The Fix - Chris Cillizza&#8217s politics blog on washingtonpost.com - February 6, 2011

Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll

Texas Rep. Ron Paul wins's CPAC straw poll

By Chris Cillizza and Rachel Weiner | February 12, 2011; 5:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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CPAC 2011: The Conservative Political Action Conference (Live Coverage, Day Three)

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) -- an annual gathering of, well, conservatives, that doubles as a proving ground for would-be presidential candidates -- ends today. The Fix is on the ground, live-blogging the three-day event as it happens. Check out the schedule here. And check back for live updates.

By Chris Cillizza | February 12, 2011; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012, Republican Party | Tags: CPAC
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John Bolton focuses on what 2012 frontrunners ignored: Egypt

While most Republican presidential hopefuls speaking at CPAC barely mentioned the situation in Egypt, former U.N. ambassador John Bolton devoted nearly his entire speech to it.

By Rachel Weiner | February 12, 2011; 2:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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Mitch Daniels calls debt the new 'Red Menace'

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said Friday that the nation's debt amounts to a new "Red Menace." Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, the potential Republican presidential candidate made no mention to his own political plans. But he did lay out a broad platform for conservatives heading into a new presidential race - focusing almost single-mindedly on getting the nation's debt under control. And the speech dripped with Cold War symbolism.

By Aaron Blake | February 11, 2011; 9:42 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012, Republican Party
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CPAC 2011: The Conservative Political Action Conference (Live Coverage, Day Two)

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) -- an annual gathering of, well, conservatives, that doubles as a proving ground for would-be presidential candidates -- continues today. The Fix is on the ground, live-blogging the three-day event as it happens. Check...

By Chris Cillizza, Aaron Blake, and Rachel Weiner | February 11, 2011; 5:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012, Republican Party | Tags: CPAC
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Afternoon Fix: Gibbs jabs Romney, Snowe gets new primary challenger

Romney supporters are talking him up as the anti-Palin, Olympia Snowe has a tea party challenger, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) won't endorse Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

By Chris Cillizza | February 11, 2011; 5:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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Tim Pawlenty to CPAC: Obama should 'stop apologizing' for U.S.

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty on Friday delivered some of his harshest criticism yet of President Obama's foreign policy, telling the president to "stop apologizing for our country."

By Aaron Blake | February 11, 2011; 4:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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Hatch tells CPAC that bailout vote averted depression

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who faces a potential primary challenge in 2012, defended his vote for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) bailout on Friday, saying he believes the bill averted a depression. Following a speech by his new Utah...

By Aaron Blake | February 11, 2011; 3:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Thune joins Obama critics at CPAC

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) added his voice to the drumbeat of criticism against President Obama in a speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference Friday afternoon. Thune hit many of the same themes already heard at this year's CPAC...

By Amy Gardner | February 11, 2011; 2:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: PAC Watch, Republican Party
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Who's on offense in the House?

We pretty much know which party is going to be playing offense in Senate races in 2012. But what about the House?

By Aaron Blake and Chris Cillizza | February 11, 2011; 1:41 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Line
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CPAC 2011: Highlights from around the web

The American Conservative Union's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) starts this Thursday. This is a collection of the conversations happening around the conference.

By Mark S. Luckie | February 11, 2011; 12:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Republican Party
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Tea partier Andrew Ian Dodge launches campaign against Snowe

Tea Party activist Andrew Ian Dodge just announced his candidacy against Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) in the 2012 primary.

By Aaron Blake | February 11, 2011; 12:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Republican Party, Senate
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Romney rips Obama at CPAC

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney opened Friday's CPAC convention session with a sharp attack on President Obama, accusing the president of dithering on the economy and naivete on foreign policy.

By Dan Balz | February 11, 2011; 12:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012 | Tags: CPAC
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Fast Fix: The conservative convention (VIDEO)

The "Fast Fix" breaks down the stakes for 2012 at this week's Conservative Political Action Conference.

By Chris Cillizza | February 11, 2011; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fast Fix
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What will Tim Kaine do?

Forty eight hours after Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (D) announced he would not seek a second term, the political world waits on Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.

By Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake | February 11, 2011; 6:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning Fix
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Afternoon Fix: Jeff Flake to make Senate decision soon, Paladino won't run

Jeff Flake might run for Sen. Jon Kyl's Senate seat, Carl Paladino will not run for Chris Lee's House seat (and doesn't think he should have resigned) and former governor David Paterson (D-N.Y.) has a new job. Also, if you missed any of CPAC, for some reason, we've got you covered.

By Chris Cillizza | February 10, 2011; 5:38 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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CPAC 2011: The Conservative Political Action Conference (Live Coverage, Day One)

The American Conservative Union's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) starts this Thursday. The Fix is on the ground and will be live blogging as it happens.

