The day long event is being held in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL (the same location as the presidential debate last night). Kudos to those who scheduled these two events back-to-back in the same place. After his impressive performance at the presidential debate last night, hopefully Mitt Romney slept very well and then upon waking, he can simply walk to the CPAC venue. He’s scheduled to speak this morning at 9:30 AM ET.
All of the GOP presidential candidates are scheduled to speak. (Note that Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who dropped out of the presidential race yesterday and endorsed Mitt, is scheduled to speak at 10:00 AM ET.)
For a livefeed of the events, click here. (A simple registration is required or log in if you’ve previously registered.)
Here’s a look at today’s morning schedule (click to enlarge – schedule subject to change):
Other confirmed speakers include:
Dick Armey (Freedom Works Chairman), Jeff Atwater, Pam Bondi, David Bossie, Dean Cannon, Al Cardenas, Ann Coulter, S.E. Cupp, Luis Fortuño, Mike Haridopolos, Bill Kristol, George H. Nash, Grover Norquist, Adam Putnam, Ralph Reed, Marco Rubio
Tim Pawlenty, National Co-Chair of the Romney campaign, issued a statement on Romney's GOP presidential debate performance in Tampa, FL last night, touting Romney's knowledge on job creation. 9/12/11
Tampa, FL – Romney for President National Co-Chair Governor Tim Pawlenty issued the following statement regarding tonight’s CNN/Tea Party debate in Tampa, Florida:
“Mitt Romney was the clear winner of tonight’s debate. His experience working in the real economy was evident tonight. No other candidate has the same knowledge of how jobs are created and what it will take for our economy to grow and for businesses to start hiring again. I am supporting him because I know that his experience and values are what the country needs to get on the right track.”
Boston, MA – Florida Representative Connie Mack made the following statement regarding tonight’s CNN/Tea Party debate in Tampa, FL:
“Mitt Romney clearly won the debate by laying out how he will get our economy
U.S. Rep Connie Mack (R-FL)
back on track. No other candidate in the field has his experience working in the real economy. Our next president will need that experience to turn around the economy. President Obama never worked in the real economy and look where we are today – with 25 million people unemployed, underemployed or have stopped looking for work. Mitt Romney has created tens of thousands of jobs both in the private sector and as Governor. President Obama has created none.”
“Our nominee must also oppose the dismantling of Social Security. It is a program millions of seniors rely on – and many of them in our state of Florida. Unlike Rick Perry, Mitt Romney does not want to destroy this program but has pledged to fix it for future generations.”
(emphasis added)
Debate transcript may be found here. (There are four sections; see right-hand column.)
Boy, that sure was a very favorable crowd for Rick Perry at the beginning of the debate. However, it was very interesting and telling to see the crowd grow less and less favorable towards Rick Perry the more they heard about him. Whether the topic was healthcare, the HPV vaccine, immigration/border security, or even national defense, the weakening response from the crowd was very noticeable.
It’s pretty interesting that the All-Star Panel on Fox’s Special Report overwhelming gave the debate to Mitt. Both the republican and democrat on the O’Reilly Factor picked Mitt as the winner as well.
Debate transcript may be found here. (There are four sections; see right-hand column.)
FULL VIDEO OF DEBATE
The rest of the debate can be see below the foldRead more…
Here’s the low down on the show down in Tampa tonight…
The CNN/Tea Party GOP presidential debate begins tonight at 8:00 PM EST in Tampa, Florida. Wolf Blitzer (CNN) will moderate:
CNN and the Tea Party Express, along with more than 100 local tea party groups from every state across the country, will team up Monday, September 12 to present a first-of-its-kind debate from the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention: Tampa, Florida. Eight Republican presidential contenders will face questions from moderator and lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer during the two-hour event, which will air live on CNN from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. from the Florida State Fairgrounds. The debate will focus on a wide-range of topics, including the role, size and scope of government, with a specific emphasis on issue number one to tea party members and all Americans: the economy.
