​Correct The Record Thursday January 22, 2015 Afternoon Roundup

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*​**Correct The Record Thursday January 22, 2015 Afternoon Roundup:* *Tweets:* *Sec. Hillary Rodham Clinton* @HillaryClinton: Looks like @elmo <https://twitter.com/elmo> enjoyed reading with @ChelseaClinton <https://twitter.com/ChelseaClinton> more than when I sang to her as a baby. #tinear <https://twitter.com/hashtag/tinear?src=hash> @2SmallToFail <https://twitter.com/2SmallToFail> http://www.people.com/people/mobile/article/0,,20894100,00.html … <http://t.co/2F9TgVwFsg> [1/21/15, 8:03 p.m. EST <https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/558067419311534080>] *Correct The Record* @CorrectRecord: .@HillaryClinton <https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton> has stressed the need to restore America’s middle class with "a fresh start" http://correctrecord.org/emerging-2016-themes/ … <http://t.co/wjIIqME68A> [1/21/15, 2:30 p.m. EST <https://twitter.com/CorrectRecord/status/557983575031549952>] *Headlines:* *Vanity Fair: “Early Polls Show Hillary Clinton Is Way Ahead of Republican Rivals” <http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2015/hillary-clinton-republican-riavls-polls>* “It’s a nice time to be Hillary Clinton, whose shadow campaign for the presidency has the former secretary of state ahead of all major Republican hopefuls.” *Public Policy Polling: “Christie, Santorum poll poorly in Pennsylvania” <http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2015/01/christie-santorum-poll-poorly-in-pennsylvania.html>* “Clinton dominates both the general election field and the Democratic primary contest in the state.” *New York Times: First Draft: “Dean Throws Weight Behind Clinton in Blow to Warren Supporters” <http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/01/22/?entry=mb-3&_r=0>* “Howard Dean will headline a fund-raiser for the Ready for Hillary ‘super PAC’ in Manhattan next month, sending a message to donors that the liberal former governor of Vermont is fully behind a run for the presidency by Hillary Rodham Clinton.” *Los Angeles Times: “Pro-Clinton group plans to raise money in downtown L.A.” <http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-clinton-supporters-money-los-angeles-20150122-story.html>* “The Super PAC ‘Ready for Hillary’ will raise money at the City Club on Feb. 20, according to an invitation obtained by The Times. Among the event organizers are Reps. Grace Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Loretta Sanchez, as well as former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez. Attendees will contribute as much as $5,000 to attend.” *Washington Post blog: The Fix: “One in four Republicans say Hillary Clinton’s gender is a problem for them. Hmmm.” <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/22/one-in-four-republicans-say-hillary-clintons-gender-is-a-problem-for-them-hmmm/>* “Older people, for example, are much more apt to say it makes them less likely to vote for her, which suggests her gender is a real problem for some.” *USA Today: “Huckabee: Resisting the Supreme Court on gay marriage?” <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/22/capital-download-mike-huckabee-gay-marriage/22156443/>* “[Huckabee] predicted former president Bill Clinton would be an asset to his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, if she runs for the Democratic nomination. ‘I mean, he had a good presidency. I'm a Republican but I admire good governing.’” *Wall Street Journal blog: Washington Wire: “Prominent Democrats Want Joe Biden to Run — Just Not Win” <http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/22/prominent-democrats-want-joe-biden-to-run-just-not-win/>* “The prospect of an uncontested Democratic primary campaign worries some party activists. They say they want a full debate on the issues — if for no other reason to draw out Mrs. Clinton on questions of income inequality, government regulation of the financial sector, and climate change.” *Articles:* *Vanity Fair: “Early Polls Show Hillary Clinton Is Way Ahead of Republican Rivals” <http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2015/hillary-clinton-republican-riavls-polls>* By Kia Makarechi January 22, 2015, 9:54 a.m. EST It’s a nice time to be Hillary Clinton, whose shadow campaign for the presidency has the former secretary of state ahead of all major Republican hopefuls. According to a new poll by the Washington Post and ABC News, Clinton has a two-digit lead over former Florida governor Jeb Bush, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Senator Rand Paul, and New Jersey governor Chris Christie in the still very long race to the White House. When it comes to New Jersey voters, meanwhile, Christie is at his lowest approval rating in almost four years, with 48 percent of Garden State voters disapproving of his effort in Trenton, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday. Clinton’s dominance