Of all the losing Republican campaigns for the party’s nomination, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum are locked in a fierce fight to be first among that group.
The Washington Examiner‘s Haley Peterson reports that “within minutes of the Florida polls closing, Santorum’s campaign released an ad online attacking Gingrich and asked supporters for money to get the ad ‘on TV around the country and continue to show that there is only one true conservative in the race that can stop moderate Mitt Romney and liberal Barack Obama — and that’s Rick Santorum.’”
Meanwhile, Gingrich was busy assuring his supporters that he was the best choice to lose to Romney, telling a crowd in Reno, Nevada: “It is now certain that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader Newt Gingrich and the Massachusetts moderate,” Gingrich said.
Ron Paul, who has already been in Nevada for weeks, welcomed his rivals west of the Mississippi: “The message is loud and clear,” Paul said. “The enthusiasm is here, but it has to be translated into proper political action. That means attending the caucuses, and sending a powerful message to this country that we want our freedoms back, we don’t want more government!”
The campaign to be first among all the Republican losers is well under way.
Campaign 2012
Money: Mitt Romney has emerged from his Florida victory with a fundraising total that not only crushes his Republican rivals, but nearly matches President Obama’s haul. According to The Wall Street Journal, in the last three months of 2011, Romney and the Republican National Committee raised $93.4 million, while Obama and the Democratic National Committee brought in $68 million.
Romney: Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., called on Mitt Romney to “backtrack” and reframe his claim that he is “not concerned about the very poor.” “He needs to address it,” DeMint told Roll Call. “Because I know he does care about the poor. But I think he was trying to make a case that they’re taken care of. But, in fact, I would say I’m worried about the poor because many are trapped in dependency, they need a good job; they don’t need to be on social welfare programs.”
Gingrich: Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, the man whose $11 million donations to Newt Gingrich’s Super PAC has kept his candidacy on life-support, is worried his involvement in the race is overshadowing Newt’s message. “He [Mr. Adelson] realizes that when you make a contribution it does become an issue and he wants the focus to remain on Newt,” Andy Abboud, vice president of government relations at Las Vegas Sands Corp., an Adelson company, told The Wall Street Journal. And Gingrich campaign sources say Donald Trump will officially endorse Newt later today.
Around the Bigs
Fox News, Family of murdered Border Patrol agent files $25M claim against ATF: The family of murdered Border Patrol agent Brian Terry has filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives claiming Terry was killed with AK-47s that were knowingly sold under the Fast and Furious gunrunning program.
The Washington Examiner, White House says Buffett Rule is a floor, not a ceiling: President Obama would like 30 percent to become the new minimum tax rate paid by the wealthy, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said yesterday. “It’s a floor, not a ceiling. If that wealthy earner owes more, then obviously the wealthy earner, like everyone, should pay his or her taxes. The 30 percent is a floor,” Carney said.
The Washington Examiner, Obama rolls out housing fix plan in Virginia: President Obama traveled to battleground Virginia on Wednesday to outline his plan for raising $10 billion in taxes on banks in order to pay for mortgage refinancing plans for home owners.
The Wall Street Journal, House to Link Energy and Transportation Bills: The House Committee on Natural Resources passed three bills that would: 1) jump start offshore oil production; 2) open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling; and 3) promote more exploration for oil shale. Republicans hope to attach all three measures to a must-pass highway transportation funding bill.
The Politico, Mitch Daniels signs Indiana right-to-work law: Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a bill yesterday making Indiana the nation’s 23rd right-to-work state and the Rust Belt’s first.
Righty Playbook
National Review‘s Jonah Goldberg comments on Mitt Romney’s “poor” remark: “There are plenty of things one could say to defend Romney on the merits of what he says here. But great politicians on the morning after a big win, don’t force their supporters to go around defending the candidate from the charge that he doesn’t care about the poor. They just don’t.”
The Weekly Standard‘s John McCormack says Romney’s “poor” comment “isn’t merely tone-deaf, it’s also un-conservative.”
AEI‘s Kenneth Green posts charts showing that oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is still far below pre-spill levels.
Lefty Playbook
The Huffington Post reports on the coordinated liberal attack against Susan G. Komen for the Cure over their decision to stop giving money to Planned Parenthood.
Talking Points Memo reports that unions in Arizona don’t have a plan to stop Republican legislators from turning them into glorified trade groups.
Daily Kos‘ Joan McCarter notes that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has already fielded 13,210 complaints from consumers.
