Notable Quote of the Day

Notable Quote of the Day
“But past presidential cycles may well look more predictable in hindsight than they were in real time. ...

For example, few look back on 2012 as a highly suspenseful cycle. But eight years ago, it was far from clear that Obama would win a second term. In mid-December 2011, his approval in the Gallup Poll was just 42%, 3 points lower than the latest Trump reading in the Gallup this month.

Back then, on the Republican side, half a dozen contenders topped the polls for at least a week or two late in 2011 and it took months to winnow the field. The nomination fell to Mitt Romney, who ran a creditable race and had a plausible scenario for winning through October. On election night, his staff was so confident that they did not even prepare a concession speech in case he lost.”

– Ron Elving, NPR News

Q4 Fundraising

Year-end financial reports are due Jan. 31 to the Federal Election Commission. Several candidates have released their fourth-quarter numbers early:

• Sanders: $34.5 million

• Buttigieg: $24.7 million

• Biden: $22.7 million

• Warren: $21.2 million

• Yang: $16.5 million

• Klobuchar: $11.4 million

• Booker: $6.6 million

• Gabbard: $3.4 million

Trump topped all Democrats, bringing in $46 million in the fourth quarter. This total surpasses Barack Obama’s fourth-quarter haul in 2011 by $4 million.

Democrats

• Michael Bennet introduced his “Real Deal” platform, a $6 trillion plan providing universal pre-K, expanding the Child Tax Credit, establishing a public healthcare option called Medicare X, and a public-private partnership to address climate change.

• Rep. Abby Fineknauer (Iowa) endorsed Joe Biden on Thursday. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Conor Lamb—both from battleground districts in Pennsylvania—and Elaine Luria (Va.) also endorsed Biden on Sunday.

• Michael Bloomberg did not file to participate in the Nevada caucuses, reflecting his previously announced plan to skip the early primary states. He campaigned in North Carolina on Friday.

• Cory Booker made a six-figure ad buy in Iowa for a clip called “He Will Win.” He campaigned in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

• Pete Buttigieg completed his four-day tour of New Hampshire on Saturday with stops in Manchester and Franklin.

• Julián Castro ended his presidential campaign on Thursday. “I’m so proud of the campaign we’ve run together,” Castro said in a video statement. “We’ve shaped the conversation on so many important issues in this race, stood up for the most vulnerable people and given a voice to those who are often forgotten.” 

• John Delaney is continuing his monthlong tour of Iowa on Monday with stops in Arnolds Park and Mason City.

• Tulsi Gabbard began a “New Year Tour” of New Hampshire on Thursday. It will run through Jan. 9 and include stops in Warner, Grantham, Hanover, and other cities.

• Amy Klobuchar released a new statewide ad in Iowa and New Hampshire called “What It Takes.” She campaigned in Nevada on Saturday with stops in Minden, Reno, and Las Vegas.

• Deval Patrick hired Wyatt Ronan as his state director in New Hampshire. He is campaigning in South Carolina on Monday and Tuesday.

• Bernie Sanders finished his weeklong tour of Iowa on Saturday.

• Tom Steyer hired Jeff Berman, who served as delegate adviser to the 2008 Obama and 2016 Clinton presidential campaigns, as a senior adviser.

• Elizabeth Warren hosted town halls in Iowa on Saturday and Monday. She said on Friday that she will vote for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

• Marianne Williamson laid off her staff nationally on Thursday. She said in a statement, “I am not suspending my candidacy, however; a campaign not having a huge war chest should not be what determines its fate.”

• Andrew Yang launched a write-in campaign to appear on the Ohio Democratic primary ballot on Monday. He is finishing a four-day tour of Iowa on Monday.

Republicans

• Donald Trump said on Friday that he authorized the strike that killed Iran’s security and intelligence services commander Qasem Soleimani.

• Joe Walsh did not file to appear on the primary ballot in his home state of Illinois. His campaign said it was focusing its resources on Iowa and New Hampshire.

• Bill Weld spoke on CNN on Sunday about Trump’s Iran policy.

Flashback: January 6, 2016

Gary Johnson, who previously served as the Republican governor of New Mexico, announced he was running for the Libertarian nomination for president.