Dems Debate in South Carolina

The run for the White House has officially begun. The Democrats had the early start showing off their candidates for the White House with the first Presidential Candidate debate in South Carolina. (One of the states in the “Super Duper Tuesday” primary run.) Read full analysis from WashingtonPost.com

The Democrat debate was an interesting showing for the left, but nothing stood out and there were defiantly no overall winners. Some candidates like former Senator Gravel provided the entertainment for the evening. (Amazingly the former Alaskan Senator made Kucinich look moderate!)

The eight candidates showed a united front on many issues. They all are against the Iraq war, promising to end military operations in the region in a swift manner. (There were only minor differences on when to cut the funding.) All candidates are pro abortion. All eight Democrats hate President Bush and blamed all the bad things in the country on the current administration. (Yes it seemed to be incredibly enlightening rant from the Dems!)

There were clearly inconsistencies given by the candidates. Candidates, such as Clinton, backtracked on their position on Iraq. Dodd dismissed the continued job growth and America’s growing economy. Richardson attacked the administrations work in Darfur, even though the administration has been working since last year with the Sudanese government and the UN to help the people of Darfur. Obama stood firm on his position from not accepting money from lobbyist but continues to receive hundreds of contributions from law firms who house high powered lobbyist. Obama also touted his health care plan that he has yet to unveil.

What does the RNC say

Not surprisingly Hispanic related topics were either completely ignored or attacked. They attacked Gonzlaes, asking with Richardson had not asked for the Attorney Generals dismissal earlier. Immigration was not discussed, neither was the Hispanic population in general. Nothing substantive about small business, education, or taxes was debated, though Cuba was quickly discussed by Richardson, about looking towards democracy on the island.

In conclusion, the Democrat candidates seemed pretty equal with little difference between each candidate to another. They proved they were pushing the Dem agenda to the left. There were no winners, no automatic Presidential nominees and no big range of ideas.

Our favorite line in the debate was in post interviews of the candidates. Chris Matthews asked Gravel "Where have you been for 35 years sir?", Gravel in a very animated rant said, “I have been hiding under a rock!”

Giuliani Leads Presidential Candidates in Swing States

Our friends at PolitcalWire.com posted encouraging news for Republicans, a fellow GOP is ahead of all other White House hopefuls in key swing states

According to the latest Quinnipiac Swing State Poll, former New York Mayor, Republican Republican Rudy Giuliani leads Senator Hillary Clinton (HRC) and all other Democrat candidates in some of the nations most competetive states, Florida (20% Hispanic population), Ohio (2.3% Hispanic Popultion), and Pennsylvania (4% Hispanic Popultion)

• In Florida, Giuliani leads Clinton, 49% to 41%.
• In Ohio, Giuliani leads Clinton, 46% to 41%.
• In Pennsylvania, Giuliani leads Clinton, 47% to 43%.

Key finding: Al Gore is the strongest Democrat against Republican challengers in most swing state match ups.

Florida primaries:

• Democrats: Clinton 36%, Gore 15%, Obama 13%, Edwards 11%
• Republicans: Giuliani 38%, McCain 15%, Romney 7%, Gingrich 6%, Thompson 5%

Ohio primaries:

• Democrats: Clinton 37%, Edwards 17%, Obama 14%, Gore 11%
• Republicans: Giuliani 23%, McCain 21%, Gingrich 9%, Thompson 8%, Romney 6%

Pennsylvania primaries:

• Democrats: Clinton 36%, Gore 14%, Obama 14%, Edwards 13%
• Republicans: Giuliani 29%, McCain 17%, Gingrich 10%, Thompson 6%, Romney 5%.

Campaigning in a New World

A new video is making its rounds on the internet and some political pundits are saying it may be a "watershed moment in the 21st century media and political advertising."

The anti Hillary Clinton video is a play on the classic 1984 television ad that introduced Apple computers to the world. The internet only, 74 second video is suppose to be a pitch for Democratic Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Yet according to the New Politics Institute, a think tank in San Francisco, they state the video is really the introduction of "a new era... a new wave of politics... because it's not about Obama... It's about the end of the brodcast era."

The article posted by the SFGate.com states:

The compelling "Hillary 1984" video recently introduced But some say the ad is just the latest attempt by outside activists to influence political campaigns -- or the newest way for campaigns to anonymously attack their opponents.

The video is a sophisticated new take on director Ridley Scott's controversial Apple ad that caused shock waves with its premiere during the 1984 Super Bowl, and shows the same blond young female athlete running with a sledgehammer toward a widescreen -- where an ominous Big Brother figure drones to a mass of zombielike followers.

But this time, the woman is wearing an iPod -- and has her candidate's slogan on her chest. And the Big Brother -- whose image she defiantly smashes with a wave of her sledgehammer -- is Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner.

The tagline for the attack: "On Jan. 14, the Democratic primary will begin. And you'll see why 2008 won't be like 1984."

An updated Apple symbol -- transformed into an O -- is followed by the dramatically emerging logo: BarackObama.com.”

Interestingly enough the person who posted the video on Utube is called ParkRidge47, Park Ridge is a suburb of Illinois and 47 (as in 1947) is the year that Hillary was born.

Watch it for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo

What will be next??