IOWA: Romney won Iowa;Obama will win the presidency

Lead

Mitt Romney won the Iowa Primary by a razor thin 8 vote margin. Barack Obama will win the Presidency in Election 2012.

The numbers:

1.Romney          24.60%     30,015

2.Santorum        24.50%     30,007

3.Paul                21.40%     26,219

4.Gingrich          13.30%     16,251

5.Perry              10.30%      12,604

6.Bachmann       05.00%       6,073

7.Huntsman        00.60%         745

Source: USA TODAY

Our Take

The GOP is bitterly divided. It is probably more divided today than it was in 1964 when Barry Goldwater won the GOP nomination for President.

Conservatives simply will not consolidate behind Romney. Santorum is weak. Gingrich, a real conservative horse in the race, is too far behind. Cain, who we believe would be the GOP’s best hope to beat Obama, is on the sidelines.

We can close the books on Election 2012. Barack Obama most certainly will win reelection.

So, we need to start thinking about and talking about Election 2016.

 

IOWA: winner, losers

LEAD (Revised)

This is MJB’s call of the winner, there only can be one, and losers, the also rans, in the Iowa Primary for Tuesday, January 3, 2012:

1. Newt Gingrich

2. Rick Santorum

3. Herman Cain

4. Rick Perry

5. John Huntsman

6. Mitt Romney

7. Michelle Bachmann

8. Ron Paul

Comment

What do you think?

Do you think it’s between Romney and Paul as the polls and commentators have suggested?

Hint: the polls and the commentators could be wrong!

Will the outcomes in Iowa set the stage for the wins and losses in upcoming primaries?

 

GINGRICH: GOP’s Million Dollar Baby-Is the Bubble (NEWT) already in trouble?

“Gingrich acknowledges benefiting from Freddie Mac fees, defends his work for mortgage giant”

NEWT

Quote

URBANDALE, Iowa — Rising in polls and receiving greater scrutiny, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich found himself on the defensive Wednesday over huge payments he received over the past decade from the mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

Gingrich, who now is near the top in polling on the GOP race, said he didn’t remember exactly how much he was paid, but a person familiar with the hiring said it was at least $1.6 million for consulting contracts stretching from 1999 to early 2008. The person spoke on condition of anonymity in order address a personnel matter.

Source: THE WASHINGTON POST

Can’t Remember? 

Newt’s “Contract With America” perhaps?

And, he was not even lobbying?

But, Newt’s presidential timber?

MJB’s Take: Give me Herman or give me Mitt!!

Web Reaction

• Gingrich defends big contracts with Freddie Mac (mercurynews.com)
• Most expensive housing historian ever: Freddie Mac paid Newt Gingrich at least $1.6 million (dailykos.com)
• Newt Gingrich Received over $1 Million in Compensation from Freddie Mac (VIDEO) (blippitt.com)
• TRENDING: Gingrich faces more questions about Freddie Mac (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
• Gingrich’s $1.6 million payday from Freddie Mac. (thewesternexperience.com)
• Newt Gingrich Is Freddie Mac’s Welfare Baby (slog.thestranger.com)
• Newt Gingrich Reportedly Received At Least $1.6 Million From Freddie Mac (huffingtonpost.com)
• Newt Gingrich earned $1.6m+ from Freddie Mac (americablog.com)
• Report: Gingrich took almost $2M from Freddie Mac (cbsnews.com)

If you can’t remember pocketing over $1 Million in “consulting fees,” for strategy, of course, not lobbying, I suppose you go brain dead if you pocket a $Billion!