2016 Presidential Campaign Blog

Suffolk University Poll Shows Jeb Bush & Rick Perry Leading 2016 GOP Presidential Pack in Minnesota

Suffolk University Poll Shows Jeb Bush & Rick Perry Leading GOP Presidential Pack in Minnesota
 
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Texas Gov. Rick Perry led other possible Republican opponents among a small sample of self-described 2016 Minnesota GOP caucus voters. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton was the overwhelming favorite among possible Democratic candidates, including Vice President Joe Biden, according to a Suffolk University statewide Minnesota poll.

2016 presidential caucuses

Fifteen percent of self-described Minnesota Republican caucus-goers named Bush and Texas Gov. Rick Perry as their first choice for their party’s nomination for president, while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were tied at 9 percent; Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) had 8 percent; and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the first choice of 6 percent. The candidate’s relative strength lies within this survey’s +/-10.5 percent margin of error. Eight other Republicans were mentioned but received less than 5 percent each.

When first and second choices were combined, Bush received 24 percent, Perry 20 percent, and Cruz 16 percent. These results mirrored Bush’s 24 percent of first and second choices among Republican caucus-goers in a Suffolk University Iowa poll earlier this month.

David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, is qualifying this subset test with a higher error rate, yet he noted that the core Democratic and Republican voters have been triple screened. Each is qualified as a likely voter in the general election in November, a likely voter in the August 12 primary, and a self-described precinct caucus-goer for the presidential caucus in 2016.

“Although these are small subsets of voters, an interesting pattern is emerging,” said Paleologos. “Jeb Bush has quietly scored in the top three among combined first and second choices in Minnesota, Iowa and New Hampshire – states far away from Florida or Texas. No other Republican has been that consistent. And as other first-choice candidates drop out, a great number of their supporters will rotate to Bush, because he is the second choice of many in these states.”

Bush has indicated he will not make a decision on a 2016 run until the end of this year.

On the Democratic side, another well-known political name already is clearing the field for the 2016 presidential nomination. Among Democratic precinct caucus-goers, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) 63 percent to 15 percent, with five other Democrats receiving less than 5 percent, including Vice President Joe Biden. In early April, Clinton led Warren 63 percent to 12 percent in a Suffolk University poll of Democratic Iowa caucus-goers, with Biden getting 10 percent.

“Democrats are making polling history with two women leading for their party’s nomination in back-to-back public polls, even though there is a long way to go and neither has declared a candidacy,” said Paleologos.

Methodology

The statewide Suffolk University survey used a split sample of landline and cell phone numbers and a screen to filter out low voter intensity. The field of 800 likely voters was conducted Thursday, April 24, through Monday, April 28. The margin of error is +/-3.5 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence. The subset of 198 likely GOP primary voters is +/-6.96 percent. The subset of "first choice" presidential selections from 87 Republican and 100 Democratic precinct caucus-goers is +/-10.5 percent and +/-9.8 percent respectively.

Republican Party of Wisconsin Announces Lauren Clark as Communications Director

Republican Party of Wisconsin Announces Communications Director

[Madison, Wis.] – Today, the Republican Party of Wisconsin announced Lauren Clark will serve as the Communications Director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Lauren has worked for offices in both the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate.  In addition to her work inside of the Wisconsin State Capitol, she also has extensive experience working on legislative campaigns.

“I would like to welcome Lauren as the newest staff member at the Republican Party of Wisconsin,” said Brad Courtney, Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.  “With Lauren’s experience, we will build upon an already strong team as we work toward Republican victories on November 4th.”

Rick Santorum Book Tour Stop Scheduled on June 3, 2014 in Bloomington, MN (No longer on schedule)

Rick Santorum Patriot Voices Book Tour

Blue Collar Conservatives - Recommiting To An America That Works

June 3, 2014 – Bloomington, MN - Embassy Suites Airport

AM 1280 - The Patriot

Rick Santorum to Travel to South Carolina for GOP Events on Monday 4/14/2014

Rick Santorum to Travel to South Carolina for GOP Events on Monday 4/14

Verona, PA - Former Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. Senator and current Chairman of Patriot Voices Rick Santorum will travel to South Carolina for two Republican party events on Monday, April 14.