has also spelled trouble for her would-be Democratic rivals. Senator Elizabeth Warren, an anti-Wall Street crusader with bona fide reform credentials, has repeatedly said that she is not presently running for president. Her devoted, if smaller, fan base hopes they can change her mind. Warren has masterfully kept the window open by the tiniest of cracks, perhaps to push Clinton, a friend of the financial industry and somewhat of a hawk, a bit to the left. Warren acolytes, however, suffered a blow this week when former Vermont governor and influential Democrat Howard Dean announced he will headline a fundraiser for the “Ready for Hillary” fundraising juggernaut in February. Vice President Joe Biden has also refused to rule out a presidential campaign, telling ABC News “there is a chance” he would challenge Clinton. “I think this is wide open on both sides,” Biden said after praising his former administration and Senate colleague as a “really competent, capable person and a friend.” The Washington Post and ABC News did not poll respondents on the possibility of a Biden campaign. It’s worth remembering that we are currently 656 days away from the next presidential election, and a great deal can change in the intervening months. The folks toiling in Republican opposition research camps sure hope so. *Public Policy Polling: “Christie, Santorum poll poorly in Pennsylvania” <http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2015/01/christie-santorum-poll-poorly-in-pennsylvania.html>* [No Writer Mentioned] January 22, 2015 PPP's newest Pennsylvania poll really highlights how far the 2 most local potential Republican candidates for President in 2016 have fallen as the race begins to really kick off. Last June Chris Christie led the Republican field for President in the state with 23%. Since that time Christie has lost more than half of his support from GOP voters, and now musters just a tie for 4th place in the state. Christie's net +2 favorability rating with Republicans at 39/37 puts him at least 20 points behind everyone else we tested in the state. Christie's plummet is not confined to Republican voters though. In November of 2013 he led Hillary Clinton 48/44 in the state. Now Clinton has a 10 point advantage over him at 49/39. Christie's overall favorability with folks is 30/48. Christie's standing in Pennsylvania is poor, but it's not as bad as the state's former Senator Rick Santorum. Out of 9 potential candidates we tested for the Republican nomination, Santorum finishes in last place with just 6%. Santorum was already stuck in 6th place on our last poll with just 8%, but his stock has continued to fall. In addition to his poor showing with Republicans Santorum also does the worst of any Republican in a head to head with Clinton, trailing 52/36. Clinton dominates both the general election field and the Democratic primary contest in the state. In addition to her big leads over Christie and Santorum she's also up double digits on the rest of the GOP hopefuls- 50/40 over Mitt Romney, 49/38 over Jeb Bush, 50/39 over Rand Paul, 51/39 over Mike Huckabee, and 51/37 over Ben Carson. Clinton continues to dominate the Democratic field as well, getting 58% to 13% for Joe Biden, 11% for Elizabeth Warren, 5% for Bernie Sanders, and 1% each for Martin O'Malley and Jim Webb. It is worth noting that Clinton is not quite as dominant as she had been last summer though. She's dropped 7 points from her 65% standing in June, while Warren is up 6 points from her 5% standing and Biden is up 4 points from his 9% standing. Three Republicans rise to the top of the potential candidate field. Ben Carson at 18% and Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney both at 14% are the only possible candidates to hit double digit support. There's a crowd at 9% including Christie, Mike Huckabee, and Ted Cruz, and they're followed by Scott Walker at 8%, Rand Paul at 7%, and Santorum bringing up the rear at 6%. With 9 candidates within 12 points of each other it's obvious the GOP contest is pretty much up for grabs. Overall no real surprises in Pennsylvania- solid leads for Clinton against both Republicans and Democrats, and a wide open GOP field is pretty much par for the course everywhere these days. *New York Times: First Draft: “Dean Throws Weight Behind Clinton in Blow to Warren Supporters” <http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/01/22/?entry=mb-3&_r=0>* By Amy Chozick January 22, 2015 Howard Dean will headline a fund-raiser for the Ready for Hillary “super PAC” in Manhattan next month, sending a message to donors that the liberal former governor of Vermont is fully behind a run for the presidency by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mr. Dean, who was the liberals’ champion during the 2004 presidential campaign, endorsed Ready for Hillary’s efforts on behalf of Mrs. Clinton last year. The fund-raiser, to be held Feb. 5 at the Fifth Avenue home of the Democratic donor Jill Iscol, is another sign