Newslinks for Monday Jan 30: Romney keeps pressure on Gingrich as he hopes for knockout Florida win
Posted on 01/30/2012Romney maintains attacks against Gingrich, determined to win big in Florida
- "But instead of stepping back and refocusing on President Barack Obama - as he did in Iowa when it became clear that Gingrich had lost - Romney is ratcheting up his rhetoric and continuing his attacks until the very end." - AP
- "He reprised his criticism of Mr. Gingrich’s work as a consultant to mortgage giant Freddie Mac, which paid the former House speaker $1.6 million. And Mr. Romney even managed to needle Mr. Gingrich for his complaints about audience behavior at recent debates." - WSJ
- "Mitt Romney's nearly certain victory in Florida's Republican primary on Tuesday wouldn't guarantee him the GOP nomination, but political experts agree it would make it far more likely that he'll be the last candidate standing at the August convention in Tampa." - Washington Examiner
Newt pledges to take the nomination "all the way to the convention"
"A pugnacious Newt Gingrich reiterated his intention to stay in the Republican presidential primary “all the way to the convention,” telling reporters Sunday morning that he believed that “this is going to be a straight-out contest for the next four or five months” between him and Mitt Romney." - Wall Street Journal
- "Gingrich is making the case that Romney can’t get a majority at the convention, his small circle of advisers are already eyeing favorable states in March and April and those close to the former back-bench bomb-thrower are testifying to his legendary perseverance." - Politico
- "Ron Paul vowed today he'll stay in the GOP race through the national convention in Tampa and defended his decision to campaign in Maine while his rivals are focused on Florida." - USA Today
VIDEO: Herman Cain endorses Newt Gingrich at Palm Beach County event
Gingrich doubles down on claim to President Reagan’s legacy -
"Newt Gingrich linked Mitt Romney to Wall Street malfeasants, compared himself with Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, and stridently attacked President Obama — all at one campaign event here Sunday afternoon." - The Hill
- "“I am, in fact, the legitimate heir to the Reagan movement, not some liberal from Massachusetts,” Gingrich said on Sunday. He noted that Reagan’s son Michael will be campaigning with him on Monday, “which should tell you how false the ads were earlier this week by Romney that suggested I wasn’t a Reagan Republican.”" - LA Times
New polls have Romney solidly leading Gingrich in Florida
- "A new Rasmussen survey in Florida shows Mitt Romney leading Newt Gingrich by 16 points, 44% to 28%, with Rick Santorum at 12% and Ron Paul at 10%. A forthcoming We Ask America poll in Florida shows Romney ahead by 22 points." - Political Wire
- Nate Silver gives Romney a 97% chance of winning
- Polling in key swing states: Only Romney polls ahead of Obama, Obama leads Paul and Santorum by 7%, and Gingrich by FOURTEEN percent - USA Today
- It's better to think of Florida as five different states than just one - Politico
Rick Santorum’s daughter hospitalized
"On Thursday and Friday, some of us... were speculating over whether or not Senator Rick Santorum would be remaining in the hunt for the nomination when news broke that he was returning to Pennsylvania from the campaign trail in Florida. Now it’s very likely that the news was somewhat different and far more disconcerting. Reports are coming in that the Santorums’ youngest daughter, Bella, has been hospitalized." - Hot Air
- Rick Santorum’s daughter improving - Politico
- With Santorum off the trail, surrogates help keep campaign alive - LA Times
- "Rick Santorum... has canceled all remaining events in Florida and instead will begin a push towards the western primaries and caucuses to be held in early February." - CNN
Michael Barone: This three-way contest has given Romney the time and reason to develop better skills as a candidate
"The race so far has given Romney the opportunity to develop the political instincts that he might have obtained from going door-to-door for votes or interacting with lowly colleagues in a caucus as his three rivals have. His performances in the two Florida debates show he is making some progress. Not enough to be the ideal nominee, perhaps, but maybe enough to beat an incumbent with serious weaknesses, as well as some strengths." - Michael Barone for TownHall
Why hasn't Jeb Bush endorsed any candidate?
"Mr. Bush has made clear in television interviews and in conversations with friends that he is troubled by the sharpening tenor of the race, particularly on immigration. He voiced his concern directly to Mr. Romney, two people close to him said, urging him to moderate his oratory and views to avoid a collapse of support among Hispanic voters in the general election." - New York Times
Juan Williams: 2012 GOP should think about the poverty, unemployment and the hopelessness that pervade minority communities - The Hill
Muslim Americans unsure whether to support Obama or the GOP - Roll Call
John McCain condemns SuperPACs
"Sen. John McCain on Sunday attacked super PACs and the Supreme Court ruling that unleashed them on the 2012 presidential race. "I condemn them on all sides," the Arizona Republican said of super PACs on NBC News's "Meet the Press," "and I condemn the United States Supreme Court for their naivety in the Citizens versus United (sic) decision, which is an outrage."" - Politico
Paul Ryan slams Obama's sloganeering and election campaigning
"House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said that Obama uses the rhetoric of the right to make a case about fairness and equality, but produces policies that lead to "crony capitalism" and result in giving the government more power." - Fox News
Many Texas Republicans would oppose Rick Perry running for re-election as Governor - Houston Chronicle
David Frum: Ten years later, the content of the 'Axis of Evil' speech stands up to scrutiny - Daily Beast
- Joe Biden admits he told Obama not to launch raid to kill Osama bin Laden - Toby Harnden
Jeb Hensarling eyes financial panel chairmanship - Politico
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