2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer to launch 2012 exploratory committee – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

By: CNN Political Reporter Peter Hamby

“Washington (CNN) - Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer told CNN Wednesday that he will announce the formation of a presidential exploratory committee tomorrow afternoon in Baton Rouge.”

TRENDING: Former Louisiana governor to launch 2012 exploratory committee – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

Rick Santorum Statement On Fox News Contract Announcement

Rick Santorum Statement on Fox News Contract Announcement

Washington, DC – Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) issued the following statement regarding his contract at Fox News Channel:

“Over the past few years, I have appreciated the opportunity to work with many great professionals at Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network to discuss the critical issues facing our country.  I share in their commitment to ensure news organizations provide balanced coverage of the issues of the day.  I intend to use the months ahead to continue my evaluation of a potential presidential run, and I will make an announcement on my final decision sometime in the coming months.”

Iowa Tea Party to host caucus bus tour, four GOP prospects show interest | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

“The Iowa Tea Party plans to conduct a June bus tour across the state aimed at showcasing Republican presidential prospects and mobilizing tea party supporters to learn more about the Iowa caucuses, organizers said today.” By Tom Beaumont

Iowa Tea Party to host caucus bus tour, four GOP prospects show interest | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

U.S. Senator Rand Paul To Keynote Iowa GOP’s Night Of The Rising Stars

U.S. Senator Rand Paul to Keynote Iowa GOP’s Night of the Rising Stars
Event will also highlight Iowa’s newly elected leaders

DES MOINES- Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn today announced that freshman United States Senator Rand Paul will headline the Iowa GOP’s spring event, Night of the Rising Stars, scheduled to be held on April 2 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. The event will also highlight many of Iowa’s newly elected leaders from the sweeping Republican victories of last November.

Strawn held the inaugural Night of the Rising Stars in June 2009 as a showcase for many of the talented newcomers the Iowa GOP was witnessing at all levels of politics and government.

“Last November, Iowa voters overwhelmingly supported our pledge to return limited government to Des Moines by restoring fiscal sanity to the State Capitol after years of runaway spending. As a result, we have elected a group of principled conservative leaders from river to river that will help move our state forward for decades to come,” Strawn said. “In addition to highlighting these leaders, the event will underscore how far Iowa Republicans have come since 2008 and the dramatically different electoral terrain President Obama will find here in 2012.”

In addition to highlighting emerging Iowa GOP leaders, Strawn said the keynote speaker will be someone who is new to the national stage, but is already making his presence felt in Washington, D.C.

"Senator Paul represents the new energy of Republicans in Washington. His dedication to the cause of limited government not only resonated with the voters of Kentucky but catapulted him on to the national stage,” Strawn continued. “Iowa Republicans will be interested to hear his solutions to seriously address the national debt and stop the growth of government.”

Purpose Of Newt Gingrich Visit To Georgia NOT To Announce The Formation Of An Exploratory Committee

Clarification: Purpose of Gingrich Visit to Georgia

Over the past 48 hours, there has been much speculation in the press about former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s intentions with respect to a presidential candidacy.  The attached article from the Des Moines Register which contains a significantly inaccurate statement is indicative of that speculation.

Speaker Gingrich’s long-standing visit to Georgia on Thursday has been on his schedule for months.  As a senior fellow of the American Enterprise Institute, Gingrich will participate in the Annual AEI World Forum.  He accepted that invitation last spring.

His plans for being in Georgia also include an event for his American Solutions organization.  As a regular part of his travel schedule in his role as general chairman, Speaker Gingrich holds meetings with potential supporters and concerned citizens to raise the resources necessary to fund American Solutions’ mission and its important projects like Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less and Jobs Here, Jobs Now, Jobs First.

Gingrich will also visit the State Capitol in Atlanta to discuss with Gov. Nathan Deal the American Solutions “Replace not Reform” project.  As part of the project, he will ask the governor to establish a “Tenth Amendment Team” within the governor’s office that focuses on defending Georgia’s 10th Amendment rights under the Constitution.

Gingrich is not travelling to Georgia to announce that he will form “an exploratory committee” as stated in the Des Moines Register.  To be clear, while Speaker Gingrich is in Georgia on Thursday, he will NOT announce the formation of an exploratory committee.

Newt Gingrich Agenda

Thursday, March 3, 2011

2:30 pm - Meet with Governor Nathan Deal regarding American Solutions "Replace not Reform” 10th Amendment Project.

4:00 pm - American Solutions gathering for potential supporters and concerned citizens. 

6:00 pm - Participate in a panel as part of the AEI World Forum.

ATTACHMENTS:

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/03/01/register-exclusive-gingrich-to-announce-presidential-exploration-top-adviser-says/

Register exclusive: Gingrich to announce presidential exploration, top adviser says.

Republican Newt Gingrich plans to announce Thursday he is taking the first formal step toward running for president in 2012, the former U.S. House speaker’s senior political adviser told The Des Moines Register Tuesday.

