Politics & Policy
October 13, 2021
Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis Are Competing to Be Trump. Who’s Winning?
The first edition of our GOP primary scorecard.
Republican Presidential Primary
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Texas Hands Mitt Romney GOP Presidential Nomination
The candidate clinched his party's nomination Tuesday after scooping up 71 percent of the vote in the Texas Republican primary.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Business as Usual for Ron Paul
The Ron Paul campaign is dead, but his delegate and convention strategy lives on. Will the "Revolution" actually be televised in Tampa?
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Rick Perry’s Top 10 Zingers from the Gridiron Dinner
Rick Perry drew chuckles on purpose over the weekend with his speech at the Gridiron Dinner in Washington, D.C.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Is Ron Paul’s Campaign on Death’s Door?
Ron Paul's campaign is bleeding money and reporters. Will he be able to slog through to August?
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
What Does the Likely Primary Date Mean for Elections?
The newest Texas primary date, which will "probably" be held on May 29, affects more than congressional races.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Ron Paul Still Has a Chance to Win Maine’s Caucus
If the congressman can pick up enough votes in Maine's Washington County, which delayed its vote due to inclement weather, he might end up winning the state.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Is There a Place For a Paul in Mitt Romney’s Administration?
Ron Paul as a Romney-appointed chairman of the Federal Reserve? Rand Paul as a running mate? Don't laugh. Politics has made stranger bedfellows.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Snoop Dogg Has Some Love for Ron Paul. Guess Why?
The rapper's Facebook wall blows up after he posts a pro-Ron Paul, pro-marijuana photo.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Ron Paul Signed off on Inflammatory Newsletters
The Washington Post spoke to former Paul staffers who say the congressman was heavily involved with the company that produced the articles, some of which contained racist passages.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Is Perry Damaged Goods?
A new poll finds that only forty percent of Texans approve of the governor's performance, and pundits continue examining the political effects of his failed campaign.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Texans Are Not Sore Losers
Other presidential hopefuls from Texas have gracefully exited the stage when their time was over.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Today in Perry: The Governor’s Campaign Continues Sliding
A group of evangelicals endorse Rick Santorum, Rick Perry defends the corpse desecrating-Marines, and the governor (and his hair) seem visibly shaken in South Carolina.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Rick Perry Still Can’t Remember the Third One
Rick Perry (inadvertently?) revises his list of the three federal agencies he would kill as President.
January 21, 2013
VIDEO: Rick Perry Emerges as a “Champion” in Latest Ad
Flags, footballs, and fighter jets all flicker across the screen in the governor's latest campaign ad.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Another Setback: Rick Perry Loses Big South Carolina Donor
The governor's "vulture capitalism" remark causes a major South Carolinian donor to close his checkbook.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Rick Perry Facing Stiff Challenge from “Dick Perry” in Arizona
Protest candidate and Tucson music legend Al "Dick" Perry has better name placement on the Arizona ballot than the Texas governor.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Fightin’ Words: Ron Paul v. Jon Huntsman
After Ron Paul sends a snarky tweet about Jon Huntsman's poor showing in Iowa, Huntsman takes a jab at Paul on Piers Morgan.
January 21, 2013
It’s Not Over Until Rick Perry Removes His Neon Laces
Rick Perry, clad in running gear, proves that running a presidential campaign is a marathon, not a sprint.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Ron Paul’s Evolving Stance on His Newsletters
The history of Ron Paul's position on his offensive newsletters is beginning to emerge as the media latches on to the scandal.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Ron Paul’s Old Newsletters Come Into Focus
An old scandal about Ron Paul's newsletters, which contain "racist, anti-gay and anti-Israel passages," has again reared its head as Paul surges in Iowa.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Perry Says He’s “the Tim Tebow of the Iowa Caucuses”
In Thursday’s GOP debate in Sioux City, Rick Perry scored one of the night’s most memorable lines when he compared himself to the often-underestimated Broncos quarterback.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Former Legislator Investigates Rumors About Perry’s Sexuality
Glen Maxey's new e-book, Head Figure Head: The Search for the Hidden Life of Rick Perry, is a collection of "he said, he said" accounts.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Ron Paul Seems Viable, But Is He Electable?
Ron Paul may be enjoying a campaign surge, but he’s going to have a hard time winning over the Republican base.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Ron Paul Dismisses the Donald
Ron Paul’s talons were out over the weekend, slamming the decision to let billionaire mogul Donald Trump moderate the Newsmax debate in Iowa.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Today in Perry: An undebatable improvement, Israel, and Anita
The governor gets good grades for his performance in Saturday’s foreign policy debate despite questions about Israel policy, and the Dallas Morning News profiles the Perry marriage.
News & Politics
January 21, 2013
Today in Perry: RedState Backs Off, Cain’s “Turn in the Barrel”
Perry ally throws in the white flag, we learn the origination of the phrase “turn in the barrel,” and the governor tweets about foreign policy.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Why People Are (Still) Talking about the Perry Video
New Hampshire speech goes viral, prompting mixed reactions ranging from speculation about drunkenness to "approachable and warm."
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2012
The Meeting of the Ricks
Erstwhile presidential candidate Rick Perry met with Rick Santorum in Austin, but the details of their discussion are unknown. Maybe Santorum hopes the state will switch to a winner-takes-all primary.
