Mitt Romney rolled to victory in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, becoming the first GOP candidate since 1976 to win the Iowa caucuses and N.H. back-to-back. “Tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow we go back to work,” said Romney , who turned back a ferocious assault from his GOP rivals in recent days to win fairly handily. In accepting victory, he delivered a pointed message to his opponents, urging them not to play into President Obama’s hands by trying to destroy his candidacy. “In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him,” Romney said. “This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation.” “This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy.” Congressman Ron Paul of Texas came in second place, with approximately 24 percent of the Granite State vote to Romney’s 36 percent as of this posting. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman is third, around 17 percent, with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich tied for fourth, struggling to crack double digits. Romney leads Ron Paul in nine of the state’s 10 counties, with Paul second in each of those and ahead in the 10th. A little over half the votes have been tallied. The contest now moves to South Carolina January 21. The Palmetto State is considered less welcoming terrain for Romney, though he still leads in polls. Final N.H. primary results to come after all precincts report.
‘He brings a lot to this table,’ Abby Huntsman tells MTV News of their dad, a Republican presidential hopeful. By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Mary Anne, Abby and Liddy Huntsman Photo: MTV News MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Life on the campaign trail has often been compared to “Groundhog Day.” Another town, another local deep-fried delicacy (or 20), another 10 stump speeches and endless rounds of hand-shaking, radio interviews and posed pictures. But when your dad is running for president and he gives you the green light to be yourself with the press and tweet and YouTube (just about) anything you want to, well, things get a lot more interesting. “It’s been crazy. It’s been so fun — a family affair,” said Abby Huntsman, 25, who along with sisters Mary Anne, 26, and Liddy, 24, has been out on the road for months with former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman as he tries to break into the top tier of Republican White House aspirants. The trio have already created some of the most lighthearted, virally hilarious moments in an otherwise smash-mouth primary campaign with their YouTube send-ups of Herman Cain campaign commercials and Justin Timberlake songs, as well as a popular Twitter feed that is much looser than the usual sanitized candidate-kid offering. “We call it a roller coaster — you never know which way the car is going to go,” she said, noting that as of Monday afternoon (January 9), it felt like that direction was up, as their father’s poll numbers were inching north into double digits as he made a bid for third place in the Granite State. After skipping last week’s first-in-the-nation caucus in Iowa , the former Obama administration ambassador to China had pinned his hopes on a strong showing in New Hampshire. And when it comes to young voters, Huntsman likely has the sibling trio to thank for his popularity, due to the maverick decision to loosen up the normally short leash candidate offspring are typically kept on. “We cut that leash day one,” said Liddy, the unofficial wild child of the bunch. An avowed hip-hop fan and music junkie who used to hide CDs with explicit lyric stickers under her bed in seventh grade — until her dad found them and broke them in half — Liddy said reaching out to her peers using online media was the plan from the beginning. “We think [social media] is crucially important for this election cycle, especially for our younger generation, so we’ve kind of run with it.” For the most part, Dad’s been OK with their online escapades — well, except for a few things Liddy wanted to release that Mary Anne said their candidad put the kibosh on. Among their favorite stories is how a young Jon Huntsman dropped out of high school to join a rock band but clearly didn’t succeed at that venture. “So he’s running for the next best job, which is president,” Liddy joked. Music is still important to the Huntsmans. Mary Anne is a classically trained concert pianist who loves Chopin; Dad is a Ben Folds Five fan; and the ladies were blown away when they recently watched Florence and the Machine on “Saturday Night Live.” Yes, they’re fun and they have a blast trying to engage their peers with clever tweets and videos, but the ladies also have a job to do. So they make sure to expertly tout their dad’s experience as a job-creating governor and an ambassador. “He brings a lot to this table … he also unites this country [and believes] we should all serve our country when asked, and that comes before party — country first,” Abby said. MTV News’ Sway was so impressed with their poise, in fact, he asked if any of the next-generation Huntsmans were thinking of a career in politics. “I’ll save America the grief and I will stick to what I’m doing and not do politics,” laughed Liddy, motioning to Abby as the likely next woman up. “No … ask us when this is over,” she demurred. MTV is on the scene in New Hampshire! Check back here around the clock for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary caucuses, and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the presidential election season. Related Videos New Hampshire Primary Sparks Youth Conversation
