2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

The Reviews are in... Obama is the winner

The Reviews are in... Obama is the winner

Fox (Frank Luntz): You've got a clear winner here... Obama is the winner.  (Based on the focus group of Iowa voters he conducted which showed that Obama won over converts through his performance.  Full transcript below.)

ABC (Klein): "...Obama still gets applause by saying we should have figured out how to get out of the war before we got in. Clearly Democrats still care about who was against the war from the start..."
LINK  

Washington Post (Cillizza): "Obama: On Message": "A nice moment for Obama: Remind voters of his initial opposition to the war and cast himself as the unconventional candidate in the field." LINK  

ABC (Goldman) "Dems Come out Swinging on Experience vs. New Vision": "With the debate focused in its first moments on Obama, the first-term senator took the opportunity to lighten the mood. 'To get ready for this debate I rode the bumper cars at the state fair,' he said. LINK  

Focus Group Transcript: Worth the read...

Luntz:  Our respondents here have a very interesting reaction.  How many of you walked in here backing Barack Obama as your first choice? Raise your hands.

(Few hands go up.)

Luntz:  How many of you honestly thought Obama won the debate?

(Clear majority of hands go up.)

Luntz:  Almost everybody.

Frank: Now you are not a supporter of his but you thought he won why?

Participant: I feel that the first ten minutes of the debate pile on Barack. They were attacking him and his comeback to about going to the fair, practicing bumper cars to practice for the debate it immediately put the man in control.

Frank: So you liked his humor

Participant: He was sincere, he was comfortable with himself

Frank: Christian?

Christian: I think he continues to demonstrate that he's got a nuanced approach to the answers and he understands that they are not easy and he is willing to look at all siudes and involve that in his policy.

Frank: more than any other candidate?

Christian: More than any other candidate and he's more precise with how he responds.

Frank: You also were not an Obama person but you thought he won. Tell me why?

Participant: I thought he was very relaxed and very honest and he seemed very open. Willing to answer any question straightforward.

Participant: he seemed very sincere.  I was disappointed in Edwards I came in here as an Edwards supporter. And he just seemed too staged too not with it. Obama just seems to stand behind what he says.

Frank: was that enough to change your support?

Participant: At this point yes

Frank: Did anyone else switch from who they came in here for

Participant: Hillary

Frank: Hillary to...?

Participant: I probably would say more Barack Obama now.

Frank: How many of you thought that she was the biggest disappointment of the debate, raise your hand

Frank: Why? Did she not look presidential to you

Participant: She looked very staged. She looked very cold and I was fairly disappointed coming in as a Hillary supporter. Im not saying that it changed my view, but it did disappoint me quite a bit.

Frank: Tell me why?

Participant: She came across as being very, she was very outgoing and very in control but her answers were wishy washy.

Frank: Great. That was, you've got a clear winner here you've got Obama is the winner.  Hillary Clinton is the disappointment of the debate. You know that every time that we do this there is a different answer, there is a different response based on the people that we have here at Des Moines University, but one thing is for clear, Obama is getting better and better as time goes on. The language he uses, the way that he presents himself, his use of facts and figures, he's becoming a whole candidate and I think you'll see that in the polls in the coming weeks.

"Two for One": Richardson The Candidate Of Change And Experience

"Two for One": Richardson the Candidate of Change and Experience at Iowa Presidential Debate

Richardson challenges opponents with a plan to get all American troops out of Iraq with no residual forces left behind

DES MOINES, IA -- Bolstered by growing support in Iowa, Governor Bill Richardson participated in the second DNC-sanctioned Presidential debate this morning in Des Moines, Iowa. The debate was moderated by George Stephanopoulos of ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos and David Yepsen of the Des Moines Register.

"Senator Obama provides change and Senator Clinton experience. With me, you get both," Governor Richardson stated. "We're going to need change to become energy independent. We're going to need experience to deal with foreign leaders. I've met already with most of them. All my life I've been a diplomat and from day one I will be ready."

During the debate, Governor Richardson's plan to leave no residual forces behind dominated the discussion on Iraq.

