2016: Liberty Prevails

[Donerail]

Rand Paul Announces Presidential Run



We need a strong voice for Constitutional conservatism in the Republican primaries, something I'm not seeing in these candidates.

The Republicans are heading into the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa, in which Iowa's conservatives decide upon their choice for President. Rand Paul is expected to do well there, but a more socially conservative option, such as Governors Palin, Haley, or Martinez, or a Midwesterner, such as Walker, are expected to be the victor. Rubio and Jindal are also contesting the poll, though neither are focusing on it as much as the other candidates, preferring to spend their money elsewhere.

Republican National Poll:
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 22%
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 19%
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 13%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 11%
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 10%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 8%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 7%
Undecided: 10%

Republican Iowa Poll:
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 23%
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 17%
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 14%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 13%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 11%
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 10%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 5%
Undecided: 7%

Republican New Hampshire Poll:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 24%
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 17%
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 14%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 12%
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 11%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 10%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 5%
Undecided: 7%

Republican South Carolina Poll:
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 26%
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 16%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 14%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 12%
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 10%
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 8%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 7%
Undecided: 7%


Cuomo In, Faces Fairly Weak Field



We need some real leadership to deal with the problems our nation faces, and that's not what the Republicans are offering!

Cuomo becomes the instant frontrunner with his entry, leapfrogging Warner, Brown, and Schweitzer. Brown and Schweitzer are competing for the left of the party, with Schweitzer taking a markedly more populist approach though. Warner continues to represent the South, though he is expected to make a fair showing elsewhere as well. Booker is seen as young and relatively inexperienced (kinda like another young black 1st-term Senator, huh?). Napolitano is focusing on national security, while Wasserman Schultz is a strong fundraiser but not well-known nationally. Emanuel is an experienced operative, but with no higher elected office than Mayor of Chicago there are doubts about his ability to jump from that to President.

Democratic National Poll:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY): 27%
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): 18%
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): 11%
Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT): 9%
Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ): 8%
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): 7%
Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ): 6%
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): 4%
Undecided: 10%

Democratic Iowa Poll:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY): 24%
Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT): 18%
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): 14%
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): 10%
Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ): 9%
Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ): 5%
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): 4%
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): 4%
Undecided: 10%

Democratic New Hampshire Poll:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY): 24%
Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ): 18%
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): 13%
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): 10%
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): 9%
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): 8%
Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT): 6%
Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ): 4%
Undecided: 8%

Democratic Nevada Poll:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY): 21%
Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT): 20%
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): 14%
Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ): 12%
Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ): 8%
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): 8%
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): 5%
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): 4%
Undecided: 9%

[Enderman]

Without Christie and Clinton getting in the way, and other people in, this is going to get AWESOME really fast and really soon!

[NHI]

Without Christie and Clinton getting in the way, and other people in, this is going to get AWESOME really fast and really soon!

Looking forward to this!!

[DKrol]

This is really good so far. I'm betting on a come-from-behind win for Gov. Walker. On the Democrat side I think Cuomo's going too run away with it.

[Donerail]

You Betcha



I'd like to thank the good people of Iowa for standing up for America today!



Big thanks to my supporters for coming out here and supporting me today. I never expected we would do so well!

Ames Straw Poll Results
Sarah Palin: 22.4%
Nikki Haley: 19.1%
Scott Walker: 17.8%
Rand Paul: 15.9%
Bobby Jindal: 15.8%
Susana Martinez: 4.7%
Marco Rubio: 4.3%

Post-Ames Iowa Republican Poll:
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 20%
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 17%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 15%
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 14%
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 12%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 10%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 5%
Undecided: 5%


Debate: Warner stumbles, Schweitzer shines



Mark Warner stumbled in the debate tonight - polls showed he had no specific point of error, but merely came off as less animated and less relatable than the other candidates. Brian Schweitzer, meanwhile, had a great debate - nobody can come off as more relatable.

National Poll
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY): 26%
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): 16%
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): 13%
Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT): 13%
Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ): 8%
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): 6%
Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ): 6%
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): 4%
Undecided: 10%

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Guys, we already know who's going to win. It's like those timelines that try to build up suspense, but are still entitled, say, "Rubio 2016" or something like that.

[Donerail]

Guys, we already know who's going to win. It's like those timelines that try to build up suspense, but are still entitled, say, "Rubio 2016" or something like that.

Or do you? Please, I wouldn't be that predictable.

[Donerail]

A Savior in Trouble?

Marco Rubio, long-touted as the surefire Republican candidate in 2016, seems to be stumbling in Iowa. He trails several other candidates in the polls, and recently fell to fourth place, behind former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. He leads in his native Florida, but no other early states. Will he make a comeback, or has the field moved on to others like Paul and Haley?

A Blast from the Past?

Gov. Sarah Palin, expected to run in 2012, was not supposed to be a major factor in this race. However, she's turned the conventional logic on its head, and with endorsements from big names like Ben Carson and Sen. Rick Santorum, she is rising in the national polls. It remains to be seen whether she will stumble on the trail or continue to rise.

National Polls
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 20%
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 19%
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 13%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 13%
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 12%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 8%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 7%
Undecided: 8%

Brown steps up attacks on Cuomo

Supporting Republicans in the State Senate while opposing workers' rights? I don't know what that makes Gov. Cuomo, but I know it means he's certainly not a Democrat. We need to elect a real Democrat to provide a real contrast in 2016, not a fake one!

Schweitzer focusing on Iowa



We are going to be focusing our efforts on Iowa. That's the place where our message can be best heard, and the best place we have for making a stand with the people.

National Polls
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY): 24%
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): 16%
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): 15%
Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT): 14%
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ): 9%
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): 6%
Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ): 5%
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): 4%
Undecided: 9%

[Maxwell]

Oh god Palin.

[Donerail]

Rubio falters in NH, Paul continues to lead



Republican New Hampshire Poll:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 26%
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 15%
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 13%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 13%
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 11%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 9%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 6%
Undecided: 7%

Palin puts focus on Iowa



We can and will win the Iowa caucuses! With the support of the people of this great state, we will take our country back from socialism!

Paul now in front, but others gaining

National Polls
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): 20%
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): 17%
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK): 15%
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): 12%
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC): 12%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA): 9%
Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM): 7%
Undecided: 8%


Cuomo Leads Fundraising Race



Gov. Cuomo presently leads the field in fundraising, with Mark Warner, Cory Booker, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Rahm Emanuel doing well too. Napolitano has done poorly, and Brown and Schweitzer are pulling in less than the others, but most of that is through small donors.

Schweitzer, Brown Respond



My opponents have a lot of money. So what? My money is coming from the people I represent - the middle class Americans who can only give a few bucks. I don't care that Gov. Cuomo has a bunch of millionaire donors, because I have the support of the people.



I certainly congratulate Gov. Cuomo on his fundraising report, but the fact remains that he is not a real Democrat, and fundraising or not, he is not the right person to lead the nation.

National Polls
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY): 25%
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA): 16%
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): 15%
Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT): 14%
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ): 9%
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): 6%
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): 5%
Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ): 4%
Undecided: 8%

[badgate]

Go Brown!!! I'm very concerned that the title of this TL indicates that Rand Paul will win.

[Donerail]

Go Brown!!! I'm very concerned that the title of this TL indicates that Rand Paul will win.

I like to think of myself as a bit more creative than that