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Archive: Republican Party
GOP Weighs Calendar Changes for 2012
UPDATE, 5:00 pm : The Iowa Republican Party is declaring the passage of the "Ohio" plan as a strong first step in keeping the Hawkeye State caucuses first in 2012. "This is a great day for the state of...
By Chris Cillizza | April 2, 2008; 02:28 PM ET | Comments (51)
The Race Within the Republican Race
With Michigan's Republican primary set for tomorrow and South Carolina and Florida ready to choose their candidate by the end of the month, it's no secret that what happens in these three states could very well determine the GOP nominee....
By Chris Cillizza | January 14, 2008; 04:00 PM ET | Comments (53)
Indiana: An Emerging Purple State?
It's easy to forget amid the granular coverage of the primary horserace that once the nominees are chosen -- some time in late January or early February-- we will be faced with the longest general election in modern political history....
By Chris Cillizza | November 27, 2007; 03:03 PM ET | Comments (84)
Doolittle Says He Will Run, "Period."
California Rep. John Doolittle's defiant pronouncement that he will seek re-election to the House in 2008 has to send shivers down the spines of savvy Republican strategists. For months, political operatives have been acting as though Doolittle's retirement is a...
By washingtonpost.com Editors | September 7, 2007; 05:21 PM ET | Comments (51)
Video: Who Won the GOP Debate?
The Fix's Chris Cillizza and The Washington Post's Dan Balz and Michael Shear recap the Republican presidential debate from Manchester, N.H. Watch below: Play Video VIDEO | (washingtonpost.com's Ed O'Keefe & Chet Rhodes, CNN; Editor: Jacqueline Refo)...
By washingtonpost.com Editors | June 6, 2007; 07:17 AM ET | Comments (16)
GOP Debate Wrap Up
Comity reigned, for the most part, in tonight's Republican presidential debate as the candidates largely agreed on the way forward in Iraq, while disagreeing about their differences on illegal immigration. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mike Huckabee The third debate...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 09:29 PM ET | Comments (86)
Sen. Kennedy & The Socialists
Just when you thought we would make it through the debate without any serious internecine attacks, Rep. Duncan Hunter brought out the Howitzer -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). Rep. Duncan Hunter at Tuesday night's GOP debate. (AP) Referring to Giuliani,...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 09:03 PM ET | Comments (22)
Dubya's Biggest Mistake?
CNN's Wolf Blizter just asked each candidate to name President George W. Bush's "biggest mistake." None of the candidates gave a direct answer, but here's a sampling of their answers in a word (or three): * McCain: Spending * Giuliani:...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 08:55 PM ET | Comments (8)
Brownback: Pro-Choice Giuliani Won't Win
Sam Brownback isn't pulling any punches tonight. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas at tonight's GOP debate (AP) After knocking around former President Bill Clinton, Brownback has now moved on to Rudy Giuliani. Asked what the key moral issue of the...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 08:45 PM ET | Comments (20)
Giuliani, Romney and Thompson on Health Care
Giuliani continues to use the questions directed at him to attack Democrats while avoiding any attacks on his Republican allies. Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin governor and secretary of Health and Human Services for President Bush, answers a question at the...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 08:41 PM ET | Comments (5)
Iraq, Personalized
The second hour starts as the first did -- with the war in Iraq. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mike Huckabee participate in the GOP presidential debate. (Getty Images) The sister of a soldier killed in Iraq got the first...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 08:30 PM ET | Comments (4)
Stickin' Up for Scooter
Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Tom Tancredo would pardon former vice presidential chief of staff Scooter Libby. Giuliani seemed to be leaning that way, calling the 30-month sentence handed down today "excessive punishment." Romney mentioned that he had not pardoned...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 08:16 PM ET | Comments (8)
What to Do With Dubya?
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) used a question about what role President George W. Bush would play in his administration to take a pot shot at former President Bill Clinton. "President Clinton has not assumed the right role of a former...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 08:11 PM ET | Comments (11)
First Hour Over; Evolution v. Creationism
What a great first hour! The Fix fashions himself as a fast typer, but even I wasn't able to cover everything of interest in the first 60 minutes of the GOP debate. One highlight we didn't mention previously -- Mike...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 08:01 PM ET | Comments (13)
Surprise, Romney Gets a Mormon Question
Mitt Romney continues to perform well, this time deftly handling a question about voters' doubts about his Mormonism. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney answers a question Tuesday night during the Republican presidential primary debate hosted by Saint Anselm College in...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 07:55 PM ET | Comments (21)
Lightning From the Heavens? Abortion Politics
Debates are VERY unpredictable. Rudy Giuliani answers a question at the GOP debate. (AP) Take the stunning coincidence of a series of lightning strikes in Manchester disrupting Giuliani's answer about his views on abortion -- at the very moment he...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 07:51 PM ET | Comments (5)
Thompson Looms Over Debate
CNN's Wolf Blitzer broached the subject of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) in the debate. Thompson is exploring a run for the presidency but has not yet officially thrown his hat in the ring. Former Gov. Jim Gilmore (Va.) gave...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 07:44 PM ET | Comments (1)
McCain & Giuliani Tussle Over Immigration
So much for the promised friction between Romney and McCain on immigration. John McCain answers a question from CNN moderator Wolf Blitzer, right, during Tuesday night's Republican presidential primary debate. (AP) A conflict did break out, but it was between...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 07:37 PM ET | Comments (2)
Rudy Attacks the Democrats (Again)
Rudy Giuliani seems to be taking a page from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's playbook from Sunday night -- he has avoided attacking his party rivals and has instead turned his focus to the Democrats. He has twice now attacked Democrats...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 07:25 PM ET | Comments (5)
Huckabee Makes a Whoopsie
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.) has drawn praise for his showings in the first two debates, but he just made a blunder in his first answer. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at Tuesday night's GOP debate in New Hampshire. (AP)...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 07:20 PM ET | Comments (15)
Iraq Kicks It Off
The debate starts on the one major topic that almost every one of the Republicans agree on -- the war in Iraq. The Republican candidates for president pose for a photo ahead of Tuesday night's debate in New Hampshire. (Reuters)...
