Wednesday’s political round-up

August 8, 2007

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* Bill Richardson unveiled his policy on a national healthcare system yesterday, though he went into far less detail than his top-tier rivals. “Speaking in Iowa, the New Mexico governor said he would provide coverage for the 45 million Americans who currently lack it through a combination of steps: expanding Medicare eligibility to people as young as 55, letting people keep their parents’ coverage up to age 25, expanding coverage for children via Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and providing a sliding-scale tax credit for people buying their own coverage. Under his plan, all Americans would be required to get health insurance.” Richardson criticized his rivals’ plans, though his approach includes many of their elements.

* Rudy Giuliani is already predicting the Democratic ticket, telling London’s Daily Telegraph that he expects Hillary Clinton to get the nomination, and Barack Obama to be her running mate. As Giuliani sees it, Clinton will have to pick Obama because he “has had such a good showing and it’s going to be very hard for her to deny him a place on the ticket.”

* Newt Gingrich is still toying with the idea of launching a presidential campaign, telling a National Press Club luncheon yesterday that it’s not too late and he’ll decide for certain by October. “I think it is proven I’m candidate material,” he said when asked if he could organize a campaign quickly to compete in states with early primaries.

* AP: Sen. Tim Johnson and his wife Barbara plan to return to South Dakota at the end of this month, his office announced Tuesday. ‘The doctors have given me a ‘thumbs up’, and Barb and I are incredibly excited to head home,’ Johnson, D-S.D., said in a statement. ‘We have missed our friends and family and cannot wait to meet our two new grandchildren.'”

* And in Iowa, with just a few days left before the weekend’s Ames Straw Poll, Mitt Romney has unveiled a new ad seeking support. “Washington politicians in both parties have proven they can’t control spending, and they won’t control our borders,” the former Massachusetts governor says in the new ad. “I will, but I need your help to do it. So come on to Ames. After all, changing America always starts in Iowa.” Romney is expected to do well — Giuliani, McCain, and Fred Thompson are not participating in the event.

“Sen. Tim Johnson and his wife Barbara plan to return to South Dakota at the end of this month”

excellent news! i wish him the best.

“I think it is proven I’m candidate material,”

hahahahahahahaha.

  • Rudy Giuliani is already predicting the Democratic ticket, telling London’s Daily Telegraph that he expects Hillary Clinton to get the nomination, and Barack Obama to be her running mate.

    Hey, Rudolf Giuliani is beginning to sound like some commentators here at TCR. He obviously knows how to pick those “more competitive candidates.”

  • I pick the “more competitive candidates” at any given time by looking at opinion polls that I find reliable. You?

    Apparently, for obvious reasons, Rudi does the same – although I think any two Democrats in the field (and some who may not be in it yet) – would prove to be a nightmare ticket for Rudy if he somehow wins the Repugnicant nod.

  • Newt tested the Presidential climate in New Hampshire back in 1996 when he was the Speaker and was riding high with his Contract on America. He dropped out very quickly because polls showed him with incredibly high negatives.

    A lot of us remember why, and haven’t changed our opinions of him.

  • Gingrich/Delay ’08 !!!! Let’s Roll!

    Newt is delusional but I would love to see it! Mr. Resigned in disgrace is going to lead the GOP away from corruption and partisianship! HA!

  • Control spending? Control our borders? The Mitt Romney ad sounds like it could be a Ron Paul ad. Oh, wait. My mistake. Ron Paul would say he would work with congress to reduce spending, not control spending. In any case, the ad would be more credible with Ron Paul speaking.

  • Richardson didn’t really unveil his plan last night. He’s spoken on this before but few in the media paid attention.

    The biggest plus from Richardson is the reduction in the Medicare age. This is something which could be done to help even if all other health care reform is shot down in Congress. The older people get, the harder it is to obtain affordable insurance if not supplied by employers. The increased costs of covering older workers is also a factor which leads to some employers deciding to drop or reduce coverage.

    The biggest problem with Richardson’s plan is that we cannot expand care without spending money. I touched on this (regarding health reform in general, not specifically Richardson) at Liberal Values today:

    http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=1975

    “Richardson criticized his rivals’ plans, though his approach includes many of their elements.”

    When he’s criticized rival’s plans it has often been over adding new layers of government to oversee or regulate their plans.

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