Florida Primary 2012
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Mitt Romney held a comfortable double-digit lead in polls over struggling rival Newt Gingrich as Florida's Republican voters cast ballots on Tuesday in a pivotal presidential primary election. Full Article -
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The Daily Beast: Meghan McCain on Why Newt Gingrich Should Quit After Florida Primary Full Article
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ABC News: Mitt Romney: ‘When Attacked, You Have to Respond’ Full Article
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New York Times: Gingrich Sued Over Use of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ Full Article
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Rubio: Florida Primary Winner ‘To Be Nominee Of Our Party’ tampa.cbslocal.com
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Republican presidential candidates courting Florida's influential Latino vote have hit the campaign trail lambasting Cuba's Fidel Castro and heaping criticism on U.S. policy toward the communist island.
But the candidates' focus on the fiercely anti-Castro Cuban-American community in South Florida may be overlooking a changing Latino vote in which the underlying political views are no longer seen through the prism of U.S.-Cuban relations. Full Article -
The Daily Beast: Mitt Romney Defends Florida Spending, Says It ‘Served Me Well’ Full Article
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CBS early exit polls show two-thirds of voters said the debates impacted their vote. Other findings:
--Respondents were split over whether Romney or Gingrich led the most "unfair" campaign: 37 percent said Romney, while 34 percent said Gingrich.
--Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they were pleased with the crop of Republican candidates; 39 percent said they were not.
--Voters said the most important quality in a candidate was: 1) the ability to beat Obama (45 percent); 2) the right experience (20 percent); 3) strong character (17 percent); and 4) being a true conservative (13 percent). -
Exit polls and surveys show Romney is expected to win Florida, probably by a double-digit margin, but Gingrich, who raised $10 million in Q4 2011 and $5 million in January, says he will press on.
"This is a long, long way from being over," Gingrich said in Orlando today, according to the WSJ. "If they want to beat President Obama, I believe a conservative has a much better chance." -
I was a Reuters correspondent in Miami for almost six years. It's a fascinating state - bigger than most people realize - 19 million people and disparate. A few examples: Miami is, of course, regarded by many as the de facto capital of Latin America and the heart of the Cuban-American community, Orlando is home to a large and growing Puerto Rican population, the southwest coast is known as home to many retirees from the midwest - lots of people from Ohio. The western panhandle has much in common with Alabama - area had been called the "Redneck Riviera." -
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Reminding the eventual GOP nominee of what he'll be up against: Obama's at a fundraiser tonight. 50 people at $35,800 each - $1,790,000.by Patricia Zengerle via twitter 2/1/2012 12:03:46 AM -
Here's some facts about Florida. One interesting point:
Florida's registered Republicans are a less racially and ethnically diverse group than the state's electorate overall. Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks each make up about 13 percent of Florida's registered voters, while non-Hispanic whites account for 68 percent. Among registered Republicans, non-Hispanic blacks account for 1.4 percent, Hispanics account for 11.1 percent and non-Hispanic whites for 83.8 percent, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
www.reuters.com -
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Romney is holding rallies in Minnesota and Nevada on Wednesday. He's holding a "grassroots" rally in Eagan (home of a large Thomson Reuters operation), Minnesota, and then an evening "grassroots" rally in Las Vegas. Las Vegas' caucuses are Nov. 4. Minnesota Nov. 7.
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Meanwhile, in Washington, Obama visited a car show, where he hit Romney for opposing the auto bailout -- without mentioning him by name.
"The U.S. auto industry is back," Obama said. "It's good to remember the fact that there were some folks who were willing to let this industry die. Because of folks coming together we are now in a place where we can compete with any car company in the world." -
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Trying this again. Here's a vignette from the campaign trail today, with thanks to Reuters' Ros Krasny. This is from Plant City, Florida's winter strawberry capital.
Anna Furney, 72, of Plant City, hugged Gingrich outside Fred's Southern Kitchen in Plant City.
"This is one of the most exciting moments of my life -- you know, like when you have that first baby laid in your arms?"
It was "better than sex" she confided.
Told that Gingrich as on wife number three and might be open to offers, she said, "If he is, I put in my application." -
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Also in Plant City, Andrea Blount, 69, retiree, said she likes Gingrich’s Washington experience. “I like him because he’s been in the capital before, and he’s familiar with the things we need to care about. That makes him better than someone who hasn’t been there before.” “I don’t believe all those negative ads; they’re horrible,” she added.
Blount, when praised for her youthful looks, attributed her wrinkle-free skin to “my lifestyle serving Jesus." She said she was not bothered by Gingrich’s multiple marriages and extramarital affair. “Not really. I don’t approve of it, but that’s between him and the Lord. I have enough trouble taking care of Andrea.” -
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Why is Florida a take-all primary? From Christian Science Monitor: 'Candidates get a number equal to their proportion of the vote, divided by the statewide ratings of “Fox & Friends,” then multiplied by Mitt Romney’s tax rate. Unless Jupiter aligns with Mars, in which case Ron Paul gets everything if he can beat Rick Santorum in a 50-yard dash.'
For real explanation www.csmonitor.com -
The key thing to look for is the size of Romney's victory. He wants what it looks like he's heading for - a healthy double-digit margin of victory. He hugely outspent Gingrich in the state - most of it on attack ads. As the Democratic National Committee likes to point out as often as possible.
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Always bothered me in Independence Day that palm trees are standing after L.A. is wiped out. Florida will probably be the same tomorrowby samyoungman via twitter 2/1/2012 12:48:55 AM -
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Florida has one of the largest Jewish populations of any state - third after New York and California. The Republican candidates have tried to win over Jewish voters with attacks on President Obama's policies toward Israel.
But early exit polls showed just 1 percent of voters in the Republican primary identified as Jewish. That's down from 3 percent in the Florida Republican primary in 2008, which also might mean that Jewish Republican voters in the state are not terribly enthusiastic about this group of candidates. Jewish turnout in general elections in Florida is normally about 4 percent. With thanks to Reuters' David Adams in Miami. -
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The Miami Herald's Dave Barry has some advice on how to weather the primary season - treat it like a hurricane - i.e. buy plywood, but put it over your TV to avoid watching attack ads. Fill up the bathtub, but throw your radios in... www.miamiherald.com
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RT @SarahH_CBSNJ: Total 4Q $ raised: Romney: $24,278,503.06. Gingrich: $9,822,375.66.by jakebeckman via twitter 2/1/2012 12:54:48 AM
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