Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - November 4, 2015
From Ballotpedia
|
Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential Briefing was sponsored by the Leadership Project for America. | ||||
|
Wednesday's Leading Stories
- After Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich and Donald Trump said that they would not sign on to a letter stating that certain requirements must be met for future GOP debates, Ben Carson’s campaign manager Barry Bennett drafted a revised version of the letter and asked other campaigns if they would support the letter. As of Tuesday night, Bobby Jindal’s campaign was the only one who agreed to join Carson and sign the new letter. According to Politico, “Bennett said the letter would ask each network ‘for all of the critical information for their respective debates as soon as possible,’ including, he wrote, ‘format details, qualification details, and site details.’” (Politico)
- Poll: According to a Quinnipiac poll, Trump (24 percent) and Carson (23 percent) are virtually tied in the race for the GOP nomination. Rubio follows with 14 percent. Cruz is next with 13 percent, and Bush has 4 percent. The rest of the candidates polled at 3 percent or lower. (Quinnipiac)
- Poll: Hillary Clinton is the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination with 53 percent of Democrats supporting her and 35 percent supporting Bernie Sanders, according to a Quinnipiac poll. (Quinnipiac)
- Poll: The same poll, revealed that if the election were held today, Carson would beat Clinton 50 to 40 percent. (Quinnipiac)
- Poll: In a poll of 400 likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters, Trump leads with 18 percent. Carson follows with 15 percent. Rubio has 9 percent followed by Kasich with 8 percent. Bush and Christie are tied with 7 percent. Cruz has 6 percent, and Fiorina has 5 percent. The rest of the candidates polled at 3 percent or lower, according to a WBUR/MassINC poll. (WBUR/MassINC)
- Poll: According to a Winthrop poll, Clinton leads with 71 percent support among likely Democratic primary voters in South Carolina. Sanders follows with 15 percent, and Martin O’Malley has 2 percent. (Winthrop)
Democrats
Hillary Clinton
- Hillary Clinton released the television ad "Together” on Tuesday. The ad discusses Clinton’s strategy to end gun violence. In the ad Clinton says, "This epidemic of gun violence knows no boundaries. Between 88 and 92 people a day are killed by guns. We're better than this. We need to close the loopholes and support universal background checks.” The ad will air in Iowa and New Hampshire. (Reuters)
- On Tuesday, Clinton proposed raising the federal minimum wage. She said, "I want to raise the federal minimum wage to $12, and encourage other communities to go even higher. I think we can manage it, and I don't think there should be any unintended consequences to job creation.” (Huffington Post)
Martin O’Malley
- On Tuesday, Martin O’Malley announced “that he has leadership teams from 21 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, supporting his Democratic presidential bid,” according to MSNBC. The list includes: Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, former presidential candidate Gary Hart, former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.-D), six legislators from Puerto Rico, 60 endorsers from Iowa and 25 endorsers from New Hampshire. The full list can be seen here. (MSNBC)
- On Tuesday, O’Malley announced seven executive orders that he would issue to control gun violence, including the following: “Using procurement contracts to advance gun safety by requiring manufacturers that seek federal contracts to make design changes;” ending the enforcement of a federal law that protects gun manufacturers when a gun made by that company is used in a violent act; enforcing “existing bans on gun ownership for domestic abusers and stalkers;” “banning so-called ‘cop killer’ ammunition;” “creating an ‘electronic alert system’ to inform local law enforcement officials when those who are prohibited from purchasing firearms attempt to do so;” “requiring the safe storage of firearms in homes by issuing and enforcing federal rules that make clear safety standards for gun locks and safes;” and “strengthening enforcement and audits of licensed dealers to ensure that they are in compliance with the law.” O’Malley’s full plan can be seen here. (WMUR.com, MartinO’Malley.com)
Bernie Sanders
- After TransCanada asked the U.S. State Department to suspend the review process of the Keystone XL Pipeline, Bernie Sanders posted the following tweets: “I have always opposed Keystone XL. It isn't a distraction — it's a fundamental litmus test of your commitment to battle climate change.” “If we are serious about combating climate change we have to do all we can to prevent the excavation of the dirtiest fossil fuels #KeystoneXL.” Sanders was the only presidential candidate to comment on the pipeline after TransCanada’s request, according to Fortune. (Fortune)
