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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - October 26, 2015
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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
- Poll: According to a new poll of Republicans in early voting states by CBS/YouGov, Donald Trump and Ben Carson are tied in Iowa with 27 percent each. Ted Cruz is a distant third with 12 percent. In New Hampshire and South Carolina, Trump has a large lead over the entire field with 38 percent and 40 percent in those states, respectively. “It's not simply that Trump - or Trump and Carson - are heading a fractured field. It's that so many of the candidates in the race aren't viewed as satisfactory choices so far. In Jeb Bush's case, not only is he trailing and mired in single digits, but more than half of Republicans would be dissatisfied with him as the nominee. Bush, Christie and Paul elicit similar satisfaction in Iowa and South Carolina, suggesting all those candidates have a great deal of work to do turning around perceptions in the next three months,” the study found. (CBS News)
- Poll: In Iowa, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders by a narrow margin with 46 percent to Sanders’ 43 percent, according to a CBS/YouGov poll of Democratic voters released on Sunday. She has a more definitive lead in South Carolina with 68 percent. Sanders follows with 25 percent. In New Hampshire, Sanders retains his lead over the Democratic field with 54 percent to Clinton’s 39 percent. “When Democratic voters are asked what they most want to see the next Democratic president accomplish - if they could pick one thing - reforming the campaign finance system tops the list in both Iowa and New Hampshire (raising taxes on Wall Street firms is a close second in Iowa). For South Carolina Democrats, raising the minimum wage is the top priority for the next Democratic president, followed by more restrictions on guns,” CBS News noted. (CBS News)
- It was reported on Friday that Jeb Bush’s campaign planned to reduce its payroll costs by 40 percent and travel costs by 20 percent in order to focus spending on New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada. In addition to relocating staffers from the campaign’s Miami office to those four early voting states, the campaign also announced there would be some layoffs. "Every dollar that we can save in overhead is a dollar that goes on television, goes on radio, goes on media, goes on voter outreach," Bush said. When asked over the weekend if these spending cuts reflected issues with his campaign, Bush said, “Blah blah blah blah, that’s my answer, blah blah blah.” (CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times)
- TIME has produced a study analyzing the contributions of 2012 presidential election donors and who they support today. “Perhaps most surprising, more [Mitt] Romney money has flowed into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s coffers (more than $640,000 so far) than has been given to Republicans Rand Paul, Carly Fiorina or Chris Christie. Meanwhile Jeb Bush has collected nearly $125,000 so far from 2012 donors to Obama,” TIME reported. (TIME)
Democrats
Hillary Clinton
- During an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Friday, Hillary Clinton said that issues with the care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs were not as “widespread” as the media had reported. “Now nobody would believe that from the coverage you see, and the constant berating of the VA that comes from the Republicans, in – in part in pursuit of this ideological agenda that they have,” Clinton added. (The Hill)
- In that same interview, Clinton said former President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 as a “defensive action … [It] was a line that was drawn that was to prevent going further” with a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. (Bloomberg)
- On Saturday, David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, endorsed Clinton. In an essay posted to Medium, Plouffe wrote, “Now, to be honest, during the most intense days of the 2008 primary, I would never have imagined writing this piece. And I doubt Team Clinton felt any differently about me. … She’s the right person to protect President Obama’s legacy on health care and so much else.” (NBC News, Medium)
- In a statement released on Saturday, Clinton voiced support for the Obama administration’s plan to eliminate unnecessary standardized testing. She wrote, “While testing can provide communities with full information about how our students are doing and help us determine whether we have achievement gaps, we can and must do better. We should be ruthless in looking at tests and eliminating them if they do not actually help us move our kids forward.” (International Business Times)
- In response to Bernie Sanders’ statement during the first Democratic presidential debate that there was too much “shouting” on the issue of gun control, Clinton said, “I'm not shouting. It's just that when women talk, some people think we're shouting." On Sunday, Sanders rejected the suggestion that his comment was sexist. He said, “All that I can say is I am very proud of my record on women's issues. I certainly do not have a problem with women speaking out -- and I think what the secretary is doing there is taking words and misapplying them.” (CNN)
Martin O’Malley
- On Friday, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) endorsed Martin O’Malley. He said in a statement, "I'm endorsing Martin for President today because I believe he is the candidate that best represents the future of our Party. Martin and I worked closely together as Democratic governors, and I saw firsthand how he didn't just talk about his progressive values—he actually put them into action.” (CNN)
- In an email to supporters over the weekend, O’Malley attempted to rally them now that the Democratic presidential field has winnowed. “This week, as I saw my fellow presidential candidates Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee drop out, I knew we were entering a new phase of this race. With just three candidates left, and a big endorsement today, now is our time to step up,” O’Malley wrote. (MSNBC)
