2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Iowa State Senator Daryl Beall Endorses John Edwards

STATE SENATOR DARYL BEALL ENDORSES JOHN EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT
Endorsement comes days after State Representative Nathan Reichert endorses Edwards

Des Moines, Iowa – Today, the John Edwards for President campaign announced that State Senator Daryl Beall (D-Fort Dodge) is endorsing Senator John Edwards as the best Democrat to take back the White House and change our country.  Edwards’ campaign continues to gain momentum and support across the state.  Beall’s endorsement comes just days after State Representative Nathan Reichert endorsed Edwards for president.

“Daryl Beall is a true Iowa leader and I am proud to have his support,” said Edwards.  “Throughout his career, Daryl has worked hard to build a better life for the people of Iowa.  He has been a strong advocate for those who are often forgotten by Washington – our veterans, our children and the less fortunate.  His leadership and experience will be valuable assets to my Iowa campaign and I look forward to working with him to change our country.”

“We need John Edwards in the White House,” said Beall.  “He will work every day to build an America we can be proud of – an America that is respected around the world and an America where hard work is valued once again. John Edwards has the right combination of proven experience, passion and vision to be a great president. He also has the ability to reach out to and attract support from independents and even cross-over Republicans to be the president of all Americans. I am proud to be a part of John Edwards’ campaign and look forward to working to make him our next president.”

Senator Inhofe and Congressman Sullivan Endorse Fred Thompson for President

Senator Inhofe and Congressman Sullivan Endorse Fred Thompson for President
Endorsements from Leaders of Key February 5th State Another Sign of Thompson's Growing Momentum

McLean, VA - In another sign of Thompson's growing momentum, Senator Jim Inhofe and Congressman John Sullivan of Oklahoma today endorsed Fred Thompson for President of the United States.   These endorsements today further strengthen the campaign's organization and standing in Oklahoma, a key early primary state on February 5th.

Fred Thompson stated:  "I am so honored that my good friend Jim Inhofe is joining my team.  We worked closely together in the United States Senate fighting for conservative principles such as lower taxes, smaller government, and a strong military.  With his help, we will take our conservative message and agenda all the way from the campaign trail to the White House.

"I am also honored to have the endorsement today of Rep. John Sullivan from Oklahoma's First Congressional District.  Like me, John has been a strong advocate for lower taxes and limited government, and I look forward to working closely with him in the coming months as we take our shared conservative principles directly to the American people."

Senator Jim Inhofe stated: "Even before he officially announced, I came out in support of Fred because of his tremendous experience, his leadership, and his proven record in support of conservative values.  As Americans get to know Fred over the next few months, they will quickly find a man committed to winning the War on Terror and ready to finally secure our borders.  They will find a man of experience who helped bring change to Congress as part of the 1994 conservative revolution.  And finally, they will find, as I have, a man of deep character and principle, ready to take on the tremendous challenges facing our country today."

Congressman John Sullivan stated: "I am proud to support Senator Thompson.  He is a backer of fiscally responsible spending, positive immigration reform and correcting our nation's broken health care system."

Republican Presidential Debate Reaction: Mike Huckabee

Republican Presidential Debate Reaction: Mike Huckabee

In case you missed yesterday's Republican Presidential debate or haven't had the time to follow the news today, we wanted to be sure you saw some of the commentary regarding Governor Huckabee:

Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post: "Judged by who can offer a serious approach to economic policy, the hands-down winner in the Republican race so far is Huckabee, who combines intelligence, candor and comfortable familiarity with the issues and a practical approach anchored in solid conservative beliefs."

Amber Arellano of the Detroit News: "Huckabee offered up sensible policy ideas on energy and terrorism. He also scored major points among many of us in the Rustbelt -- and anyone concerned about the downward economic pressure on the Middle Class -- when he pointed out the future need for unionism."

Blogger Bull Dog Pundit from Ankle Biting Pundits: "Mike Huckabee: Another good performance. Like McCain he really taps into the economic anxiety that many people feel, especially in Michigan. I almost wish Huckabee had more money, because I think he could compete with the big boys and give them a run."

Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone: "That Mike Huckabee hasn’t caught just a little bit of fire is a mystery to me. He’s charming and funny, and always seems reasonable..."

David Brody, CBNNews.com: "Mike Huckabee was good tonight. He struck many populist themes and his trademark humor was on display. What may have been the key moment tonight for him though was his answer on congressional war approval. He made clear that he would be decisive in determining what to do if war was imminent. Huckabee was forceful in his answer."

Iowa State Representative Donovan Olson Endorses Obama

State Representative Donovan Olson Endorses Obama

DES MOINES – Today, State Representative Donovan Olson of Boone announced his support for Barack Obama’s campaign for President at an event with Senator Obama’s wife Michelle at the Boone County Historical Center. 

“Senator Obama showed tremendous courage when he challenged the conventional wisdom in Washington D.C. and opposed the invasion of Iraq,” Representative Olson said.  “But his greatest asset is his ability to bring people together, regardless of their differences, to solve problems.  That is why I believe he is the best candidate to provide leadership on improving health care, strengthening our schools and creating energy independence.”

Representative Olson has served in the Iowa State House since 2002 and is a member of the Economic Growth, Environmental Protection and Local Government Committees.  Born in Boone, Olson holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Iowa State University, where he currently works. 

“I am pleased to have Donovan involved in my campaign for changing the way we do politics in Washington, D.C.” Senator Obama said.  “Rep. Olson brings invaluable local experience and understanding to our grassroots campaign in Boone and around Iowa.”

To date, including Rep. Donovan Olson, Senator Obama has received a total of 12 endorsements from Iowa state legislators: Rep. Elesha Gayman, Rep. Tyler Olson, Sen. Bob Dvorsky, Sen. Bill Heckroth, Sen. Tom Rielly, Sen. Rich Olive, Rep. Helen Miller, Sen. Steve Warnstadt, Sen. Frank Wood, Rep. Janet Petersen, Rep. Pam Jochum.  Former Iowa State Party Chair Gordon Fischer, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald have also endorsed Senator Obama’s campaign for change.

2008 Republican National Convention Announces Additions To Senior Staff

2008 Republican National Convention Announces Additions To Senior Staff

(SAINT PAUL, Minn.) – The 2008 Republican National Convention today announced the addition of five senior staff members to its growing team in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Frank Spicka is Director of Security for the four-day event. Mike Miller, who has signed on for his tenth Republican National Convention, is Director of Operations, Media Operations, Production and Official Proceedings. Joby Boland and Gordon Pennoyer join Miller this month as Deputy Director of Operations and Logistics and Deputy Director of Media Operations, respectively. Finally, Anthony Foti has accepted the position of Director of External Affairs and will begin work later this fall.

“We are delighted to have such talented people join us in Minneapolis-Saint Paul as planning for our party’s 39th nominating convention shifts into high gear,” said convention President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Cino. “Frank, Mike, Joby, Gordon, and Anthony bring years of experience, professionalism, and a ‘get it done’ mentality to the task at hand. All five will play important roles in ensuring a successful convention, where the Republican Party will nominate the next President of the United States.”

As Director of Security, Spicka will work in close partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement in planning, coordinating, and implementing a comprehensive security plan for the convention.  Previously, Spicka was a senior-level law enforcement professional with the United States Secret Service (USSS) for more than 24 years. In this capacity, Spicka participated in complex protective, investigative, intelligence, and international liaison responsibilities. He is experienced in protecting national and world leaders, as well as planning and supervising operational security for designated National Special Security Events (NSSE) and other large-scale special events. Spicka brings to the job a wealth of experience in interacting with multi-national organizations, media representatives, and the general public. Spicka is a Saint Paul, Minn. native and received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stanford University.

Miller, a veteran of the last nine Republican National Conventions, will serve as Director of Operations, Media Operations, Production and Official Proceedings. He and his team will oversee the complex operational aspects of planning a large-scale event and handle the needs of the anticipated 15,000 members of the media on site to cover the proceedings. Miller will also direct the production and staging of the four-day event and structure the convention’s official proceedings. Miller has worked as a staff member for every Republican Convention since 1972, and covered the two conventions prior to that as a journalist.  Miller also operated Elkmont Productions, a public affairs consulting firm.

