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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - October 28, 2015
From Ballotpedia
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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential Briefing was sponsored by the Leadership Project for America. | ||||
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Wednesday's Leading Stories
- This evening, the GOP presidential candidates will participate in the third primary debate, which will be hosted by CNBC at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. The first debate begins at 6:00 pm followed by the second debate at 8:00 pm EDT.
- After the debate, check out Ballotpedia’s “Insider’s Poll" to see who won the debate. James A. Barnes, a senior writer for Ballotpedia and co-author of the forthcoming 2016 edition of the Almanac of American Politics, will discuss the night’s winners and losers.
- Poll: In a poll of likely GOP primary voters in Texas, Ben Carson narrowly comes in ahead of Donald Trump with 22.93 percent. Trump is close behind with 22.17 percent. Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush follow the leaders with 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively. (KTVT-CBS 11)
- Poll: In a poll of likely Democratic primary voters in Texas, Hillary Clinton is dominating the race with 58.73 percent. Bernie Sanders follows Clinton with 10 percent, and Martin O’Malley garnered 3 percent. Twenty-eight percent of the voters polled are “undecided.” (KTVT-CBS 11)
Democrats
- On Tuesday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi commented on who could win the Democratic nomination. She said, "[Hillary Clinton] is a very qualified person who happens to be a woman, but I haven't endorsed anybody yet." She then commented on Bernie Sanders, saying, “Bernie Sanders was my colleague in the House. We voted against DOMA, you know, against all of those things people are subjecting to scrutiny now. He's fabulous, and he has a very important tonic for the country and for the Democratic Party because he has ideas. He might win the nomination." She also added, "And I am a big fan of [former Maryland Governor] Martin O'Malley's as well. He's just fabulous." (Real Clear Politics)
Hillary Clinton
- On Tuesday, "Morning Joe" co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski criticized Clinton for calling Sanders’ comments about guns during the Democratic debate sexist. While on the campaign trail, Clinton has hinted “that Sanders implied she should stop shouting about guns because she was a woman,” according to the Washington Examiner. Clinton said, “I'm not shouting. It's just that when women talk, some people think we're shouting.” Scarborough and Brzezinski called Clinton’s accusation “pathetic.” (The Washington Examiner)
- On Tuesday night, host of CBS' "The Late Show” Stephen Colbert asked Clinton, "If you're president and the banks are failing, do we let them fail?" Clinton replied, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. First of all, under Dodd-Frank, that is what will happen because we now have stress tests and I'm going to impose a risk fee on the big bank if they engage in risky behavior but they have to know, their shareholders have to know that yes, they will fail and if they're too big to fail. Then under my plan and others that have been proposed, they may have to be broken up." (CNN)
- Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) endorsed Clinton on Tuesday. In a statement Brown said, “As Ohio’s working families continue to recover from the worst economic recession in our country’s history, we need a president who’s committed to growing our economy by lifting up the middle class. I am proud to endorse her today because I know she will keep Ohio moving forward. ...From opposing unfair trade deals to fighting for a fair financial system, Hillary Clinton has shown she puts working families first. She knows as president that her first job will be creating jobs for the middle class.” (MSNBC)
- In response to an officer slamming a student to the ground and arresting her at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina, Clinton tweeted: "There is no excuse for violence inside a school The #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh is unacceptable — schools should be safe places. -H." (CNN)
- The New York Times reported on Tuesday that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will likely endorse Clinton. However, when asked about the possible endorsement de Blasio said, “When we have something to say on the political front, we’ll say it. I haven’t said anything yet.” (The New York Times)
Lawrence Lessig
- Lawrence Lessig identified Donald Trump as an ally in the effort to enact campaign finance reform. On Tuesday he said, “One very important ally has been Donald Trump, who has opened up this issue for Republicans in a way which nobody imagined it was going to be developed. He’s made it possible for Republicans to begin to identify this issue in exactly the same way [as Democrats].” (The Guardian)
Martin O’Malley
- Martin O’Malley will hold an anti-gun event on Wednesday at the University of Colorado-Boulder. According to Haley Morris, O’Malley’s spokeswoman, O'Malley will "challenge every single (GOP) candidate on that stage Wednesday night to value lives over whatever pressure they are getting from the NRA.” (CNN)
