Electability seen as key to McCain's rising support

Electability seen as key to McCain's rising support

PHOENIX (Reuters) - John McCain has vaulted from long shot to the front-runner to win the Republican nomination for U.S. president. The reason? Voter confidence he can beat the eventual Democratic candidate in November's election, according to interviews with some of his supporters.

McCain defeated close rival Mitt Romney comfortably in a hard-fought nomination vote in Florida this week, giving him crucial momentum going into the big round of votes on "Super Tuesday."

Twenty-four states are holding nominating contests for one or both parties on February 5 to pick their candidate for the November election.

I think that McCain rose from out of no where because of his determination and hard work i dont believe it was anything else other than that and his experience.

Obama collects $32 million in January

Obama collects $32 million in January

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama raised a staggering $32 million during January, providing an infusion of money to pay for costly television advertising in next week's Super Tuesday Democratic presidential primary elections and for the states that follow, his aides said Thursday.

The Obama campaign has led the Democratic field in television advertising so far, with the Illinois senator airing $22.7 million worth of television ads to $18.7 million for rival Sen. Hillary Clinton through Jan. 27, according to a study to be released Friday.

But while the Clinton and Obama campaigns have maintained a rough parity on the Democratic side, Mitt Romney dominated the airwaves on the Republican side, spending more on television commercials than all of his rivals combined.

I personally believe that commercials dont even make an impact on voters because usually they just say mean things about the rival competition and just in the end make them selves look bad.

Clinton, Obama Set New Tone in Democratic Debate

Clinton, Obama Set New Tone in Democratic Debate

Leaving behind the acrimony that marked an earlier on-stage encounter in South Carolina, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton held a cordial one-on-one debate Thursday at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, Calif.

The rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination answered questions on health care, Iraq and even the possibility of an Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama ticket in the general election.

Obama set the tone with a far warmer approach than the candidates have been using in recent appearances on the campaign trial.

"I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign," he said. "I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over."

But Obama and Clinton did clash on who offers the better leadership style. Obama stressed his ability to inspire and bring people together. Clinton pointed to her experience and ability to get things done.

I think that the democratic debate that they did have would help the voters choose between one or another because they both took their stands and their viewpoints and now it is up for the voters to decide who they think is best.

Fred Thompson's Momentum

Fred Thompson's Momentum

First it was the bus tour in South Carolina. Then, last night, came one of Fred Thompson's best debate performances to date. And now comes an endorsement by the popular and very conservative Human Events magazine. Read below on what they say about FDT:

We make this endorsement on the basis of much research, having interviewed Sen. Thompson and some of his opponents, as well as examining what they have all said and done. We conclude that Thompson is a solid conservative whose judgment is grounded in our principles.

In his Senate years, Mr. Thompson compiled an American Conservative Union lifetime rating of 86.1, which is higher than both Sen. John McCain (82.3) and Rep. Ron Paul (82.3). The Club for Growth has praised Thompson as someone who has a strong commitment to limited government, free enterprise, and federalist principles.

On the issues that matter most to conservatives, Sen. Thompson's positions benefit from their clarity. He is solidly pro-life. He said that he was in favor overturning Roe v. Wade because it was "bad law and bad medical science." As the National Right to Life Committee said in its endorsement of him Nov. 13, 2007, "The majority of this country is opposed to the vast majority of abortions, and Fred Thompson has shown in his consistent pro-life voting record in the U.S. Senate that he is part of the pro-life majority."

I think that it Thompson is making a good impact on the voters now because he is definately very pro life and is against abortions. He is taking a stand on issues and showing the people that he does care.

Ron Paul: Get Back to Gold

Ron Paul: Get Back to Gold

Ron Paul is correct, monetary authorities around the globe have been conspiring to suppress gold prices for decades.

Not convinced? Don't tell that to his followers. Because partly as a result of this view, Paul, a Texas congressman and Republican presidential hopeful, has become the champion of gold bugs who see him as the best friend of their precious metal, and, they hope, the next occupant of the White House.

"Our central banks around the world colluded over the last 10 to 20 years and have been dumping gold to keep gold down," Paul said in an interview with TheStreet.com when he met with voters in Concord, N.H., late Tuesday. "But finally, [the price] broke loose, and gold is soaring again to historic levels."

I think that Ron Paul is just trying to touch apon as many topics as he can to get publicized. Personally i dont think gold is that big of a deal to todays society.

Fred Thompson, missing in action in N.H.

Fred Thompson, missing in action in N.H.

Thompson's absence was his final bow to what long had been apparent -- he didn't take to the Granite State, and it most assuredly did not take to him. Indeed, the Tennessean pretty much sealed his poor political fate here on the day he officially entered the Republican presidential race.

As you may recall, Thompson traveled to beautiful downtown Burbank in early September to announce his candidacy during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Problem was, from the point of view of many New Hampshirites, his gambit meant he wasn't on stage for a GOP debate that night in the state.

He made a few forays into New Hampshire during the weeks that followed, but his message, his style and his drawl never gained traction. As his campaign proceeded -- and the weather turned cold in Iowa (where he also put his efforts also were somewhat cursory) and New Hampshire -- Thompson increasingly focused on the South, occasionally joking to his listeners that he felt more comfortable stumping in places where voters sounded like him.

I personally think that if Fred Thompson really wanted to become president he would be making a bigger effort to be liked all across America not just in one place so i think he is making a big mistake just spending his time in the south.

Mike Gravel's offensive

Mike Gravel's offensive

With the most recent Times Poll showing Democrat Mike Gravel's standing at 0% in both Iowa and New Hampshire, the former senator's surge to the front of the political pack has yet to emerge.

Yes, he's gotten some ink recently and even not so recently when The Times' Tomas Alex Tizon followed him on his simple campaign trail.

He's still trekking around the countryside, alone, staying at friends' houses and talking to anyone who will listen. He was in Colorado this week where he got some free publicity in a Denver Post article. And hoped he could convince maybe 70 people to show up at his niece's house in Boulder and pay $50 apiece to hear him speak.

I think that Mike Gravel isnt doing what is needed to be done in order to become elected president and that if he even wants a chance he is going to need to step up his game and start finding places that will listen to him and agree with him.