forbes)
- On Monday, Santorum weighed in on the dispute between Donald Trump and Jeb Bush over George W. Bush’s handling of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Santorum said “that the hijackers came in before the Bush presidency the [sic] idea that there was a ‘personal attachment’ to 9/11 by Bush is untrue and ‘not fair,’” according to Breitbart. (Breitbart)
Donald Trump
- During a campaign event on Monday in South Carolina, Donald Trump told a crowd of 5,600 supporters that President Barack Obama was considering restricting gun ownership rights. He said, “You know, the President is thinking about signing an executive order where he wants to take your guns away. You hear about this? Not gonna happen. … There's plenty of executive orders being signed, you know that. And we can't let that go on." (CNN)
- At the same event, Trump attempted to clarify an earlier statement he made that the Bush administration’s decision to send troops into Afghanistan after 9/11 a “terrible mistake.” He explained he was against the Iraq War and believed Afghanistan should have been the focus. (CNN)
- This week, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the bill to limit federal funding to sanctuary cities should “be called the Donald Trump Act, like the disgusting outrageous language championed by Donald Trump.” (The Hill)
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