By Chris Cillizza | June 5, 2007; 07:16 PM ET | Comments (6)
Parsing the Polls: The Democrats' (Generic) Edge
Every once in a while a polling number jumps off at the page at The Fix. Such was the case with the most recent Diageo/Hotline poll in which the sample was asked whether they would support a generic Democrat or...
By Chris Cillizza | April 11, 2007; 05:00 AM ET | Comments (73)
The GOP Whale Chase
As the first quarter fundraising deadline fast approaches, the leading contenders for the 2008 presidential nomination are in a full-on sprint to raise cash and recruit the party insiders who can deliver it by the bagful. The name of the...
By washingtonpost.com Editors | March 13, 2007; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (126)
RNC Adds Staff Talent
The Republican National Committee is staffing up in anticipation of the handover of power from outgoing RNC Chair Ken Mehlman to its new leader, Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.) The latest hire is Lisa Camooso Miller, who will serve as communications...
By Chris Cillizza | January 9, 2007; 02:11 PM ET | Comments (29)
New Census Numbers a Bright Spot for GOP
Just days before Christmas -- paging a public relations professional! -- the U.S. Census Bureau released a slew of data documenting population growth in various states and regions across the country. At first glance, the numbers appear encouraging for Republicans....
By Chris Cillizza | January 2, 2007; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (118)
Mehlman Urges GOP to Enlarge Its Political Tent
Outgoing Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman urged his party to broaden its political scope in a speech to the Republican Governor's Association in Miami Thursday. "Let's be honest -- New England Republicans are not always going to agree on...
By Chris Cillizza | November 30, 2006; 02:39 PM ET | Comments (44)
A Look at Leadership Changes at the Parties' Campaign Committees
Analyzing the results of election 2006 will surely continue for months, as journalists and political pros argue about just what it was that drove the Democrats to congressional majorities. But The Fix is forward looking by nature, so we'll turn...
By Chris Cillizza | November 28, 2006; 04:45 PM ET | Comments (19)
Martinez Will Reach Out to Latino Voters, Party Donors
Florida Sen. Mel Martinez (R) has been chosen to be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee. Martinez will remain in the Senate; Mike Duncan, the general counsel at the RNC, will handle the day-to-day operations of the committee....
By Chris Cillizza | November 14, 2006; 10:49 AM ET | Comments (32)
Steele Confirms RNC Interest
Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) confirmed Sunday that he is interested in replacing Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman. "We're looking at it, having not had any serious conversations as of yet," Steele said during an appearance on C-Span's...
By Chris Cillizza | November 13, 2006; 08:04 AM ET | Comments (65)
Michael Steele for Republican National Chairman?
Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R), who came up just short yesterday in his Senate race against Rep. Ben Cardin (D), is mulling a bid for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, according to an informed GOP source. Steele...
By Chris Cillizza | November 8, 2006; 05:17 PM ET | Comments (86)
The Day After: Rumsfeld Is Out
The announcement that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will step down from his post is the first of several likely changes in Republican ranks following the party's sound defeat at the ballot box yesterday. Rumsfeld had grown into a lightning rod...
By Chris Cillizza | November 8, 2006; 12:59 PM ET | Comments (88)
Congressional Countdown: Beyond the Top 35 House Races
A Key Race Scorecard -- Oct. 30, 2006 House (35 contested races) Leans GOP 5 Toss-Up17 Leans Dem 13 Senate (9 contested races) Leans GOP0Toss-Up4Leans Dem5 » Full Analysis For the past week, our Congressional Countdown has focused on...
By washingtonpost.com Editors | October 30, 2006; 09:17 AM ET | Comments (46)
Aug. 8: Winners and Losers
The day after the most exciting primary night so far this cycle, political observers of all types are sifting through the results to understand the lessons learned. While Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman's (voting record) defeat at the hands of wealthy...
By Chris Cillizza | August 9, 2006; 05:44 PM ET | Comments (44)
John McCain: From Maverick to GOP Insider
In 2000, John McCain was the maverick candidate. In 2008, he aims to be in the mainstream. McCain was in Iowa on Friday to help out GOP congressional candidate Mike Whalen, right. (AP Photo) The Arizona Republican emerged six years...