Gingrich is expected to report during a public appearance with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal at his home state’s Capitol in Atlanta that he is forming a federal exploratory committee, said Joe Gaylord, a Des Moines native who has been Gingrich’s top strategist for 20 years.

“It is exactly that, an exploratory committee,” Gaylord said in an interview. Gingrich would be the first better-known Republican in the gathering field to take the step.

“But you can’t say that this is tantamount to an announcement of candidacy,” Gaylord added. “It is the announcement of an exploratory committee that says, ‘is it really feasible for me to do this, and let me check this out in the next six or seven weeks, because I want to find out if it’s real before I do it.’ ”

Gaylord said the development will allow Gingrich, who has said he would announce his plans in the coming days, to raise money, conduct polling and hire staff to be dispatched to early nominating states, including Iowa.

Iowa’s precinct caucuses are expected to start the 2012 Republican presidential nominating sequence in less than a year.

GOP caucus campaign strategists have said Gingrich’s announcement could accelerate the Iowa activity of others weighing 2012 bids.

“I would be surprised if he didn’t do it. I think he really wants to,” Gaylord said about a full-fledged Gingrich presidential campaign. “So, he’s got to be able to do that in a legal fashion. And the law calls for setting up an exploratory committee for doing that.”

Gingrich is planning to make his 10th visit to Iowa as a 2012 presidential prospect next week, when he and other prospective Republican presidential candidates are scheduled to speak at a candidate forum in Waukee.

Register exclusive: Gingrich to announce presidential exploration, top adviser says. | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

“Republican Newt Gingrich plans to announce Thursday he is taking the first formal step toward running for president in 2012, the former U.S. House speaker’s senior political adviser told The Des Moines Register Tuesday.”

Register exclusive: Gingrich to announce presidential exploration, top adviser says. | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

Gov. Nathan Deal To Meet With Newt Gingrich Thursday, March 3, 2011 At The Georgia State Capitol

Gov. Nathan Deal to meet with Newt Gingrich Thursday At The Georgia State Capitol

Gov. Nathan Deal and former Speaker Newt Gingrich will meet Thursday at the state Capitol to discuss how to reassert the importance of the 10th Amendment and identify overbearing federal regulations that cost Georgia money, especially health care costs, and minimize its ability to create jobs.

WHO:      Gov. Nathan Deal and Speaker Newt Gingrich

WHAT:     Meet to discuss the 10th Amendment and overbearing federal regulations.

WHEN:    Thursday, March 3, at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Governor’s Office

NOTE:   

Speaker Gingrich has been advocating for states to audit federal regulations. In November 2010 at a meeting in San Diego, Speaker Gingrich told the Republican Governors Association that states should identify every federal regulation that costs money and minimizes state creativity and to work to either repeal the regulation, abolish the office or agency or defund the activity.

MPAA Appoints Senator Christopher J. Dodd As Chairman And Chief Executive Officer

MPAA APPOINTS SENATOR CHRISTOPHER J. DODD AS CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

WASHINGTON — The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) today announced it has named former U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd as its new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Senator Dodd, who completed five terms in the United States Senate in January, will assume his new role on March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day).

“Chris has served our country as a highly respected and accomplished Senator for over 30 years, and we are truly fortunate that he will bring his stature and talent to support the creative efforts of our filmmakers and the many people who work in our industry, here and around the world,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairman & CEO Jim Gianopulos. He added, “We’re also grateful to Bob Pisano, who has done an excellent job of leading the MPA during this transition period.”

Senator Dodd, a Democrat, represented Connecticut in the U.S. Senate from 1981 to 2011, where he was Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and the author of the historic Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Dodd also served as Acting-Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee during the 2009 consideration of the Health Care Reform Act. He also was a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has been widely respected as an effective lawmaker able to successfully reach across party lines.

"I am truly excited about representing the interests of one of the most creative and productive industries in America, not only in Washington but around the world,” said Senator Dodd. “The major motion picture studios consistently produce and distribute the most sought after and enjoyable entertainment on earth. Protecting this great American export will be my highest priority.”

“In several important ways, taking this step represents a continuation of my work in the Senate, from advancing the interests of children and families and creating and safeguarding American jobs to the protection of intellectual property and the expansion of international trade,” said Senator Dodd.

"It is also an honor to follow in the footsteps of Jack Valenti and Dan Glickman, both of whom I worked with on many occasions over the years. I look forward to working with the studios, the Association staff and all who work in our industry on the major issues facing it during this time of economic and technological challenge and global growth.”

“We conducted a thorough search to identify the very best individual to lead the MPAA," said Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lynton. "We're convinced we have found that person in Chris Dodd. He is uniquely qualified to represent and protect our industry globally."
“Chris Dodd not only has the political instincts and experience, but he’s the right person to lead the film industry through its toughest challenges regarding content protection and piracy on a domestic and global scale,” said Barry Meyer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros.

