The Fix - Chris Cillizza&#8217s politics blog on washingtonpost.com - January 30, 2011

"Worst Week in Washington" winner: Dan Snyder

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder was the runaway winner of this week's "Worst Week in Washington" award.

By Chris Cillizza | February 5, 2011; 10:12 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Worst Week in Washington
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Afternoon Fix: Newt wins money race, Obama most polarizing

Gingrich outraised other 2012 potentials, Sarah Palin is moving to trademark her name, and Paul Ryan is not running for anything.

By Chris Cillizza | February 4, 2011; 4:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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Supporter says Mourdock to announce Lugar challenge on Feb. 22

Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock will announce a primary challenge to Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) on Feb. 22, according to an e-mail from a Mourdock supporter.

By Aaron Blake | February 4, 2011; 4:09 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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House Democrats and Crossroads GPS spar over David Rivera

A radio ad war between Democrats and the conservative group Crossroads GPS has turned into a public relations battle over a vulnerable House Republican: Florida's David Rivera.

By Rachel Weiner | February 4, 2011; 2:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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Key governors races will be fought on Republican-friendly turf

A look at the five most competitive governors races in the country.

By Chris Cillizza | February 4, 2011; 12:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Line
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Fast Fix: Is Obama like Reagan? (VIDEO)

There are a surprising number of similarities between the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.

By Chris Cillizza | February 4, 2011; 12:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fast Fix
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How each presidential candidate could claim the Reagan mantle

A look at how the 2010 GOP presidential field may try to assume the mantle of Ronald Reagan.

By Aaron Blake and Chris Cillizza | February 4, 2011; 8:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning Fix
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Afternoon Fix: Sam Graves won't run for MO-Senate, McCain won't endorse in 2012

What you missed -- and what you shouldn't miss -- from the political day that was.

By Chris Cillizza | February 3, 2011; 6:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fast Fix
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Why Sarah Palin keeps skipping CPAC

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin today turned down an invitation to speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference even after being offered the plum keynote speaking spot, the fourth year in a row she has taken a pass on the event. "February is our busiest winter month and with all the prior obligations and outside travel already scheduled for the month I had to forgo some of the opportunities in the Lower 48," said Palin in an email to the Fix Thursday explaining her decision.

By Rachel Weiner | February 3, 2011; 4:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012, Republican Party
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Newt Gingrich, underrated

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich may be the most underestimated candidate in the 2012 Republican presidential field.

By Chris Cillizza | February 3, 2011; 1:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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Can Democrats steal a House seat in Montana?

Montana Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg's decision to run for the Senate means Democrats will go after his House seat.

By Rachel Weiner | February 3, 2011; 1:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Fast Fix: Tea party takedown? (VIDEO)

Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar is flouting tea party activists in the state. Will that approach doom his reelection campaign?

By Chris Cillizza | February 3, 2011; 11:38 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fast Fix
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Crossroads hits back at DCCC in same 19 districts

The conservative group American Crossroads is going up on the air in 19 districts to defend Republicans against a new attack from the House Democrat's campaign arm. Crossroads is going up in the exact same 19 districts where the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee went up with media campaigns earlier this week.

By Aaron Blake | February 3, 2011; 9:28 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Mitt Romney flexes his financial muscle

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has doled out nearly $130,000 in contributions to candidates already in 2011 via his political action committee, an early sign of financial strength and party building from the likely 2012 presidential candidat

By Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake | February 3, 2011; 7:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning Fix
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Afternoon Fix: Rand Paul compares tea party to abolitionism, McCain says Mubarak must go

Rand Paul gives his first floor speech, a new poll finds Noem and Herseth-Sandlin deadlocked, Sarah Steelman raises $208,000 in a month, and Michele Bachmann is going to another primary state.

By Chris Cillizza | February 2, 2011; 5:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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How much trouble is David Rivera in?

Florida freshman Republican Rep. David Rivera hasn't had a smooth first month in office. To say the least.

By Rachel Weiner | February 2, 2011; 4:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Fast Fix: Obama's Conventional thinking (VIDEO)

President Obama shocked the political world by picking Charlotte to host the Democratic National Convention. Why did he do it?

By Chris Cillizza | February 2, 2011; 3:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fast Fix
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How big will the Republican presidential field be (and does it matter)?

The 2012 Republican presidential field could be the largest in modern history. Does it matter?

By Chris Cillizza | February 2, 2011; 2:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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The long (and rocky) relationship of Barack Obama and John McCain

President Obama is meeting with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the White House today, their first face-to-face summit since the immediate aftermath of the 2008 election. The ostensible reason: Obama called McCain after the senator penned an editorial praising the president for his speech in Tucson. The two men will likely discuss Egypt, free trade, earmarks, the economy and immigration.

By Rachel Weiner | February 2, 2011; 12:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Republican Party, Senate
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Why John Ensign (probably) can't win

Sen. John Ensign is standing strong against suggestions that his political career may be coming to an end, readying his campaign even as the Senate ethics investigation looming over his reelection bid moves forward.Just as he's trying to get things started, the Nevada Republican learned he has to deal with what are a historically damning set of circumstances, with the appointment of a special counsel to look into his affair with a former staffer and the alleged coverup that followed. The events of this week only add to the tough task ahead for the scandal-plagued Nevada Republican. And there's plenty of reason to believe he's fighting a losing battle. We examine why.

