More oh-eight (R)
Posted: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 9:25 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Republicans
GIULIANI: Could Giuliani's folks ask for a better supporter quote in the Boston Globe (or any other paper) than this one? “‘If I was a terrorist, I'd be really nervous of Rudy Giuliani,’ said Ron Vars of East Kingston, who owns a telecommunications brokerage. ‘I don't care about this personal stuff; he's a leader. I have an ex-wife. I don't have two of them, but that's OK.’”
Also in the article, it looks like Grover is about to come aboard. “Grover Norquist, the tax cut crusader and conservative strategist, said news reports about Giuliani's personal life, including stories about his estranged second wife and children, have yet to dent his support. ‘If you'd known somebody for 20 years and in conversation it came up that he had been married three times, that wouldn't define him for you,’ Norquist said. ‘The country feels on the policy issues of the day that they know Giuliani. They may like him; they may not like him.’”
Yet Hizzoner has an answer to those who claim being mayor of NYC doesn't give him proper foreign policy credentials.
MCCAIN: The New York Times front-pages how McCain is revamping his fundraising operation, after his disappointing 1st quarter haul. “Mr. McCain’s aides said that to deal with his fund-raising problems, he would adopt what had been a centerpiece of Mr. Bush’s fund-raising technique, and one that has been embraced by most major presidential candidates: creating an honorary campaign designation to reward the campaign’s top money raisers. Mr. Bush called his Rangers and Pioneers; Mr. McCain will call his the McCain 100’s, for supporters who collect $100,000 for the campaign, and the McCain 200’s, who collect $200,000.”
The Politico writes a similar story. “Amid growing internal concern about poor fundraising and the direction of his presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain's top advisers bluntly told backers on Tuesday of plans to overhaul the campaign and delay its formal announcement until after a major speech on Iraq.” The article adds, however, that these changes have been in the works for a while.
ROMNEY: The script of Romney’s new 30-second TV ad, which begins running today in Iowa and New Hampshire: “If I'm elected President, I'm going to cap non-defense discretionary spending at inflation minus one percent. That would save $300 billion in 10 years. And if Congress sends me a budget that exceeds that cap, I will veto that budget. And I know how to veto. I like vetoes. I've vetoed hundreds of spending appropriations as Governor. And frankly, I can't wait to get my hands on Washington!”
After its fundraising haul, the Romney campaign is clearly basking in the new attention. See the New York Times and the Union Leader. In fact, it's reminiscent of the extra attention John Edwards received in April 2003, when he surprised folks with a better-than-expected fundraising quarter. Like Edwards was, Romney is mired in single digits and trying to parlay the insider attention into voter attention in Iowa and New Hampshire. It took a while for Edwards to eventually catch on -- but he did. and
The Washington Post does its version of how Romney being a Mormon is a mixed blessing.
F. THOMPSON: The lead Thompson drafter in the House, Tennessee Rep. Zach Wamp (R), tells the Washington Times that he's signed up 60 House Republicans to meet with Thompson when he comes to Cap Hill on April 18 -- for what is turning into the a very big rollout of the fledgling campaign-in-waiting. "Thompson has said he will take his time deciding whether to embark on a presidential campaign, but Mr. Wamp suggested that the unexpected groundswell of support may have accelerated that timeline. ‘It's somewhat of a phenomenon. There is a whole lot of momentum, and you don't want to lose it,’ he said.”
T. THOMPSON: The former Wisconsin governor kicks off his presidential announcement this morning at a Milwaukee high school -- inside the aptly named Tommy Thompson Athletic Center. He then heads to Clive, Iowa.
