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Michele Bachmann to End Campaign, Rick Perry Heads to South Carolina

January 4, 2012 at 12:15 pm

Michele Bachmann has decided to suspend her presidential bid after a disappointing showing in Iowa:

Michele Bachmann ended her bid for the Republican presidential nomination Wednesday, hours after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.

The Minnesota congresswoman suspended her campaign, a legal technicality that will allow her to continue to raise and spend campaign funds.

"Last night the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice and so I have decided to stand aside," Bachmann told a crowd of supporters in West Des Moines. But, she added, "I will continue fighting to defeat the president's agenda of socialism."

"It is safe to say we don't see a viable way forward," a Republican source familiar with Bachmann's campaign told CNN before the announcement. -- CNN

Rick Perry, meanwhile, who said last night he was going back to Texas to decide if he sees a way forward, promised via Twitter that he had decided to continue to South Carolina.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, South Carolina | Comments (1)

Rick Santorum to Bill Bennett: "If you want to succeed as an economy ...you have to strengthen families.”

January 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Kathryn Lopez at NRO's The Corner blog:

Rick Santorum was on Bill Bennett’s radio show this morning, the only show the former Pennsylvania senator plans to do today.

... Bennett, the former education secretary and drug czar, thanked Santorum for “the linking between the economic and the social” on the campaign trail. For Santorum, Bennett said, “the family values doesn’t stand by itself, as some kind of nostalgia … but hard-hitting policy. ‘If you want to succeed as an economy … you have to strengthen families.’”

Borrowing from his stump speech, Santorum said: “You can’t have limited government without strong families. You can’t have a successful economy without strong families.”

Listen here
.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (18)

Slate: Santorum a "Genuine Threat" to Romney Now

January 4, 2012 at 9:45 am

Slate's John Dickerson:

... According to entrance polls, of those voters who wanted a true conservative, Santorum got 36 percent and Romney got just 1 percent. (That is not a misprint.)

Though the top two candidates tied, Santorum was the big winner. Weeks ago, the smart people thought that tonight he'd be addressing an empty ballroom of lonely, sad balloons. Instead, the crowd at his victory party is so thick I've practically got supporters on my lap as I type this. Santorum is now the only Flavor of the Week candidate to actually win anything, which makes him a genuine threat to Romney, at least for the moment.

... One of the open questions going into the caucus was how much evangelical voters would participate. They turned out in the identical numbers as the last caucus, with 58 percent of the voters self-identifying as evangelical. They helped Santorum with his surge. "Everyone talks about the economy," said Bill Yewell of Augden, "but Santorum comes at it from a different way. If we take care of the social issues and the family, the economy will come around."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa | Comments (10)

Marriage Debate Resumes in Maryland Next Week

January 4, 2012 at 9:30 am

The Baltimore Sun:

After nine months of plotting and organizing, the two sides of Maryland's same-sex marriage debate are ready to campaign with full force during the General Assembly session, which begins next week.

Opponents plan a day of prayer that a same-sex marriage bill will fail, a slew of Sunday sermons focused on traditional marriage and a rally in Annapolis. They've united forces under a new banner, the Maryland Marriage Alliance.

... [this] is the last chance for lawmakers to pass the [same-sex] legislation with the knowledge that, if petitioned to referendum, the question would be on the 2012 ballot. Some have flatly stated they don't want the controversial measure going to the voters in 2014, when state senators and delegates will be up for re-election.

Since the Maryland Senate is on record supporting the bill, the fight is expected to be in the House of Delegates.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (13)

Washington Examiner: Santorum Riding High

January 4, 2012 at 9:15 am

The Washington Examiner's Hayley Peterson:

An emotional, invigorated Rick Santorum thanked God and his family on Tuesday night in a rhetorically puffed-up speech celebrating his strong finish in the Iowa caucuses.

"It's been a great journey," Santorum said, as 97 percent of precincts had him edging a handful of votes ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. "I've survived the challenges so far by the daily grace that comes from God for giving me his grace every day, for loving me."

