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.