that he will not use his influence on behalf of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, this year’s great liberal hope. Ms. Warren has insisted that she will not run, but several activist groups have started efforts to draft her as a challenge to Mrs. Clinton from the left. It will take a $1,000 contribution to attend the Dean fund-raiser, $2,500 to become a member of the host committee, and $5,000 to be a chairwoman or chairman of the event. *Los Angeles Times: “Pro-Clinton group plans to raise money in downtown L.A.” <http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-clinton-supporters-money-los-angeles-20150122-story.html>* By Seema Mehta January 22, 2015, 6:30 a.m. EST As Hillary Rodham Clinton edges closer to announcing whether she will seek the White House next year, a group urging the former secretary of State to run is planning a Latino-themed fundraiser next month in downtown Los Angeles. The Super PAC “Ready for Hillary” will raise money at the City Club on Feb. 20, according to an invitation obtained by The Times. Among the event organizers are Reps. Grace Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Loretta Sanchez, as well as former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez. Attendees will contribute as much as $5,000 to attend. The group is among several formed in anticipation of a second White House bid by the Democrat. It limits donations to $25,000. Clinton has been mum about her intentions but is widely expected to run. On Wednesday, speaking in Winnipeg, Canada, Clinton aligned herself with President Obama’s policy on sanctions against Iran and, in her first remarks since the terrorist attacks in Paris, highlighted the need to fight against radical Islam. On domestic issues, she said the U.S. needs to fight stagnating wages and support changes to immigration rules. She declined to state a position on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which, if approved, would take Canadian oil across the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Though Clinton has declined to confirm that she will run for the presidency, her potential GOP rivals are taking her involvement as a given. The most recent effort to discredit her came from Mitt Romney, the Republicans' 2012 presidential nominee, who declared Fridaythat he is weighing a third presidential bid. He sought in a speech to GOP leaders to tie Clinton to Obama's policies. “The results of the Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama foreign policy have been devastating,” he said, speaking aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier Midway, now a naval aviation museum in San Diego. “This has not been a good time for American foreign policy.” *Washington Post blog: The Fix: “One in four Republicans say Hillary Clinton’s gender is a problem for them. Hmmm.” <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/22/one-in-four-republicans-say-hillary-clintons-gender-is-a-problem-for-them-hmmm/>* By Aaron Blake January 22, 2015, 11:41 a.m. EST One WaPo-ABC poll question I didn't get into in this morning's post is this: Does the fact that Hillary Clinton would be the first female president make you more likely or less likely to vote for her in 2016? Twenty four percent of people -- including 40 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of women -- say that breaking the last, highest glass ceiling makes them more likely to back her. Two-thirds say it doesn't matter one bit to their vote. But if you look a little closer, you'll find something interesting: While most Republicans say Clinton's gender doesn't matter, about one-quarter of them (24 percent) say the fact that she would be the first female president makes them less likely to vote for her. Just 8 percent say it makes them more likely to back her. *The first-female-president factor* Does the fact that Hillary Clinton would be the first female president make you more likely or less likely to vote for her in 2016? Now, are one-quarter of Republicans really opposed to a female president because she's a female? No, though it's a good bet that some feel that way. (Older people, for example, are much more apt to say it makes them less likely to vote for her, which suggests her gender is a real problem for some.) But the data is instructive at some level. When these Republicans hear the name "Hillary Clinton," their impulse is to say "no" in whatever way possible -- even if that means saying that her gender is a problem for them. They might never have considered what a female president would actually mean, but they know they don't like Clinton. Hence, "less likely." It's the same reason 51 percent of Democrats say Jeb Bush's last name makes them less likely to vote for him. Almost all of them wouldn't vote for him regardless of what his name was, of course, but they still say "less likely" anyway, because "Bush." It's almost automatic. Of course, Republicans aren't the only one who say they are turned off by the