By Chris Cillizza | February 10, 2011; 5:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Republican Party
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Trump riles CPAC crowd, will announce presidential intentions by June

Donald Trump said Thursday that he will announce whether he will run for president by June. But while he weighs his options, The Donald is going to have some fun. Despite saying he was not yet a candidate, Trump sounded...

By Aaron Blake | February 10, 2011; 4:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Gabrielle Giffords was planning possible Senate run before shooting

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt last month, had given indications to her closest circle of political advisers prior to the shooting that if Sen. Jon Kyl (R) retired that she would run for the open seat in 2012.

By Chris Cillizza | February 10, 2011; 2:52 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Santorum: Obama refuses to condemn evil

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) laid into President Obama's response to the unrest in Egypt on Thursday, accusing him of siding against an American ally.

By Aaron Blake | February 10, 2011; 2:37 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012 | Tags: CPAC, Rick Santorum
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Jon Kyl announces retirement

The Arizona Republican is the fifth senator to announce he is leaving the chamber in 2012.

By Chris Cillizza | February 10, 2011; 1:46 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Bill Burton for Congress?

White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton is weighing a run for Congress.

By Chris Cillizza | February 10, 2011; 1:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Newt Gingrich calls for replacing the EPA

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency as part of a broader re-assessment of American energy policy in his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference today in Washington.

By Chris Cillizza | February 10, 2011; 1:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012 | Tags: CPAC, Newt Gingrich
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Bachmann kicks off CPAC with call for conservatives to unify

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) kicked off the conservative movement's biggest annual party in Washington Thursday morning by exhorting all conservatives - those focused on fiscal, social and natural security issues - to come together to continue Republican electoral gains in 2012.

By Amy Gardner | February 10, 2011; 10:49 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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What to watch for at CPAC

What to watch for at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that begins today in Washington.

By Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake | February 10, 2011; 7:21 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning Fix
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New York Rep. Chris Lee resigns from the House

New York Rep. Chris Lee has resigned after a shirtless picture of him surfaced on the Internet.

By Chris Cillizza | February 9, 2011; 6:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Afternoon Fix: Ex-Bachmann aide dismisses 2012 bid, Republicans say Democrats trying to embarrass them

Michele Bachmann's former chief of staff says she's not ready to be president, Make sure to sign up to get "Afternoon Fix" in your e-mail inbox every day by 5 (ish) p.m.!...

By Chris Cillizza | February 9, 2011; 5:06 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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The myth of the dying moderate

Are moderates on the way out after sustaining big losses in the last three elections? Not hardly.

By Aaron Blake | February 9, 2011; 4:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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How a Palin nomination could expand Obama's playing field

A series of state polls show that President Obama would be competitive in a number of Republican states in 2012 if Sarah Palin is the Republican nominee.

By Rachel Weiner | February 9, 2011; 3:55 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012 | Tags: Sarah Palin
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Jim Webb's retirement (and what it means)

What Virginia Democratic Sen. Jim Webb's retirement means for the 2012 Senate landscape.

By Chris Cillizza | February 9, 2011; 12:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Fast Fix: One popular First Lady

First Lady Michelle Obama is extremely popular. Can she help her husband get reelected?

By Chris Cillizza | February 9, 2011; 11:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fast Fix
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Orrin Hatch courts tea party activists, Tea Party Express divided

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch faced down tea party activists Tuesday night in advance of his 2012 reelection race.

By Rachel Weiner | February 9, 2011; 10:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Laying out the CPAC stakes

A look at the stakes for each 2012 presidential candidate at this week's CPAC conference in Washington.

By Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake | February 9, 2011; 7:57 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning Fix
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Afternoon Fix: Dick Lugar tells tea party to 'get real,' Ensign holding fundraiser

Dick Lugar is goading the tea party, Ensign is raising money for his Senate bid, Ken Buck has launched a non-profit, and Gary Johnson will speak at CPAC after all. Make sure to sign up to get "Afternoon Fix"...

By Chris Cillizza | February 8, 2011; 5:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Afternoon Fix
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Surveying the 2012 field: The ins, the outs and the maybes

A look at who's in, who's out and who's undecided in the 2012 presidential race

By Chris Cillizza | February 8, 2011; 2:57 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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Hatch and Lugar blaze different paths as tea party stalks

Republican Sens. Richard Lugar and Orrin Hatch have a lot in common. They were both elected to the Senate in 1976, they are both well-regarded senior senators in their 70s, and they've both become the object of derision among some conservatives. As each man prepares to run for his seventh term in the Senate, though, the Indianan Lugar and the Utahn Hatch have taken very different approaches when it comes to facing down potential primary challenges.

By Aaron Blake | February 8, 2011; 11:51 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Republican Party, Senate
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The Fix: February 6, 2011 - February 12, 2011