Boland joins the convention team as Deputy Director of Operations.  He comes to Minneapolis-Saint Paul from the Washington, DC area, where he most recently served as Vice President of Operations for Quinn Consulting, Inc. Boland brings exceptional operational and managerial skills to the job, as well as past convention experience. From 2000 to 2006, Boland worked for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, including three years as Director of Advance. In 2004, he directed scheduling, Congressional relations, media affairs, corporate sponsor relationships, and state delegation communication for the Speaker in his role as Permanent Chairman of the 2004 Republican National Convention. Boland is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Pennoyer joined the staff as Deputy Director of Media Operations effective October 1. He is a convention and campaign veteran, having worked on both the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City and for the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign in New Hampshire. Following the last presidential election, Pennoyer oversaw the Republican Party’s efforts to recruit and coordinate more than 5,000 volunteers for the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee.  Pennoyer is a graduate of Kenyon College.

Foti will serve as Director of External Affairs for the 2008 Republican National Convention. His duties will include outreach to the business community; federal, state, and local government offices; interest groups; and members of the general public. Foti, a Senior Policy Advisor at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington, DC, will join the convention staff in Minneapolis-Saint Paul later this year. In his current role, Foti represents clients before Congress on a broad range of issues, including transportation, appropriations and international trade. In 2004, Foti served as the director of the 72 Hour Task Force Legal Volunteer Program for the Republican National Committee. In 2000, he was appointed by the Bush-Cheney 2000 transition office as coordinator of the Transition Advisory Committees, where he directed the operations of the committees that advised the president-elect on policy and management matters. Before joining Akin Gump, Foti served as district director to Congressman Bill Paxon (R-NY) from 1994-1998 and was the Western New York regional director for New York State Assembly Minority Leader John Faso. He received his B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center from September 1-4, 2008.  Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event.

What They're Saying: About Governor Mitt Romney At The Dearborn, MI, GOP Debate - Vol. 3

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING ABOUT GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY AT THE DEARBORN, MI, GOP DEBATE – VOL. 3

The Street.com's John Fout: "Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, who I think won the debate, was best prepared to answer the question. He suggested everyone had to pitch in to help the economy, including business and government. He recognized the need to fix schools, invest in technology, encourage free trade and keep taxes down. He took a shot at Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, by jokingly suggesting he was 'nervous she would put a tax on the debate.'" (John Fout, "Middle Class Can't Read GOP's Lips In Debate," The Street.com, www.thestreet.com/, Posted 10/9/07)

The New York Times' Adam Nagourney And Marc Santora: "Mr. Romney was sharpest in attacking Mr. Giuliani for efforts against the line-item veto. 'Mayor Giuliani took the line-item that the president had all the way to the Supreme Court and took it away from the president of the United States,' he said. 'I think that was a mistake.'" (Adam Nagourney and Marc Santora, "Romney and Giuliani Spar as New Guy Looks On," The New York Times, 10/10/07)

Detroit News Editorial: "All get the connection between lower taxes and higher economic growth, but only former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney brought it home to Michigan, slamming Gov. Jennifer Granholm for the recent budget-balancing tax hikes." (Editorial, "GOP debate validates state's primary decision," Detroit News, 10/10/07)

ABC's Brett Hovell And Christine Byun: "Romney delivered the line of the debate with his analysis of the actor's entry onto the stage. 'Is this our sixth debate, I think, something like that?' Romney began. 'This is a lot like "Law & Order," Senator. It has a huge cast, the series seems to go on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end.'" (Brett Hovell and Christine Byun, "Romney Vs. Giuliani On Taxes," ABC News, http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3709996&page=1, 10/9/07)

The New York Sun's Seth Gitell: "The former Massachusetts governor also scored early in the debate by bringing up the tax increase supported by Governor Granholm of Michigan, an issue of intense interest to Republicans in the Great Lake State, where Mr. Romney's father, George Romney, once served as governor." (Seth Gitell, "Giuliani, Romney Outshine Thompson In GOP Debate," The New York Sun, 10/10/07)

