Oh-eight (R): Shifting CW

Oh-eight (R): Shifting CW
Posted: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:07 AM by Mark MurrayCategories: Republicans, 2008

The New York Times’ Nagourney writes a conventional wisdom shifting analysis of the GOP field, noting how Romney and Giuliani are changing their strategies in the aftermath of McCain’s downfall and the rise of Thompson. Of note, Nagourney reports that Thompson will announce just after Labor Day. "Anticipating Mr. Thompson’s entry into the race, Mr. Romney’s advisers said they had begun examining Mr. Thompson’s record and plan to highlight his work as a trial lawyer and Washington lobbyist." Meanwhile Thompson aides confirmed that "Thompson intended to present himself as the most conservative candidate in the race and would go to South Carolina as part of his announcement swing."
GIULIANI:
In Iowa yesterday, Giuliani renewed his pledge to appoint "strict constructionist" judges, which are important code words to social conservatives. He also promised NOT to have an abortion litmus test. In addition, conservative mag Human Events interviewed Giuliani's chief legal advisers, Ted Olson and Steven Calabresi, on Rudy's judicial philosophy.
The Des Moines register previews Giuliani’s trek through N.E. Iowa today. While the New York Daily News curtain-raises his energy speech, noting that he “is unapologetic about his support for boosting the nation's nuclear power capacity… In so doing, Giuliani has positioned himself, along with GOP rival John McCain, as the most ardent advocates of nuclear power in the 2008 field."
MCCAIN:
George Will adds his byline to the McCain obit section, and he relishes the fact that McCain may have to file for matching funds so the campaign finance system he helped revamp hurts him. Meanwhile, the McCain camp sent out a fundraising email from manager Rick Davis, which tries to pit McCain against Hillary Clinton. The email notes that McCain's speech on Iraq during the all-night session was followed by Clinton. "Do we have the courage to stand up and fight for victory? Or will we settle for Hillary Clinton's vision of retreat and defeat? John McCain has reminded us time and again that the consequences of withdrawal from Iraq are catastrophic, which is why we must stand strong for victory."
And while many have attributed McCain’s downfall to his ties to Bush (on Iraq and immigration), the Politico’s Wilner makes this point: Unlike Bush, McCain has showed a “willingness to cut loose top advisers during a time of real trouble.”
ROMNEY:
The former governor heads to Spartanburg, SC today, and to help preview his trip, Romney did a little Q&A with the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, focusing on the issue of school choice. USA Today runs a very flattering profile of Ann Romney today.
University of Maryland professor Tom Schaller looks at the national polls and wonders if Romney is simply too unelectable for the GOP. His theory -- evangelicals are not yet ready to tell pollsters they'll vote for him, even in a match-up against Clinton.
F. THOMPSON:
As if Thompson had left any doubt himself with his bizarre lawyer defense, the New York Times confirms via billing records that he indeed lobbied on behalf of an abortion-rights group in the early '90s. “According to records from Arent Fox, the law firm based in Washington where Mr. Thompson worked part-time from 1991 to 1994, he charged the organization, the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, about $5,000 for work he did in 1991 and 1992.”
“Yesterday, [Thompson spokesman Mark] Corallo said the family planning group was an Arent Fox client. ‘The firm consulted with Fred Thompson,’ he said. ‘It is not unusual for a lawyer to give counsel at the request of colleagues, even when they personally disagree with the issue.’”