Pure Horserace: Rudy's Policy Push
Health care policy has been a major issue for Democratic candidates for president. But it hasn't always gotten the same level of attention on the Republican side of the campaign (unless you've spent a lot of time listening to Tommy Thompson). Today, Rudy Giuliani hauled some specifics of his health care plan, one that shows the divide between the two parties' approach to the issue — and should spur some friction within the GOP field itself.
Where Democrats mostly advocate more of a government role in reaching a goal of universal coverage, Giuliani is touting a predictable approach for someone seeking the GOP nomination — one based on consumer choice and the free market.
The broad outlines of Giuliani's plan include a $15,000 tax deduction to allow families and individuals without health insurance from their employers to purchase their own insurance plans from private companies. Prices will drop and quality increase as more people opt into such a program, the thinking goes. Other features include a tax credit for low-income Americans to go toward purchasing health coverage and medical liability reform.
Certainly Giuliani's plan allows the campaign to contrast itself with Democrats, some of whom seek mandated universal coverage, as "socialized medicine." But it also is quite a different approach than that followed by Mitt Romney during his tenure as governor of Massachusetts. While in that office, Romney signed and hailed a health care plan that required residents to be covered and helped fund those who could not afford to do so.
Romney stresses that his measure did not rely on tax increases and relies on the markets as well — but he hasn't made his Massachusetts plan a centerpiece of his campaign thus far. While Democrats bicker with one another about whose plan is more comprehensive and complete, we may start to see some more back-and-forth between Giuliani and Romney about their records and plans for health care reform. — Vaughn Ververs
Thompson Fundraising Details: Details of Fred Thompson's early fundraising results are out and, as expected, the total amount of money raised in the first month of his "testing the waters" phase was a little less than astounding. In the month of June, Friends of Fred Thompson collected $3.4 million from 9,167 donors. The committee, which opened its doors on June 1, is not an official campaign vehicle and does not yet fall under FEC guidelines but is required to file with the IRS by midnight tonight.
The non-campaign released its totals to the media this afternoon, and the non-candidate himself said he was heartened by the response from donors. "The level of support and enthusiasm from people across this country is inspiring," the actor and former Tennessee senator said in a statement. "It tells me that people are ready for a leader who will change the national attitude from political bickering to a shared vision for our future. A leader who will bring us together, one who understands the challenges we face."
The amount was less than many anticipated considering the excitement and buzz generated by Thompson's moves to dip his foot in the water in June: $3.4 million is not shabby for a month but it puts him on pace to raise just over $10 million for a quarter — less than the $17 million raised by Giuliani and the $14 million taken by Romney in the second quarter of the year. Even John McCain, whose campaign has been rocked by fundraising woes, managed to raise over $11 million in the second quarter. But he had only about $2 million left in the bank before a major campaign shake-up. Thompson reports having about $2.8 million cash on hand. — Vaughn Ververs
Shake It Up? Is there something happening in the early states of Iowa and South Carolina? According to a pair of polls out today, there may be at least a little hiccup happening. Polls by the American Research Group are showing big gains for Giuliani and Obama, compared to where most recent polls have shown them.
In New Hampshire, Obama is in a dead heat with Hillary Clinton, with each at 31 percent. On the GOP side, Giuliani has overtaken Romney, 27 percent to 26 percent. Clinton and Romney each had sizable leads in the June ARG poll. In South Carolina, Obama leads Clinton 33 percent to 29 percent while Giuliani bests Fred Thompson 28 percent to 27 percent. Once again, it's early and polls at this point are fluid, even in the early states. But it gives us all something to chew over. — Vaughn Ververs
Ads Rolling Out: The heat of summer is generally not the time campaigns look at for buying advertising time on television, but there are two new ones hitting the airwaves in Iowa today.
Obama is up with a new spot that emphasizes his message of reform — one that he's been pushing on the stump in that state this week. Obama has made a point to refuse campaign money from lobbyists or political action committees, something he told Iowans this week hasn't hampered his fundraising ability; he raised about $31 million last quarter alone. "We don't take PAC money, we don't take money from federally registered lobbyists and you know what? It turns out the American people will lift you up when you do the right thing. We've raised some money."
Romney is also up with a new ad in Iowa — this one on illegal immigration, a hot issue for GOP activists in the state. Taken straight from one of his stump speeches, Romney reminds state Republicans that he's just as tough as most on securing the borders and opposing any form of amnesty. "People that are here illegally are going to have to get in line with everybody else with no special pathway to becoming citizens," he says in the ad. "Legal immigration is great, but illegal immigration that we've got to end." Romney is pushing hard in Iowa in advance of next month's GOP straw poll, and getting immigration into the mix isn't a bad way to solidify his current success there. — Vaughn Ververs
Editor's note: Pure Horserace is a daily update of political news as interpreted by the political observers at CBSNews.com. Click here to sign up for the e-mail version.
By Vaughn Ververs and David Miller
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Where Democrats mostly advocate more of a government role in reaching a goal of universal coverage, Giuliani is touting a predictable approach for someone seeking the GOP nomination — one based on consumer choice and the free market.
The broad outlines of Giuliani's plan include a $15,000 tax deduction to allow families and individuals without health insurance from their employers to purchase their own insurance plans from private companies. Prices will drop and quality increase as more people opt into such a program, the thinking goes. Other features include a tax credit for low-income Americans to go toward purchasing health coverage and medical liability reform.
