Tag Archives: Iowa

IOWA: Romney won Iowa;Obama will win the presidency

by

10

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.

MEDIA: has MSNBC lost its edge in its nighttime political coverage; will it have significant influence in election 2012?

by

6

Lead

Has MSNBC lost its edge in its nighttime political coverage?

In view of recent poll results, will MSNBC have significant influence in Election 2012?

Media (Quote)

It’s certainly obvious in Iowa that candidates are investing a lot more time in television interviews than they are on the campaign trail. It’s a safe bet: a recent New York Times/CBS News poll of likely Iowa Republican caucus participants showed that 37 percent said they get most of their information from Fox News, that’s compared with 27 percent who cited broadcast news and a mere 2 percent who said they relied on MSNBC.

Source:  Allessandra Stanley, “The Republican Primary Campaign in Iowa Is Right at Home on Fox News,” THE NEW YORK TIMES

MJB’s Take

It’s hard to imagine that the suits at MSNBC are taking the poll results well. The implications of  MSNBC having diminished influence in Election 2012 could be staggering.

Obviously, the only game in town for mainstream media coverage now on the Presidential political calendar is the ongoing GOP primary election season. Because of its conservative tilt, FOX News would be expected to have a slightly higher viewership and ratings advantage when it comes to general media coverage of national politics and the GOP.

But, one would think that because the choice of the Republican nominee for President is a matter of real public concern and interest,  a larger percentage of people would be watching the commentaries on MSNBC if for no other reason than to hear and consider opposing viewpoints about the GOP candidates, and their positions on national issues.

The numbers for the reception of broadcast news seem to be good. However, broadcast news is not as pointed, engaging, opinionated, informative and influential as cable news.

MSNBC has an all-star line-up of nighttime talk TV talent hosting the programs from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. including Al Sharpton, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O’Donnell and Rachel Maddow. They are supported by diverse groups of commentators and contributors. The hosts and many of the commentators and contributors have been aggressive in criticizing the GOP candidates and their positions on issues. Those contrary viewpoints, of course,  add measurably to the body of information viewers and voters should be considering from now until general election day 2012.

The poll numbers for MSNBC were unusually weak. The fact that they were so lacking should be ringing bells and whistles loudly in the executive suites of MSNBC.

If MSNBC expects to boost viewership and have a significant measure of influence in the outcomes of the national elections, then major changes in its nighttime cable programming are warranted.

Related Web Articles

Also Read

Your comments are welcomed!

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

by

4

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

NEXT

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

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!

Advantage: ROMNEY? Hey POLITICO, hold your horses, Mitt Romney is far from being the last GOP candidate standing!

by

3

POLITICO Headline:   “Romney rivals continue to implode.” Politico reports (quotes):

Perry: Rick Perry is reeling after a debate gaffe for the ages.

Cain: Herman Cain is fighting off allegations of sexual impropriety.

The Field: The rest of Mitt Romney’s would-be rivals are either broke, deeply flawed or both.

Politico’s Commentary 

It’s viewed as a foregone conclusion that somebody will emerge from the GOP field to challenge Mitt Romney for the 2012 presidential nomination. But as of now, less than two months before the first votes are cast in Iowa, it’s still uncertain who will give Romney a real primary fight.

Sources of Quotes:  POLITICO 

MJB’s Take

> Ease up POLITICO; it’s way too soon in the GOP nomination sweepstakes to make that call.

> Are you trying to deprive other political media of the torrent of stories, tweets, talk shows, emails, images, videos, and another round of salacious sexual harassment or assault rumors which will be generated after Cain’s accusers hold their made for TV reality show:  ”The Girls of NRA Joint Press Conference?”

> You had your feast. Other media organizations have to eat too!

> And, are we not in a state of suspense and anticipation waiting for David Gregory’s “Grand Wizard” to pop up on the scene, maybe even as a surprise guest on “Meet the Press,” and perhaps if the accusers don’t take out Cain at their show,  to just, as Gregory said: “push Herman Cain out of the race?” LINK TO STORY

Other Web Coverage