2016 Presidential Campaign Blog

RNC Chairman Announces Gerrit Lansing as Chief Digital Officer

RNC Chairman Announces Gerrit Lansing as Chief Digital Officer

WASHINGTON – Today Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus announced the hiring of Gerrit Lansing, who will serve as the RNC’s Chief Digital Officer. Lansing takes over for Mindy Finn, who has spearheaded the RNC's digital transition into 2016. Finn will remain as a senior advisor to the RNC.
 
“I am excited to welcome Gerrit to the team,” said Chairman Priebus. “His fresh perspective will add to a department that has already begun the hard work of expanding our digital capabilities as we move towards 2016.
 
“2014 marked the first time that the RNC completely integrated our digital, data, and technology capabilities to help us identify voters, volunteers, and donors. Gerrit’s depth of experience has given him valuable insight into the ever-evolving world of digital campaigning. We are fortunate to be able to take advantage of his unique knowledge.
 
“As the 2016 election cycle draws closer, the RNC remains committed to surpassing the extraordinary successes of 2014. With Gerrit joining our team, I am confident we are up to the task.”
 
“I’m thrilled to be joining the RNC’s digital operation, which has already taken such great strides towards victory in 2016,” said Lansing. “By expanding and adapting our digital capabilities, we will bring Republican values and ideas to more voters than ever before. I am proud to be a part of these unprecedented efforts.”
 
Gerrit Lansing joins the RNC from the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he served as Digital Director. Prior to joining the NRCC, Lansing worked as the Press Secretary for the House Budget Committee under Rep. Paul Ryan and as New Media Director for Rep. Peter Roskam. He began his career in Washington as the Feature’s Editor for the Heritage Foundation’s Foundry blog.  

Mike Huckabee Releases Announcement Video "Nailed Shut" That Will be Played Before Official Announcement in Hope, Arkansas on May 5, 2015

Huckabee releases announcement video "Nailed Shut"
Huckabee: "Any drunken redneck can walk into a bar and start a fight. A leader only starts a fight that he's prepared to finish."
 
Little Rock, Ark. - Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee released a video today titled "Nailed Shut" that will be used to introduce him at his official announcement in Hope, Ark. on May 5. The video highlights Gov. Huckabee's political record, which includes defeating the Clinton machine in Arkansas and governing effectively in an overwhelmingly Democratic environment.  "Nailed Shut" also reinforces Gov. Huckabee's commitment to defending Social Security and Medicare for seniors, helping every American earn his or her maximum wage, and leading with moral clarity.

Transcript of video is as follows:

 Rex Nelson, Arkansas Democrat Gazette:
"On his first day in office, Governor Huckabee's door was nailed shut."
"It was in Bill Clinton's Arkansas."
"You had huge Democratic majorities in the House, in the Senate..."
"You had all the apparatus of the Democratic party aligned against Mike Huckabee."
"And all of a sudden this Republican comes out of nowhere and wins."
Gov. Mike Huckabee:
"Every day of my life in politics was a fight and sometimes it was an intense one. But any drunken redneck can walk into a bar and start a fight. A leader only starts a fight that he's prepared to finish."
"As governor of Arkansas - I cut taxes and welfare, balanced the budget every year for ten years, and raised average family income by 50%."
 "We didn't slash, burn, hurt people, leave people impoverished. We empowered people to live a better life."
 "I'm not a Republican because I grew up rich, I'm a Republican because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life poor, waiting for the government to rescue me."
 "One thing that has to happen in America is moving the power away from Washington, where people are so disconnected from the way that so many ordinary Americans live. It's a disaster. Power needs to be local and limited, because the closer government is to the people, the more accountable it is to the people who are being governed."
 "Instead of fighting over the minimum wage, I'm going to focus on solutions to help every American earn his or her maximum wage."
"I'll protect Social Security and Medicare. Washington has done enough lying and stealing. I'll never rob seniors of what our government promised them and even forced them to pay for."
"And I'll lead with moral clarity in a dangerous world."
"There's a difference between right and wrong. There's a difference between good and evil."
"I'll keep all the options on the table in order to defeat the evil forces of radical Islam."
 "We believe in some things. We stand for those things. We live or die by those things!"
"Let's win the fight for what matters most."

Scott Walker to Keynote New Hampshire Rockingham County Republican Committee's Freedom Founders' Dinner on May 30, 2015

New Hampshire Rockingham County Republican Committee's Freedom Founders' Dinner with Scott Walker on May 30, 2015

The Rockingham County Republican Committee invites you to attend their annual Freedom Founders Dinner with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on Saturday, May 30th at 6:00 p.m. at the Executive Court Banquet Facility, 1199 South Mammoth Rd., Manchester NH.

http://www.rockinghamgop.org/

Stand with Rand Event with Justin Amash in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Monday, May 4, 2015

Stand with Rand Event with Justin Amash

Monday, May 4, 2015 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM (EDT)

Where:
Kent County Republican Party Headquarters
725 Lake Michigan Drive NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504

Event Details:

Join Senator Rand Paul for a special Stand with Rand event hosted by Congressman Justin Amash (R-MI).

