Mitt Romney won six states and a big percentage of the delegates on Super Tuesday, but a very narrow win in Ohio revived doubts about his ability to win broad support throughout the GOP. John Gizzi of Human Events explains the good news and bad news for Romney after Tuesday’s results, which candidate has the upper hand in the next few contests and whether the calls for Newt Gingrich to drop out are going to work or fall on deaf ears. He also disusses what role Ron Paul can still play in this campaign. Gizzi also takes us inside the primary defeats for Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt. Finally, he offers analysis on this week’s meetings between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu and whether the two men are any closer on policy than they have been in the past.
Three Martini Lunch 3/8/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review like the polls they’re seeing of Scott Brown consistently ahead in his Massachusetts Senate race and every possible Republican trouncing Democrat Bob Kerrey in Nebraska. They also savage Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for saying a military mission in Syria would require the U.S. to get “international permission” but not authorization from Congress. And they rant about the clear double standard in how the media cover disparaging comments about women based on the political views of the offender.
GOP Aims for Bigger House Majority
The presidential race is getting most of the attention in the 2012 campaign, but the Congressional races are also very important. In 2010, Republicans picked up more than 60 House seats and claimed the majority. As might be expected, both parties are predicting strong gains this year. Paul Lindsey is communications director at the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is tasked with recruiting and re-electing GOP candidates. Lindsey tells us why he’s confident that Republicans will add to their majority and not suffer the loss of many seats gained in 2010. He also explains why Democratic predictions of reclaiming the majority are nothing more than “chest thumping”. Lindsey discusses why redistricting based on the most recent census is likely to benefit Republicans more than Democrats and why the list of retiring members also works to his party’s advantage. Lindsey also tells us why he’s not worried about a surprisingly high number of GOP retirements in California.
‘I’m A Proven Fighter’
Republicans are making a fierce push to take the majority in the U.S. Senate in the November elections. One of the fiercest fights will be in Missouri as the GOP looks to defeat first-term Democrat Claire McCaskill. Right now, the leading Republican contender is former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman. She tells us why she believes McCaskill needs to be unseated and how her philosophy on jobs, the economy and health care stand in stark contrast to the votes McCaskill has taken in Washington. Steelman also makes her case for why she is the best choice for conservative voters among the Republicans in the race.
Three Martini Lunch 3/7/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review search hard for a good martini and decide that conservatives are at least a step closer to having a nominee to rally around following the split decisions on Super Tuesday. They also scold President Obama for mocking a press conference question that referenced his earlier statements that energy prices would rise under his plans. And they have some fun as MSNBC hosts get downright despondent at the primary defeat of Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich.
Iran Nuke in ‘Months, Not Years’
President Obama now says the United States will stand with Israel in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. But Obama also says he thinks crippling sanctions will make military action unnecessary and Iran is not all that close to completing a nuke. But Ohio Rep. Stave Chabot disagrees on both fronts. Chabot is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. He says Iran will have a completed nuke in less than a year unless they are stopped and he does not believe sanctions are doing the job. Chabot also believes Obama’s tougher stance may well be an effort to boost his re-election chances.
Obama’s ‘Bizarre’ Keystone Policy
Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry is continuing to push for the Obama administration to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. The plan was at least temporarily rejected by President Obama, who says Congressional Republicans imposed a timetable that did not allow to evaluate the impact of the pipeline. Rep. Terry says that’s wrong on a number of fronts. He says the environmental studies were already done and the State Department gave it’s blessing. He also says the 60-day deadline for Obama to decide was badly characterized in the media. Rep. Terry says the president really had 60 days once Nebraska figured out how to re-route a portion of the pipeline and that hasn’t happened yet. Terry explains why the pipeline should be a no-brainer for Obama and discusses what impact the start of the pipeline would have on energy prices.
Three Martini Lunch 3/6/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review like the resolve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and they appreciate President’s Obama’s renewed support for Israel – even if it is just an election year policy change. They also scratch their heads as President Obama offers more money to people who made bad home-buying decisions. And they enjoy some of the campaign tactics involved in an Ohio congressional primary.
Every State Is Important
On Tuesday, 10 states will hold primaries or caucuses to award delegates to the Republican National Convention. We discuss how the busy night is likely to shape up for the four remaining candidates with Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia. Sabato tells us how he thinks the pivotal state of Ohio will unfold and which other states he expects to be competitive. He also explains whether winning Georgia will be enough for Newt Gingrich to stay viable and where Ron Paul might finally crack the win column. Sabato also scolds his home state of Virginia for its tough ballot access rules and forbidding write-in votes. He also reveals how this year’s ‘Super Tuesday’ is somewhat mild compared to what the event has been in previous election cycles.
Front Lines to the Senate?
Pete Hegseth is a highly decorated U.S. Army officer who fought in some of the most difficult moments in the Iraq War. He came home to lead Vets for Freedom, a group committed to finishing the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hegseth then returned to active duty to teach counterinsurgency tactics in Afghanistan. Now he’s back home in Minnesota and running as a Republican to defeat Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Hegseth tells us what he learned during his days in uniform and how that experience prepared him to deal with many other issues besides national security. He explains why he believes Sen. Klobuchar does not deserve a second term and what type of mindset he would bring to Congress. Hegseth also gives us a frank assessment of the political road in front of him in a state that has elected conservatives, liberals, a former wrestler and a comedian to statewide office.