Monday, April 14
12:00 PM -- Senator Santorum will give the keynote address at the Charleston County Republican Women's lunch meeting
Location:
Mark Clark Hall
171 Moultrie Street
Charleston, SC 29409
 
6:00 PM - Senator Santorum will address a meeting of the Charleston County Republican Committee.
Location:
North Charleston City Hall
2500 City Hall Lane
North Charleston, SC 29406
 
During his visit to South Carolina, Senator Santorum will also attend private fundraisers in Charleston and Columbia, and he will meet with grassroots activists and political leaders. 

LA Gov. Bobby Jindal to headline South Carolina GOP Silver Elephant Dinner on Friday, June 6, 2014

LA Gov. Bobby Jindal to headline SCGOP 2014 Silver Elephant Dinner

Columbia, S.C. – Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will deliver the keynote address at the South Carolina Republican Party’s 47th Annual Silver Elephant Dinner on June 6. This year’s dinner will also honor America’s World War II veterans on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.

Friday June 6, 2014
 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM
 (Dinner at 7:15 PM, Gov. Jindal speaking at approx. 7:45 PM)
 Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
 1101 Lincoln Street
 Columbia, SC 29201

The Silver Elephant Dinner, first held in 1967, is consistently the largest and most prestigious Republican gathering in South Carolina. Previous speakers have included President Ronald Reagan and President George W. Bush.

“We are proud to welcome Governor Bobby Jindal to South Carolina,” said SCGOP Chairman Matt Moore. “Our Republican Governors are leading the way with solutions to America’s toughest challenges. Few Governors can articulate those solutions like Governor Jindal.”

Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum to speak at Iowa GOP State Convention on June 14, 2014 in Des Moines

Iowa GOP Announces State Convention Speakers
Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum to speak on June 14 in Des Moines

DES MOINES, Iowa- Today Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Danny Carroll announced that three nationally recognized Republicans have confirmed to speak at the Party's state convention in June. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum have all confirmed they will speak to the convention on June 14th in Des Moines.

"Republicans have a strong party heading into the 2014 elections, and we're excited to hear from these three leaders," said Carroll. "This will be a treat for our state convention delegates and guests and will create some lively interaction as we plan for victory in November."

All three speakers have had their names discussed regarding potential bids for President in 2016.

Sen. Rand Paul to Headline New Hampshire GOP Events on April 11, 2014

Sen. Rand Paul to Headline New Hampshire GOP Events

WASHINGTON, DC - On April 11, 2014, Senator Rand Paul will travel to Dover, New Hampshire to headline several events for the New Hampshire GOP.  
 
"I look forward to returning to New Hampshire, a state with fervent passion for liberty and freedom. The people of New Hampshire have always stood with me on issues in the past and I look forward to engaging them again." said Senator Rand Paul.

New Hampshire GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Horn added: "I am excited to have Senator Rand Paul join hundreds of activists in the Granite State to discuss his vision of expanded liberty and freedom for Americans. Senator Paul has championed the traditional New Hampshire principles of smaller government and limited taxation, and he understands that we must grow the Republican Party in order to win elections in November. We look forward to hearing more about his plans to fix our broken government and return fiscal responsibility to Washington."  
 
New Hampshire GOP Rally

April 11, 2014 - 5:00pm

Cottage By The Bay
97 Piscataqua Road,
Dover, New Hampshire

Republican National Committee’s (RNC) Site Selection Committee (SSC) Narrows 2016 Cities From 8 to 6

RNC's Announces Next Phase of the 2016 Republican National Convention Site Selection Process
 
WASHINGTON – Today the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) Site Selection Committee (SSC) voted to narrow the list of sites in contention for the 2016 Republican National Convention from eight to six cities. Cities moving on to the next round of consideration are Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, and Las Vegas.  
 
A small team of RNC staff will visit the six cities for a more in-depth and technical look at financing, convention venues, media workspace, and hotels. The SSC will reconvene soon after the RNC’s Spring Meeting to make a determination on which of these six cities will receive official site visits from the full RNC delegation.

Following today’s vote, SSC Chair Enid Mickelsen released the following statement:
“After a painstaking review, I’m pleased to announce that six cities have moved on to the next round of consideration for the 2016 Republican National Convention. The eyes of the world will be on the RNC and our host city in the summer of 2016, and these six cities have shown they have what it takes to move forward.

“In any other year, Columbus and Phoenix could have topped the list, but with so many strong cities competing, the committee had to make the difficult decision to narrow the field.  Phoenix and Columbus are great American cities, and I hope they’ll pursue a future bid for an RNC convention.  

“I want to thank each city for their tireless efforts and hard work throughout this process, and I look forward to this next phase as we select a city to help us nominate the next Republican President of the United States.”