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Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - September 9, 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
- A September 8, 2015, Monmouth University Poll shows support for Joe Biden’s candidacy is rising. Biden now holds 22 percent support compared with Bernie Sanders’ 20 percent. Hillary Clinton’s support has declined from the 52 percent she had one month ago, but she still leads the Democratic pack at 42 percent. (Monmouth University)
- A Labor Day poll from Survey USA shows Donald Trump narrowly leading all the Democratic candidates with 45 percent overall. Biden had 42 percent, followed closely by Gore at 41 percent. Clinton and Sanders trailed slightly behind, tied at 40 percent. (Survey USA)
- On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton apologized for using a personal email server during her time as secretary of state, and said, “I take responsibility and I am trying to be as transparent as I possibly can.” Clinton told ABC News that her conduct had been a “mistake,” but she also said, “I am confident by the end of this campaign, people will know they can trust me, and that I will be on their side and I will fight for them and their families. But I do think I could have and should have done a better job answering questions earlier. I really didn’t, perhaps, appreciate the need to do that.” CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod commented that Clinton’s evolving responses to the email investigation have lengthened the process. “She's trying to bring this thing to an end so she can be heard on other subjects, but she needs a consistent answer,” said Axelrod. (CNN Politics, Washington Post)
- Scott Walker, John Kasich, Chris Christie and Bobby Jindal are keeping state sanctions against Iran in place and opposing the Iran deal. They signed a letter, along with 11 other governors, to President Obama opposing the Iran deal on Tuesday. (Bloomberg)
- Ted Cruz, Jim Gilmore and Donald Trump will appear with Sarah Palin for a rally on Capitol Hill against the Iran deal today. The event will be hosted by the Tea Party Patriots. Cruz invited Trump to attend the rally, which has caused some to speculate that he is forming a relationship with Trump in order to gain supporters. (Washington Times, U.S. News, Real Clear Politics, Breitbart)
Democrats
Joe Biden
- Republican strategist Karl Rove called Joe Biden a “tougher” candidate than Hillary Clinton on Tuesday. “If you look at polls, for example, in Iowa, both Jeb Bush and Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton, but Joe Biden beats Donald Trump,” said Rove. (Newsmax)
Lincoln Chafee
- The Chafee administration launched the Unified Health Infrastructure Project (UHIP) in Rhode Island four years ago, and the budget has nearly tripled over initial estimates to $364 million. The project was meant to build a computer system to deal with programs like Medicaid. (WPRI)
Hillary Clinton
- U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) called Hillary Clinton’s defense of her use of a private email server “dumbfounding” and further noted that the Benghazi Committee is “having a very difficult time getting documents from the State Department and frankly their defense of her has been staggering.” He also claimed that John Kerry’s defense of her actions is “staggering” and questioned Clinton’s intentions of transparency. (Daily Caller)
- The Wall Street Journal noted Tuesday that Clinton’s involvement in the Iran deal may have extended beyond commentary. While in office as secretary of state in 2012, Clinton and the Obama administration came to the conclusion, over several talks with Iran, that diplomacy could only continue if Iran was allowed to continue enriching uranium. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Mrs. Clinton’s role in this critical early debate hasn’t been previously reported and shows that Democratic presidential front-runner and her top aide, Mr. Sullivan, were key players in the Iran deal.” (Wall Street Journal)
- Clinton made an address today in support of the Iran deal. She commented, “We have to say: Yes, and we will enforce it with vigor and vigilance. Yes, and we will embed it in a broader strategy to confront Iran's bad behavior in the region.” While she called the plan “imperfect” she warned that “Without a deal, we would have no credible inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. With a deal, we'll have unprecedented access.” Clinton also promised to stand by Israel. (NBC News)
Martin O’Malley
- Martin O’Malley announced 17 Iowa endorsements on Tuesday, including former U.S. Rep. Berkley Bedell (D), state Sen. Rich Taylor (D) and state Rep. Dan Kelley (D). (Des Moines Register)
- On Tuesday, when asked if he thought the Democratic National Committee had used the Democratic debate structure to stack the deck to support Clinton, O’Malley answered, “I do.” He continued, “who else will this help? When I made the call, when I told the DNC members that we’re being limited to just one debate before Iowa and one before New Hampshire, I got a standing ovation from members what [sic] had never ever been consulted.” (Daily Caller)
Bernie Sanders
- Warren Buffett complimented Bernie Sanders’ campaign on Tuesday. “I think he’s run a model campaign,” he said. “He’s not going to get elected, but I admire him.” (Fortune)
- Sanders will appear in North Carolina on Sunday at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex for a rally. (The News and Observer)
