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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - September 7, 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
- Law professor Lawrence Lessig announced he is running for president on Sunday in an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. “This stalemate, partisan platform of American politics in Washington right now doesn't work. And we have to find a way to elevate the debate to focus on the changes that would actually get us a government that could work again, that is not captured by the tiniest fraction of the 1 percent,” Lessig said. (Politico)
- According to an NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday, Bernie Sanders is ahead of Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire by 9 points with 41 percent support. In Iowa, Clinton retains her lead with 38 percent to Sanders’ 27 percent. (NBC News)
- Donald Trump remains at the top of the Republican field with 29 percent support in Iowa and 28 percent in New Hampshire, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll. (Marist)
Democrats
Joe Biden
- Joe Biden came in third in a recent NBC News/Marist poll of Democratic voters with 20 percent support in Iowa and 16 percent in New Hampshire. (Marist)
Hillary Clinton
- Hillary Clinton said she personally paid Bryan Pagliano, a State Department employee, to maintain her private email server while secretary of state. Last week, Pagliano said he would invoke the Fifth Amendment if asked to testify before the Select Committee on Benghazi. (The Huffington Post)
- In response to calls for the Democratic National Committee to increase the number of Democratic primary debates, Clinton said on Saturday, “I debated a lot in 2008, and I would certainly be there with lots of enthusiasm and energy if they decide to add more debates. And I think that’s the message that a lot of people are sending their way.” (The Wall Street Journal)
- According to Business Insider, Clinton is employing a more personal strategy in Iowa, focusing on backyard barbecues rather than large rallies. “[I]n the view of her campaign team, they serve a useful purpose, wooing people identified as the most effective volunteers. Once they are on side, they will avidly door knock and cold call for Mrs. Clinton until they have reached every Democrat in Iowa,” Business Insider reported. (Business Insider)
- A national Gallup survey released on Friday found 41 percent of U.S. adults have a favorable opinion of Clinton. Although low for Clinton, she has the highest favorability rating of any presidential Democratic contender among Democrats. (Gallup)
- Clinton criticized Donald Trump on Saturday for his comments on women. “Mr. Trump insults, he dismisses women ... he has been throwing a lot of heat my way. That's fine; as Jeanne [Shaheen] said, I can take it. But I do find a lot of what he says pretty ridiculous,” Clinton said at a rally in New Hampshire. (CNN)
- Stacey Newman (D), a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, wrote an op-ed on Saturday endorsing Clinton. “The media keeps stressing ‘like-ability’. Really? We're not electing our next bestie friend but someone who knows how to run the country. I don't care what [Clinton’s] hair looks like or what she's wearing or if she laughs too joyously. Neither should anyone else,” Newman wrote. (The Huffington Post)
Lawrence Lessig
- Lawrence Lessig will make his formal presidential announcement speech on Wednesday. (CNN)
- In an interview on Monday morning, Lessig blamed “unchecked money” for the gridlock in Congress. "What our government does has no connection to what the average voter wants," Lessig said. (CNN)
Martin O’Malley
- On Friday, Martin O’Malley called for the United States to take in at least 65,000 Syrian refugees. “Americans are a generous and compassionate people. But today our policies are falling short of those values. … If Germany – a country with one-fourth our population – can accept 800,000 refugees this year, certainly we – the nation of immigrants and refugees – can do more,” O’Malley said in a statement. (The Huffington Post)
- O’Malley responded to inquiries into his purchase of discounted furniture from the governor’s mansion, saying he had “followed the rules as they were laid out to us.” (The Washington Post)
Bernie Sanders
- Bernie Sanders joined workers from a food processing plant in Iowa in a picket line on Friday night. “We are sick and tired of the war against working families," Sanders said to the crowd, calling “corporate greed” unacceptable. (The Washington Post)
Republicans
Jeb Bush
- In an NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday, Jeb Bush fell from 12 percent support in Iowa to 6 percent. In New Hampshire, he also saw a 6 point decrease from 14 percent to 8 percent. (The Tampa Bay Times)
- Bush has made a $500,000 ad buy in Boston and New Hampshire for this month. Bush spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said, “This is the first step in a multi-week process where we will be expanding our advertising in New Hampshire and the other early states.” (Business Insider)
Ben Carson
- In the new NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday, Ben Carson came in second in Iowa with 22 percent and third in New Hampshire with 11 percent. (Marist)
Chris Christie
- Chris Christie set a goal to host 100 town halls in New Hampshire by February 9, 2016, the date of the state’s presidential primary. (NJ.com)
- Christie criticized U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) for backing the Iran nuclear deal even though he believed it was “deeply flawed.” (The Hill)
Ted Cruz
- According to The Dallas Morning News, Ted Cruz has more than 50 paid staffers across Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama and Texas. Speaking to Cruz’s focus on southern states, one Cruz strategist said, “We went to places nobody’s ever been and we gave them the full presidential experience. You’re either running a national campaign or you’re not.” (The Dallas Morning News)
Carly Fiorina
