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Presidential campaigns test new organizing models in Iowa

Carly Fiorina isn’t the only GOP presidential contender who’s testing new models for how to use super PACs to carry out some of the more expensive tasks of campaigning in Iowa.

The departure of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker from the 2016 presidential campaign helps to answer the question of who won’t win the GOP nomination, but with 15 candidates remaining, it’s a challenge to get a good feel for where the race stands now and where it might go from here.

The New York Times helps to clarify the issue with its look at who it believes is winning at the moment, developed by looking at ... Read More >>

The top 10 GOP candidates for president, ranked

The last time I ranked the 10 people most likely to wind up as the Republican presidential nominee this year, I had Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as the third-best bet to be the GOP standard-bearer. That was Aug. 2. On Sept. 21, Walker dropped out of the race, registering as a literal asterisk in his final poll as a candidate.

Republican ‘Super PACs’ Turn to TV Ads for High-Stakes Primaries

The cavalry arrived too late for Gov. Scott Walker, but other candidates struggling in the shadow of Donald J. Trump hope their own backup – in the form of “super PACs” flush with money for television commercials – will soon be riding to their rescue.

The polls get most of the attention, but they’re not the most important part of the early stages of a presidential campaign. The better guide to who’s really winning is known as the “invisible primary,” in which candidates compete for support from their fellow politicians, from party leaders and from donors.

After facing attacks in two debates and dealing with controversies almost daily, business executive Donald Trump has maintained a big lead in New Hampshire, while the rest of the Republican presidential field has been shaken up over the past two months.

A couple of articles this morning look at some of the unusual elements of the 2016 Republican presidential campaign. In the Washington Examiner, James Antle suggests the race is breaking new ground:

Republican White House race moves into uncharted territory

Something unprecedented is going to happen in the Republican presidential race next year. That’s not a prediction of a specific outcome, but a statement of fact about the options available.

The modern Republican primary process has never produced a nominee like Donald Trump, ... Read More >>