- Sanders released a statement on Tuesday calling for an end to private prisons and for more prison reform. “We need to end the tragic reality that the United States has more people in jail than any other country on earth, and that the people being incarcerated are disproportionately black and Hispanic. We need to take a hard look at why the rate of recidivism in this country is so high and why we are not developing successful paths back to civil society for those who serve prison time. Further we need to end, once and for all, the disgraceful practice of corporations profiting from the incarceration of Americans,” wrote Sanders. (Bernie2016)
Republicans
Jeb Bush
- Jeb Bush published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday briefly outlining the tax plan he will release today. Bush laid out three main goals in his article: to make the tax code simpler and clearer with three tax brackets of 28, 25 and 10 percent; to eliminate lobbyist-created loopholes in the tax code; to ensure the tax code does not hinder America’s international competitiveness. (Wall Street Journal)
- Bush is scheduled to appear in North Carolina this Wednesday in Garner at Morris & Associates to speak about his economic plan. (WNCN)
- Bush released his first New Hampshire TV ad on Monday, called “I Deliver.” The ad claimed, “If you want more D.C. politicians or more self-promoters, you've got options. I'm offering something different: leadership, ideas and a proven conservative record.” (Washington Post, YouTube)
- Today Bush responded to Trump’s jabs at his “low energy” with this statement: “Donald Trump’s not gonna get elected by disparaging people,” he said. “By attacking people all the time, that’s not gonna be how you win. You lift people’s spirits up to be President of the United States.” (Fox News)
Ben Carson
- Ben Carson said that he would be open to running as vice president with Trump or having Trump run as vice president with him on a 2016 ticket. “All things are possible,” Carson said on Tuesday. (Fox 40)
- Carson criticized Trump’s immigration plan on Tuesday. "It sounds really cool, you know, 'Let's just round them all up and send them back,'" he said. "People who say that have no idea what that would entail in terms of our legal system, the costs - forget about it. Plus, where you gonna send them? It's just a double whammy." (NBC News)
- Thomas Rustici, a professor at George Mason University, is now the senior economic advisor for Carson. Rustici supports clearly separating the tax code from spending programs. (Bloomberg)
- In an article he wrote for Newsmax, Carson said of his mother, “If I learned one thing from her, it was that one should never mistake soft-spokenness for weakness. She was tough on my brother and me, but for that I am forever thankful.” (Newsmax)
Chris Christie
- On Tuesday, Chris Christie criticized and both NYC mayor Bill de Blasio and President Obama's positions on sanctuary cities and marijuana legalization. “It’s less safe in this city, but to give Mayor de Blasio credit, he’s not the only one who’s doing this, because the president has encouraged this lawlessness. Sanctuary cities across the country, where if you’re mayor and you don’t want to enforce the immigration law? Eh, don’t bother, because the president doesn’t like those laws. You wanna get high in Colorado and Washington, even though marijuana’s against the law in this country? Eh go ahead. It’s coming from the top.” (MSNBC)
- Christie attended a party at former Sen. Scott Brown’s (R-Mass.) home on Tuesday evening in Rye, New Hampshire. (NECN)
- Delray Beach millionaire Nick Loeb is planning a September 21 fundraiser for Christie in his father’s Florida home. (Tampa Bay Times)
- Christie discussed Joe Biden’s potential presidential run and Hillary Clinton’s “deceptive” practices in an interview on Fox News Radio. “That’s the first evidence I have that Joe Biden is actually running for president because he is in full pander mode to the AFLCIO [sic]...The VP is apparently now running for president. That was a declaration for president. He is in full pander mode to organize public sector labor. If he thinks that a union movement on the public sector side that has built this economy then the VP is sadly mistaken,” commented Christie. In the same radio session, Christie said of Clinton, “I think we are seeing the real Hillary Clinton. She’s imperious. She believes she is part of a royal family that is deserving of ascendancy to the presidency. She doesn’t answer questions. She’s hiding things and deceptive by setting up her own private email server so nobody can see what she is doing.” (Fox News Radio)
Ted Cruz
- Ted Cruz posted on Facebook, “Praise God that Kim Davis is being released. It was an outrage that she was imprisoned for six days for living according to her Christian faith.” He also appeared at the rally surrounding her release from prison on Tuesday. (CNN Politics, New York Times)
- Gun Owners of America endorsed Cruz on Tuesday. The group called him “a strong advocate for Second Amendment rights.” (Newsmax)
Carly Fiorina
- Carly Fiorina responded to conservative commentator Ann Coulter’s criticism of her stance against birthright citizenship by countering, “She also said that she wouldn’t mind if Donald Trump performed abortions in the White House, as long as he got his immigration plan through. I think that statement speaks for itself as well.” (Independent Journal)
- Fiorina is being backed by 25 GOP leaders in New Hampshire including state Rep. Erin Hennessey of Littleton. With these additions, Fiorina’s leadership support in New Hampshire now totals 64, with 35 supporters in the northern portion of the state. (WMUR9 ABC)