Ron Paul lifted to third-place finish by youth vote with only eight votes separating first and second place. By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Andrew Jenks Mitt Romney addresses his supporters after the Iowa caucus Photo: Jewel Samad/ Getty Images DES MOINES, Iowa — It was a dogfight that came down to a razor-slim margin of votes Tuesday night (January 3) between former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Senator Rick Santorum. Romney came out on top after running in a tie with Santorum at 25 percent of the vote for much of the night, winning the Iowa caucus by only eight votes with north of 122,000 voters turning out. In addition, the third-place finish by libertarian rabble-rouser Representative Ron Paul with 21 percent of the vote proved the power of the youth vote in this year’s election. The mainstream media had been virtually ignoring Paul for months as they focused on the reality-show-like rise and fall of other Republicans vying for the GOP presidential nomination. But on Tuesday, the congressman from Texas shocked naysayers when he came in third place in the all-important Iowa caucus , the first primary contest of the season. CNN reported that entrance polls showed Paul’s strongest support came from voters ages 17-29, while Romney was the pick for voters 65 and older and Santorum clicked with those 45-64. In his concession speech, Paul thanked his enthusiastic supporters for believing in him and reintroducing what he described as a core Republican value: “the conviction that freedom is popular.” “Once again, we have had a fantastic showing for this cause and not the status quo we have been putting up with for decades and decades,” he said to lusty applause. “This movement is going to continue, and we are going to keep scoring just as we are tonight.” The major story of the night, though, was the battle longtime poll leader Romney was drawn into with classic conservative Santorum, who had been polling in the single digits for much of the year but got a sudden burst of support late in the pre-caucus cycle in Iowa. Romney, who spent more than $10 million in 2009 to win Iowa, only to lose to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, didn’t spend as much this time around but ended up in the closest Iowa caucus in history. Romney addressed his supporters before he was named winner of the unbelievably close race. “This is a campaign night where America wins. We’re going to win the White House and get America back on track,” he said as he reiterated many of his stump talking points about what he said were President Obama’s failures on security issues (Iran) and the economy (continuing high unemployment, record deficits). Promising to dismantle the so-called ObamaCare health plan, Romney said this election is about the soul of America, once again reciting his favorite lines from “American the Beautiful,” as he’s done often on the stage. “I want to restore the principles that made America the hope of the earth,” he said, professing his love for freedom, the constitution and the country. With 25 delegates at stake and Iowa no longer a winner-takes-all state, Romney earned bragging rights, but not the kind that would come with a convincing, large-margin victory. If anything, pundits said that Santorum came out the champion by simply having such a strong showing. Just moments after voting wrapped up at Olmstead Hall on the campus of Des Moines’ Drake University, Katherine Rupp — who was undecided going in — was happy that Romney came out on top in her precinct after the night’s vote. “Romney has a business background, and I believe he’ll bring his CEO experience to hopefully being our Republican presidential candidate,” she said. Rupp said the unique nature of the Iowa caucuses — where Iowans get up onstage to give their personal pitch for why their friends, neighbors and fellow precinct dwellers should vote for a particular candidate — played a big part in swaying her from the undecided column into the Romney camp. Ricki Meyer was a Santorum supporter going into the night, and while her candidate came in a tie for second with Paul at the Drake caucus, she was feeling bullish about the former senator’s prospects and vowed to keep supporting him as he marches forward. “The things I believe in line up so well with what he believes in, and if I don’t stand up for that and for him right now, I don’t want to look back on this election and how pivotal it is for our country and think, ‘Why didn’t I support that guy anymore?’ ” she said. Santorum addressed Meyer and his other followers even before the results were in Tuesday night. “People have asked me how I’ve done this sitting back in the polls … I survived the challenges so far by the daily grace that comes from God,” he said. “You have taken the first step of taking back this country,” he told the people of Iowa, who he met while visiting all 99 counties, and likely winning over the state’s all-important Evangelical voters. “The essential issue in this race is freedom. Whether we will be a country that believes that government can do things for us better than we can do for ourselves,” he added in an address that sounded more like his standard stump speech than a victory celebration for a candidate who most thought would never make it this far. “We are off to New Hampshire.” Benjamin Levine, 20, a Drake student and ROTC member, was inspired enough by Paul’s message to get up during the caucus and speak out on behalf of his candidate, with no notes, because the congressman’s message resonates that clearly in his mind. After volunteering for the campaign for several months, and after Paul’s third-place finish in the Drake caucus, Levine said the fight was not over. Larger precinct 46 went for Romney at the Drake vote, but Levine’s precinct 45 went to Paul in a tight one, and he was pleased with the result. Though Tuesday was his birthday, Levine said the Paul win in his precinct was the bigger deal. “I don’t feel any older, but I can feel maybe a little more freedom coming,” he said as he prepared to go to a Youth for Paul watching party downtown. “Mitt Romney is the establishment guy. He ran four years ago. He has name recognition. It’s huge that Paul can even get second in that precinct because people said he’s unelectable, they made up all those lies … even a second place in this precinct is pretty good.” Though final results would take several more hours, Levine said even if Paul did not end up snagging second statewide, “It’s certainly not the end of the road.” As for the rest of the field, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich came in fourth (13 percent), followed by Texas Governor Rick Perry (10 percent), who signaled he might soon drop out, then Representative Michele Bachmann (5 percent) and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (1 percent), who didn’t really campaign in Iowa at all. The remaining candidates now move on to New Hampshire, which will hold its primary next Tuesday. MTV is on the scene in Iowa! Head to Iowa.MTV.com for all our Iowa caucus coverage , and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the presidential election season to follow Andrew Jenks on the campaign trail. Related Videos Barnstorming The Iowa Caucus With Andrew Jenks