"I have a plan to end this war," Richardson said. "We have to get all our troops out. Our kids are dying, our troops have become targets. We need reconciliation among the three groups, a division of oil revenues, and an all-Muslim peacekeeping force headed by the UN. None of this peacekeeping begins until all of our troops are out. It's critically important that we do this by an orderly timetable. In the Iraq war, through Kuwait, we have moved, over three-month periods, approximately 250,000 of our troops into and out of Iraq. We could move them out through roads to Kuwait. We could move them out through roads to Turkey. We can do this negotiating with the Turks."

Generals and experts agree with Richardson. Once the war is de-authorized and withdrawal begins, all our troops can be redeployed from Iraq in a quick, orderly, and effective manner.

"When a President talks about foreign policy, a President has to be clear," Richardson said. "You can never take the military option off the table. The Bush administration has relied on the military option, preemption. America needs to find ways that it can get its allies to aid in the fight against terrorism."

As the most vocal presidential candidate on the issue of education Richardson reiterated his proposal of a minimum wage for our teachers of $40,000.

"I have a one point plan for No Child Left Behind, as I do for Iraq - scrap it," Richardson stated. "Once again we need to be number one in Math and Science. I would have full-day kindergarten. I would revise our high school curriculum to include arts-in-the-schools."

"This is the Katrina of the mortgage lending industry," Richardson stated in response to a question about the current mortgage crisis. "What we need is more transparency. What we need to do is not appoint officials in the industry to regulate the industry. George Bush has shown a total lack of leadership, a total lack of competence. I strongly support additional measures to increase transparency and build firewalls between credit raters and financial institutions. I have a strong record in New Mexico both on cracking down on unscrupulous lenders and in leading on affordable housing issues. And that is what we have lacked in the last six years, and especially in the last couple weeks on this threat to our economy -- leadership."

Dodd Draws Clear Distinctions, Wins First Iowa Debate

DODD DRAWS CLEAR DISTINCTIONS, WINS FIRST IOWA DEBATE Presidential Candidate Demonstrates Mastery of Issues, Highlights Proven Leadership Experience

DES MOINES, IA - Highlighting his record of successful, proven leadership on issues affecting Americans and proposing bold solutions to the nation's most pressing problems, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd outshined his competition at Sunday's debate in Des Moines, Iowa. Explaining that there is a difference between having mere experience and having a proven record of success, Dodd drew clear distinctions between himself and the other candidates.

Making the case for experience in the wake of the failed Bush-Cheney administration Dodd said, "You're not going to have time in January of '09 to get ready for this job."  Dodd, who has been involved in nearly every major foreign policy decision in the last 26 years and won Head Start's Senator of the Decade Award, has a proven record of experience on both domestic and foreign affairs.

"Senator Dodd displayed the vast experience he will draw from when elected President. From being the first candidate to call for suspending Chinese imports to protect the safety of our children to providing our troops protective body armor while simultaneously proposing a responsible plan to get our troops out of Iraq, Senator Dodd is the only candidate with a proven record of success," said Dodd Communications Director Hari Sevugan. "Dodd is the best candidate for President because his vision for America reflects his experience, his mastery of the most complex issues facing our country and his ability to connect with everyday Americans. Today's performance is just another example that Senator Dodd's message of proven, bold leadership is resonating with American voters."

"Let me point out it's about getting the job done.  We don't elect a king or a queen or a dictator in November.  We elect a president.  That margins are thin.  No 1 political party is going to write all of this.  It takes leadership that knows how to bring people together.  It's what I've done for 26 years.  When I wrote the Family Medical Leave Act, it took me 3 presidents, 2 vetoes to go through in 7 years, but I brought Republicans to the table around a Democratic principle," said Dodd, the author of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Dodd, who has fought for the middle class throughout his career, is drawing attention to the middle class squeeze through a series of policy proposals entitled Middle Class Matters.

The Reviews Are In: Hillary 'Rising Above,' 'The Strongest,' 'Tough and Well Prepared'

The Reviews Are In: Hillary 'Rising Above,' 'The Strongest,' 'Tough and Well Prepared'

ABC NEWS' RICK KLEIN - HILLARY 'RISING ABOVE THE REST OF THE FIELD': "Clinton still rising above the rest of the field -- why not, as long as you're leading in the polls?" [ABC News Political Radar, 8/19/07 ]

MARK HALPERIN 'I THINK SENATOR CLINTON ONCE AGAIN.WAS THE STRONGEST' [ABC Iowa 5, 8/19/07]