- After MSNBC's Chris Hayes showed a video of an officer “slamming a young girl to the ground and then dragging her across the floor of her classroom to be handcuffed” at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina, O’Malley said, “As a parent and as a father, I would be ripped ballistic if somebody did that to my daughter. That's pretty outrageous behavior. That's my reaction to that. ... That's not appropriate behavior for any adult to treat a kid. My oldest daughter is a teacher in Baltimore City public schools, I have visited classroom after classroom — there's no excuse for that sort of behavior.” (Bustle.com)
Bernie Sanders
- The New York Times reported that Bernie Sanders is trying to criticize Hillary Clinton without personally attacking her. On Monday night, Sanders said, “If people are satisfied with establishment politics, you’ve got a candidate. If you want real change, I’m the candidate.” On Tuesday morning he said, “I am delighted that in the last couple months, Hillary Clinton has come on board positions that I have held for many, many years.” (The New York Times)
Republicans
Jeb Bush
- On Tuesday, Jeb Bush’s campaign manager Danny Diaz discussed Bush’s debate strategy. He said, “We’re focusing on Jeb Bush. We’re going to talk about 1.3 million jobs created, eight balanced budgets, $19 billion in tax cuts. There’s clearly going to be exchanges between candidates (but) we’re going to use this opportunity in front of millions of Americans to talk about the candidate who’s going to be the next Republican nominee and president of the United States.” (USA Today)
- On Tuesday, Bush proposed raising the retirement age and implementing means-testing, in order to protect Social Security. According to CNN, Bush “favors raising the retirement age for Social Security beyond its current target age of 67, starting in 2022 by gradually increasing the age by one month every year. That means by 2058, when life expectancy is expected to be longer, workers would have to be 70 to claim full benefits -- or 65 for early benefits.” (CNN)
- In his discussion of his plan to reform Medicare, Bush wrote, "Seniors will still get a simple brochure in the mail from the government every fall. They will be able to review and choose from their local options from Humana, Anthem, United or another private plan, or traditional Medicare. Seniors will have access to new options, like plans that specialize in treating congestive heart failure or diabetes or Alzheimer's." Bush also “praised the structure proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan that would move toward privatization,” according to CNN. (CNN)
Ben Carson
- During an interview on Tuesday, CNN's Jake Tapper asked Ben Carson about the comments he made in April 2014 about education. Carson said, "If you happen to be in an affluent community, there's a lot more money for the schools, better facilities, everything. All that does is perpetuate the situation. Wouldn't it make more sense to put the money in a pot and redistribute it throughout the country so that public schools are equal, whether you're in a poor area or a wealthy area?" Carson clarified his statement, explaining, "I'm talking about the fact that there are a lot of public schools that exist in areas that are economically deprived that don't have the facilities that are necessary to provide the best education for our children." Carson added that the government has "a responsibility to educate everyone and looking at the best system in order to do that." (CNN)
Chris Christie
- In an interview on “CBS This Morning,” Chris Christie commented on how Donald Trump’s name identification has helped him in the presidential race. He said, "We've had plenty of smart, astute businessmen run for president before. The difference here is this is somebody who comes in with nearly 100 percent name identification...Other people know him and they generally like him and they love the character that he played on the show." (CBS News)
- During the same interview, when asked about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Christie said, “there's not a gun control law on the books now or proposed that would've prevented that unless the people who knew that that young man was disturbed went to the authorities and got him involuntarily committed. And if he were in a hospital, rather than on the streets, those people may not have been killed." (CBS News)
- Christie also commented on his role as governor and compared his experience to Hillary Clinton’s. He said, "The presidency's all about test, being tested. And there's no one who's been, in this race, who's been more tested than I have been. ...My responsibilities, I think in many ways, have been greater than hers [Clinton’s] have been. I think when you're in charge of the state and you're the ultimate accountable person for what happens in that state over a period of time, I do think that that's a much more personal challenge than the challenge of being secretary of state, for instance, or being one of a hundred United States senators." (CBS News)
Ted Cruz
- On Tuesday, Ted Cruz criticized a budget deal that will increase spending and raise the debt ceiling, if it passes. He said, "It is complete and utter surrender. We now have a GOP Congress, but no one watching this budget surrender would know it." (Politico)
Carly Fiorina
