(Red Right Returning is a look back at the activity of the past week of the Republican candidates in the 2012 primary. RRR is a nautical mnemonic for the side of the buoy or marker on which you should pilot your ship in order to stay in the channel. Feel free to voice your opinions on the candidates in the comment section.)
It’s Michele Bachmann‘s world; we just live in it. It’s been a good week for her despite the criticism of the press and various politicos. Her strong showing in Iowa is beginning to translate to big numbers in New Hampshire. Bad news for Pawlenty, probably good news for Romney.
Lackluster campaign financing seems to be the current problem for Republican candidates. Fundraising efforts came up short for Pawlenty and almost everyone except Ron Paul, prompting many to predict T-Paw’s early demise. But people said that about John McCain in the primaries a few years ago. Look how that worked out. But if Pawlenty takes the drubbing in Iowa that I suspect will happen, I feel comfortable with predicting he won’t be in the race much longer as well.
Even Romney, who at $18 million raised more than the rest of the field combined, fell short of expectations. With Bachmann closing in on his New Hampshire lead one has to wonder if the ‘Obama sucks’ tour is working.
Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer is expected to officially declare his candidacy any minute now. Oddly enough, his old arch enemy KKK member David Duke; who beat Roemer for nomination to the Governor’s seat in Louisiana, is also mulling a run for President. Poor Buddy just can’t catch a break from this guy.
Finally, depending upon the outcome of the budget wrangling going on in Congress, look for a dip in the President’s numbers if he caves to cuts in Social Security or Medicare…Maybe even a primary challenger.
Related articles
- Can Pawlenty survive? (capitolhillblue.com)
- Will Republican Race’s First In be the First Out? (New York Times)
- When a Campaign Starts to Smell Like Death (Salon.com)
- Failure in Iowa’s Straw Poll Could Doom Pawlenty’s Campaign (Bloomberg)
- Romney Leads GOP Fundraising Race but Trails 2008 Pace (USA Today)
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