MSNBC'S DOMENICO MONTANARO - CLINTON WAS 'TOUGH AND WELL PREPARED' "Clinton was again solid, no gaffes as usual. She is tough and well prepared." [MSNBC, First Read, 8/19/07 ]

NEW YORK TIMES' KATHARINE SEELYE - A 'STANDOUT' ANSWER TO CLOSE THE DEBATE: "Mrs. Clinton, the last to speak, had more time to think about her answer and had the standout: 'I could not be standing here without the women's movement,' she said. It helped women and people of color become part of the American Dream. She paid homage to her mother, who never went to college, 'but gave me the belief that I could do whatever I set my mind to.'" [New York Times, 8/19/07 ]

WASHINGTON POST'S CHRIS CILLIZZA - HILLARY 'PUSHED BACK EFFECTIVELY' WHEN ATTACKED: "Clinton pushed back effectively by noting that 'we' (she and Bill Clinton presumably) had been fighting and beating back Republicans for more than a decade and that the idea that the GOP would not attack any candidate who was the Democratic nominee was naive." [Washington Post's The Fix, 8/19/07 ]

HUFFINGTON POST'S RACHEL SKLAR - HILLARY SOUNDS 'STRONG AND AUTHORITATIVE' ON IRAQ: Sklar commented on Clinton's response on withdrawing American troops in Iraq: "She sounds strong and authoritative here." [Huffington Post, 8/19/07 ]

HUFFINGTON POST'S GLYNNIS MACNICOL - 'HILLARY IS REALLY GOOD ON STAGE. SO POLISHED'  [Huffington Post, 8/19/07 ]

Hillary: The Strength and Experience to Deliver Change

Hillary: The Strength and Experience to Deliver Change

This morning in Des Moines, Hillary showed that she is the Democrat with the strength and experience to beat the Republicans in 2008 and deliver the big change Americans want.

With Hillary it's not an either/or: She has 35 years of experience fighting for real change and she will use her experience to change Washington starting on day one.

Speaking personally, Hillary paid tribute to the work of all those women who helped change America - thus making her historic candidacy for change possible.

On Iraq, Hillary talked about her three-step plan to get our troops home in the smartest, safest way we can. And she pressed the Pentagon to begin planning to redeploy our troops safely, so that we are better prepared to get out of Iraq then we were getting in. She made it crystal clear that if George Bush won't end this war before he leaves office, as President, she will.

Here at home, she demonstrated her lifelong commitment to the Middle Class and fighting the special interests, vowing to achieve universal health care and helping create new jobs at good wages for hard working Americans.  She demonstrated her commitment to helping family farmers with the challenges they face.

That's why polls this month have Hillary surging to more than 20-point leads in the Democratic primary and to leads over each of her Republican competition.

What They're Saying About Governor Mitt Romney At The Des Moines, Iowa GOP Debate - Volume II

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING: ABOUT GOV. MITT ROMNEY AT THE DES MOINES, IOWA GOP DEBATE - VOLUME II

Des Moines Register's David Yepsen: "[Gov. Romney] turned in his usual polished, executive-like debate performance." (David Yepsen, Op-Ed, "Romney Finds A Foothold To Continue Upward Climb," Des Moines Register, 8/6/07)

Yepsen: "He also got off one of the best one-liners of the day when he attacked Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama. Romney said: 'In one week, he went from saying he's going to sit down, you know, for tea, with our enemies, but then he's going to bomb our allies. I mean, he's gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week.'" (David Yepsen, Op-Ed, "Romney Finds A Foothold To Continue Upward Climb," Des Moines Register, 8/6/07)

Republican Pollster Frank Luntz: "Romney is winning in both Iowa and New Hampshire. And his lead seems to be growing with every survey. One of the reasons is his debate performances. They've been categorically successful. People listen to him and they like what they hear." (Fox News' "Fox & Friends," 8/6/07)

Luntz: "And we're going to show you a clip of Romney right now with our exclusive Fox overlay.  … The higher that the lines climb the more favorable the response. Here is Mitt Romney talking about budgets, taxes, and expanding the economy. Watch how high those lines climb. That's a very favorable reaction. … You've got middle income Americans sitting in our groups and they're listening to Mitt Romney and saying that's what I want to hear from and that's what I want see from the next president." (Fox News' "Fox & Friends," 8/6/07)