first-female-president thing. Ten percent of independents, 10 percent of women, 9 percent of self-described "liberals," and even 5 percent of liberal women say the same. *USA Today: “Huckabee: Resisting the Supreme Court on gay marriage?” <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/22/capital-download-mike-huckabee-gay-marriage/22156443/>* By Susan Page January 22, 2015, 12:53 p.m. EST NEW YORK — Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a likely contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination and a leading voice for Christian conservatives, said Thursday that governors and state legislatures should consider ways to resist a Supreme Court decision that recognized same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. On USA TODAY's Capital Download, Huckabee likened such a possible decision, on an issue now being weighed by the high court, to the notorious Dred Scott case before the Civil War that ruled African Americans couldn't be citizens. Pushing back against such an opinion "is not without historical and judicial precedence," he said in an interview promoting his new book, God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy, published Wednesday by St. Martin's Press. If he were still governor, he said, "I think I would put it before the legislature. I mean, we would ask, 'We have a constitutional amendment in our constitution. Do we want to hold to that? Do we want to put it before a referendum of the people?' I mean, there are a lot of different angles to pursue it. (Or) you could just surrender and say, 'OK, we just agree that the court is right.' " Whatever the legal basis for Huckabee's stance — and constitutional scholars question whether there is one — as a political matter his fervent opposition all but guarantees that the issue of gay marriage will be prominent in the GOP presidential debate. While other leading contenders also oppose gay marriage, some of them, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have said court decisions recognizing the right make it a settled question. Huckabee disagrees. "Rather than just immediately capitulate to nine people in robes, and what it will probably be is five people in robes against four people who disagree ... then you have a very, very divided court," he told the weekly newsmaker series. "Do we really surrender the entire American system of government to five people, unelected, appointed for life, with no consequences for the decisions they make? The founders never intended for there to be such incredible, almost unlimited power, put in the hands of so few people." However, Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Law School, Irvine, said states would have no options if the Supreme Court decided that laws prohibiting same-sex marriage violated the Constitution. "There have been efforts by states to circumvent or ignore Supreme Court decisions, most notably the intense Southern resistance to Brown v. Board of Education and desegregation," Chemerinsky said. "The Supreme Court made it clear that its ruling was the law of the land. This will be no different." The issue has been joined, he noted. "Already, marriage equality exists in 36 states, mostly because of court decisions, and there has not been the type of resistance Huckabee suggests." Still, it is a sign of Huckabee's appeal to the evangelical Christians who are among the GOP's most loyal voters that his new book immediately shot to No. 1 in sales among political books on Amazon and into the top 100 among books of all sorts. In his folksy, conversational style, he unfavorably contrasts New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — places he dubs "Bubble-ville" — with those from the heartland, which he dubs "Bubba-ville." At one point in the book, he discussed how "goooood" it is to eat game. "I'm sorry if that sounds cruel to any vegan readers," he added. "(And are there any? Raise your hands, if you have the strength.)" In the interview, Huckabee also: • Acknowledged he was likely to make his second bid for the White House. He also ran in 2008. "If everything continues to work well and I sense that there is, say, the proper financial and political support, then I think it's a given that that's where the destination is." • Predicted former president Bill Clinton would be an asset to his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, if she runs for the Democratic nomination. "I mean, he had a good presidency. I'm a Republican but I admire good governing." • Dismissed as overblown a furor over comments in his new book criticizing Beyonce and Jay-Z for using sexually explicit lyrics, and the president and first lady for allowing their daughters to listen to them. "I do think they're good parents," he said of the Obamas, adding he has some of Beyonce's songs on his iPhone. "She's an incredibly gifted singer and dancer. She doesn't need to get into the vulgar in order to be successful and influential." He also denied charges of