By Gregory W. Wallace
June 7—Congressman Ron Paul, Republican of Texas, will meet with Ovide Lamontagne on Friday, Politico reports.
Mr. Lamontagne, a lawyer who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and is a likely candidate for governor in 2012, is as much a gatekeeper to the modern New Hampshire primary as the primary is a gatekeeper to the nomination.
This season, he has hosted house parties for Rick Santorum, Tim Pawlenty, and Herman Cain.
Mr. Paul was not among the candidates—and likely candidates—who attended an April dinner honouring Mr. Lamontagne, including Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum.
In the 2008 campaign, Mr. Lamontagne endorsed Mitt Romney.
Though he needs no introduction, for the sake of context, here is the New York Times on Mr. Lamontagne in April: “While house parties are hardly a new concept in New Hampshire — dozens will be held between now and next year’s primary, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 14 — it is rare for one host to stand out as a potential kingmaker. But every Republican weighing a run seems eager to meet and greet in Mr. Lamontagne’s childhood home here, both to schmooze with him and to build the grass-roots support that primary candidates cannot survive without.”
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Gingrich, Santorum to Sign Fiscal Pledges
By Gregory W. Wallace
June 7—In Thursday visits to the Granite State, two candidates for the Republican presidential nomination will sign pledges of fiscal conservatism.
Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania Republican senator, announced that he will pledge on Monday efforts to prevent tax hikes. On the same day, Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, will sign a deficit reduction pledge.
The Union Leader: “Newt Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker, will sign the Strong America Now deficit reduction pledge. . . . Strong America Now is a nonprofit organization founded by retired Texas businessman Mike George. His group, which claims 50,000 supporters in first caucus state Iowa, is promoting cutting the deficit by employing lean business practices known as the Lean Six Sigma strategy, which targets inefficiencies. Gingrich will sign the pledge at C&M Machine Products, Inc. in Hudson, which describes itself on its web site as ‘a world class supplier of precision components to Fortune 500 companies, as well as middle and lower tier manufacturers.’ ”
The Gingrich announcement comes on the heels of Mr. Santorum’s announcement that he, in the company of anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, will sign this pledge: “I will oppose and veto any effort to raise taxes.”
The Union Leader reports Norquist says “that Santorum will be third presidential candidate to sign the pledge so far in the current campaign. He said businessman Herman Cain and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson have also signed. . . . He said Santorum signed the pledge as a member of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, ‘and we are delighted that he is continuing the commitment to taxpayers.’ Norquist said all other GOP presidential candidates have indicated to him that they intend to sign the pledge as well.”
June 7—In Thursday visits to the Granite State, two candidates for the Republican presidential nomination will sign pledges of fiscal conservatism.
Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania Republican senator, announced that he will pledge on Monday efforts to prevent tax hikes. On the same day, Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, will sign a deficit reduction pledge.
The Union Leader: “Newt Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker, will sign the Strong America Now deficit reduction pledge. . . . Strong America Now is a nonprofit organization founded by retired Texas businessman Mike George. His group, which claims 50,000 supporters in first caucus state Iowa, is promoting cutting the deficit by employing lean business practices known as the Lean Six Sigma strategy, which targets inefficiencies. Gingrich will sign the pledge at C&M Machine Products, Inc. in Hudson, which describes itself on its web site as ‘a world class supplier of precision components to Fortune 500 companies, as well as middle and lower tier manufacturers.’ ”
The Gingrich announcement comes on the heels of Mr. Santorum’s announcement that he, in the company of anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, will sign this pledge: “I will oppose and veto any effort to raise taxes.”
The Union Leader reports Norquist says “that Santorum will be third presidential candidate to sign the pledge so far in the current campaign. He said businessman Herman Cain and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson have also signed. . . . He said Santorum signed the pledge as a member of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, ‘and we are delighted that he is continuing the commitment to taxpayers.’ Norquist said all other GOP presidential candidates have indicated to him that they intend to sign the pledge as well.”
Primary Insider for June 7, 2011
By Gregory W. Wallace
RICK SANTORUM, fresh off announcing his presidential bid yesterday, will be in the Granite State tomorrow for events in Amherst and greater Manchester.
NEWT GINGRICH, whose mystery vacation took him cruising to Greece with his wife, is expected in New Hampshire this evening for a screening of his documentary on Pope John Paul II and the fall of communism. Nine Days That Changed the World shows tonight in Plaistow at Timberlane Regional High School.
MITT ROMNEY downplays notion that SARAH PALIN stole his thunder in NH last week: “Sarah Palin is generating enthusiasm and interest in a campaign this year, that’s a good thing. She has a lot of energy and passion and bringing it to our race is positive for us. . . . In a lot of respects, it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. Right now, your greatest enemy is overexposure.”