Far be it from me to call the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board a Mickey Mouse operation. Big Labor Gets Big Boost by Goofy Wisconsin GAB Decision Madison, Wisc…] The Government Accountability Board needs over $600,000 to verify the anticipated 1.5 million recall petition signatures against the Governor and several State Senators. However, the process it will be using, Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Big Government Discovery Date : 13/12/2011 18:57 Number of articles : 2
Republican candidate for President Texas Governor Rick Perry addressed the $10,000 bet offered by rival Mitt Romney during the Republican Iowa debate Saturday night, on Fox News Sunday. “I was taken a little aback,” said Perry. “I’m driving out to the station this morning I’m pretty sure I didn’t drive by a house that anyone in Iowa would think a $10,000 bet was possible. It was a little out of touch… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Blaze Discovery Date : 11/12/2011 19:44 Number of articles : 2
This was great… A few of Obama’s radical #Occupy goons decided it was a good idea to interrupt Governor Chris Christie at a function for Mitt Romney in Iowa. Bad decision. Really bad decision. Christie wasn’t buying their “mic check” … Continue reading → Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Gateway Pundit Discovery Date : 08/12/2011 16:00 Number of articles : 2
We’re pretty sure this is illegal… Eighteen-year-old Emma Sullivan never thought her tweet about a field trip would be seen by Gov. Sam Brownback. The Shawnee Mission East High School senior went to the Capitol and heard Brownback speak. She didn’t like what she heard. “I don’t agree with a majority of the things that he is trying to pass,” said Sullivan. Sullivan tweeted her thoughts about what she wanted to do during the speech. Sullivan’s tweet stated: “just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot.” Sullivan said she ended up in the principal’s office the next day. “He explained to me that someone from Brownback’s office got a hold of it and sent it to someone in charge of the district,” said Sullivan. She said her principal wants her to write an apology to Brownback. “I believe that it is my right to state my opinion,” said Sullivan. VML creative group members are surprised how administrators are handling this case. “She is a legal adult. She has the right to be able to share her opinion,” said Gard Gibson. Her Twitter handle, emmakate988 , had just 60 followers when she sent the tweet, but by Friday afternoon, she had more than 1,400. Sullivan hasn’t decided if she will apologize to the governor. The school’s principal said, “This is not about political views since none were given in the tweet – is about being respectful with a public official whether we agree or disagree with their viewpoints.” What part of democracy is that??? Emma says she has no intention on apologizing because even if she did, she wouldn’t mean it. Source
Jon Huntsman (Getty) Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman released a new web video attacking his fellow Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney today. Mr. Huntsman’s ad employs the metaphor of a weathervane shifting in the wind to push the popular perception of Mr. Romney as a flip flopper. Mr. Huntsman’s ad features ominous piano music underscoring a splitscreen showing a wobbling weathervane alongside… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Politicker Discovery Date : 31/10/2011 19:35 Number of articles : 2
Critics argue that script doesn’t match the talent level of the A-list cast in George Clooney’s political drama. By Kevin Sullivan Ryan Gosling in “Ides of March” Photo: Sony Pictures George Clooney returns to the director’s chair for the first time since 2008’s “Leather Heads” in one of the first big releases of Oscar season with “The Ides of March.” But then again, we might just be interested in Ryan Gosling’s third major role this year. Everything about “Ides of March,” from the critically lauded cast and director to the political story line seems to scream for awards season attention, but does it live up to high expectations? Critics can’t seem to agree, but the general consensus is that the script doesn’t meet the talent level of the cast, which is pretty fantastic all around. We’ve rounded up some of the reviews to give you a better idea of what to look for this weekend at the movie theater. The Story “Mr. Gosling’s consultant, Stephen Meyers, would seem to be a true believer. Speaking of his candidate, Gov. Mike Morris (Clooney), he tells a reporter, played by Marisa Tomei, ‘He’s the only one who’s going to make a difference in people’s lives.’ (At that point it’s hard to know if this is true, or if the movie thinks it’s true, since some of Morris’s positions — i.e. that we don’t need Arab oil any more — sound awfully fatuous.) And Steve’s boss, Paul Zara, the campaign manager played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, would seem to be cynicism incarnate. The problem is that the news the story brings may be perfectly accurate, but it isn’t particularly original, and it’s certainly not what we hunger for in these dispiriting, cynical times.” — Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal The Direction “Clooney has a keen eye for a good story. With this, his fourth turn as a director, he has chosen wisely. While perhaps not as nuanced as 2005’s ‘Good Night, and Good Luck,’ it’s more assured than 2008’s ‘Leatherheads’ and more accessible than 2002’s ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.’ It grows a little overheated but works particularly well as a morality tale about power and its tendency to corrupt absolutely.” — Cynthia Puig, USA Today The Screenplay “What is surprising, and disappointing, is that the plot borrows, not once but twice, from the hoariest tropes in the book of smug clich
Herman Cain scored a big upset at the Florida straw poll, beating Governor Rick Perry handilhy with Perry scoring a distant second and Romney coming in third. Meanwhile President Obama was scolding blacks, telling the to stop complainin’ and fight…. Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : PAXALLES Discovery Date : 25/09/2011 02:11 Number of articles : 2