- An analysis of O’Malley’s fundraising shows he’s spending at a higher rate than any other Democratic presidential candidate. “The idea that he can - either with the $1.3 million that he raised or the $800,000 he has on hand - even create a national profile, he’s not going to do it,” said Todd Eberly, a political scientist at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. (Maryland Reporter)
Bernie Sanders
- Speaking at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Iowa on Saturday, Bernie Sanders levied “implicit” criticism of Hillary Clinton and her shifting positions on gay marriage and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He highlighted his vote against the Defense of Marriage in 1996 – “not a politically easy vote” – and his long-term opposition to trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA. “I promise you tonight as your president I will govern based on principle not poll numbers,” Sanders added. (ABC News, The Huffington Post)
- In an effort to increase support from Latino voters, Sanders will hold two campaign rallies in Las Vegas and meet with members of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement next week. (Las Vegas Sun)
Republicans
- Prediction markets now indicate Marco Rubio is most likely to receive the Republican presidential nomination, according to The New York Times. Rubio’s chances are rated at 34 percent, surpassing the previous market leader, Jeb Bush, who has dropped to 23 percent. (The New York Times)
Jeb Bush
- On Saturday, Bush said colleges should provide students with job prospect information before they declare a major. "Universities ought to have skin in the game. When a student shows up, they ought to say 'Hey, that psych major deal, that philosophy major thing, that's great, it's important to have liberal arts … but realize, you're going to be working a Chick-fil-A,” Bush said. (Washington Examiner)
Ben Carson
- Ben Carson said he would use health savings accounts to reduce the need for government assistance programs like Medicare and Medicaid. He argued on Sunday, “Using health savings accounts starting from the time you are born until the time you die largely eliminates the need for people to be dependent on government programs like that.” (The Wall Street Journal)
- In response to Donald Trump’s charge that he was “low energy,” Carson said on Sunday, “I’m not sure that there’s anybody else running who’s spent 18 or 20 hours intently operating on somebody.” (The Blaze)
- On Sunday, Carson said he “would not be in favor of killing a baby because the baby” was a product of rape or incest. He compared permitting abortion in those instances to an abolitionist who accepted slavery. “During slavery, a lot of the slave owners thought that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to that slave. Anything that they chose to do. And, you know, what if the abolitionist had said, you know, ‘I don’t believe in slavery. I think it’s wrong. But you guys do whatever you want to do.’ Where would we be?” he said. (The New York Times)
- Discussing his “relaxed” nature in an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd on Sunday, Carson noted he had been very volatile in his youth. “As a teenager, I would go after people with rocks, and bricks, and baseball bats, and hammers. And, of course, many people know the story when I was 14 and I tried to stab someone. You know, fortunately, you know, my life has been changed. And I'm a very different person now,” he said. (CNN)
Chris Christie
- In an interview with CBS’ John Dickerson, Chris Christie criticized President Obama for “encourag[ing]” the Black Lives Matter movement and the “murder of police.” He said, “The problem is this, there's lawlessness in this country. The president encourages this lawlessness. He encourages it. He does not support the police, he doesn't back up the police, he justifies Black Lives Matter. … I don't believe that movement should be calling for the murder of police officers." When Dickerson said that Black Lives Matter activists were not advocating for that, Christie responded, “Sure, they are. They've been chanting in the streets for the murder of police officers." (CBS News)
Ted Cruz
- At a campaign rally in Iowa on Friday, Ted Cruz voiced concern with the future composition of the Supreme Court. He said, “One more liberal justice and our right to keep and bear arms is taken away from us by an activist court. One more liberal justice and they begin sandblasting and bulldozing veterans memorials throughout this country. One more liberal justice and we lose our sovereignty to the United Nations and the World Court.” (The Des Moines Register)
- Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is set to endorse Cruz on Monday. “The endorsement marks a reconciliation of sorts between Cruz and Patrick, both darlings of the Tea Party in Texas,” wrote Patrick Svitek of The Texas Tribune. (The Texas Tribune)
Carly Fiorina
- The New York Times published a profile of Carly Fiorina and her time as CEO of Hewlett-Packard on Monday. “As she seeks the Republican presidential nomination, Mrs. Fiorina’s tenure as chief executive of H.P. is largely treated as the story of a misguided corporate merger, boardroom espionage and the stunning ouster of a Silicon Valley celebrity. But lost in those dramatic accounts is a textured understanding of how Mrs. Fiorina ran the technology behemoth day to day for six years. Her distinct style of management was revealed in unglamorous strategy sessions, casual interactions with subordinates and motivational talks to the company’s far-flung global work force, which stood at 122,000 when she took over in 1999,” Michael Barbaro wrote. (The New York Times)
- Commenting on Hillary Clinton’s congressional testimony, Fiorina said on Sunday, “I think anyone who listened to those Benghazi hearings realizes that she knew this was a terrorist attack in Benghazi and she nevertheless lied to the American people about it.” (Newsmax)
Lindsey Graham
- Lindsey Graham wrote an op-ed for The New Hampshire Union Leader on Sunday arguing that Hillary Clinton’s testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi demonstrated she was “unfit” to be commander-in-chief. “Above all, the facts of Benghazi demonstrate the centrality of her role in an administration that is not only an utter failure in its foreign policy, but that actively misleads the American people about its failures for political gain,” Graham wrote. (New Hampshire Union Leader)