Republicans
Jeb Bush
- According to New York Magazine, Jeb Bush has hired media coach Jon Kraushar to help him with his campaign. Kraushar is “a legendary image-maker” who has helped train many Fox News anchors. New York Magazine
Ben Carson
- Ben Carson said that he does not support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. He explained, “Many studies have demonstrated that persistent regular use of marijuana by the developing brain can result in significant decreases in IQ. We already have enough people with low IQs, we don’t need to be generating more.” (CNS News)
- On Tuesday, Carson “accused a rival presidential campaign of planting the question he was asked about his relationship with the company [Mannatech] during last week's Republican presidential debate.” Carson declined to say which campaign he thought planted the question. (Bloomberg)
Chris Christie
- During an interview on Fox News on Tuesday, Chris Christie argued that the American people want to hear more about important issues than entertainment news. He said, “Nobody cares about whether Jeb speaks English or Spanish. Nobody cares about Donald Trump and how much money he made or how many times he’s lost money.” (Time)
Ted Cruz
- Keep the Promise I, a super PAC backing Ted Cruz, released two radio ads touting Cruz’s record as someone who fought former Speaker of the House John Boehner, keeps his promises to his constituents and stands up for religious freedom. The two ads are “airing nationally and on local radio stations in Iowa and South Carolina,” according to Newsmax. (Newsmax)
- Cruz’s wife will campaign for him in Alabama on Wednesday and Thursday. Heidi Cruz, who “once was a political advisor on George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign and worked several years in the Bush White House,” is seen as a strong asset to Cruz’s campaign. (Al.com)
Carly Fiorina
- During an interview on Monday in Pella, Iowa, Carly Fiorina said, “I can beat Hillary Clinton, and we actually have to win, because this country cannot take another four years of progressive policies.” Fiorina also discussed her experiences that she believes have prepared her to be president. The full interview can be heard here. (KNIA/KRLS News)
Lindsey Graham
- On Tuesday, Lindsey Graham criticized Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s decision to block votes on comprehensive immigration reform. Graham said, "Forget about working with Obama, just take up the bill and vote. If you don't like the Senate bill change it, but at least vote. Take a stand. ...It's wrong for the House not to take a position on immigration. I think it hurts our party.” (New York Daily News, The Hill)
- When Graham was asked if he thought Congress would pass legislation authorizing war against ISIS, he said, ”[A]bsolutely not. ...I think Democrats and a few Republicans have absolutely no clue as to the threats that we face. We're going to get attacked from Syria. That's where the next 9/11 is coming from. After that happens, and I pray that I'm wrong, everybody will take a different view." (The Hill)
Mike Huckabee
- On Tuesday, Mike Huckabee criticized debate moderators for treating Democrats with “respect and deference” and Republicans with "contempt, scorn and ridicule," according to Newsmax. Huckabee said, "We get questions that are silly. They get questions that are more substantive, but it's the attitude with which the questions are asked. There is a differential treatment to the Democrats, as if they deserve the respect as candidates for president. When we're asked questions, we're treated with contempt, scorn and ridicule." He added, “We just don't want to waste our time and the viewer's time on things that aren't as important. It's why for 40 years, wages for the bottom 90 percent of American workers have been stagnant. People care about that because they're getting gut-punched. What they don't care about is the silly little rejoinders that the president is throwing out right now." (Newsmax)
Bobby Jindal
- During an interview on Thursday, Bobby Jindal discussed how he is trying to earn voters’ support. He said, “I think you have got to earn people’s support in these early states. We’re earning it on the ground—nobody is going to out-work us. We’re going to every county. That’s why we’re building a movement. We’re seeing bigger and bigger crowds all over the state, and we’re seeing more and more people come out to join us. Look, I think Hillary is making a mistake campaigning in a bubble. I think you got to get out and meet the people you want to serve. I think you learn a lot by doing that. This is the key to our success. This is the reason we’re doing so well here in Iowa.” (Breitbart)
