“I was a little taken aback [by the exchange], because I’m pretty sure that coming to the studio this morning I didn’t drive by any houses where people thought a $10,000 bet was even possible, so I think he’s out of touch with normal Iowa citizens,” Perry said on Fox News Sunday.
On the issue at the center of last night’s exchange – whether Romney initially advocated that the individual mandate at the center of Massachusetts’ health care law was a model for the country – Perry did not back down. “Mitt can deny it as many times as wants, but in his first book he clearly stated that [the individual mandate] should be model for country. He took that out in the paperback. That’s a fact, and even a $10,000 bet won’t cover it.”
--James Kitfield
10:02. Postmaster General Defends His Plan
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, whose plans to cut services and close facilities in order to trim expenses have drawn some shouts in Washington, defended his strategy on Sunday.
Donahoe said that the U.S. Postal Service, which is not taxpayer funded, has seen the volume of mail drop by 25 percent in recent years, thanks to competitors and technology like online bill paying services and email.
“What we need to do, like any other responsible business, is to cut costs in order to get our finances back in order,” he said on CNN’s State of the Union.
--Glen Justice
9:34. Santurum Takes on Gingrich, Obama
One day after praising Newt Gingrich as an early inspiration in his political career on the stage at a debate in Iowa, former Sen. Rick Santorum sought to draw sharp contrasts between his leadership and that of the former House Speaker.
Santorum, who represented Pennsylvania, praised his own accomplishments in the Senate and questioned Gingrich’s management while in Congress.
“Three years into his speakership, there was a conservative revolution to try to get rid of him as Speaker,” Santorum said on CNN’s State of the Union. “That doesn’t happen very often.”
Santorum also attacked President Obama, accusing him of pursuing policies of appeasement in countries like Syria and Iran, a view that many Democrats – including Obama himself – would challenge given the president’s record on foreign policy and terrorism, which is highlighted by the assassination Osama bin Laden.
“At every single turn, the president has appeased those who would do us harm,” Santorum said.
--Glen Justice
8:44. Rep. Israel: House Republicans are 'Radioactive'
Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Sunday that Democrats have a strong chance of retaking the House in next year's election.
Israel, whose job at the DCCC is to raise money and recruit candidates, said Democrats must pick up 25 seats to win back the House, and that they consider 70 seats in play. "It's going to be razor close," he said, speaking on Bloomberg’s Political Capital.
The New York congressman said that House Republicans’ stance on issues such as a payroll tax cut will help Democrats win, quipping that, "Only the House Republicans would decide to load a middle class tax cut with pork." He rejected the idea that President Obama’s approval ratings will drag on Democratic campaigns.
“They are radioactive,” Israel said of House Republicans. “There is a strong sense of buyer’s remorse.”
--Glen Justice
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