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News from the Votemaster
Romney Begins Foreign Trip with a Series of Gaffes
For someone as cautious as Mitt Romney, it is surprising that within a day of arriving in Britain he made a number of gaffes that have been widely reported in both the British Press and American press. When Romney commented that the security around the Olympics was not quite up to snuff, British Prime Minister David Cameron shot back: "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere" (a pointed reference to Romney's management of the Winter Olympics in Utah in 2002). But even Romney's attempt at praise fell flat when he acknowledged America's shared Anglo-Saxon heritage with the U.K., forgetting that the majority of Americans trace their roots to Central Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia rather than Britain. Politicians make gaffes all the time, but given that the only purpose of this trip is to make Romney look presidential, insulting his hosts is not a great start.
Tampa Strip Clubs Getting Ready for the Republican Convention
Since the Republican National Convention is likely to be completely surprise-free, with one speaker after another bashing President Obama for not fixing the economy, the thousands of delegates, alternates, staffers, and reporters may be looking out for other things to do and the Tampa strip-club industry is gearing up to accommodate them. One club has hired a Sarah Palin lookalike to arouse the Republicans. The trade association for the industry, although technically nonpartisan, did implicitly express a political preference by noting that Republicans outspend Democrats at their places of business three to one. The problem with all this activity is the danger of some important Republican being photographed with his pants down, so to speak.
Obama to Sign Israel Security Bill Just as Romney Arrives in Israel
In the primaries, Romney had it easy with a bunch of opponents who were not ready for prime time. Now he is in the big leagues. Just as he is about to show up in Israel to attack President Obama for not helping Israel enough, Obama is going to sign a bill to strengthen U.S.-Israeli military cooperation. If you think the timing is a coincidence, you are very naive. This is why sitting Presidents have won reelection 70% of the time since WWII: they have a lot of control over the agenda. So while Romney is in Israel attacking Obama for not doing more for Israel, Obama will be talking to reporters about how the bill he just signed gives Israel more military aid and access to missile defense and other advanced weapons.
Obama Falls Short on Education Goal
One area Romney has not hit Obama so hard yet is Obama's promise that the U.S. would lead the world in college graduates by 2020. Currently it is 16th and has no chance of becoming #1 by 2020. Obama has said that countries that out-educate us now will out-compete us in the future but he has done little to achieve his stated goal. Probably the reason Romney hasn't hit him harder on this is that would raise the question of how Romney plans on becoming #1 and most of the solutions involve federal money--lots of it.
Bloomberg Endorses Scott Brown
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has thrown his support to Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), who is enmeshed in a bitter and expensive struggle with consumer rights advocate Elizabeth Warren for a Senate seat in Massachusetts. Bloomberg said he supports Brown due to Brown's (minor) deviation from the Republican othodoxy on gun regulation. Brown opposes federal legislation that would allow anyone with a concealed gun permit to use it nationwide. Bloomberg does not want someone with a concealed gun permit from, say, Texas, to be able to legally carry a concealed gun in New York City. What Bloomberg didn't say was whether Warren's concerted opposition to Wall Street played any role in his decision to come out for Brown.
Today's Presidential Polls
State | Obama | Romney | Start | End | Pollster | |
Illinois | 51% | 31% | Jul 16 | Jul 22 | IPSOS | |
New Jersey | 50% | 42% | Jul 18 | Jul 22 | Monmouth U. | |
Nevada | 50% | 45% | Jul 24 | Jul 24 | Rasmussen |
Today's Senate Polls
State | Democrat | D % | Republican | R % | I | I % | Start | End | Pollster |
Michigan | Debbie Stabenow | 52% | Pete Hoekstra | 38% | Jul 21 | Jul 23 | PPP | ||
New Jersey | Bob Menendez | 44% | Joseph Kyrillos | 35% | Jul 18 | Jul 22 | Monmouth U. | ||
Pennsylvania | Bob Casey | 46% | Tom Smith | 36% | Jul 21 | Jul 23 | PPP |
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Previous Headlines
Jul26 Senate Passes Middle-Class Tax Cut BillJul26 Presidential Debate Schedule Announced
Jul26 Romney's Foreign Trip Carefully Crafted for Maximum Electoral Impact
Jul26 Romney Leading among Business Owners
Jul25 Ads Succeed in Making Voters Dislike Both Candidates
Jul25 Romney SuperPACs Have Spent $144 Million so Far
Jul25 Effect of Photo ID Laws on Polling is Unknown
Jul25 Sarah Palin Endorses Jeff Flake in Arizona Senate Race
Jul25 Portman Could be Hit with Steel
Jul24 Can Pawlenty or Portman Bring in His State?
Jul24 Americans Frustrated with Campaign Already
Jul24 Obama Goes after Romney with White Working-Class Voters
Jul24 Record Number of Openly Gay Candidates Running for Congress
Jul24 Hillary Clinton Leading in Iowa--in 2016
Jul23 New Feature Starting Today: A Second Map Page without Rasmussen
Jul23 Economy Improving Somewhat in the Swing States
Jul23 Obama Visits Colorado to Comfort Victim's Families
Jul23 Kerrey Struggling in Nebraska
Jul22 Swing State Economies Are Weak
Jul22 Has Citizens United Changed the Game?
Jul22 Beer and the Presidency
Jul22 Swing State Economies Are Weak
Jul22 Has Citizens United Changed the Game?
Jul22 Beer and the Presidency
Jul21 Shooting in Colorado Unlikely to Become a Campaign Issue
Jul21 National Senate and Congressional Committees Announce June Totals
Jul21 More Women Running for the House Than Ever Before
Jul20 Republican Voters Want Rice as Veep
Jul20 Strategy Memo Dissects the White Working Class
Jul20 The Three Campaigns
Jul20 Romney Hopes European Trip Will Show Him to Be a Statesman
Jul20 DSCC Chairwoman Talks to Maine Democrat Cynthia Dill
Jul19 Romney Camp Divided on Releasing Tax Returns
Jul19 Wealthy Republican Senate Candidates Picking Up Steam
Jul19 Could Foreign Policy Become a Campaign Issue?
Jul18 New Study Finds Voter ID Laws Burdensome
Jul18 Congress May Raise Taxes by Cutting Them
Jul18 Congress May Raise Taxes to Cut Them
Jul18 Ohio Sued for Restricting Early Voting
Jul18 Romney Accuses Obama of Cronyism
Jul17 Obama's Attacks on Bain Appear to be Working
Jul17 Republicans Filibuster DISCLOSE Act
Jul17 R.I.P. Independent Journalism
Jul17 Americans Woefully Ignorant about Government
Jul17 Can Your Mom Run Your SuperPAC?
Jul16 Ron Paul Loses in Nebraska
Jul16 Conservatives Now Calling for Romney to Release Tax Returns
Jul16 Obama Campaigns in Virginia; Romney Sends Surrogates
Jul16 Are Americans Overtaxed?
Jul16 Who's Side Are You On?