- During the same interview, Jindal responded to a question about Marco Rubio missing votes in the Senate by saying, “I think the voters get to decide what they think is relevant. They’ll get to decide whether they think that’s an important issue for them or not. For me, I think in general, we’ve got—not just talking about Sen. Rubio but all of the senators—we’ve got a first term senator in the White House. I’m biased towards governors. I think they’ve run things before. I think these senators give great speeches. Let’s elect somebody who’s run something. We’ve got a president who was a senator who gives great speeches. Let’s elect a governor who’s actually got something done.” (Breitbart)
- Jindal also discussed his solution for creating better debates. He said, “We’re the party that’s for free markets, right? Why not have as many debates and have as many people participate as possible? Let candidates—I think that’s better for our candidates. I think this whole top down control, this top down approach hasn’t worked. I think the best way to fix it is to let an open, free market approach to debates work. Let the candidates go to whatever debates they want, and let whoever wants to host a debate host a debate. Candidates don’t have to go; if they don’t want to show up they don’t have to show up. I’m happy to debate anybody, anywhere, any time. We’re the free market party, let’s take a free market approach to debates.” (Breitbart)
John Kasich
- After Issue 3 failed in Ohio, John Kasich sent the following tweet: “Proud Ohioans voted no on Issue 3 and instead chose a path that helps strengthen our families and communities. -John.” According to Ballotpedia, “Issue 3 would have legalized the limited sale and use of marijuana and created 10 facilities with exclusive commercial rights to grow marijuana.” (Twitter) (Ballotpedia)
Rand Paul
- After Kentucky Republicans nearly won nearly every office in Tuesday night’s election, Rand Paul said, “What this election shows is that people who’ve been promoting Democrats on the rise in Kentucky have been completely wrong. Not only has President Obama destroyed the party in Kentucky, he’s destroyed the bench. The bench that was supposed to rise up and run for office -- that’s gone.” (Washington Post)
- On Tuesday, Paul criticized Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s for voting in favor of last week’s budget deal. Paul said, "I think overall, Republicans want us to hold the line on spending and increasing the debt. That's why I start out disappointed because increasing the spending and increasing spending caps is the wrong way to go. I haven't met a Republican outside the beltway who is for raising the debt ceiling and raising the spending caps. So I think we've started out on a bad foot." (CNN)
- Paul criticized President Obama’s strategy for defeating ISIS during an interview on Tuesday. He said, "I think if you're going to war, sending 50 people to war at a time is sort of a recipe for being surrounded and somehow having a disaster on their hands. ...I would never put underwhelming force if we went to war, and if there was a declaration of war, I would put overwhelming force -- I wouldn't mess around.” (CNN)
- During the same interview, Paul praised Obama's effort to “release non-violent offenders convicted largely on drug charges from prison,” according to CNN. Arguing that drug laws are applied unfairly to blacks, Paul said, "I think a guy who smoked pot or sold marijuana when he was 20 years old deserves a second chance.” (CNN)
- During an interview in Fox News' "Happening Now” on Tuesday, Rand Paul discussed his proposal to fix Social Security. He said, "People are upset about the government taking money from Social Security and spending it on immediate concerns that have nothing to do with Social Security. This is why we're bankrupt; the right and the left bankrupted this country. For Social Security I would fix it by gradually raising age. Everybody knows the age has to go up. Let the age go up a couple months every year for the next 20 years and that fixes two-thirds of the problem with Social Security." (Newsmax)
Marco Rubio
- Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) endorsed Marco Rubio for president on Tuesday. Daines released the following statement: "I'm endorsing Marco Rubio for President. Marco represents the next generation of conservative leadership and is a leader who will inspire and unite our country." Daines is the second senator to endorse Rubio after Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) endorsed him on Monday. (The Hill)