- Fiorina will be the keynote speaker at the 38th Biennial Convention of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) in Phoenix, Arizona, this week. (Prescott eNews)
Lindsey Graham
- On Tuesday, Lindsey Graham said that America should welcome Syrian refugees. “I don't see how you can lead the free world and turn your back on people who are seeking it,” said Graham. (USA Today)
- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will campaign for Graham in New Hampshire over the next few weeks, beginning with a Friday news conference at Saint Anselm College. (Newsmax)
- Speaking of the quickly quashed 2009 uprising against the Iran regime, Lindsey said, “The religious Nazis running Iran faced no consequences for their actions ... Without the support of the world's greatest democracy, their effort was doomed. The ayatollah and his henchmen in the Revolutionary Guard killed, jailed or terrified into silence every Iranian moderate." He also suggested, “They knew exactly who they were dealing with. They saw President Obama's weakness and they took every possible advantage of it." (CNN Politics)
Mike Huckabee
- Mike Huckabee was present to support Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses, when she was released from jail on Tuesday. “If you have to put someone in jail, let me go,” said Huckabee. (CNN Politics, New York Times)
Bobby Jindal
- According to the Huffington Post, supporters of Bobby Jindal’s campaign have benefitted politically during his time as governor. “Twelve donors who combined to give $725,000 were previously appointed to important board positions by the governor to oversee things ranging from Louisiana State University to the state airport authority and a panel overseeing the construction of a new hospital,” the Huffington Post noted. (Huffington Post)
Rand Paul
- Rand Paul will headline a Thursday rally in Washington D.C., advocating for the defunding of Planned Parenthood. (Life News)
Rick Perry
- This week, Rick Perry closed down his South Carolina office headquarters in Columbia. (CNN Politics)
Marco Rubio
- On Monday, Marco Rubio visited the Charleston church where 9 worshippers were killed earlier this year. He went to the church without media attention. but his visit was mentioned later the same day by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) at a town hall session that he hosted featuring Rubio. (CNS News)
Rick Santorum
- This week, Rick Santorum called upon Congress to vote on the Iran deal as if it were a treaty. He said, “The facts are clear. President Obama has violated the terms of the Corker-Cardin agreement. By not submitting his Iranian agreement and all related materials to Congress, President Obama has made the terms of Corker-Cardin moot. Majority Leader McConnell should immediately call for a vote on the ratification of the Iran deal, treating it as a treaty as outlined in the Constitution. It is time for the Republican Senate to use their constitutional authority, stand up as an equal branch of government, and vote down this threat to global security.” (Breitbart)
- Dave Mustaine, who leads the heavy metal band Megadeth, endorsed Santorum this week. (Politico)
- Santorum called Kim Davis’ refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses “heroic” and an act of “civil disobedience.” (CNN Politics)
Donald Trump
- Donald Trump released an Instagram video comparing Bush to a sleeping medication after cameras caught an attendee sleeping at a Bush event last week. (Washington Post, Instagram)
- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) questioned why Republicans were not more critical of Donald Trump. He said on Tuesday, “Donald Trump is speaking for the Republican Party," and continued, "Why do the Republicans who are running for president never criticize him on anything?" When he was told that Jeb Bush has disagreed with Trump, he countered, “If he has, no one has noticed.” He went on to say that something about Trump’s statements are resonating with the other GOP candidates, just in a different style from their own. (CNN Politics)
- On Tuesday, Donald Trump authored an article for USA Today criticizing the Iran deal. “It was amateur hour for those charged with striking this deal with Iran, demonstrating to the world, yet again, the total incompetence of our president and politicians. It appears we wanted a deal at any cost rather than following the advice of Ronald Reagan and walking away because ‘no deal is better than a bad deal,’” wrote Trump. (USA Today)
- On Tuesday, Trump said of Black Lives Matter, “I think they're trouble. I think they're looking for trouble.” (Business Insider)
Scott Walker
- Scott walker tweeted twice on Tuesday in response to Hillary Clinton’s apology regarding her conduct with her personal email account. First he tweeted, “.@HillaryClinton, "I'm sorry about that" isn't an acceptable response for putting your convenience above the safety of the American people.” Then he got a little more snarky with, “.@HillaryClinton Are you going to delete that apology?” (Twitter)
- A USA Today and Gannett Wisconsin Media reporter covering Scott Walker signed a petition to recall Walker from his position as governor in 2011. USA Today said they were aware of this, and reporter Madeleine Behr had been up-front about her personal politics from the start of her employment. (The American Mirror)
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