The National Review Jim Geraghty: "Romney: Overall, prepared and seemed sharp… ." (Jim Geraghty, "The Republican Debate In Michigan: The Wrap-up," The Campaign Spot Blog On The National Review, http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com, Posted 10/9/07)

Detroit Free Press' Joe Guy Collier & Justin Hyde: "Michigan native and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney offered the most extensive comments on the industry's plight, saying the next president should have an open door to industry executives and boost spending on research into new energy-saving technology." (Justin Hyde And Joe Guy Collier, "Candidates Touch On Auto Industry," Detroit Free Press, 10/9/07)

Columnist Matt Towery: "Best Performances: Romney… Most 'Presidential': Romney…" (Matt Towery, "Thompson Becomes Real - Now He Has To Get Better," Insider Advantage Georgia, www.insideradvantagegeorgia.com/, Posted 10/9/07)

The Politico's Jonathan Martin: "Romney was at his best in citing his native's state economic troubles and explaining to appreciative Michigan Republicans in the audience what he thought part of the problem was. 'Jennifer Granholm has made a big mistake by raising taxes,' Romney said of the Democratic governor Wolverine State Republicans love to hate." (Jonathan Martin, "Rudy-Romney Dust-Up Overshadows Fred Debut," Politico.com, www.politico.com/, Posted 10/9/07)

Time's Mark Halperin: "Mitt Romney: Frequent references to Michigan — where he grew up and where the debate was held — were clever and well received in the hall." (Mark Halperin, "The October 9 Republican Debate," Time Website, http://www.time.com/, Posted 10/9/07)

Robert Bluey At Bluey Blog: "Mitt Romney had the best line during today's Republican presidential debate." (Robert Bluey, "Making Fun Of Fred," Bluey Blog, http://robertbluey.com/blog/2007/10/09/making-fun-of-fred/, Posted 10/9/07)

The Politico's Mike Allen: "The former Massachusetts governor showed backbone by saying he 'can't wait' to debate Hillary Clinton, who was the 10th albeit invisible candidate on the stage." (Mike Allen, "Head Or Gut?" Politico Playbook, 10/10/07)

Detroit News' Henry Payne: "Romney made a sharp joke at the outset about Governor Granholm's tax reflex, but for Democrats it's not funny. With a hugely unpopular- not to mention cruel - income tax on voters struggling under soaring home foreclosure and unemployment rates, Democrats have changed the subject in Michigan from war to taxes." (Henry Payne, "Thompson Loses, GOP Gains," Detroit News Blog, http://info.detnews.com/weblog/index.cfm?blogid=10730, Posted 10/9/07)

McClatchy's Steven Thomma: "In perhaps the best line of the evening, Romney likened Thompson's late entry into the debates to his often-late appearances in his TV series. 'This is a lot like Law & Order,' Romney said. 'It has a huge cast, the series seems to go on forever and Fred Thompson shows up at the end.'" (Steven Thomma, "Thompson's Debate Debut A Dud," McClatchy Newspapers, 10/10/07)

Fox News' Steve Doocy: "Former Governor Mitt Romney got the line of the day as he welcomed Fred." (FOX News' "Fox & Friends," 10/10/07)

Michigan State News' Ashley A. Smith: "One of the major candidates who seemed the most comfortable addressing Michigan's issues was Mitt Romney, said Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics." (Ashley A. Smith, "GOP Comes To Mich," Michigan State News, 10/10/07)

What Thet're Saying: About Governor Mitt Romney At The Dearborn, MI, GOP Debate - Vol. 2

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING ABOUT GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY AT THE DEARBORN, MI GOP DEBATE – VOL. 2

CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo: “I think that Mitt Romney did very well.” (CNBC, “Your Money Your Vote,” 10/9/07)

CBN's David Brody: "Fred Thompson gave a somewhat generic answer to the first question about what he will do to 'ensure economy vibrancy in this country'. But then Romney followed with statistics, solutions, and a forward looking agenda. I mean, my goodness, he hit it out of the park." (David Brody, "The Republicans Debate In Dearborn: Reaction," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com, Posted 10/9/07)