By Aaron Blake | February 2, 2011; 12:24 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Surveying Senate fundraising (or lack thereof) for the class of 2012

Many Senate seats could be in play when the calendar hits 2012, in large part thanks to how little money vulnerable incumbents start out with. Fundraising, for most members up in 2012, has yet to become a priority. Some of these members may be considering retirement, while others appear to be wagering that fundraising can wait. Either way, some of their bank accounts are unlikely to scare off would-be challengers. And history shows that a well-prepared incumbent stands a much-better chance at getting reelected.

By Aaron Blake | February 2, 2011; 10:27 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fundraising
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Why no news is good news for Democrats' Senate majority

By now, every political junkie worth his -- or her -- name knows that Senate Democrats have to defend a whopping 23 seats in 2012 while Senate Republicans must defend only 10. In the long run, the lopsided number of Democratic seats up -- thanks to a 2006 election where the party won virtually everywhere -- make their majority status perilous in 2012. That's no secret. But the seat disparity also has less obvious short term effects.

By Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake | February 2, 2011; 6:32 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning Fix
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Afternoon Fix: Jim Webb's fundraising is (still) lagging, Harry Reid takes senator to task, and Norm Coleman not running

AFTERNOON FIX: Webb worried Dems, Harry Reid takes senator to task Monday, February 1 , 2011 ----------------------------------- Your p.m. political briefing on what you might have missed -- and what you shouldn't miss.

By Chris Cillizza | February 1, 2011; 4:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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Fast Fix: Will Egypt hurt Obama? (VIDEO)

Why the Egypt uprising could slow President Obama's political momentum at home.

By Chris Cillizza | February 1, 2011; 2:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fast Fix
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Republican 2012 hopefuls sound off on Egypt uprising

Republican leaders are treading lightly around the uprising in Egypt, mostly hewing to the careful line charted by the Obama administration. Some potential presidential hopefuls have been less reticent, staking out ground on different angles of the crisis.

By Rachel Weiner | February 1, 2011; 1:21 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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The case against Jon Huntsman

Why Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman won't win the 2012 Republican nomination for president.

By Chris Cillizza | February 1, 2011; 11:53 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Case For/Case Against
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Charlotte will be site of 2012 Democratic National Convention

Charlotte will be site of 2012 Democratic National Convention, First Lady Michelle Obama announced Tuesday.

By Chris Cillizza and Rachel Weiner | February 1, 2011; 11:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana to run for Senate

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) is set to announce that he will run for Senate, setting up a likely matchup with Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in 2012. The Republican congressman will make his plans known Saturday, a source with knowledge of those plans told The Fix.

By Aaron Blake | February 1, 2011; 9:37 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Health care: The issue that won't die (anytime soon)

A Florida judge on Monday struck down the entire health care law passed by Congress last year, a ruling that has -- again -- pushed the issue to the political forefront. While the judge's ruling was not surprising -- he...

By Aaron Blake and Chris Cillizza | February 1, 2011; 7:22 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning Fix
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Jon Huntsman to resign from Obama administration

U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman (R) is expected to resign in possible preparation for a 2012 presidential campaign, White House officials say. While Huntsman has been quiet about his own plans, the former Utah governor has assembled a team of political operatives and fundraisers who would help him rapidly ramp up if he decides to run.

By Anne E. Kornblut and Rachel Weiner | January 31, 2011; 6:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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RNC is $23 million in debt

The Republican National Committee has about $23 million in debt is it prepares for the 2012 election cycle, new Chairman Reince Priebus announced Monday.

By Aaron Blake | January 31, 2011; 5:42 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Republican Party
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Afternoon Fix: Boehner assembling 2012 force, Rubio skipping CPAC

Boehner is assembling a 2012 force, Claire McCaskill has another challenger, Marco Rubio is skipping out on CPAC and a Florida judge has ruled the health-care law unconstitutional. Make sure to sign up to get "Afternoon Fix" in your e-mail inbox every day by 5 (ish) p.m.!

By Chris Cillizza | January 31, 2011; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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What to watch for: Year-end FEC reports

Here at The Fix, we wouldn't let an FEC deadline day pass without at least a quick look at the numbers. And there are some valuable things worth keeping an eye on as the reports roll in today/tonight. Here are five things to watch.

By Aaron Blake | January 31, 2011; 4:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fundraising
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Poll: Americans want GOP to listen to the tea party

About 7 in 10 adults say it is important for Republican leaders in Congress take the tea party movement's positions and objectives into account, according to a new Gallup poll. Interestingly, a majority of both Republicans and Democrats think it's at least somewhat important for the GOP to include tea party ideas.

By Rachel Weiner | January 31, 2011; 3:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Republican Party
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The case for Jon Huntsman

The case for why Ambassador to Chine Jon Huntsman could be the Republican presidential nominee in 2012.

By Chris Cillizza | January 31, 2011; 1:32 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Case For/Case Against
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Could GOP grab control of redistricting in Virginia?

Virginia officially kicks off its redistricting process this week when the Census makes it one of the first states to receive detailed population data. It and three other states get their data first, since they hold state legislative in 2011 and need to get their maps drawn fast. But Virginia Republicans may be in no rush -- especially when delaying the process could reap some real benefits.

By Aaron Blake | January 31, 2011; 12:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mapping the Future, Redistricting
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The Fix: January 30, 2011 - February 5, 2011