He promised supporters that he can continue his surge in other states, even though Santorum has spent all of his time campaigning in Iowa.

"You will have a friend in Rick Santorum," he said. "We are off to New Hampshire."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa | Comments (1)

HRC Outspent NOM Over 2-1 in Maryland, But Still Lost

January 4, 2012 at 9:00 am

The Baltimore Sun's Maryland Politics blog on how gay marriage activists outspent us last year, but ultimately lost because the people of Maryland oppose redefining marriage:

...The Human Rights Campaign, a national group that support same-sex marriage spent $380,000. That put the group #7 of the list -- and they are playing an even more visible role this coming session. The group vastly outspent an opposing advocacy organization, The National Organization for Marriage, which supports traditional marriage. NOM put $165,000 toward influencing the General Assembly.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (6)

Celebrating Rick

January 4, 2012 at 1:15 am

It was a very, very powerful speech. The word I would choose to describe it and him is “grounded.” There’s a reason Rupert Murdoch used a word not often used about a presidential candidate surging: “humility.” The humility that comes from standing for something larger than yourself, for people other than yourself. As Rick said, “Game on!”

Maggie Gallagher
By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa | Comments (3)

Aaron Goldstein on Santorum's Grandfather

January 4, 2012 at 1:10 am

In American Spectator:

O.K., I'm not ready to go to bed just yet. As I write this, with 98% of the vote, Santorum is leading Romney by five votes.

Although I find myself in agreement with Santorum in foreign policy, as I listen to his speech I feel like I am connecting with him for the first time. It's the first time I've heard Santorum talk at length about his grandfather. His grandfather was a coal miner and so was mine. His grandfather mined the fields of southwestern Pennsylvania and mine was underground in southwestern Alberta. I don't always agree with Santorum, the way he presents himself and am sure I will find myself at odds with him between now and November. But there's now some real common ground, literally and figuratively.

I was struck by his comment on the values of working people, Santorum said, "These are the people who Barack Obama says cling to their guns and their Bibles. Thank God they do."

If Republicans choose wisely, President Obama is in for one hell of a fight. As Santorum put it, "Game on."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa | Comments Off on Aaron Goldstein on Santorum's Grandfather

Santorum's Arrival Speech

January 4, 2012 at 1:06 am

For many voters, tonight was the first time they got a chance to see Rick Santorum as a real contender, after he has spent the past months quietly canvassing every county in Iowa. Tonight viewers of his speech were reminded that hard work and aspiration pay off. Santorum said tonight he learned these essential lessons from the example of his grandfather and father.

He was inspiring, effective, while sounding fully like himself. He contrasted his positions with both the Democrat and Republican establishment, arguing that "cutting taxes is not enough." He offered more: for America to reach its full potential, he said, it must embrace the values that made it into the great country it is. American values, Santorum said, which are not shared by those who currently occupy the White House.

One of my favorite lines of his speech: “Thank God for people who cling to their guns and bibles... They understand that when the family breaks down the economy does." One of Santorum's unique contributions to this debate has been to constantly tie American's economic success to the strength of her families and marriages.

Another favorite line of his: "What motivates me? The dignity of every human life." He also tied human dignity to the particular dignity of work and labor. An uplifting vision which reveals a heart that has been touched by serving rural Pennsylvania areas where shuttered steel mills marked the landscape.

Mitt Romney began his speech by graciously congratulating Santorum for his strong finish tonight. We've got a real race on our hands. And I look forward to seeing how it plays out in the coming critical weeks.