Watch Frank Luntz's Analysis Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BhD-9nW9kM

ABC's Rick Klein: "It was Romney who had the best zinger of the morning (Obama has 'gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week,' he said.)" (Rick Klein, "The Note," ABC News, 8/6/07)

Klein: "And most importantly, it was Romney who was prepared for the inevitable attacks, which he parried like a pro. ('I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have,' he said of Brownback's criticism of his abortion record.)" (Rick Klein, "The Note," ABC News, 8/6/07)

Fox News' Carl Cameron: "Some will tell you that Mitt Romney was the clear winner in this." (Fox News' "The Big Story," 8/5/07)

Des Moines Register's Jason Clayworth: "When it came time to pick a winner of the debate, however, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had the most votes. Some participants said his cool demeanor and articulate speaking set him apart." (Jason Clayworth, "'Dial Testing' Measures Debate Messages," Des Moines Register, 8/6/07)

Human Events'Jed Babbin: "Iowa frontrunners Romney (26%) and Giuliani (14%) got the chance to showcase their ideas, poise and style." (Jed Babbin, Op-Ed, "Duel In Des Moines," Human Events, 8/6/07)

Babbin: "Mitt Romney – speaking late in that round – made a great call for a surge in Americans' support for the troops." (Jed Babbin, Op-Ed, "Duel In Des Moines," Human Events, 8/6/07)

Rocky Mountain News' Mike Littwin: "Mitt Romney was ready. He dominated the debate …" (Mike Littwin, Op-Ed, "How Are Dems Doing? Watch The GOP," Rocky Mountain News, 8/6/07)

MSNBC's First Read: "Focus group dial tester Rich Thau's Message Jury scored the debate for Romney …" (Chuck Todd, et al, "First Read," MSNBC, http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/, 8/6/07)

What They Are Saying About Mike Huckabee At The GOP Presidential Debate

MIKE HUCKABEE IS DECISIVE WINNER OF GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

Former Arkansas Governor is Tied for Third Place Among Declared Candidates

Des Moines, IA – Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee came out as the obvious winner in today's Iowa Republican debate in Des Moines, Iowa, according to news reports. The victory comes on the heels of Huckabee's strong showing in the latest ABC News-Washington Post telephone poll of 402 likely caucus-goers (conducted July 26-31). The new poll places Huckabee in a tie for third place among declared candidates – and gaining momentum.

The campaign welcomed the good news, which comes in the final week before the August 11th Ames Straw Poll. "Iowa voters saw Mike Huckabee define himself again today as a candidate with executive experience and a message focused on a strong, safe, economically vibrant America .  He has what it takes to restore America's greatness," said Bob Vander Plaats, who chairs Huckabee's campaign in Iowa .

According to ABC News and the Washington Post, Huckabee did particularly well, also placing third for his understanding of the problems, likeability and being close to voters on the issues. The survey has a margin of 5 percentage points. He also is an appealing candidate to Evangelicals, placing second at 17 percent, followed by Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain.

"Americans, and in particular, Iowans, are having a chance to see that Gov. Huckabee's message is right on target on Iraq, health care, national infrastructure and other vital issues of importance to our country," said Campaign Manager Chip Saltsman, who noted that Huckabee returned to Iowa on Aug. 1 and will campaign extensively around the state through the Aug. 11 straw poll.

On the issue of Iraq, Huckabee told ABC host George Stephanopoulos there is a successful compromise in the debate over staying in or pulling out of Iraq . "Certainly there's a middle ground George. And the middle ground is that we win this war and we do it with honor," Huckabee said. "We don't just stay indefinitely.  We put some pressure – just like we have been the last week, with Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates – on the Saudis."
Huckabee said the Iraqi people need to take on more military and financial responsibility for themselves, and America need to end its dependence on foreign oil. "If we can feed ourselves, if we can fuel ourselves, if we can manufacture the weapons to fight for ourselves, we're a free people.  If we can't do those three things, we're not free," Huckabee said to a round of applause.

In the area of health care, Huckabee stressed the need to focus on prevention rather than intervention.

"You know, if you want to know how to fix it, I've got a solution. Either give every American the same kind of health care that Congress has, or make Congress have the same kind of health care that every American has," Huckabee said.