Rand Paul Confirmed for Iowa GOP's 2015 Lincoln Dinner on May 16, 2015

Rand Paul Confirms for May 16 Lincoln Dinner

Senator Rand Paul confirmed today he will attend the Iowa GOP's 2015 Lincoln Dinner.

What: Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner

Where: Iowa Events Center, 833 5th Avenue, Des Moines, IA

When: Program starts at 5:30 p.m. CST, May 16

Current guests include:

•    Senator Rick Santorum
•    Governor Scott Walker
•    Governor Bobby Jindal
•    Carly Fiorina
•    Dr. Ben Carson
•    Governor Rick Perry
•    Donald Trump
•    Governor George Pataki
•    Governor Jeb Bush
•    Senator Lindsey Graham
•    Senator Rand Paul

Bernie Sanders for President 2016 Website Previews May 26, 2015 Official Announcement Event

https://berniesanders.com/

Rick Santorum to Address South Carolina GOP Convention, Silver Elephant Dinner, and Hold Town Hall Meeting on May 1-2, 2015

Rick Santorum to address South Carolina GOP Convention  
 
VERONA, PA - Former Republican presidential candidate, U.S. Senator, and Chairman of Patriot Voices Rick Santorum will return to South Carolina this Friday and Saturday to attend the annual Republican Silver Elephant Dinner and participate in the Republican State Convention in Columbia, SC.
 
In addition to the public events noted below, Senator Santorum will be holding private meetings with concerned South Carolinia activists and business leaders.
 
Friday, May 1st:

6:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will attend the South Carolina Republican Party's Silver Elephant Dinner in Columbia, SC.
 
Location:
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street
Columbia, SC
 
Saturday, May 2nd:

8:45am ET: Senator Santorum will hold a town hall meeting in Columbia, SC.
 
Location:
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
Richland Room B
1101 Lincoln Street
Columbia, SC
 
11:15am ET: Senator Santorum will address the South Carolina Republican Party Convention in Columbia, SC.
 
Location:
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street
Columbia, SC

DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Statement on Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Announcement

DNC Chair Statement on Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Announcement
 
Washington, DC – In response to Bernie Sanders’ announcement that he will run for president in 2016, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“Democrats welcome Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders as the second candidate to officially seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for President in 2016. Senator Sanders is well-recognized for his principled leadership and has consistently stood up for middle class families. Throughout his service in the U.S. House and Senate, Bernie Sanders has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the values we all share as members of the Democratic Party.
‎
“The Democratic Party appreciates the contributions that Senator Sanders, Secretary Clinton, and other candidates will make to a healthy dialogue about the future of our party and our nation. There is a distinct contrast between Democrats who are on the side of middle and working class families and Republicans who are concerned with the very rich and wealthy corporations. Over the next year, the discussions we have during our respective nominating processes will help make that choice clear.”

Bernie Sanders: ‘I Will be a Candidate for President’ Excerpts of email Announcement Declaring Candidacy

Bernie Sanders: ‘I Will be a Candidate for President’
 
BURLINGTON, Vt., -- U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders this morning will declare his candidacy for president of the United States. The senator will send an email to hundreds of thousands of supporters declaring his intention to run in the Democratic Party and laying out themes of his campaign:

Here are key excerpts:

“I am writing to inform you that I will be a candidate for President of the United States. I ask for your support.

“For many months I have been traveling from coast to coast across our country, and have had the opportunity to meet with thousands of good, hard-working, and remarkable people. Like you and me, they are deeply concerned about the future of our country.

“They wonder why they are working longer hours for lower wages. They worry about whether their kids will be able to afford college or get decent jobs. They fear that they may not have the savings to retire with dignity and security.

“The challenges facing our country are enormous.

“It's not just that, for forty years, the middle class has been disappearing. It's that 99% of all new income is going to the top 1%, and the grotesque level of wealth and income inequality today is worse than at any time since the late 1920s. The people at the top are grabbing all the new wealth and income for themselves, and the rest of America is being squeezed and left behind.

“The disastrous decisions of the Supreme Court in the Citizens United case and in other related cases are undermining the very foundations of American democracy, as billionaires rig the system by using their Super PACS to buy politicians and elections.

“And the peril of global climate change, with catastrophic consequences, is the central challenge of our time and our planet.

“The middle class in America is at a tipping point. It will not last another generation if we don’t boldly change course now.

“After a year of travel, discussion and dialogue, I have decided to be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president. But let's be clear. This campaign is not about Bernie Sanders. It about a grassroots movement of Americans standing up and saying: ‘Enough is enough. This country and our government belong to all of us, not just a handful of billionaires.’”

Jeb Bush to Attend a Meet & Greet at the North Carolina Republican Party's HQ on Friday, May 1, 2015

JEB BUSH TO VISIT NORTH CAROLINA ON FRIDAY
 
Tallahassee, FL – On Friday, Right to Rise PAC Honorary Chairman Governor Jeb Bush will attend a meet & greet organized by the North Carolina Republican Party.
 
Friday, May 1, 2015
 
Event: Governor Bush to attend a meet & greet at the North Carolina GOP’s HQ
 
Location:       

North Carolina Republican Party Headquarters
1506 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27605
 
Start Time: 11:00 AM EST