hypocrisy, leveled this week by Jon Stewart in a combative interview on The Daily Show, because he had played bass backing up rocker Ted Nugent as he sang "Cat Scratch Fever," a song with sexually suggestive lyrics of its own. • Discussed reports that the FBI had decided not to pursue civil-rights charges in the police shooting in Ferguson, Mo., saying the Justice Department would have proceeded if it could have found any standing to do so. "It was obvious that (Attorney General) Eric Holder wanted to be able to bring charges," he said. "It was almost evident from the beginning that he was hoping that they would be able to find some way to indict or bring some charges against officer Darren Wilson." Now, he said, "I hope that (civil rights activist and MSNBC anchor) Al Sharpton will have a rally and apologize for having incited so many people to actions that were hurtful to the people of Ferguson, hurtful to many minority business owners whose businesses were burned and looted because passions were inflamed." *Wall Street Journal blog: Washington Wire: “Prominent Democrats Want Joe Biden to Run — Just Not Win” <http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/22/prominent-democrats-want-joe-biden-to-run-just-not-win/>* By Peter Nicholas January 22, 2015, 12:56 p.m. EST Several prominent Democrats say they’d like to see Vice President Joe Biden enter the 2016 presidential race. They’re just not so sure they’d vote for him. Mr. Biden told ABC this week that he’s still considering a presidential bid and wouldn’t be deterred by Hillary Clinton jumping in the race. Polls show Mrs. Clinton is a runaway front-runner, leading other prospective Democratic candidates by an average of 50 points. Mr. Biden, it seems, doesn’t want to be counted out. He described the presidential race as “wide open on both sides.” A decision from Mr. Biden may not come until the summer, he told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. Mrs. Clinton is expected to announce her candidacy this spring. At this point it’s unclear whether she’ll face a serious challenge. The prospect of an uncontested Democratic primary campaign worries some party activists. They say they want a full debate on the issues — if for no other reason to draw out Mrs. Clinton on questions of income inequality, government regulation of the financial sector, and climate change. For that reason, even some of Mrs. Clinton’s supporters cheered the vice president’s comments and said they’d like to see him vie the nomination. Bakari Sellers, a former Democratic state representative in South Carolina – a state that typically holds one of the earliest presidential primaries in the campaign season — said in an interview: “There’s nobody who brings more credibility to the Democratic field than Joe Biden. Joe Biden is a very close friend to South Carolina, and his relationship with the White House brings nothing but upside to his chances in a Democratic primary in South Carolina. And the more voices we have in our primary, the better.” And yet … Mr. Sellers isn’t necessarily in the Biden camp. He said he is “leaning” toward supporting Mrs. Clinton. “I do believe that the country is ready for Hillary Clinton to be president of the United States,” Mr. Sellers said. Ned Helms is a former state Democratic Party chairman in New Hampshire, which typically holds the nation’s first presidential primary. He said he attended a second term inauguration party hosted by Mr. Biden at his residence in Washington, D.C., and also was a guest of Mr. Biden at a reception during the Democratic presidential convention in Charlotte, N.C., in 2012. “Frankly, there are some folks up here who have deep affection for the vice president. I include myself in that company,” Mr. Helms said. “He’s been an absolutely fantastic vice president.’’ And yet … “My guess is he would be a lot of people’s second choice right now. I don’t think he’s a lot of folks’ first choice right now,” Mr. Helms added. Jim Demers, a former Democratic state representative in New Hampshire, said he has attended several parties at Mr. Biden’s residence in Washington. “If he believes he wants to make a run he has every right to do that. And if he were to run the quality of the debate would be very high,” Mr. Demers said. “He has a lot of friends in New Hampshire,” he continued. “He certainly would have a very positive message to tell if the economy continues to turn around, as we’re seeing today. He’s very capable.” And yet … Mr. Demers is backing Mrs. Clinton. “I’ve made an early decision this time to support Hillary Clinton because this is her time. Timing is really important when you’re running for office and she has a lot to contribute and would be a very, very strong nominee.” He said: “There are strong indications this could be a historic nomination process for Hillary Clinton,” adding: “She’s polling at numbers no candidate has ever seen before. If Hillary Clinton runs, it’s going to be difficult for any Democrat to beat her.”