Huckabee said "it's time for a major overhaul of our tax system" and urged others to support the Fair Tax.

"The reality is, if we could have the fair tax, you take $10 trillion parked offshore, bring it home, you rebuild the 'made in America' brand, you free up people to earn money, to work, you don't penalize them for taking a second job, you don't penalize them for investing, you don't penalize them for savings," Huckabee said.

"As Gov. Huckabee travels across Iowa , his message is connecting with the people," Saltsman said. "This poll shows that his momentum is growing and we expect that to continue in the weeks and months to come."

What They Are Saying … About Mayor Giuliani

What They Are Saying … About Mayor Giuliani

Townhall.com’s Matt Lewis: “I've got to declare Rudy Giuliani the winner today.” (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Lewis: “[I]t has now become apparent that Rudy Giuliani is the leader when it comes to ideas. Several times, he has injected a new idea which then, other candidates copied.” (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Lewis: “Rudy has clearly thought-through the questions and answers to a greater degree than the other candidates.” (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

ABC News’ Rick Klein: “[Giuliani] has some serious support in the hall …” (Rick Klein, “Live Blogging From Sunday’s Democratic Debate,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Klein: Rudy “got what appeared to be the most applause upon entering the room …” (Rick Klein “Live Blogging From Sunday’s Democratic Debate,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

The American Spectator’s Jennifer Rubin: “Rudy shows most command of detail and is making his case effectively that NYC experience matters.” (Jennifer Rubin, “Debate 5,” The American Spectator’s “AmSpecBlog,” http://www.spectator.org/blogger.asp?BlogID=7507, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Rubin: “[Giuliani] weaves his command of detail and his NYC experience into answers impressively.” (Jennifer Rubin, “Debate Wrap Up,” The American Spectator’s “AmSpecBlog,” http://www.spectator.org/blogger.asp?BlogID=7510, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

The New York Times’ Katharine Q. Seelye: “Giuliani took to the question [on raising taxes] the way King Kong might take the Empire State Building.” (Katharine Q. Seelye, “Sunday Morning Debate Blogging,” The New York Times’ “The Caucus” Blog, http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

National Review Online’s Kathryn Jean Lopez: Rudy displayed “the right instincts.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “The Right Instincts,” National Review Online’s “The Corner” Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MWNiMmU5NDZiNmU2ZjU4MGRlNWNkODk3NDIzYzU1MTE, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Lopez: Rudy’s answer on his mistakes was “realistic and good.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “Rudy On Mistakes,” National Review Online’s “The Corner” Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjFhYjhjNTgwOTAzNzQ1ZGMxOWNlYzRlN2NiOWFlNTA, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Townhall.com’s Matt Lewis: “Rudy is brillaint [sic] at these debates.” (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b,, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Lewis: “[Giuliani] refuses to accept the assumptions of the questioners … Other candidates should learn this lesson.” (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b,, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Lewis: “Rudy makes … a very, very good point” on democracy building. (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b,, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Lewis: “Rudy scores points by being the first to refer to ‘socialized healthcare.’” (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b,8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Lewis: “Giuliani points out that in 4 Democrat debates, the words Islamic extremism were never mentioned. He points out that Iraq is a battle in a larger war.” (Matt Lewis, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Townhall.com’s Blog, http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/5ad983e3-7d46-421f-93c8-74d5f8e26d2b,, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

The Washington Posts’ Chris Cillizza: “Giuliani is certainly on message.” (Chris Cillizza, “Giuliani Continues To Slam Democrats,” The Washington Posts’ “The Fix” Blog, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/giuliani_continues_to_slam_dem.html, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

Cillizza: “Giuliani’s strident criticism of Democrats on security and taxes are aimed at showing Republican primary voters that he is plenty conservative to represent them in the general election.” (Chris Cillizza, “Giuliani Continues To Slam Democrats,” The Washington Posts’ “The Fix” Blog, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/giuliani_continues_to_slam_dem.html, 8/5/07, Accessed 8/5/07)

John McCain At ABC News GOP Debate

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
John McCain At ABC News GOP Debate John McCain Is Prepared To Lead From Day One

McCain: "I love my country. I've had the great honor for more than 50 years of serving it in the military, in Congress, in the United States Senate. And I am fully prepared ... more than anyone else running on either side to fight the transcendent challenge of this nation ... the struggle against radical Islamic extremism. We must win. We will win. And we will never surrender. They will." (John McCain, ABC News GOP Debate, Des Moines, IA, 8/5/07)