In addition to questions from Blitzer, audience members inside the debate hall, made up in part by members from tea party groups in 31 states and the District of Columbia, will be invited to ask questions directly to the candidates. Questions will also be taken live from tea party members at debate watch parties in Phoenix, Ariz.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Portsmouth, Virginia. Online, CNN will solicit questions via comments on CNNPolitics.com, the CNN Politics Facebook page, and by using the #CNNTeaParty hashtag on Twitter.
(emphasis added)
Debate preparation preview:
Tim Pawlenty, Romney’s new National Campaign Co-Chair will be a guest of The Gov’s at tonight’s debate.
DEBATE OPTIONS:
TV
CNN – 8 PM EST- 10PM
CNN replay- 11 PM EST – 1:00 AM
LIVEstream: Here and here
The debate will be available via live stream in the CNN Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Expect a ROBUST exchange between Gov Romney and Rick Perry tonight. So, Mitt supporters, pop some corn, pop open your laptop, and pop in right here on MRC chat to join the fun when the debate begins!
Undeterred by a National Labor Relations Board lawsuit, Boeing opened their new plant in N. Charleston, SC on June 10, 2011. Mitt Romney and new Natl Campaign Co-chair Tim Pawlenty toured the facility today. Sept 12, 2011 (photo/Steve Wilhelm)
Before making his way to Florida for the presidential debate this evening, Governor Mitt Romney toured a Boeing plant in South Carolina. At his side was new National Co-Chair of Romney’s campaign – Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Romney then delivered a union policy speech to a crowd in N. Charleston; he was introduced by Pawlenty.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appeared in North Charleston today with his former rival and newest supporter, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Pawlenty praised Romney as “the most capable, most knowledgeable, most electable candidate in the race so far.”
Flanked by screens showing the outline of a jetliner, Romney flew into the Lowcountry today to launch his campaign here by talking labor policy and taking aim at the National Labor Relations Board and its lawsuit against Boeing.
Both Romney and Pawlenty toured Boeing’s new manufacturing plant here, the plant that triggered the board’s action. At issue is whether Boeing illegally weakened unions in Washington state by choosing South Carolina – a right to work state – for the plant.
Romney accused Obama of putting “labor stooges on the NLRB to pursue a political payback strategy,” a claim that drew his first applause from the audience.
The National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) has sued Boeing, alleging the $750 million plant was built in South Carolina to avoid unionized labor in Washington state. South Carolina is a strong right-to-work state.
SC Gov. Nikki Haley has been strongly critical of the Obama administration because of the NLRB suit against Boeing.
SC State Treasurer Curtis Loftis, Chairman of the Romney campaign in SC, was also present for The Gov’s speech. In fact, he has a message for America:
South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis at Mitt Romney's union speech in N. Charleston, SC today. Loftis is Chairman of the Romney campaign in SC. 9/12/11 (click on image to enlarge)
CHECK BACK: If video of Romney’s speech becomes available, we’ll post it here.
On Monday, Romney also named William Kilberg, the lead counsel for Boeing in the ongoing dispute, as a co-chairman of his Labor Policy Advisory Group. Kilberg will help “shape the policies I am proposing to return power from the labor bosses to the workers and businesses that can get our economy going again,” Romney said in a statement.
“Boeing, when they decided where they were going to build their new expansion facility, chose South Carolina, chose America,” Romney said in the speech. “The folks that are their No. 1 competitor, Airbus, chose China for their expansion. … Boeing did the right thing. Boeing should not be punished for doing the right thing. Boeing should be celebrated and encouraged.”
The issue has become important in key state South Carolina, where Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has repeatedly called on Obama, along with the Republican presidential candidates, to state his position on the lawsuit.
(emphasis added to articles)
Tim Pawlenty will join Gov Romney as a guest this evening at the GOP debate in Florida.
Tim Pawlenty has endorsed Mitt Romney this morning. He has also been named National Co-Chair of Romney's campaign. Sept 12, 2011
HUGE NEWS!
Appearing on FOX & Friends this morning, Governor Tim Pawlenty gave a big announcement. *HE HAS ENDORSED MITT ROMNEY and will be his NATIONAL CO-CHAIR!