- On Tuesday, Leading Authorities, an organization that represents high-profile speakers, sent out an email explaining that Carly Fiorina is available for speaking engagements. Fiorina spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said that Fiorina is not "accepting any requests during the campaign" and that she "didn't authorize anything they sent out." (CNN)
Lindsey Graham
- When CNN’s Dana Bash asked Lindsey Graham what he thought about the CNBC GOP debate rules, he replied, “I think it sucks. The whole concept is flawed. With all due respect, I know there are a lot of us running, but I don't think I'm an undercard candidate when it comes to national security. I think I've got something to offer. And polling, at this point, is based on celebrity or soundbites. If you had a TV show, you'll do better than someone who didn't have a TV show." (Washington Post)
Mike Huckabee
- In a press release on Tuesday, Mike Huckabee criticized the budget deal proposed by GOP leadership. He said, “I am appalled that Washington’s latest budget deal will raid $150 billion from the Social Security Trust Fund. Social Security is a promise to America’s seniors–not a piggybank slush fund for Washington politicians. Americans shouldn’t sacrifice their Social Security benefits so we can bailout irresponsible Washington politicians. ...I have a better idea, let’s reform the disability insurance program, which is full of endless waste, fraud and abuse. Instead of stealing benefits from seniors, let’s protect Social Security, preserve Medicare and keep our promises to seniors.” (Breitbart)
- On his daily podcast, The Huckabee Exclusive, Huckabee discussed gun deaths, suicide and physician assisted suicide. He said, “many question why liberals even count suicides in gun death figures, since anyone bent on suicide will do it whether there is a gun handy or not. Besides liberals are the ones who keep pushing for everyone to have a right to die. In fact, just this month, California Governor Jerry Brown, signed a Right-to-Die bill to let doctors prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients. But a week later he vetoed the Right-to-Try bill that would have allowed terminally ill patients to petition drug companies to let them try experimental treatments, not yet approved by the government. At that point they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They are willing to take the risk, and it might even help researchers learn what works and and even benefit millions of people. And isn’t their life to do it as they please? Well not really, the left believes in a right-to-die just not a right to live. You can take drugs that kill you, as long as they are approved by the government and will definitely kill you, and not non-FDA approved drugs that might save you. It’s very similar to their pro-choice, whether you are deciding to end or extend your own life, or to terminate, or to go through the pregnancy, you have the right to make any personal choice you want, as long as it’s the one that liberals agree with.” (BuzzFeed)
Bobby Jindal
- Despite his threat to boycott Wednesday’s GOP debate, Bobby Jindal announced that he will participate. When asked why he changed his mind, a Jindal spokesperson said, "We just thought about it and he's always been ready to debate at any time." (NOLA.com)
- On Tuesday Jindal asked for the lawsuit against his executive order that offers “protections to people who oppose same-sex marriage” to be thrown out. (KLFY News)
John Kasich
- Speaking about other GOP presidential candidates to a group of supports on Tuesday, John Kasich said, “I’m done with being polite and listening to this nonsense. We’d better be careful that we don’t turn this country over to someone who’s not capable of running it .... somebody with wild ideas who thinks they can scream and bluster or operate their way to success. It’s my kids that are going to be at risk, and your kids, and your grandkids, and all of us. So why don’t we grow up? Why don’t we get a reality check on what the heck needs to be done in this country? ...What has happened to our party? What has happened to the conservative movement?” In reference to Ben Carson, Kasich said, “We got one person saying we ought to have a 10 percent flat tax that will drive up the deficit in this country by trillions of dollars. … Why don’t we have no taxes? Just get rid of them all! And a chicken in every pot on top of it.” He also criticized Donald Trump, saying, “One guy that says we ought to take 10 or 11 million people and pick them up … and take them to the border and scream at them to get out of our country. That’s just crazy." (Cincinnati.com) (New York Times)
Rand Paul
- Calling a bill that will raise domestic and defense spending and the national borrowing limit a "steaming pile of legislation," Rand Paul said, "I will filibuster the new debt ceiling bill. It is horrible, it's hard for me not to use profanity describing it." He added, "We will filibuster until we talk about the debt ceiling, until we talk about proposals. We will actually vote in favor of raising the debt ceiling next week if we can, but it will be contingent on passing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution." (Washington Post)
- Paul discussed marijuana while speaking to a group of students at the University of Colorado-Denver on Tuesday. He said, “I want to give you an idea what it’s like in Washington. They are really, really worried about you. … And I kid you not, they think you are wielding axes and running naked through the streets. They think it’s utter mayhem out here. ...I’m not here to advocate for marijuana. But I’m here to advocate for freedom. And you know what, if I’m president I’m going to leave Colorado the hell alone.” (The Denver Post)
