DMR: Yepsen: Thompson stirs interest among GOP voters, poll shows

David Yepsen at the Des Moines Register breaks down the most recent Iowa poll. Below is a sample

"More Horse-Race Journalism: A recent poll of likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers shows reports of John McCain's demise are greatly exaggerated (to borrow a phrase from Mark Twain).

Reports of Fred Thompson's rise are on target. He finishes in third place in Iowa and hasn't even campaigned here, a fact that may indicate rank-and-file frustration with the other GOP candidates.

Rudy Giuliani remains strong, despite all this talk he's too liberal for the social conservatives who dominate the Iowa GOP caucuses."

Former Iowa congressman to endorse McCain

Former Congressman Greg Ganske is the second former/current legislator (former Congressman Nussle has endorsed Rudy Giuliani) to dip his hat into the presidential waters in Iowa. Ganske this morning endorsed John McCain. Like McCain, Ganske was also known as a guy with some "maverick" tendencies in Congress so the pair makes sense. Ganske gave up his seat to get crushed by Senator Tom Harkin.

CBN’s Brody File Blog: Would You Vote For This Person?

Rudy thinks we're from planet Pluto according to David Brody. Does his website reflect his record? It's apparent to us at the Cooler and those at the Brody File that its not even close. Below is the post.


CBN’s Brody File Blog: Would You Vote For This Person?

David Brody

Play along with me this morning. Would you vote for the following candidate? This person supports parental notification laws and a ban on partial birth abortion; is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and believes mariage is between a man and a woman. Don't look any further. In your mind, does this candidate seem attractive? Yes or No?

Guess what. That's how Rudy Giuliani describes himself. If you go to his website, that's how he lays out his positions on three very sensitive topics. What about this bleeding heart socially liberal Republican. As you might imagine, it is nowhere to be found on his website. The Brody File has pulled the three parapgraphs from his website that lay out his position on abortion, guns and marriage.

Abortion:
"Rudy Giuliani supports reasonable restrictions on abortion such as parental notification with a judicial bypass and a ban on partial birth abortion – except when the life of the mother is at stake. He’s proud that adoptions increased 66% while abortions decreased over 16% in New York City when he was Mayor. But Rudy understands that this is a deeply personal moral dilemma, and people of good conscience can disagree respectfully. Ultimately he believes that it is a decision between a woman, her doctor, her family, and her God."

Guns:
"Rudy Giuliani is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. When he was Mayor of a city suffering an average of almost 2000 murders a year, he protected people by getting illegal handguns out of the hands of criminals. As a result, shootings fell by 72% and the murder rate was cut by two-thirds. But Rudy understands that what works in New York doesn’t necessarily work in Mississippi or Montana."

Marriage:
"Rudy Giuliani believes marriage is between a man and a woman. He does not - and has never - supported gay marriage. But he believes in equal rights under law for all Americans. That's why he supports domestic partnerships that provide stability for committed partners in important legal and personal matters, while preserving the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman."

If you were an Evangelical who just stepped onto this Earth from Planet Pluto (oh wait,sorry, Pluto is no longer a Planet. I thought scientists were "always" right?), after reading that, you may not understand why a large segment of Evangelicals may have a problem with Rudy. But the religious conservatives who live here on Earth might think those paragraphs on his website are just a tad bit disengenous. Actually, now that I think of it, I'm sure others have a much different word for it. Does the way he portrays himself on his website bother you or do you just chalk it up to political spin just like every other candidate out there?

Is this Iowa? Brownback dreams of having $4 corn

The Cooler’s favorite CCA, Sam Brownback is dreaming of $4 corn. The Quad City Times has details, but a small sample is below:

"Brownback isn’t worried that a recent rise in corn prices will harm some parts of the farm economy.

'I dream of having $4 corn,' he said, referring to the price per bushel.

Sen. Mark Zieman,

R-Postville, said he likes Brownback’s conservative credentials.

'His conservative foundation is solid, fiscally, socially, however you want to figure it,' he said.

Brownback said his campaign will gradually pick up support as he introduces himself to voters. He said his fundraising numbers for the first reporting period of the year will not be high, because his campaign is just beginning.

'I still think anybody can grow up to be president in America, and I don’t think you need to show up with $100 million as a qualifier,' he said."

Krusty Konservative: American Research Poll on Presidential Candidates

Krusty Konservtaive has all the details, but a small sample is below:

"The American Research Group recently conducted a presidential poll of Iowans. The poll was conducted from March 19th through March 22nd; they surveyed 600 (515 Republicans, and 85 Independents) likely Republican caucus goers living in Iowa. Here is how the presidential hopefuls placed.

Republicans

Rudy Giuliani – 29%
John McCain – 29%
Fred Thompson – 12%
Mitt Romney – 10%
Newt Gingrich – 7%
Chuck Hagel – 1%
Tom Tancredo – 1%
Tommy Thompson – 1%
Brownback, Huckabee, Hunter, Paul, and Gilmore finished with less than 1%. 11% of those surveyed were undecided."