Brody: "It was Mitt Romney's night." (David Brody, "The Republicans Debate In Dearborn: Reaction," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com, Posted 10/9/07)

Brody: "Mitt Romney was as sharp as he’s ever been tonight." (David Brody, "The Republicans Debate In Dearborn: Reaction," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com, Posted 10/9/07)

Brody: "Now, as for Romney, man he’s a good debater." (David Brody, "The Republicans Debate In Dearborn: Reaction," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com, Posted 10/9/07)

Brody: "[Romney] had it going. Very impressive indeed." (David Brody, "The Republicans Debate In Dearborn: Reaction," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com, Posted 10/9/07)

Brody: "I must say Mitt Romney is truly a human power point presentation… And I say that in a very positive way." (David Brody, "The Republicans Debate In Dearborn: Reaction," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com, Posted 10/9/07)

Detroit Free Press' Kathleen Gray And Joe Guy Collier: "Romney captured the early attention of the crowd, speaking to the woes of the auto industry and the recent taxes passed in Michigan to avoid a budget crisis. Romney, whose father was Michigan governor, said the president should have an 'open door' to the automakers." (Kathleen Gray and Joe Guy Collier, "Candidates Avoid Each Other, Turn On Sen. Clinton During Debate," Detroit Free Press Blog, http://www.freep.com/apps/, Posted 10/9/07)

The New Republic John Judis: "Of the frontrunners, Romney had the clearest and most forthright answers." (John Judis, "GOP Debate," The Plank On The New Republic, http://www.tnr.com, Posted 10/9/07)

The American Spectator's John Tabin: "On the first question, Thompson seemed like he was winging it, especially in contrast to Romney's answer immediately afterwards. Romney has obviously done the homework on Michigan-specific issues that Thompson hasn't. This is pretty much exactly what we've come to expect." (John Tabin, "Notes On The Debate, One Quarter In," The American Spectator Blog, http://www.spectator.org, Posted 10/9/07)

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt: "Romney's Michigan-specific references underscore the roll-out of his campaign.  The former Massachusetts' governor drilled into the woeful state of the Wolverine State's economy, its crushing tax burden, and his roots as a son of Michigan.  That's a shrewd dual use of the debate format --advancing his national image while supporting his plans to win in Michigan after the Iowa and New Hampshire contests." (Hugh Hewitt, "The Debate," Townhall, http://hughhewitt.townhall.com, Posted 10/9/07)

MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell: "Mitt Romney was very strong on fiscal issues…" (MSNBC's "Hardball," 10/9/07)

Right Wing News's John Hawkins: "Mitt slices Rudy on the line item veto… Mitt always sounds so smooth when he talks and he emotes well… Mitt sounds good smacking around Ahmadinejad." (John Hawkins, "Liveblogging The Debate," Right Wing News Blog, http://www.rightwingnews.com/, Posted 10/9/07)

Hawkins: "Mitt sounds optimistic -- which is the right way to approach it." (John Hawkins, “Liveblogging The Debate,” Right Wing News Blog, http://www.rightwingnews.com/, Posted 10/9/07)

Hawkins: “Mitt should be talking health care all the time. It's a hot issue, he has done something with it before, and nobody else is addressing it very effectively.” (John Hawkins, “Liveblogging The Debate," Right Wing News Blog, http://www.rightwingnews.com/, Posted 10/9/07)

Wlady At AmSpec Blog: “Good for Romney to chide others for focusing on gloom and doom. Double good for looking forward to debating Hillary on the economy, given his career spent inside it." (Wlady Pleszczynski, “American Dream,” The American Spectator Blog, http://www.spectator.org, Posted 10/9/07)

CNBC’s Morris Reid: “I thought if anyone stood out it is probably Romney because he is the strongest on this.” (CNBC, “Your Money Your Vote,” 10/9/07)

RedState's Erick Erickson: “Great on Romney taking on Michigan's government! Well freakin' done!” (Erick Erickson, “The Michigan Debate,” Redstate Blog, http://www.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/the_michigan_debate#comment-537606, Posted 10/9/07)

Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan: "[Romney] appeared relaxed, confident, and in his element, probably as a result of being more less on his home turf in a forum that played to his strength as a business exec." (Tom Bevan, "Snap Impressions From The Debate," Real Clear Politics Blog, http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/, Posted 10/9/07)

Bevan: "[Romney] got off to a fast start with a good line about it being unacceptable that Michigan in undergoing a 'one-state recession' and had a sharp exchange [sic] with Rudy over the line item veto." (Tom Bevan, "Snap Impressions From The Debate," Real Clear Politics Blog, http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/, Posted 10/9/07)

What They’re Saying … About Mayor Giuliani, Part Three

What They’re Saying … About Mayor Giuliani, Part Three

ABC News: “Giuliani Steals Thompson’s Thunder.” (ABC News’ “The Note’s Sneak Peak,” 10/9/07)

ABC News: “[T]he Exchange That Mattered Most At Tuesday's Dust-Up In Dearborn Came When Rudy Giuliani Effectively Defended His Position On The Line-Item Veto.” (ABC News’ “The Note’s Sneak Peak,” 10/9/07)

ABC News: “The Former New York Mayor Was Also Savvy In Not Ceding Any Ground To Romney On The Broader Issue Of Who Is Better On Taxes And Spending.” (ABC News’ “The Note’s Sneak Peak,” 10/9/07)

· ABC News: “Romney, by contrast, conceded that both he and Giuliani are ‘in favor of keeping spending down and keeping taxes down’ …” (ABC News’ “The Note’s Sneak Peak,” 10/9/07)

Newsweek’s Howard Fineman: “[I] Think Overall, Rudy Did Himself The Most Good.” (MSNBC, “Hardball,” 10/9/07)

· Fineman: “[R]udy Trained With The Toughest Press Corps In The World In New York. And The Training Showed At This Thing Tonight.” (MSNBC, “Hardball,” 10/9/07)

NPR’s Mara Liasson: Giuliani “Has Been Consistently The Best Performer In This Debate.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 10/9/07)

· Liasson: “If This Is The Year For Authenticity, I Would Say That So Far Giuliani Has Been The Authentic Candidate.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 10/9/07)

The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes: “On Balance I Thought He Did Well. I Agree With Mara, Rudy Does Great In All These Debates.” (Fox News, “Special Report,” 10/9/07)

· Barnes: “I Thought The Line Item Veto Thing I Thought Clearly That That Was Another Case Where Giuliani Did Better.” (Fox News, “Special Report,” 10/9/07)

MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell: Giuliani “Was Very, Very Strong In This Debate.” (MSNBC, “Hardball,” 10/9/07)

· O’Donnell: “Rudy Was Relaxed, He Seemed Very Comfortable, Very Confident And Seemed Very Willing To Tackle Mitt Romney On This Issue Of Who’s A Better … With Tax And Spending And Fiscal Issues.” (MSNBC, “Hardball,” 10/9/07)

The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder: “Props To … Giuliani …For Showing Off His Sunny Optimism.”

(Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic Blog, “The Debate: Thompson Passes A Test; Giuliani and Romney Spar,” http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/10/the_debate_thompson_passes_a_t_1.php, 10/9/07)

Duncan Hunter At The Republican Presidential Debate Hosted By The University Of Michigan-Dearborn

HUNTER GIVES STRONG PERFORMANCE AT UM DEBATE
Michigan Continues to Demonstrate Success of Hunter Campaign

San Diego, CA- - - Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) once again proved to be a strong candidate for President with his performance at the Republican Presidential Debate hosted by the University of Michigan-Dearborn.  Hunter utilized the opportunity to promote the goals of his presidential campaign, including a major manufacturing initiative he intends to implement as President that will eliminate all federal income taxes on domestic manufacturing activities.  Hunter announced this policy at a press conference at E&E Manufacturing plant in Plymouth on Monday, where it was well received by the audience and media. 

"Those in the manufacturing business in Michigan understand how important this industry is to our country," stated Hunter.  "What was once the center of America 's "Arsenal of Democracy" has been harmed over the years by unfair trade deals that send good U.S. jobs to countries such as China .  This must end, and in a Hunter Administration it will.  As President, I will start by implementing a policy that removes all federal income taxes on domestic manufacturing activities and I will ensure that our nation no longer engages in unfair trade deals where American jobs are sent to other countries and where American trade dollars are used to build the military resources of our adversaries."

