Content by Brian D
Posted at 8:47pm on Jan. 3, 2008 "Immigration and Tax Cuts"
By Brian D
We asked Frank Luntz, famed Republican pollster, what issues are going to determine the winner tonight. He said that it is "easy," the issues of "immigration and tax cuts" are big today and are going to "explode" in New Hampshire. Luntz then turned to some British reporters and said "isn't this great, this is democracy."
Heath spoke to Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Harkin predicted a "big surprise on the Republican side tonight." He further predicted that the "fourth place finisher tonight on the Democratic side will also be a surprise." Of course he would say no more. He believes that moderate conservatives are not happpy with the candidates they have to choose from and therefore "might choose to caucus with the Democrats tonight." Big issues: The War, Health Care and Education.
The room is very quiet right now and all the focus is on getting the results before the spinners come back in droves to the press area in the Convention Center.
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Posted at 6:02pm on Jan. 3, 2008 Message of Change from Edwards and Romney
By Brian D
Just interviewed Joe Trippi, Senior Advisor for former Senator John Edwards, and had one question for him: "What issue or issues would draw Conservative Democrats to John Edwards?" Trippi said that every voter "Republican, Democrat or Independent knows that Washington is broken." We asked what was the issue motivating blue dogs to vote for Edwards. Trippi's answer - "Corporate Greed." Is that dog going to hunt?
On deck was, Matt Blunt, Governor of Missouri, who also discussed a "desire for change." Blunt is yet another Romney supporter. The people of his state are frustrated with a "Washington that doesn't work" and the people want a candidate that is "from outside Washington." Message of change is a consistent theme with Edwards and Romney.
Things are starting to heat up here. Rudy's guys are on the way for an interview in the next hour and the candidate's flacks are starting to swarm the spin room.
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Posted at 4:45pm on Jan. 3, 2008 "Immigration and Faith"
By Brian D
Bay Buchanan, formerly a supporter of Tancredo, recently joined the campaign of Governor Romney, said that there are two issues in Iowa that are going to motivate voters - Illegal Immigration and Faith.
According to Buchanan, over the last 7 months immigration has been the "dominant theme of most of the candidates" and all of the candidates have promoted "securing our nation's borders and enforcing laws" that are currently on the books. She further said that, "many Iowans share faith with Gov. Huckabee," but tonight's Romney vs. Huckabee battle will come down to "who votes."
There is a strong feeling in the press room that Romney is by far the most organized Republican. We also hear that the Obama spinners are boyant and very positive that they can pull out a victory.
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Posted at 2:20pm on Jan. 3, 2008 Immigration "Huge" in Iowa
By Brian D
The illegal immigration issue is "huge" in Iowa. Former Senator Jim Talent from Missouri and a spokesman for the Mitt Romney Campaign stressed that illegal immigration is a very important issue for the voters of Iowa and that "not all of the candidates can drive a distinction on the issue of immigration" in this election. Talent argues that Romney can. Talent also stressed that the voters want a "low tax" and pro "law and order" candidate to appeal to the American people.
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Posted at 2:03pm on Jan. 3, 2008 "Best Commander-in-Chief"
By Brian D
Senator Lindsey Graham of SC said that because we are "in a war we can't afford to lose," conservatives in Iowa will be drawn to John McCain. Graham stressed that McCain was "best qualified to be Commander-in-Chief" and that he was a conservative who was "reliable" on national security issues.
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Posted at 1:39pm on Jan. 3, 2008 Live From Des Moines, It's Caucus Day
By Brian D
This is Brian Darling and Heath Hall reporting from the Polk County Convention Center in chilly Des Moines, Iowa, where temperatures are hoverning in the high teens. It may be cold outside, but the heat is turned on high for this first in the nation election battle.
Heath and I left Kansas City, Missouri, at 5 a.m. this morning for the three hour drive to Des Moines. Upon our arrival we managed to sneak into the media spin zone at the Convention Center where anybody who covers politics has landed as well as some familiar celebrity and political faces pushing their favorite candidates on to victory.
We plan to bring you the latest live updates from Iowa from a non-partisan, non-committed conservatives viewpoint.
We have set up shop in one of several Press areas where surogates from each campaign are spinning for their favored candidate. Senator Lindsay Graham and Clinto spokesman Howard Wolfson have been conducting interviews - we should be speaking with Senator Graham shortly.
Our main goal today is to report results to you as we get them which will allow us to answer some of the days hot questions:
1. Will Romney's organizational and financial advantage be enough to trump the Huckabee surge?
2. What issues are driving primary voters to the respective candidates?
3. What issues are resonating with Iowa voters and driving them to support particular candidates?
We will report back with on the ground intel.