- Carly Fiorina opposed the United States accepting a higher number of Syrian refugees on Sunday. “The United States, I believe, has done its fair share in terms of humanitarian aid. Certainly, the United States has not led, as I indicated earlier. I think the United States, honestly, sadly, cannot relax our entrance criteria. We are having to be very careful about who we let enter this country from these war-torn regions to ensure that terrorists are not coming here,” Fiorina said. (Bloomberg)
- Fiorina said if the Republican leadership in Congress cannot pass a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks and defund Planned Parenthood, secure the border and limit government regulations, then they should leave. “I think if they would did [sic] those three things I would be satisfied that leadership is producing results. And if they can’t produce results then unfortunately leadership should go,” she said. (TIME)
Lindsey Graham
- According to The Hill, Lindsey Graham has received support from “multi-donors” in spite of his poor performance in polls in order to promote his “hawkish foreign policy views.” (The Hill)
- Graham is scheduled to speak about the Iran nuclear agreement at the National Press Club Luncheon on Monday. (C-SPAN)
Mike Huckabee
- Mike Huckabee questioned on Sunday if there was a double standard for liberals and conservatives engaging in civil disobedience. After suggesting President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder had ignored the Defense of Marriage Act, Huckabee said, “[D]id they get put in law for ignoring the law? They most certainly did not. So when do liberals get to choose which laws they support but a county clerk in Kentucky who, acting on her Christian faith, is criminalized, jailed without bail because she acted on her conscience and according to the only law in front of her.” (Daily Caller)
- Huckabee is set to visit Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk, in jail on Tuesday prior to participating in a rally outside of the detention center where she is held. (CNN)
John Kasich
- On Sunday, John Kasich said the Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds “should follow the law.” He said, “Now, I respect the fact that this lady doesn't agree, but she's also a government employee. She's not running a church. I wouldn't force this on a church, but in terms of her responsibility I think she has to comply. I don't think – I don't like the fact that she's sitting in a jail, that's just absurd as well. But I think she should follow the law." (Talking Points Memo)
- In an NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday, Kasich was second to Donald Trump in New Hampshire with 12 percent. (Cleveland.com)
Bobby Jindal
- According to the Associated Press on Saturday, Bobby Jindal has been away from Louisiana for 47 out of the past 72 days since he announced his presidential bid. "An increased travel schedule hasn't had an impact on day-to-day operations, since technology allows staff to stay in touch with the governor even when he is not sitting in his office in Baton Rouge,” a Jindal spokesman said. (NOLA.com)
Rand Paul
- In a radio interview on Sunday, Rand Paul said Hillary Clinton was “dishonest” during her testimony at a Senate hearing on Benghazi in 2013. “The Clintons aren’t famous for revealing information. They are mostly famous for hiding information. … [I]n that exchange, she indicated that she had no knowledge of any of this going on. It wasn’t just that I should talk to the CIA. She indicated that she had no knowledge of this. And I believe that to be dishonest. I think she did have every bit of knowledge of what was going on,” Paul said. (WND)
Rick Perry
- South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Matt Moore said Rick Perry was “on life support” and expressed skepticism that Perry would pay the state’s $40,000 filing fee to appear on the ballot by the cutoff date of September 30. (The Post and Courier)
Marco Rubio
- Marco Rubio campaigned in Puerto Rico on Friday. Delivering his speech in Spanish, Rubio said, “I don't believe Chapter 9 would solve Puerto Rico's problems. Ultimately, if there is no other option left, Chapter 9 is a viable option at that point." (The Huffington Post)
Rick Santorum
- Despite being the first 2016 presidential candidate to visit all 99 counties in Iowa this year, Rick Santorum continues to poll at 1 percent in the state according to an NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday. (Marist, The New York Times)
Donald Trump
- Donald Trump responded to Hillary Clinton’s criticism that he “dismisses women” by tweeting on Saturday that she read from a teleprompter and was “100% controlled” by special interest money. (CNN)
- Trump attacked conservative radio presenter Hugh Hewitt following an interview where Hewitt asked Trump several foreign policy questions he could not answer. Trump tweeted on Friday, “Why would a very low ratings radio talk show host like Hugh Hewitt be doing the next debate on @CNN. He is just a 3rd rate ‘gotcha’ guy!” Hewitt’s producer responded by tweeting, “.@realDonaldTrump @CNN Why would you tell me that it was a ‘great honor’ to come on our ‘third-rate’ show?” (Mediaite)
Scott Walker
- In a survey of the Politico Caucus, a bipartisan group of party insiders in Iowa and New Hampshire, 56 percent said Scott Walker “had lost the summer.” One Republican from Iowa said, “He's been on all three sides of every two-sided issue. For the last two months hasn't made a single policy pronouncement that he or his staff hasn't had to clarify or clear up within two hours. When you're reduced to saying 'yeah' doesn't mean 'yes,' you're in trouble. 'Unintimidated' has given way to 'uninformed' and 'unprepared.'” (Politico)
- At a campaign stop on Sunday night, Walker said the United States can address the refugee crisis by eliminating ISIS. "The reason people are fleeing is because of the problems with the Islamic State and the leadership there. Containment is not enough. We see it’s a threat to us, it’s a threat to Israel, we see it's increasing a threat to people all around the world. … Until we deal with ISIS, we’re avoiding the core of the problem. The problem is that ISIS is running amok in these parts of the world, and the U.S. needs to step up,” Walker said. (The Washington 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
