Pete Spiliakos

1.  The current primary-dominated system for selecting presidential candidates has its flaws, but I don’t see us going back to a system in which a conclave of party leaders choose the nominee.  A party leader-dominated process like the convention would have spared us some of the . . . . Continue Reading »

I’m tired so I’ll keep it quick.  I was listening to Ed Rollins predict that Ron Paul will win Iowa.  Since Rollins ran the campaign of the last Republican to win the Iowa Caucuses I’m not inclined to disagree.  But . . . the right-of-center media environment has . . . . Continue Reading »

Like Peter says below, Gingrich’s support is falling fast.  PPP now has him at third and he is closer to being in sixth place than first.  According to Insider Advantage, Gingrich has fallen to fourth behind Rick Perry, but that poll hasn’t gotten much play so maybe there is a . . . . Continue Reading »

Sorry I’m late getting to it, but work and family . . . 1.  Gingrich’s response on Freddie Mac was weak.  That thing about how he only worked with people who shared his values is begging to be made into an ad.  Just the same, the other candidates left points on the floor . . . . Continue Reading »

Rasmussen now shows Gingrich behind Romney in Iowa and the trend lines are pretty bad.  The process stories are no longer about his amazing comeback and how brilliant he is.  They are about how his support is soft, and how his Iowa operation is feeble and how he isn’t spending . . . . Continue Reading »

According to Public Policy Polling, Ron Paul is now within a point of Gingrich in Iowa and Gingrich’s support has shrunk from27% to 22% in the last week.  What is even more ominous is that Gingrich is losing support with Tea Party-affiliated voters.  The poll also shows that . . . . Continue Reading »

I’m talking to Romney, Santorum, Bachmann and Paul.  The Freddie Mac digs seem to be getting under Gingrich’s skin.  He said he would return all of his Freddie Mac money if Romney returned all of his Bain Capital money (what with all the layoffs and all.)  Big tactical . . . . Continue Reading »

Some quick thoughts, 1.  The volume of fire aimed at Gingrich has been increasing slowly up to this week.  Now the paid media attacks and the criticism from the other candidates has increased substantially.  There are still three weeks for everyone in Iowa to hear everything that has . . . . Continue Reading »

So the debate started an hour later than I thought so I was able to watch it: 1.  Gingrich just schooled Romney in their first clash.  Total Gingrich win.  Romney would do better to get it into his head that the salient difference between him and Gingrich has nothing to do with which . . . . Continue Reading »

 It is a Saturday, but big debate tonight. Gingrich has to decisively win his clashes in order to maintain his debater invincibility cred. If he loses that he is just another guy who used to be for cap-and-trade and a federal health insurance purchase mandate. It isn’t impossible that . . . . Continue Reading »