NY Times: Members Of The House Face Uphill Battles For Senate
On February 15, 2012, the New York Times reported:
Republicans, who need a net gain of only four seats to guarantee control of the Senate, have long been optimistic that they could capture the majority because they are defending just 10 of the 33 seats up for grabs. But their task is complicated by the fact that many of their candidates are sitting or recent members of the House, which polls show to be deeply unpopular.
Huffington Post: Mitt Romney, 'Son Of Detroit,' Tools Around Michigan In Car Manufactured In Canada
On February 15, the Huffington Post reported:
Having seen Mitt Romney tool around the Greater Detroit area in two campaign ads in which he nostalgically recalls his childhood and his love of cars, you might be wondering, "What sort of car is he driving?" As it turns out, he's behind the wheel of a cherry Chrysler 300, the pride of Detroit. Oh, wait! Did I say "Detroit?" Sorry, ha ha, I meant "Canada." Yes, as the sleuths at Blue Mass Group report, Romney's whip is a foreign-born Chrysler, manufactured in Brampton, Ontario and imported to Detroit so that it can be imported "from" Detroit.
TPM: D’oh! Romney Backer Attacks Santorum For Same Votes He Cast Himself
On February 14, 2012, Talking Points Memo reported:
From Political Surrogate Usage 101: Don’t send your surrogate out to attack someone for exactly the same thing he once did. The Romney campaign did just that when they dispatched former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) to attack Rick Santorum’s budget-busting vote to add a Medicare prescription drug program in the Senate. The problem they quickly ran into was that Talent voted the same way.
Boston Globe: Mitt Romney And Rick Santorum Fight Over Each’s Record Getting Earmarks From Washington
On February 13, 2012, the Boston Globe reported:
But Romney’s opponents are using Romney’s record against him. “Mitt Romney criticizing Rick Santorum over requesting earmarks is so blatantly hypocritical it is outright laughable,” said Ty Matsdorf, spokesman for the Democratic group American Bridge 21st Century. “As both governor and head of the Olympics, Romney actively and aggressively pursued federal funding, which makes this line of attack nothing more than a cheap political shot.”
Lugar’s Longstanding Love Affair With Earmarks
As the primary battle for the Republican Senate nomination heats up, Dick Lugar has come under increased scrutiny for his record on earmarks. And it is quite the record. Aside from sponsoring over $300 million in earmark requests in just the last 4 years, he has also actively opposed efforts to reform the system. “No matter how much he would like to forget his big-spending past, there is no doubt that Dick Lugar is a champion earmarker. Maybe that is acceptable to his neighbors in Virginia, but I doubt he would hear much support from Hoosiers,” said Matt Thornton, spokesman for American Bridge 21st Century. See the research below.
NY Times: Romney Runs As An Outsider But Makes Room For Lobbyists
On February 12, 2012, the New York Times reported:
They have hosted fund-raisers and raised millions of dollars for his campaign. They employed some of his top operatives after his first White House run, helped create the platform for his second bid and have deployed regularly to attack his Republican rivals on the campaign trail. For a candidate running against the entrenched interests of Washington, Mitt Romney keeps an awful lot of lobbyists around.
Evansville Courier & Press: Lugar's 'Home' To Be An Issue In Senate Campaign
On February 11, 2012, the Evansville Courier & Press reported:
Instead of owning a home in the Hoosier state, Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar lives in Virginia and stays in hotels when he visits the place he has represented for 36 years.
POLITICO: Lugar "In Defense" Of Country From Virginia
On February 10, 2012, POLITICO reported:
This is a terrible news clip for Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar even without his campaign's head-scratching comment.
The Hill: Hoekstra Campaign Pulls Website Tied To Controversial Super Bowl Commercial
On February 9, 2012, The Hill reported:
Former Rep. Pete Hoekstra’s (R-Mich.) campaign removed a website tied to his controversial Super Bowl ad Thursday, although his spokesman insists the Senate hopeful stands by — and will continue to air — the accompanying television spot.
WISH-TV: Where Does Sen. Lugar Live?
On February 9, 2012, WISH-TV reported:
Indiana Senator Richard Lugar lives in Virginia. It’s not a legal problem according to the Indiana Attorney General. It may be a political problem, however, if Democrats and Tea Party supporters get their way. They are all trying to make the case that Dick Lugar is disconnected from Indiana. A new web video from a Republican political action committee, American Bridge, points out that Dick Lugar is registered to vote at an Indianapolis home he sold 35 years ago.