Thomas Peters
By Thomas Peters | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Quin Hillyer: What an Eloquent Speech by Santorum

January 4, 2012 at 1:00 am

Quin Hillyer of American Spectator on the gracious nature of both top finishers in Iowa:

Santorum's remarks tonight perhaps lacked the lightness and joy that should come with such an unlikely victory. But in every other way it was an incredibly superb speech, very eloquent, very focused, and very, very authentic. Many congratulations to him. Now comes Romney, who I expect will also be gracious.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa | Comments Off on Quin Hillyer: What an Eloquent Speech by Santorum

A Catholic Hero

January 4, 2012 at 12:45 am

Rick Santorum gave a magnificent speech tonight. It was an expression, a flowering in a way I do not think America has seen in my lifetime of Catholic culture. He made his economic message more than a question of self-interest -- he made it a moral cause. He connected the dignity of every human life, with the dignity not only of work, but every human being who is made in the image of his Creator to be a creator -- a worker, and not just a consumer.

God bless him, God bless him. This is a serious fight.

Maggie Gallagher
By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on A Catholic Hero

American Spectator: Santorum Wins Iowa Regardless of the Result

January 4, 2012 at 12:30 am

Aaron Goldstein writes:

It is just past midnight and with 97% of the vote in, Rick Santorum is leading Mitt Romney by 37 votes in Iowa.

Even if Romney should prevail, Santorum is tonight's winner.

A fortnight ago, Santorum was in Bachmann territory and likely headed for the exits.

Now Santorum has a chance to be the Republican nominee. Meanwhile, Romney can't break the glass ceiling of 25%.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on American Spectator: Santorum Wins Iowa Regardless of the Result

NOM Praises Iowa Voters for Selecting Santorum and Romney

January 4, 2012 at 12:05 am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2012
Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)

NOM Praises Iowa Voters

Paul’s Poor Finish Reflects Iowans Support for Traditional Marriage

Waterloo, IA – The following statement may be attributed to Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), who attended the Waterloo, Iowa GOP presidential caucus this evening:

“NOM congratulates Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney for their photo-finish in Iowa. Both these candidates, along with Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann are champions for traditional marriage. It’s especially satisfying to see Senator Santorum, a longtime friend and champion for the family, come from behind to mount such a successful campaign. The strong showing by both Santorum and Romney shows that supporting marriage is not only the right thing to do, it is the politically smart thing to do. This is a lesson that Ron Paul may be learning the hard way. Paul suffered a big loss by finishing third in Iowa, a state he was expecting to win. NOM aired television and online ads that were highly critical of Paul’s unacceptable stance on marriage, including his belief that civil marriage should be abolished altogether. No doubt our ads, along with tens of thousands of telephone calls and grassroots work with our thousands of supporters in Iowa were a factor in Ron Paul’s poor showing. We will continue to point out Paul’s unacceptable views on marriage to voters in upcoming states.”

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Anath Hartmann, [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

###

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)

Brian Brown Quoted in Sioux City Journal on Iowa Caucuses

January 3, 2012 at 11:40 pm

The Sioux City Journal reporting tonight:

Vander Plaats was joined in Cedar Falls by Brian Brown, leader of the National Organization for Marriage, one of the primary funders of the 2010 push to remove three judges from the Iowa Supreme Court.

He said their opposition to gay marriage has gained steam in states across the nation and Iowans would be like other states in banning gay marriage if they had the chance.

"All we're asking for is the people of Iowa have the same opportunity the people of 31 other states have had, to have a vote on it," Brown said.

NOM worked with the Family Leader on a pledge signed by all major candidates except U.S. Rep. Ron Paul to support traditional marriage. Brown said caucus goers need to know Paul's words and actions don't make him a good candidate for family values.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on Brian Brown Quoted in Sioux City Journal on Iowa Caucuses

Live Coverage of the Iowa Caucuses

January 3, 2012 at 8:50 pm

C-SPAN is airing two of the Iowa Caucus meetings, in Urbandale and Council Bluffs.

Be sure to check back here after the results are tallied for a statement from our President, Brian Brown, who is attending the GOP presidential caucus in Waterloo, Iowa this evening.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage Election Watch | Comments Off on Live Coverage of the Iowa Caucuses
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