Politics & Policy
April 4, 2012
No Expense too Small for Ron Paul
The Texas Republican congressman's campaign appears to report every expense—even a $0.22 purchase from FedEx—to the Federal Elections Commission.
Politics & Policy
February 9, 2012
Rick Santorum Comes to Texas
The presidential candidate visited the Metroplex, attending church in McKinney and stumping at a "faux-rustic farm" in Plano.
January 31, 2012
Mo’ Problems, Less Money
Rick Perry raised only $2.9 million in the last quarter of 2011, new campaign finance documents reveal.
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2012
Meet Mitt Romney’s Mexican Relatives
NPR's John Burnett traveled to Colonia Juarez, Mexico, to explore a side of Romney’s biography that he doesn't stump about.
Politics & Policy
January 16, 2012
Does Rick Perry Make a Better Action Figure than Presidential Candidate?
Hero Builder, a toy company based in Connecticut, created two action figures of the governor complete with "Oops" sound bite.
January 6, 2012
Perry’s Poll Numbers in Low Single Digits in South Carolina
The governor is "not a factor," according to the American Research Group president.
Politics & Policy
December 15, 2011
Are You a Whole Foods Voter or a Cracker Barrel Voter?
The Washington Post tries to put a fresh spin on the old red vs. blue divide by studying the voting habits of people who live close to one of the two retail chains.
Politics & Policy
November 30, 2011
Ron Paul Gets Serious
Never mind the pin-up calendar: Ron Paul’s new campaign video lands body blows on presidential primary opponent Newt Gingrich.
Politics & Policy
November 27, 2011
Today in Perry: Potential Post-Campaign Scenarios, Arpaio Endorsement, and Jay Leno
The governor may have taken a break from the campaign trail for Thanksgiving, but that didn’t stop the campaign press corps.
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2011
The First Parents of Texas Talk to the Dallas Morning News
The governor's parents, Ray and Amelia Perry, give nearly unprecedented interview about their son and the state of America.
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2011
“Rick Perry” returns to Saturday Night Live
Bill Hader picks up the Perry mantle on "SNL," giving Weekend Update an exclusive interview about his "bizarre, animated" New Hampshire speech.
Politics & Policy
October 6, 2011
Perry camp: no economic plan
I’m not surprised. As I said last when the Daily Beast‘s Jill Lawrence wrote that Perry needed an economic plan, there is no chance, zip, zero, zilch, none, that Perry would come out with a detailed plan. It’s not what they do. Perry is going to stick to the Carney
Politics & Policy
October 5, 2011
Perry posts a big number
$17.1 million raised in the third quarter fundraising period. This is a very impressive performance. It buys time and staying power through the next rounds of debates and into the early primaries. The accelerated primary schedule benefits candidates with the most money. (The original version of this post said $18.1
Politics & Policy
October 4, 2011
Poll shows Perry fading in Florida
The Republican War Room poll (Sept. 30), from the Houston Chronicle: Romney 28.2% Cain 23.7% Gingrich 9.8% Perry 9.1% Perry has dropped 15 points in ten days. Florida is arguably the most important state in the country in Republican politics. Texas has more delegates, but Texas is not in
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2011
Washington Post poll finds more Perry slippage
The sample covers 1,002 adults and covers the dates of September 19-October 2. Repondents were divided into “lean-Republican” voters and “registered voters.” From the Post’s story: After a quick rise in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has experienced an almost equally dramatic decline,
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2011
It’s now or never for Perry
The next Republican debate, presented by the Washington Post and Bloomberg News, will be held on October 11 at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Charlie Rose will be the moderator. Here is the official statement by the sponsors: The Washington Post-Bloomberg debate will focus on the issues voters say
Politics & Policy
October 2, 2011
Yet another poll
This one from Zogby IBOPE, the latter initials refer to a Brazilian firm that has acquired the Zogby operation. This poll is described as “interactive” but what that means is not explained. The respondents are “all likely voters and likely Republican primary voters.” This gibberish is a good reason why
Politics & Policy
October 1, 2011
Perry plummets in 9/29 Fox News poll
Many readers will be familiar with this poll since it has received a great deal of coverage. The poll was posted on September 29. The sample covers 925 registered voters, and there was a smaller subset of likely Republican voters. Romney 23% Perry 19% Cain 17% Gingrich 11% Bachmann 3%
Politics & Policy
October 1, 2011
Perry running 3rd in Iowa
The poll was conducted by American Research Group (ARG) Sample Size: 600 completed telephone interviews among a random sample of likely Republican caucus goers living in Iowa (517 Republicans and 83 no party (independent) voters). Sample Dates: September 22-27, 2011 Margin of Error: ± 4 percentage points, 95% of the
Politics & Policy
September 26, 2011
CNN: Perry 28, Romney 21
A lot of people are writing Perry off after his awful performance in the Florida debate, but this poll was taken AFTER the disastrous debate. Perry is not a good debater. He is no match for his rivals, who know federal issues better than he does, and are much
Politics & Policy
September 26, 2011
Raising Cain
Could Rick Perry’s stunning loss of the Florida straw poll have been averted? Possibly. The question here is whether the Perry camp was so overconfident that it scheduled him to go to a similar straw poll in Michigan without addressing the delegates in Florida. At the times, Perry and