Certainly Giuliani's plan allows the campaign to contrast itself with Democrats, some of whom seek mandated universal coverage, as "socialized medicine." But it also is quite a different approach than that followed by Mitt Romney during his tenure as governor of Massachusetts. While in that office, Romney signed and hailed a health care plan that required residents to be covered and helped fund those who could not afford to do so.
Romney stresses that his measure did not rely on tax increases and relies on the markets as well — but he hasn't made his Massachusetts plan a centerpiece of his campaign thus far. While Democrats bicker with one another about whose plan is more comprehensive and complete, we may start to see some more back-and-forth between Giuliani and Romney about their records and plans for health care reform. — Vaughn Ververs
Thompson Fundraising Details: Details of Fred Thompson's early fundraising results are out and, as expected, the total amount of money raised in the first month of his "testing the waters" phase was a little less than astounding. In the month of June, Friends of Fred Thompson collected $3.4 million from 9,167 donors. The committee, which opened its doors on June 1, is not an official campaign vehicle and does not yet fall under FEC guidelines but is required to file with the IRS by midnight tonight.
The non-campaign released its totals to the media this afternoon, and the non-candidate himself said he was heartened by the response from donors. "The level of support and enthusiasm from people across this country is inspiring," the actor and former Tennessee senator said in a statement. "It tells me that people are ready for a leader who will change the national attitude from political bickering to a shared vision for our future. A leader who will bring us together, one who understands the challenges we face."
The amount was less than many anticipated considering the excitement and buzz generated by Thompson's moves to dip his foot in the water in June: $3.4 million is not shabby for a month but it puts him on pace to raise just over $10 million for a quarter — less than the $17 million raised by Giuliani and the $14 million taken by Romney in the second quarter of the year. Even John McCain, whose campaign has been rocked by fundraising woes, managed to raise over $11 million in the second quarter. But he had only about $2 million left in the bank before a major campaign shake-up. Thompson reports having about $2.8 million cash on hand. — Vaughn Ververs
Shake It Up? Is there something happening in the early states of Iowa and South Carolina? According to a pair of polls out today, there may be at least a little hiccup happening. Polls by the American Research Group are showing big gains for Giuliani and Obama, compared to where most recent polls have shown them.
In New Hampshire, Obama is in a dead heat with Hillary Clinton, with each at 31 percent. On the GOP side, Giuliani has overtaken Romney, 27 percent to 26 percent. Clinton and Romney each had sizable leads in the June ARG poll. In South Carolina, Obama leads Clinton 33 percent to 29 percent while Giuliani bests Fred Thompson 28 percent to 27 percent. Once again, it's early and polls at this point are fluid, even in the early states. But it gives us all something to chew over. — Vaughn Ververs
Ads Rolling Out: The heat of summer is generally not the time campaigns look at for buying advertising time on television, but there are two new ones hitting the airwaves in Iowa today.
Obama is up with a new spot that emphasizes his message of reform — one that he's been pushing on the stump in that state this week. Obama has made a point to refuse campaign money from lobbyists or political action committees, something he told Iowans this week hasn't hampered his fundraising ability; he raised about $31 million last quarter alone. "We don't take PAC money, we don't take money from federally registered lobbyists and you know what? It turns out the American people will lift you up when you do the right thing. We've raised some money."
Romney is also up with a new ad in Iowa — this one on illegal immigration, a hot issue for GOP activists in the state. Taken straight from one of his stump speeches, Romney reminds state Republicans that he's just as tough as most on securing the borders and opposing any form of amnesty. "People that are here illegally are going to have to get in line with everybody else with no special pathway to becoming citizens," he says in the ad. "Legal immigration is great, but illegal immigration that we've got to end." Romney is pushing hard in Iowa in advance of next month's GOP straw poll, and getting immigration into the mix isn't a bad way to solidify his current success there. — Vaughn Ververs
Editor's note: Pure Horserace is a daily update of political news as interpreted by the political observers at CBSNews.com. Click here to sign up for the e-mail version.
By Vaughn Ververs and David Miller
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He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.
He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
Please, search "Ron Paul" in www.youtube.com to check the information directly.
In fairness, the rest of the GOP field and most of the Democratic field of Presidential aspirants have proposed similar, ludicrous healthcare policies.
The OIG-DHHS and DOJ are annoying enough with their pesky investigations into Medicare and Medicaid fraud:
http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/cia/index.html
Imagine how obtrusive they might get if turned loose on the so-called private sector ... you know, working stiffs' segment of the healthcare non-system!
Giuliani's pandering to the private healthcare non-system is consistent and unflinching, which is why he should remain a wealthy lobbyist ... not another corporate hack in The White House to serve special interests of all stripes:
http://todaysseniorsnetwork.com/guiliani_sell...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/05/o...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18672413/
On the other hand, why confuse folks with facts? The image of Rudy with hanky to mouth walking toward the debris and dust after 9/11 should be enough for them to pony up their votes.
Hillary should be President because she is a woman; Rudy because he was the Mayor of NYC when it was bombed; and Fred Thompson because he is a 'Law & Order' kinda guy.
Its all good!