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty just endorsed former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in an interview on Fox News, revealing he will become co-chair of his former opponents campaign.
Pawlenty called Romney “the “complete package,” but specifically cited his leadership on the economy as the reason for his decision.
He added that Romney “doesn’t want to abolish or end” Social Security, but made the point that front-runner Texas Gov. does.
[...]
The prominent endorsement gives Romney more ammunition in his campaign to be seen as the more electable candidate — as the debate prepares to center, at least temporarily, on Social Security.
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Mitt Romney for president Monday, praising his onetime rival for his “leadership ability” and the “depth and scope of [his] private-sector experience.”
“I believe he’s going to be our party’s nominee,” Pawlenty said on “Fox and Friends,” predicting Romney would be a “transformational and great president.”
Less than a month after ending his own White House bid, Pawlenty was in sync with the Romney campaign’s message on everything from jobs to health care, to Social Security and Rick Perry.
Asked how he could endorse a candidate who he once mocked as the author of “Obamneycare,” Pawlenty said he’d spoken about health care with Romney and concluded: “Mitt Romney is 100 percent dedicated and committed to repealing Obamacare.”
Defending Romney’s jobs record as governor of Massachusetts, Pawlenty said Romney had “great success when it comes to growing jobs and the economy,” citing his time in business and leading the Salt Lake City Oympics.
Pawlenty also joined the escalating back-and-forth between Romney and Rick Perry over entitlement programs, which Pawlenty said Perry may want to end.
“Gov. Romney wants to fix Social Security. He doesn’t want to abolish it or end it,” Pawlenty said. “Gov. Perry has said in the past that he thought it was ‘failed.’”
Pawlenty, who is joining the Romney campaign as a national co-chairman, said he wasn’t angling for any other job in giving Romney an early endorsement.
“I’m not going to consider being VP. I was down that path once before with John McCain,” he said. “That won’t be part of the future for me.”
[...]
What a great way to begin the middle of the week! Mitt Romney has received a big stamp of approval from key supporters from Tim Pawlenty’s campaign – two are elected officials in Iowa:
MANCHESTER, N.H. — As Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney began a campaign swing across New Hampshire on Wednesday, he picked up several key endorsements here and in the first-caucus state of Iowa.
Romney also won the backing of Vin Weber, a former Minnesota congressman and prominent Washington lobbyist who had served as national co-chairman of former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty’s presidential campaign.
“It is an honor to again work with Mitt Romney,” Weber said in a statement issued by the campaign. “At such a critical time in our nation’s history, it is important that we have someone with his background to lead the country.”
Romney said he was proud to have Weber’s support: “Vin will be a trusted adviser, and I look forward to working with him to help get our country moving in the right direction again.”
[...]
In a May interview with The Washington Post, Weber explained why he was backing Pawlenty over Romney.
“After the election of President Obama, who is in so many ways a different kind of candidate than we’ve seen before, there are a lot of Republicans who really want to see a new face at the top of our ticket,” Weber said. “That’s the only explanation I can put on it. Mitt is a great guy and a strong candidate in my view.”
Weber added: “I never came to the conclusion I was disaffected from Mitt Romney. I thought he was a great guy, a great candidate and I think the world of him. But I had to make a very personal decision. Tim Pawlenty’s been a friend of mine for 20-plus years. I think Pawlenty’s a great candidate.”
Romney also won endorsements Wednesday from two elected officials in Iowa who had supported Pawlenty’s bid. State Rep. Linda Miller and Dallas County Recorder Chad Airhart are joining Romney’s leadership team.
[...] “I am grateful to receive the support of so many great leaders in Iowa,” Romney said in a statement. “We will work together to turn around the economy, put Americans back to work and reverse the failed policies of the last three years.”
Running for President of the United States is a very unique undertaking that virtually all of us will never even come close to attempting. Tim Pawlenty was a very good governor, but he didn’t offer much to the table that Mitt didn’t. Almost everything that Tim Pawlenty did well, Mitt did even better. Plus, the media branded T-Paw as boring from the start which certainly impeded his ability to get traction. Gov. Pawlenty brought an unique voice to the race and we hope he stays active in the campaign to make President Obama a one-term President.