John McCain Will Veto Pork-Barrel Spending

McCain: "We passed a $50 billion transportation bill that had $2 billion in pork-barrel earmark projects, $233 million for a bridge to nowhere in Alaska, to an island with 50 people on it. Not one dime in those pork-barrel projects was for inspection or repair of bridges ... I'll veto every single bill that comes across my desk and make the authors of those pork-barrel bills famous." (John McCain, ABC News GOP Debate, Des Moines, IA, 8/5/07)

John McCain On The Need For Victory In Iraq

McCain: "We are winning. We must win. ... This is a seminal moment in American history. We must succeed. There will be a big debate coming up in September on the floor of the Senate. We will win that debate because the American people understand the consequences of failure." (John McCain, ABC News GOP Debate, Des Moines, IA, 8/5/07)

John McCain Will Simplify The Tax Code

McCain: "I believe that we have to simplify the tax code but one of the first areas we have to go after is the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is going to eat into 20 million American families if we don't eliminate it and very quickly. Look, when we found out that Congress could not close a single military base when we had a huge number of them ... we passed a law where we appointed a commission [that] said we would close so many bases and Congress votes up or down. I would find Alan Greenspan. I'd say give us your recommendations, we'll pass a law and we will vote on his commission's recommendations, yes or no; up or down. That's the way you're going to simplify the tax code, which now requires $140 billion of American families' income to prepare their tax returns." (John McCain, ABC News GOP Debate, Des Moines, IA, 8/5/07)

What They're Saying: John McCain At ABC News Iowa Debate

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: JOHN MCCAIN AT ABC NEWS DEBATE

John McCain "Shines When He Reminds Us Of Stakes In Iraq"

The American Spectator's Jennifer Rubin: "McCain ... Shines When He Reminds Us Of Stakes In Iraq." (Jennifer Rubin, "Debate 5," American Spectator Blog, 8/5/07)

ABC News: "McCain Looks Strong On The War Again." (ABC News, "Live Blogging From Sunday's Democratic Debate," "Political Radar" Blog, 8/5/07)

National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez Cheers McCain Iraq Stance: "You Go, Senator." "John McCain feels my pain. 'We will not set a date for surrender, as the Democrats want us to.' You, go, senator." (Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review's The Corner Blog, 8/5/07)

Red State's California Yankee: "My Favorite Moments ... McCain Remains Firm On The War ..." (California Yankee, "Republicans Debate In Iowa," Red State Blog, 8/5/07)

John McCain "Awesome" When Decrying Pork-Barrel Spending

The New York Sun's Liz Mair: "McCain Is On Pork. Awesome. ... This Is Where I Love McCain." (Liz Mair Blog, www.lizmair.com, 8/5/07)

The American Spectator's Jennifer Rubin: "McCain gives it to Congress for porkbarrel spending rather than infrastructure maintenance ..." (Jennifer Rubin, "Debate 5," American Spectator Blog, 8/5/07)

The Politico's Jonathan Martin: "[McCain] appeared to come to life when he was able to address a favorite topic: pork. Decrying the earmark-heavy highway bill that included the now-famous 'bridge to nowhere,' McCain pointed out that the same legislation included 'not one dime' for 'bridge inspection.'" (Jonathan Martin, "A Good Moment For McCain," The Politico's "Jonathan Martin" Blog, 8/5/07)

McCain Brings Humor To Morning Debate

MSNBC's Domenico Montanaro: "McCain bringing a little humor to it with what the responsibilities of a VP should or would be. He said he's thought a lot about it having been considered for that post several times one of those responsibilities is being aware of the president's health! Ha." (Domenico Montanaro, "And We're Back," MSNBC's First Read Blog, 8/5/07)

Time Magazine's Ana Marie Cox: "[McCain] gets off a great, relaxed line about how the VP has two duties: to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate and 'inquire daily as to the health of the president.' ... He sums up seriously, saying that he'd give the VP a portfolio, but that he'd make sure 'that everyone understands there's only one president.' Snap." (Ana Marie Cox, "Liveblogging: Girding Loins In Des Moines," Time's "Swampland" Blog, 8/5/07)