Trump's Ticket? Top 50% Tonight
Iowa Caucus kicks off the GOP nomination. Set the Over/Under at 50.5
The Republican nomination kicks off tonight in sub zero Iowa.
Finally.
Regardless of your preference in tonight’s outcome, the only thing that matters is the number that Donald Trump posts.
That’s it.
If Trump finishers over 50 - roll up the tents. This thing is over.
If Trump posts mid 40s - this thing will go on through New Hampshire, South Carolina, the Virgin Islands, and Nevada.
If Trump somehow finishes around 40 or below - game on. Super Tuesday (March 5th) will be the GOP’s date with destiny.
If his numbers hold, Trump should break 50 tonight. He will no doubt claim a massive and historic victory. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley will be pressured to drop out and endorse Trump. #VPList #UniteTheParty
Given the enthusiasm advantage for Donald Trump found in the Des Moines Register poll, take Trump to win with over 50% tonight.
The DMR poll from Saturday had an interesting set of numbers. Of note on the enthusiasm front is Nikki Haley’s lack of it.
However, check out the None of these under Actively Considering.
56? That seems like a problem. After all of the campaigning and ad money, over 50% of respondents are Actively Considering - None of The Above.
Reminds of Brewster’s Millions.
Oh well…we’ll see how long this nomination goes on, but the question I would pose to Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis would be (aside from the obvious Why Are You Running?) just WHAT is your BIG IDEA?
They have offered nothing new or interesting.
AT ALL.
Aside from Trump being the winner tonight, hats off to his campaign team of Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita.
They have run a far more traditional campaign and have been very disciplined in keeping Trump’s self destructive narcissism in check.
Wiles and LaCivita need to get this to a binary decision (Biden or Trump) and rally discontented Republicans to vote AGAINST Joe Biden and/or continue to mine the unregistered low propensity voters to vote up FOR Donald Trump.
In other news:
The New York Times: Election 2024: On Eve of Iowa Caucuses, Poll Shows Trump Way Ahead
Wall Street Journal: How ‘Evangelical’ Are Iowa’s Evangelicals? The adulteration of a theological term into a secular political and demographic label.
The Washington Post: Lots of buzz, few details: Va. lawmakers in the dark on proposed arena
The Associated Press: Virginia county admits election tally in 2020 shorted Joe Biden
Augusta Free Press: Tweet from NIL booster exposes the seamy underbelly of UVA Basketball recruiting
Polling
The Associated Press Haley wins backing from ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who won't mount his own third-party 2024 bid
Hogan, one of his party's fiercest Trump critics, had fueled speculation that he was preparing for his own third-party bid when he stepped down from the leadership of No Labels. A resignation letter dated Dec. 15 offered no criticism of the group, and Hogan declined to comment after the letter was obtained earlier this month by The Associated Press.
'It kind of created a whole lot of speculation,' Hogan said. 'I didn't mean to do that. My position on No Labels has not changed.'
Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have been locked in a tight battle for second place in Iowa, which holds its leadoff GOP caucus vote on Monday night. The final pre-caucus Des Moines Register/NBC News poll found Trump maintaining a formidable lead in the state, supported by nearly half of likely caucus-goers compared with 20% for Haley and 16% for DeSantis.
Syndicated By: The Washington Post, The Hill, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Columbian, Star Tribune, Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, Houston Chronicle, Las Vegas Sun
CNN: Final day ahead of caucuses begins with Trump boosted by new poll
Donald Trump begins the last day of campaigning in bitter cold Iowa before Monday's caucuses, boosted by new polling showing him with a dominant lead among Hawkeye State Republicans, as his closest competitors continue their jockeying for second place.
Issue Areas:
The Associated Press Parents facing diaper duty could see relief from bipartisan tax legislation introduced in Kentucky
'We're Republicans. We're for cutting taxes. Diapers are a required staple of life.'
Syndicated By: ABC News, Bristol Herald Courier, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Star Tribune
The Associated Press Slowing inflation suggests that Biden's policies are helping, but American voters are still hurting
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden can make an increasingly strong case that he's helped fix inflation — if only he can get voters to believe him.
'Under his leadership, we've attacked inflation from every angle.' The question is whether voters are feeling the improvement and will reward Biden.
But that was in early 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic , when schools and businesses were shuttered, sending the U.S. economy into shock as millions lost their jobs.
A historic wave of federal government borrowing steadied the U.S. economy during the deadly pandemic.
Syndicated By: The Washington Post, The Hill, ABC News, The Washington Times
The Associated Press Manchin says Super Tuesday will offer clarity on need for a third-party candidate
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Iowa and New Hampshire are about to kick off the 2024 presidential nominating process, but Sen. Joe Manchin said Friday it won't become clear until March whether there's a path for a third-party candidate.
Syndicated By: The Washington Post, The Hill, NewsAdvance.com, Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Roanoke Times, Wisconsin State Journal, Arizona Daily Star, Omaha World-Herald, The Daily Progress, Fredericksburg.com, Bristol Herald Courier, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Star Tribune, TribLive.com, The Washington Times
The Washington Post Lots of buzz, few details: Va. lawmakers in the dark on proposed arena
In fact, taxpayers would provide a $1.35 billion subsidy, under a plan that Youngkin and Monumental sketched out at the announcement that would divert revenue from sales, income, ticket and other taxesgenerated by the project to help pay down nearly $1.5 billion in publicly issued bonds for the development. And the state would provide $150 million to $200 million in upfront transportation funding through a separate agreement between Virginia and Alexandria that has yet to be negotiated.
CNN Congressional leaders reach agreement to keep government funded into March
Those numbers include $1.59 trillion for fiscal year 2024, with $886 billion for defense spending and $704 billion in non-defense spending.
VA General Assembly
The Associated Press Virginia county admits election tally in 2020 shorted Joe Biden
The details released Thursday were the first extensive response about the errors since White was initially charged in 2022 with corrupt conduct, making a false statement and neglect of duty. Prosecutors from the office of Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares dropped the charges against White with little explanation, and court records lacked details on the alleged misconduct.
Culpeper Star-Exponent Rand Paul endorses Hamilton for Congress in Virginia's 7th District
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, said in a campaign release he believes Paul is a leader who sets an example of what it looks like to put the interests of the American people at the heart of leadership. A former division director for U.S. Homeland Security, Hamilton announced in September his bid for the office currently held by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat.
Sports
Michigan commit Christian Anderson Jr. talks Wolverine coaches, national championship, fans from Germany
Anderson Jr. is in his first year playing for the Virginia basketball powerhouse after three years at Lovett High School outside Atlanta, where he's the program's all-time leading scorer.
Richmond Times-Dispatch Virginia looking for leadership heading to Wake Forest
'At times, we're a little quiet,' Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett said this week.
Syndicated By: The Roanoke Times
The Roanoke Times Virginia's Isaac McKneely getting back on track with his scoring
CHARLOTTESVILLE — Before Saturday's loss at North Carolina State, Virginia basketball had been 5-0 when sophomore guard Isaac McKneely scored in double figures, 4-0 when he hit at least four 3-pointers.
Augusta Free Press It's time to push the panic button: Not just on this season, but on the future of Virginia Basketball
Wake Forest shot 50 percent. Nine of the 10 Virginia guys who got minutes were under 50 percent; the one who wasn't, Taine Murray, made his only shot.
The Cavalier Daily Women's basketball is no match for No. 6 NC State
For the second time in as many weeks, Virginia women's basketball suffered a double-digit loss to North Carolina State Thursday at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C.