One of the most telling moments of the entire campaign so far was when Gov. Pawlenty refused to trash Gov. Romney. Gov. Pawlenty did go after Mitt’s record at the most recent debate, but we could tell that was more out of necessity and not out of spite or anything nefarious. Plus, it gave Gov. Romney another chance to enlighten the audience on this important issue. My main point is that I want to make sure people know how close Gov. Pawlenty and Gov. Romney really are. Gov. Pawlenty hired some of Romney’s 2008 staffers for his campaign, the two of them did some campaign events together in 2010, they were both Republican Governors at the same time, and they both have focused on defeating President Obama more than they have focused on attacking other republicans. Oh yeah, and guess who Ann Romney chose to sit next to at the 2008 GOP convention while Mitt was speaking?
We’ve all said that Tim Pawlenty would’ve been a far superior president than President Obama and we would’ve supported him with great ease should he have been the GOP nominee in 2012. Goal #1 has always been and must remain that President Obama is a one-term President!
Any supporters of Tim Pawlenty are welcomed with open arms to join us here at Mitt Romney Central or even to just stop by and chat/see what’s going on from time to time. Together we can Bring America Back and help people who’ve lost faith to Believe in America again!
UPDATE - Governor Romney issued this statement:
Tim Pawlenty and his entire team ran an honorable campaign. I admire his accomplishments as a two term Governor with a record of results for his state. I consider him a friend and I know he has a bright future ahead of him as a leader in the Republican Party.”
Michele Bachmann is the winner of the Ames Straw Poll.
On a day when Gov. Perry announced he’s running for President in South Carolina, Michele Bachmann has taken the top prize. Congratulations to Bachmann and her supporters, a hard-earned and well-deserved victory.
May the best candidate win when the actual votes are cast in 2012.
2011 Straw Poll Results (Note, this is the first time write-ins were ever accepted at Ames.):
1. Michele Bachmann – 4, 823 (28.55%)
2. Ron Paul – 4,671 (27.65%)
3. Tim Pawlenty – 2,293 (13.57%)
4. Rick Santorum – 1,657 (9.81%)
5. Herman Cain – 1,456 (8.62%)
6. Rick Perry – 718 (4.25%)
7. Mitt Romney – 567 (3.36%)
8. Newt Gingrich – 385 (2.28%)
9. Jon Huntsman – 69 (0.41%)
10. Thaddeus Mccotter – 35 (0.21%)
1 Mitt Romney 4,516 votes or 31.6%
2 Mike Huckabee 2,587 votes or 18.1%
3 Sam Brownback 2,192 votes or 15.3%
4 Tom Tancredo 1,961 votes or 13.7%
5 Ron Paul 1,305 votes or 9.1%
6 Tommy Thompson 1,039 votes or 7.3%
7 Fred Thompson 203 votes or 1.4%
8 Rudy Giuliani 183 votes or 1.3%
9 Duncan Hunter 174 votes or 1.2%
10 John McCain 101 votes or 0.7%
11 John H. Cox 41 votes or 0.3%
Since Mitt didn’t pay for any tickets for his supporters this year, I think it’s very telling that he still garnered more votes than Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain did combined when they didn’t compete in the 2007 Ames straw poll.
UPDATE: A married couple, who supported Mitt during the 2007 Ames Straw Poll, showed up to vote today wearing the yellow t-shirts he handed out four years ago:
Jacqui Norman and her husband were both sporting yellow Romney t-shirts left over from a different time four years ago, when Romney was focused like a laser on winning the Ames straw poll.
“We’ve had lots of people come up and ask us where we got our t-shirts, because they wanted to find them,” said Norman, a 40-year-old from Ames who volunteered for Romney’s previous campaign. “We had a couple dozen stickers left over, so we gave those to some people.”
Disclaimer: MittRomneyCentral.com is a pure grassroots website. It is not paid for, endorsed by, or affiliated in any way with Governor Mitt Romney or his official campaign.
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