- During an interview with Glenn Beck on Tuesday, Paul compared Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. Speaking about Sanders, he said, “Sounds like Donald Trump to me. He has the correct anger, angry at Washington, but the policy may not exactly be there. ...The problem is, Bernie complains about crony capitalism and he kind of gets it right, but he equates it with all of capitalism, and promotes something called Democratic socialism... There is nothing cool and nothing sexy about socialism, what there is is the implied force that goes along with taking away your choice. They tell you you can not make reindeer, cars... if you don't listen they fine you, if you don't pay the fine they imprison you... A majority can be just as bad as one single authoritarian.” (Real Clear Politics)
Marco Rubio
- On Tuesday, Marco Rubio criticized groups who are demonizing police officers. He said, "The overwhelming and vast majority of law enforcement officers in this country are just trying to do their jobs. It is troubling that there are groups and rhetoric out there now that is encouraging people to demonize law enforcement, to target law enforcement or in some cases, quite frankly, to misrepresent what law enforcement is trying to do. It's unfortunate that the White House does not acknowledge that enough.” (CNN)
- Rubio criticized a budget deal struck by members of Congress that will raise the debt ceiling if it passes. In a statement released on Tuesday, Rubio said, “I oppose this deal, which fails to seriously address the long-term drivers of our debt, contains no fundamental reforms to stop Washington from spending money it doesn’t have and does not come close to meeting our military needs in a dangerous global security environment. This severely flawed deal punts an opportunity to prioritize defense spending to the levels necessary to protect our nation, irresponsibly increases the debt ceiling through March 2017 and fails to reform Social Security Disability Insurance to ensure its long-term solvency. Almost five years after I arrived in the Senate, little has changed in Washington because we have leadership failure at the presidential level and a political establishment that keeps negotiating deals behind closed doors that will only leave our children and grandchildren saddled with more debt. The American people deserve a transparent process on major fiscal deals, and the way this is all shaping up to go down proves again that it’s ‘business as usual’ in Washington. We need to fundamentally reform our entitlement programs for future generations and adopt major economic reforms that would boost growth and help us pay down our debt. This deal does nothing that future generations of Americans will be proud of us for; instead, it postpones tough decisions until after the next election.” (Tampa Bay Times)
- Rubio’s campaign released a video on Tuesday called “15 Questions Marco Won't Be Asked at the Debate.” In the video, Rubio answers personal questions, including whether he prefers Twitter or Facebook and who his favorite Miami Dolphin of all time is. (Washington Post)
Rick Santorum
- Rick Santorum criticized Ted Cruz and congressional Republicans for their ineffectiveness during an interview with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT on Tuesday. He said, “It’s important, if you’re going to go nuclear, to actually have a plan. This is the problem that the Republicans have. In fact, many of the ones who are running for President is they go out there and they say, we’re going to do this and they don’t do the hard work that’s necessary to actually put a coalition together to accomplish it. It’s more about self aggrandizement than it is about actually making anything happen. It’s not easy to pass anything in the United States Senate unless you’re willing to do the hard work of pulling together the coalition to make something happen. It’s never going to happen. ...The leaders of the conservatives, and he [Cruz] is certainly one of them, and I would make the argument, if you look at his record of accomplishment, it amounts to zero. He has absolutely done nothing. He’s blown some things up, but he hasn’t built anything that’s going to be helpful for the conservative movement or this country.” (CBS Philly)
Donald Trump
- During an interview on "Morning Joe" on Tuesday, Donald Trump attacked Ben Carson’s record, although he failed to support his attacks with any proof. He said, "Ben was pro-abortion not so long ago as everybody has told me. ...I think Ben Carson has a lot of problems with his record. If you look at his record, including going back in past and, you know, those problems are going to start to come out. I think people will look at that and they will look at lots of other things including what happened in hospitals and what he was working on and a lot of things I hear." (NBC News)
- On October 25, Trump tweeted: “Word is that Ford Motor, because of my constant badgering at packed events, is going to cancel their deal to go to Mexico and stay in U.S.” On Tuesday, Ford CEO Mark Fields called Trump’s claims false and added, “We have not talked to Donald Trump, and we have not made any changes to our manufacturing plans. Facts are stubborn things…we know facts don’t cease to exist because they’re ignored.” (Forbes)
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
