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Last Saturday was the Family Leader Forum-, in which Frank Luntz and the conservative Family Leader folks invited all the candidates to speak in front of their all-the-way-to-the-right bunch.
Luntz asked the crowd to dress formally, but the candidates to dress for Thanksgiving Dinner.
Which apparently means suits.
Of course, Willard wasn't there because he's not a real Christian (although I like Stephen Colbert's comment that the Mormons took the one thing wrong with the Bible and fixed it by moving the location to the United States).
Everyone cried.
Herman Cain teared up telling the story of the day he found out his wife had cancer.
Newt Gingrich started the Water Works with a tale of a boy born with medical problems.
Perry misted up recounting his story of finding Christ.
Santorum cried like a baby talking about his daughter and her life threatening genetic disorder.
Bachmann didn't cry, but gave an emotional wrenching story of her parents' divorce and finding God.
Ron Paul didn't cry, because crying isn't covered by the Constitution.
I'm pretty sure I stole that joke, but let's just say Paul didn't win any fans at the forum. He is strongly anti-abortion and pro-"marriage", but his Libertarian views advocate that these decisions are made at a state level and not Federally.
Perry had a good showing, which was surprising, because frankly, Perry is terrible at that stuff. Cain, from what I read, could have done a better job connecting- keeping his answers and responses vague.
Gingrich, Bachmann, and Santorum all got good reviews from those who attend such events. Part of Luntz's debate included a focus group of "Wal-Mart moms" after the debate who met with the candidates. It was the conventional wisdom that Newt had the best results from this meeting.
The next thing to come out of this is The Family Leader making their official endorsement. The FL is righter-than-right, but they may be too important for the Iowa GOPers to discount.
Perennial candidate/ hopeful kingmaker/guy who really hates gay people Bob Vander Plaats has ruled out Cain, Paul, and Romney. At one point, Bachmann, and then Perry would have been odds on favorite. Still, I think Newt might be the one who gets the nod. So, yes, a group that is all about the sanctity of marriage is going to pick the guy who did three times.
Vander Plaats says he likes Santorum, but its likely Rick's dismal poll numbers will keep him away from the endorsement.
The Family Leader of course were the group who said they would only endorse a candidate who signed their pledge, which means a desperate Rick Perry signed off on the vow which famously included that part that black families had it so much better during the 1850s.
Newt hasn't signed the pledge (being the only one of the four possible endorsees who hasn't ), but he says he will if he can change some language in the pledge.
The Family Leader likes to say that the Conservatives jumping on Mike Huckabee's campaign train at this point in 2008's campaign made the difference. Will the same be said for 2012
Luntz asked the crowd to dress formally, but the candidates to dress for Thanksgiving Dinner.
Which apparently means suits.
Of course, Willard wasn't there because he's not a real Christian (although I like Stephen Colbert's comment that the Mormons took the one thing wrong with the Bible and fixed it by moving the location to the United States).
Everyone cried.
Herman Cain teared up telling the story of the day he found out his wife had cancer.
Newt Gingrich started the Water Works with a tale of a boy born with medical problems.
Perry misted up recounting his story of finding Christ.
Santorum cried like a baby talking about his daughter and her life threatening genetic disorder.
Bachmann didn't cry, but gave an emotional wrenching story of her parents' divorce and finding God.
Ron Paul didn't cry, because crying isn't covered by the Constitution.
I'm pretty sure I stole that joke, but let's just say Paul didn't win any fans at the forum. He is strongly anti-abortion and pro-"marriage", but his Libertarian views advocate that these decisions are made at a state level and not Federally.
Perry had a good showing, which was surprising, because frankly, Perry is terrible at that stuff. Cain, from what I read, could have done a better job connecting- keeping his answers and responses vague.
Gingrich, Bachmann, and Santorum all got good reviews from those who attend such events. Part of Luntz's debate included a focus group of "Wal-Mart moms" after the debate who met with the candidates. It was the conventional wisdom that Newt had the best results from this meeting.
The next thing to come out of this is The Family Leader making their official endorsement. The FL is righter-than-right, but they may be too important for the Iowa GOPers to discount.
Perennial candidate/ hopeful kingmaker/guy who really hates gay people Bob Vander Plaats has ruled out Cain, Paul, and Romney. At one point, Bachmann, and then Perry would have been odds on favorite. Still, I think Newt might be the one who gets the nod. So, yes, a group that is all about the sanctity of marriage is going to pick the guy who did three times.
Vander Plaats says he likes Santorum, but its likely Rick's dismal poll numbers will keep him away from the endorsement.
The Family Leader of course were the group who said they would only endorse a candidate who signed their pledge, which means a desperate Rick Perry signed off on the vow which famously included that part that black families had it so much better during the 1850s.
Newt hasn't signed the pledge (being the only one of the four possible endorsees who hasn't ), but he says he will if he can change some language in the pledge.
The Family Leader likes to say that the Conservatives jumping on Mike Huckabee's campaign train at this point in 2008's campaign made the difference. Will the same be said for 2012