-- Romney is the only candidate tied with President Barack Obama in a new Washington Post-ABC News Poll: “Among all Americans, Obama and Romney are knotted at 47 percent each, and among registered voters, the former governor is numerically ahead, 49 percent to 46 percent.”
Also from the poll:
-- “In another indicator of rapidly shifting views on economic issues, 45 percent trust congressional Republicans over the president when it comes to dealing with the economy, an 11-point improvement for the GOP since March. Still, nearly as many, 42 percent, side with Obama on this issue.”
-- “The Post-ABC poll asked Republicans and GOP-leaning independents whom they would vote for if a primary or caucus were held now in their state. Romney topped the list, with 21 percent, followed by Palin at 17 percent. No one else reached double digits, although former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who has suddenly shown interest in becoming a candidate, is close, at 8 percent. Without Palin in the race, Romney scores 25 percent, with all others in the single digits.”
-- “Almost two-thirds of all Americans say they “definitely would not” vote for Palin for president. She is predictably unpopular with Democrats and most independents, but the new survey underscores the hurdles she would face if she became a candidate: 42 percent of Republicans say they’ve ruled out supporting her candidacy.” Washington Post.
PREVIEW—Tim Pawlenty speaks on the economy in Chicago today. Preview: :On the individual rates we need a simpler, fairer flatter tax system overall. I propose just two rates: 10 percent and 25 percent. Under my plan, those who currently pay no income tax would stay at a zero rate. After that, the first $50,000 of income - or $100,000 for married couples - would be taxed at 10 percent ... In addition, we should eliminate altogether the capital gains tax, interest income tax, dividends tax, and the death tax.”
IOWA TEA PARTY BUS TOUR—“ The three-week bus tour, the first in Iowa for the tea party movement, will make stops in 20 cities starting June 13 in Council Bluffs. The tour is meant to be an opportunity for Iowa voters to learn more about the presidential candidates and to brush up on caucus procedures.” On board, but not together: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Gary Johnson and Rick Santorum. Des Moines Register.
RICK SANTORUM, fresh off announcing his presidential bid yesterday, will be in the Granite State tomorrow for events in Amherst and greater Manchester.
NEWT GINGRICH, whose mystery vacation took him cruising to Greece with his wife, is expected in New Hampshire this evening for a screening of his documentary on Pope John Paul II and the fall of communism. Nine Days That Changed the World shows tonight in Plaistow at Timberlane Regional High School.
MITT ROMNEY downplays notion that SARAH PALIN stole his thunder in NH last week: “Sarah Palin is generating enthusiasm and interest in a campaign this year, that’s a good thing. She has a lot of energy and passion and bringing it to our race is positive for us. . . . In a lot of respects, it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. Right now, your greatest enemy is overexposure.”
-- Romney is the only candidate tied with President Barack Obama in a new Washington Post-ABC News Poll: “Among all Americans, Obama and Romney are knotted at 47 percent each, and among registered voters, the former governor is numerically ahead, 49 percent to 46 percent.”
Also from the poll:
-- “In another indicator of rapidly shifting views on economic issues, 45 percent trust congressional Republicans over the president when it comes to dealing with the economy, an 11-point improvement for the GOP since March. Still, nearly as many, 42 percent, side with Obama on this issue.”
-- “The Post-ABC poll asked Republicans and GOP-leaning independents whom they would vote for if a primary or caucus were held now in their state. Romney topped the list, with 21 percent, followed by Palin at 17 percent. No one else reached double digits, although former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who has suddenly shown interest in becoming a candidate, is close, at 8 percent. Without Palin in the race, Romney scores 25 percent, with all others in the single digits.”
-- “Almost two-thirds of all Americans say they “definitely would not” vote for Palin for president. She is predictably unpopular with Democrats and most independents, but the new survey underscores the hurdles she would face if she became a candidate: 42 percent of Republicans say they’ve ruled out supporting her candidacy.” Washington Post.
PREVIEW—Tim Pawlenty speaks on the economy in Chicago today. Preview: :On the individual rates we need a simpler, fairer flatter tax system overall. I propose just two rates: 10 percent and 25 percent. Under my plan, those who currently pay no income tax would stay at a zero rate. After that, the first $50,000 of income - or $100,000 for married couples - would be taxed at 10 percent ... In addition, we should eliminate altogether the capital gains tax, interest income tax, dividends tax, and the death tax.”
IOWA TEA PARTY BUS TOUR—“ The three-week bus tour, the first in Iowa for the tea party movement, will make stops in 20 cities starting June 13 in Council Bluffs. The tour is meant to be an opportunity for Iowa voters to learn more about the presidential candidates and to brush up on caucus procedures.” On board, but not together: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Gary Johnson and Rick Santorum. Des Moines Register.
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