Alan Braverman, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the Walt Disney Company and MPAA Search Committee Member added, “This is a critical time for the motion picture industry and we couldn’t be more pleased that Chris Dodd is leading our team. His vast experience in consensus-building and innovative approaches to resolving complex issues make him the ideal choice to lead this organization.”

Born in Willimantic, Connecticut, Senator Dodd attended Providence College, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, and then received his law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law in 1972. He served in the Connecticut National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves and practiced law in Connecticut before being elected to Congress in 1974. He also served as the General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the re-election campaign of President William J. Clinton in 1995-1996. Senator Dodd and his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd, have two daughters, Grace and Christina.

About the MPAA The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLC; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Mitt Romney’s PAC Sends Out Next Wave Of Donations To Congressional Republicans

Mitt Romney’s PAC Sends Out Next Wave Of Donations To Congressional Republicans

As the GOP battles in Washington to cut government spending, Governor Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC showed its support today by announcing the next wave of contributions to congressional Republicans, committing a total of $83,500 to 40 U.S. Senate and House leaders. 

These contributions come on top of the $124,500 that Romney’s PAC sent to 50 U.S. Senate and House Republicans last month, bringing year-to-date donations to federal candidates to over $200,000.

“It is important that we stand with our Republican Members of Congress and show that we support their pro-growth agenda and their efforts to reduce the size of government,” Romney said.  “Now is the time for all of us to send a powerful message that Americans will no longer tolerate the Washington culture of higher taxes, higher spending, and higher debt.” 

This next wave of contributions is as follows:

Name
 Office Sought
 Amount
 Year
 
Roger Wicker
 U.S. Senate (Mississippi)
 $5,000.00
 2012
 
Marco Rubio
 U.S. Senate (Florida)
 $2,500.00
 2016
 
Sandy Adams
 U.S. House (FL-24)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Justin Amash
 U.S. House (MI-03)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Lou Barletta
 U.S. House (PA-11)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Dan Benishek
 U.S. House (MI-01)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Mo Brooks
 U.S. House (AL-05)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Ann Marie Buerkle
 U.S. House (NY-25)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Jeff Denham
 U.S. House (CA-19)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Scott Desjarlais
 U.S. House (TN-04)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Mario Diaz-Balart
 U.S. House (FL-21)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Jeff Duncan
 U.S. House (SC-03)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Stephen Fincher
 U.S. House (TN-08)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Mike Fitzpatrick
 U.S. House (PA-08)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Chuck Fleischmann
 U.S. House (TN-03)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Cory Gardner
 U.S. House (CO-04)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Trey Gowdy
 U.S. House (SC-04)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Tom Graves
 U.S. House (GA-09)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Tim Griffin
 U.S. House (AR-02)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Morgan Griffith
 U.S. House (VA-09)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Michael Grimm
 U.S. House (NY-13)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Richard Hanna
 U.S. House (NY-24)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Andy Harris
 U.S. House (MD-01)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Nan Hayworth
 U.S. House (NY-19)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Bill Huizenga
 U.S. House (MI-02)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Mike Kelly
 U.S. House (PA-03)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Tom Marino
 U.S. House (PA-10)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
David McKinley
 U.S. House (WV-01)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Pat Meehan
 U.S. House (PA-07)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Kristi Noem
 U.S. House (SD-AL)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Rich Nugent
 U.S. House (FL-05)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Steve Pearce
 U.S. House (NM-02)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Ben Quayle
 U.S. House (AZ-03)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Tom Reed
 U.S. House (NY-29)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Dennis Ross
 U.S. House (FL-12)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Austin Scott
 U.S. House (GA-08)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Tim Scott
 U.S. House (SC-01)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Scott Tipton
 U.S. House (CO-03)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Tim Walberg
 U.S. House (MI-07)
 $2,000.00
 2012
 
Rob Woodall
 U.S. House (GA-07)
 $2,000.00
 2012

IAB Announces Winners of ‘Rising Stars’ Competition; New Brand-Friendly Ad Formats Aim to Spur Greater Creativity in Interactive Advertising

“PALM SPRINGS, CA (February 28, 2011) — In a sustained effort to spur greater creativity in interactive advertising and speed adoption of new brand-friendly ad formats, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the six winners of its “Rising Stars” Competition. These new-to-the-market formats will be named IAB Standard Ad Units following six months of in-market validation. A pool of 36 innovative submissions came from more than two dozen companies. The Rising Stars contest kicked off at the MIXX Conference & Expo in September 2010, when the IAB put out a call for new standard ad units that would encourage engagement with viewers on their terms and allow people to participate confidently with brands.”

IAB Announces Winners of ‘Rising Stars’ Competition; New Brand-Friendly Ad Formats Aim to Spur Greater Creativity in Interactive Advertising