- On Tuesday, Rubio responded to a report from the Tax Foundation that found his tax plan would “decrease government revenues by $6 trillion over 10 years.” Rubio said, "The argument about the debt, which is the question that he's raising, you cannot simply solve that through a tax plan alone. It has to be a combination of things. You have to have the spending discipline on the mandatory spending programs and you need to sustain significant economic growth. The tax plan is part of the economic growth part of that equation...in conjunction with that, we must deal with the mandatory spending programs. Medicare and Social Security must be reformed for future beneficiaries, people like me, who are 25 years away from retirement. You have to do both. And it's that combination of sustained growth and fiscal discipline that will bring the national debt to a responsible level as a percentage of the overall size of our economy. But without the growth you can't get there. You can't get there from cuts alone. But you need the growth component. And that's what the tax plan is designed to do." (CBS News)
Rick Santorum
- On Tuesday, Rick Santorum responded to President Obama’s criticism that GOP candidates could not handle CNBC’s debate moderators. Santorum said, "You talk about the pot calling the kettle black right there. This is ridiculous. The president avoids every tough interview, won't go on Fox News, gets really [annoyed] with anybody who dares to ask him a tough question. You talk about a punching bag for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and for the Iranians. This is a president who can't handle any foreign leader. And to have the audacity to challenge Republicans in this outrageous conduct by CNBC is just classic Obama. Here's a guy who's the epitome of 'I'm not standing up to tough leaders.’” (Newsmax)
Donald Trump
- During a press conference on Tuesday, Donald Trump criticized Marco Rubio’s handling of his personal finances. He said Rubio is someone who “lives above his means” and “is a disaster with his credit cards.” Trump said, “He has a very bad record of finances, with his houses, he certainly lives above his means, there is no question about that.” Trump also criticized Rubio’s voting record in the Senate. (The Hill)
- In the same press conference, Trump criticized Ben Carson’s stances on immigration and Medicare. He said, “You look at Ben, very weak on illegal immigration, and Ben wants to get rid of Medicare. When a man is weak on immigration and wants to get rid of Medicare, I don’t know how he stays there [at the top of the polls].” (The Hill)
- In his new book Crippled America, Trump discussed how he treats women in the workplace and criticized Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina. He wrote, “None of the people who whine about the way I talk to women mention the fact that I voluntarily promoted gender equality in a male-dominated industry. The women who work and have worked for me will vouch for the fact that I was as demanding of them as I was of their male counterparts. That’s the kind of gender equality we need: Leadership that inspires the best in people, male or female. Not a wishy-washy former secretary of state who doesn’t understand the lunacy of having her own private email server. Laying off thousands of workers and leaving companies in a mess is also not an accomplishment, at least not one to be proud of or to pretend qualifies you to run our country.” (Yahoo)
- During a press conference on Tuesday, Trump discussed his relationship with women and Hispanics and also predicted that he would with the Republican nomination and defeat Hillary in the general election. (Breitbart)
- Trump on women: “I have been amazing with respect to the hiring of women. This building was built as the head person – who was fantastic – was a woman. And that was at a time when you didn’t see that in the construction trades. It was totally unique. I have many, many executives upstairs and in different buildings that I have that are women. They get paid a lot of money in many cases, more than men doing the same job. Women have always appreciated that about me. I’ve been – in terms of employment – really a stand out, and I’ve been honored for doing so well with women.”
- Trump on Hispanics: “I have a great relationship…with the Hispanics. I have working for me thousands right now, thousands of Hispanics. I’ve had tens of thousands of people over the years working for me. I’m a job machine. I’ve had a great relationship with the workers. I’ve had a great relationship with jobs, and I’ve had an amazing relationship with the Hispanics. And I predict that I’m going to win the Hispanic vote.”
- Trump on winning: “I think I’m going to get the nomination and I will win the White House. I think beating Hillary Clinton is going to be easy because her record is so bad.”
See also
- Presidential election, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
- Important dates in the 2016 presidential race
- Polls and Straw polls
- 2016 presidential candidate ratings and scorecards