Fox News' decision to exclude GOP candidates from its pre-Hew Hampshire weekend debate has backfired, as the New Hampshire GOP has pulled out of the debate.
The decision to exclude anti-war libertarian Rep. Ron Paul has also angered Paul supporters across the nation. And in New Hampshire, Paul will likely see the benefit of what independent support there is for the GOP, cutting into John McCain's support and hurting McCain's desperate need for a victory there.
From the Times:
Ron Paul raised nearly $20 million in the last quarter, likely more than any of his rivals. He garnered 10 percent of the Republican vote in the Iowa Caucuses, surpassing Rudolph W. Giuliani. And he’s in New Hampshire this weekend on the airwaves and the campaign trail before the Jan. 8 primary.
From ThinkProgress:
The New Hampshire Republican Party expressed its disapproval with Fox News’ decision to exclude Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter from an upcoming debate by severing its partnership with the network. “We believe that it is inconsistent with the first in the nation primary tradition to be excluding candidates in a pre-primary setting,” said New Hampshire GOP state chair Fergus Cullen.
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Showing posts with label Rep. Duncan Hunter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rep. Duncan Hunter. Show all posts
Jan 6, 2008
Nov 28, 2007
Huckabee and Paul Impress, Romney and Thompson Flop in CNN/YouTube Debate
Update: For those of you not pretending to think like a Republican primary voter, Salon has two analyses, and here's Nichols' take:
- What you missed while watching "Chad Vader" by Michael Scherer
- The godawful GOP debate by Walter Shapiro
- Out-Tancredoing Tancredo at GOP's Anti-Immigrant Debate by John Nichols
As a libertarian liberal watching the GOP's CNN/YouTube debate trying to think as a Republican primary voter, here are some impressions:
Rudy Giuliani - Did nothing to hurt himself. Seems unafraid to take unpopular positions, but reeks of the City. Still standing after immigration grilling. Not great on today's Politico's Billing-the-city piece. Third place.
Mike Huckabee - Impressive, witty, and religious; appears in sharper command of issues than in previous weeks. Co-winner.
Rep. Duncan Hunter - Unremarkable
Sen. John McCain - Slow start, but took off after torture question and demonstrated the command and clarity that made McCain an early front-runner. Second place.
Rep. Ron Paul - Decisive, earnest, anti-war and pro-vet. This guy is popular with veterans and is raising one hell of a lot of money. And the Iraq War is not nearly as popular with GOP voters as many pretend. GOP better find a way to stop this guy. Co-winner.
Mitt Romney - Indecisive, insincere and slick; unsteady, especially on the gays-in-the-military and torture questions. Big loser.
Rep. Tom Tancredo - Unremarkable
Fred Thompson - Listless, uninspired, and fading fast. Big loser.
The first primary is weeks away. And debates, mini-scandals and talking heads now matter. Campaign operatives are losing hair, I assure you.
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- What you missed while watching "Chad Vader" by Michael Scherer
- The godawful GOP debate by Walter Shapiro
- Out-Tancredoing Tancredo at GOP's Anti-Immigrant Debate by John Nichols
As a libertarian liberal watching the GOP's CNN/YouTube debate trying to think as a Republican primary voter, here are some impressions:
Rudy Giuliani - Did nothing to hurt himself. Seems unafraid to take unpopular positions, but reeks of the City. Still standing after immigration grilling. Not great on today's Politico's Billing-the-city piece. Third place.
Mike Huckabee - Impressive, witty, and religious; appears in sharper command of issues than in previous weeks. Co-winner.
Rep. Duncan Hunter - Unremarkable
Sen. John McCain - Slow start, but took off after torture question and demonstrated the command and clarity that made McCain an early front-runner. Second place.
Rep. Ron Paul - Decisive, earnest, anti-war and pro-vet. This guy is popular with veterans and is raising one hell of a lot of money. And the Iraq War is not nearly as popular with GOP voters as many pretend. GOP better find a way to stop this guy. Co-winner.
Mitt Romney - Indecisive, insincere and slick; unsteady, especially on the gays-in-the-military and torture questions. Big loser.
Rep. Tom Tancredo - Unremarkable
Fred Thompson - Listless, uninspired, and fading fast. Big loser.
The first primary is weeks away. And debates, mini-scandals and talking heads now matter. Campaign operatives are losing hair, I assure you.
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