Hunter's message has been strongly resonating with Michigan citizens, demonstrated by a recent poll conducted by Lansing-based Marketing Resource Group on September 13-19, 2007, where Hunter received 7% of the vote, placing fourth out of nine candidates.  Hunter's positive ratings and strong message of promoting fair trade over free trade is also coming at a time when media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal are reporting that a rising number of Republicans are becoming skeptical of recent trade agreements that have proven to be harmful to both the American worker and economy.

They Said It... Fred Thompson At Michigan GOP Debate

THEY SAID IT... Thompson steals the show

The reporters agree...armed with his consistently conservative record and problem solving vision for the future, Senator Thompson passes the test by standing out from the crowd and offering real solutions for real problems.

Passed the Test

"Fred Thompson is passing his first big test." ("Spotlight on Thompson in GOP debate," Political Intelligence, Boston Globe, 10/9/07).

"If this was a test, artificial as it may have been, Thompson passed it. He demonstrated that his campaign has density. He did not fall for any of the traps that the moderators laid for him." ("The Debate: Thompson Passes A Test; Giuliani and Romney Spar," The Atlantic, 10/9/07).

"In the rest of the debate, Thompson showed that he was comfortable and prepared, even for the silly attacks from other candidates." ("Fred Wins, Chris Loses," Captain's Quarters Blog, 10/9/07).

"Thompson's Prep Work is paying off. He clearly prepared for the debate and has enough facts and statistics to back up his answers." ("Thompson's Prep Work," The Atlantic, 10/9/07).

Stood Out From the Crowd

"He seemed to demonstrate all that homework paid off, using a lot of facts and figures when appropriate, able to handle questions on a range of subjects. His team feels more than satisfied. His competitors now, knowing Thompson is in second place, will continue to try to chip away at his ability to be a strong campaigner. There's much more to watch on this." (NBC Nightly News, 10/9/07).

"The candidate both are trying to outflank with the party's conservative base, Fred Thompson, likely quieted critics of his early campaign stumbles with a steady, sure-footed performance in his first presidential debate.....fluttered the hearts of Republicans who've been longing for a Southern conservative to rally behind." ("Rudy, Romney and Thompson spar in debate," Newsday, 10/9/07).

"And yet, Fred Thompson's plain spookiness on broad themes-- smaller government  state's rights-- do seem to be  resonating with voters.  In Iowa, home to the nation's  first caucus, he has moved into  second place and more than half  who support other republicans  say they might switch to  Fred Thompson if they knew him  better." (CBS Evening News, 10/9/07).

"Thompson's performance was measured and pretty strong...he proved that not only he belongs but he is a force that is not going away." ("The Republican Debate in Dearborn: Reaction," Christian Broadcasting Network, 10/9/07).

"And the Winner Is.....Fred Thompson." "Romney could have had a good line with that Law & Order joke. But Thompson proved he's not just some guy with a script. Romney looked like he is one." "Best Line, Hands Down, Fred Thompson's "and to think I thought I was going to be the best actor on the stage." (The Corner, National Review, 10/9/07).

Offered Real Solutions for Real Problems

"Take Social Security's long-term solvency, an issue on which moderator Maria Bartiromo said Thompson was one of the few candidates offering specific solutions. Thompson used the question to return to his larger theme for the debate -- things are OK now but we are walking a dangerous line for our future. "We are eating our seed corn, we are spending their money," Thompson said. "We're better than that."

("Thompson the Tone Setter", The Fix, Washington Post, 10/9/07).

"Fred Thompson has held his own and gave the best answer on war powers question."

(The Corner, National Review, 10/9/07).

"Thompson: for eclipsing (artificial) low expectations; for holding his own. For giving specifics about how he'd solve the long term solvency problems of Medicare and Social Security. He seemed to give the best answer in re: unions." ("The Debate: Thompson Passes A Test; Giuliani and Romney Spar," The Atlantic, 10/9/07).