Mike Huckabee
- On Friday, Mike Huckabee said that if President Obama were to issue an executive order requiring new background checks on gun buyers, gun dealers should ignore it. "There should certainly be an absolute, unapologetic — just complete ignoring of such an order by those gun-shop owners, because the president can't make law. He just can't,” said Huckabee. (Newsmax)
Bobby Jindal
- Bobby Jindal, who is polling fifth in Iowa, remained positive about his prospects in the state. “I think this entire race changes after February 1, after the caucus. I think we’re going to win here in Iowa, and I think that’s going to propel us forward to the nomination,” Jindal said. (Daily Caller)
John Kasich
- Robert Rowe, a New Hampshire state representative, has endorsed John Kasich after previously supporting Jeb Bush. “God gives us our personalities and our looks and we can't help that. We are who we are,” Rowe said of Bush. (Associated Press)
Rand Paul
- Rand Paul said on Saturday that he had no intention of leaving the presidential race “until someone votes.” He said his campaign was working to have 10,000 college students caucus in Iowa in February. (Washington Examiner)
- On Friday, Paul questioned Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy in the Middle East. “Why were we in Libya and was it a good idea? Hillary Clinton was the biggest proponent, bugging President Obama saying ‘we need to topple Qaddafi.’ If you look at Libya now, it is a failed state. There is no government. One third of its people pledge allegiance to ISIS. I contend that not only did she not provide adequate security for Benghazi, but that she was the proponent of a war which made things less stable.” (RealClearPolitics)
- In an interview on Fox News on Saturday, Paul said that Lincoln Chafee’s and Jim Webb’s departures from the presidential race have made the Democratic primary a “choice between socialism and corruption.” (Breitbart)
Marco Rubio
- Although Marco Rubio has co-sponsored a Senate bill to ban online gambling, he hinted to the Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial board that he would consider an exception for online poker. "On the issue of Internet poker, the only difference between the poker games and the others is that it involves an element of skill associated with and compared with just a slot machine online. So that's the one area that distinguishes it a little bit,” Rubio said. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
- Rubio defended himself against assertions he had missed too many Senate votes and been hypocritical when he said federal workers should be fired for not performing their jobs. He said “voting is not the only part of the Senate job. I mean the most important thing a Senator does is constituent service. We're still involved in looking out for Florida's issues.” (RealClearPolitics)
- On Sunday, Rubio said Hillary Clinton’s handling of the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack was politically motivated. “Here's why [her testimony is] meaningful. Number one, because it's a lie. And number two, because it was right before the election. It tells you that they were willing to put domestic political consideration over telling the American people and the families of those victims the truth,” he said. (Washington Examiner)
Rick Santorum
- Following the third Republican presidential debate, Rick Santorum will spend five days campaigning across Iowa. (The Des Moines Register)
Donald Trump
- On Sunday, Donald Trump said he had “predicted Osama bin Laden was trouble” 19 months before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “I know much more about this stuff than Bush and everybody else running,” he added. (Daily Caller)
- During a campaign rally on Saturday, Trump questioned Ben Carson’s faith, saying, “Nobody believes I'm Presbyterian. I'm Presbyterian. … Boy, that's down the middle of the road folks, in all fairness. I mean, Seventh-day Adventist, I don't know about. I just don't know about." (Bloomberg)
- In an interview on CNN on Sunday, Trump said he would be “a great unifier for our country.” Describing the atmosphere during Hillary Clinton’s hearing before the House Select Committee on Benghazi, Trump said, “The level of hatred between Republicans and Democrats was unbelievable. The level of -- I've never seen anything like it. I'm going to unify. This country is totally divided. Barack Obama has divided this country unbelievably. And it's all, it's all hatred, what can I tell you. I've never seen anything like it...I've gotten along with Democrats and I've gotten along with Republicans. And I said, that's a good thing." (CNN)
- On Friday, journalists from Univision were denied press credentials at Trump’s rally in Florida. “Mr. Trump is suing Univision for $500 million and until that is resolved it is a conflict of interest,” a spokeswoman for Trump told CNN. (CNN)
- Trump said that Iraq and Libya would be more stable today if Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi had not been removed from power. He said, "I mean, look at Libya. Look at Iraq. Iraq used to be no terrorists. He [Hussein] would kill the terrorists immediately, which is like now it's the Harvard of terrorism. If you look at Iraq from years ago, I'm not saying he was a nice guy, he was a horrible guy, but it was a lot better than it is right now. Right now, Iraq is a training ground for terrorists. Right now Libya, nobody even knows Libya, frankly there is no Iraq and there is no Libya. It's all broken up. They have no control. Nobody knows what's going on." (CNN)
- At a campaign rally on Friday, a Latino immigration activist was forced to the ground and kicked as others chanted, “USA! USA!” Trump acknowledged the removal of several protesters during his speech at the rally, saying, “You can get 'em out, but don't hurt 'em." Later, he added, "See the first group, I was nice: 'Oh, take your time.’ The second group, I was pretty nice. The third group, I'll be pretty more violent. And the fourth group, I'll say, 'Get the hell out of here!'" (The Huffington Post)
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