By Chris Cillizza | July 17, 2006; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (87)
Leadership PACs and the Early Line on 2008
The Fix tends to view leadership political action committees more and more as a thing of the past when it comes to presidential politics (more on that in a future post), but they remain the best window into watching the...
By Chris Cillizza | June 22, 2006; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (34)
Parsing the Polls: Presidential Erosion
It's not news to political junkies that President George W. Bush's job-approval ratings have hovered in the 30s for much of the last year. But there's been little empirical evidence that allows us to answer questions about where, demographically speaking,...
By Chris Cillizza | June 21, 2006; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (124)
Democratic Committees Hold Fundraising Edge
For the first time in recent memory, the Democratic Party's House and Senate campaign committees currently have more money to spend on races than their Republican counterparts -- a milestone reached just five months before the critical midterm elections. The...
By Chris Cillizza | June 20, 2006; 05:55 PM ET | Comments (14)
McCain Continues His S.C. Courtship
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will be back in South Carolina later this month to raise money for the state GOP, his second trip to the key presidential primary state so far this year. The event, which is being hosted by...
By Chris Cillizza | June 20, 2006; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (51)
George Pataki's Iowa Mojo
Summer's official start is just around the corner, but New Yorkers are ice cold when it comes to Gov. George Pataki, who leaves office at the end of 2006 after three terms in Albany. Faltering poll numbers for the governor...
By Chris Cillizza | June 15, 2006; 04:31 PM ET | Comments (14)
McCain's Call for Fiscal Sanity
Attempting to further bolster his conservative credentials, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) today railed against entitlement spending and sought to link economic security with national security during a speech to the Economic Club of New York. Can Sen. McCain win over...
By Chris Cillizza | June 12, 2006; 01:40 PM ET | Comments (46)
Club For Growth Chalks Up More Wins
May seems to be the Club For Growth's month. The Washington, D.C.-based political organization, which is dedicated to supporting laissez faire capitalism, has scored a slew of GOP primary victories so far this month. It began in Ohio on May...
By Chris Cillizza | May 24, 2006; 03:07 PM ET | Comments (37)
Mike Huckabee: Placing Faith in a Hopeful Message
Yes, that Mike Huckabee: The Arkansas governor who went from fat to fit, from munching to marathoning, from political unknown to a man profiled by the nation's leading news organizations. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he isn't interested in separating his...
By Chris Cillizza | May 23, 2006; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (103)
Karl Rove: Still Mixing Policy With Politics
Less than a month after ceding his lead role in policy development at the White House, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove used a speech Monday at the American Enterprise Institute to flash his in-depth knowledge on tax cuts, trade...
By Chris Cillizza | May 15, 2006; 01:37 PM ET | Comments (74)
Insider Interview: Michigan's GOP Chairman Handicaps the '08 Primary
In 2000 Michigan was John McCain's last stand. In 2008 it could be his final hurdle to the Republican presidential nomination. McCain has an early lead for 2008, according to Mich. party chairman Saul Anuzis. (Courtesy Michigan GOP) Michigan Republican...
By Chris Cillizza | May 1, 2006; 08:33 AM ET | Comments (31)
RNC Doles Out Cash, DNC Goes Door to Door
With almost $43 million in the bank at the end of March, the Republican National Committee is the looming giant on the 2006 political landscape. For months, Democratic strategists have privately fretted that the RNC will begin to dump millions...
By Chris Cillizza | April 26, 2006; 01:30 PM ET | Comments (21)
Is Rudy Running?
The Fix has made no secret of its belief that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will ultimately decide not to run for president in 2008. But Giuliani's recent spate of activity across the country has us reconsidering. On...
By Chris Cillizza | April 24, 2006; 02:06 PM ET | Comments (57)
Insider Interview: A Granite State Republican's Early Take on '08
Ask Tom Rath to describe the courting process between presidential candidates and New Hampshire voters and he begins to wax poetic. "It is a real art form," Rath said. "It's...kind of mannered, almost elegant dance." Rath should know. He has...
By Chris Cillizza | April 10, 2006; 08:37 AM ET | Comments (31)
2008: The Case Against Rudy Giuliani
The Fix made the case for a 2008 presidential run by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) in a posting yesterday. Today, we make the case against a Hizzoner '08 campaign. Giuliani has great tough-on-crime credentials. GOP voters,...
By Chris Cillizza | March 16, 2006; 01:30 PM ET | Comments (63)
GOP Straw Poll: Over Before It Starts?
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to urge attendees at this weekend's Southern Republican Leadership Conference gathering to write-in President George W. Bush's name in the Saturday straw poll, according to an excerpt of his remarks shown to...
By Chris Cillizza | March 10, 2006; 03:45 PM ET | Comments (11)
Mehlman's Fiery Start to GOP Gathering
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Republican political world has descended on the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis for the start of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference -- the first time the majority of GOP candidates eyeing the 2008 presidential race will...
By Chris Cillizza | March 10, 2006; 02:57 PM ET | Comments (8)
