Roy Tyler is the Communications Director for the Duncan Hunter for President campaign… On MSNBC last night, California Rep. Duncan Hunter was center stage with nine other candidates for a debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Hunter illustrated tonight that he indeed has inherited the mantle of Ronald Reagan. Moderator Chris Matthews said everybody knew where Ronald Reagan stood. Everybody knew where Hunter stood tonight. He was the paradigm of assertiveness. While McCain and Giuliani equivocated on the issue of abortion, Hunter was firm about pro-life beliefs. While Romney was uncertain how to respond to the question of Iran Hunter was certain about what to do. Romney wavered about federal funding for stem cell research Hunter was absolute. Unlike McCain, Hunter does not pander about his faith and try to walk a fine line. He was definitive about his… Read More

John Peschong is a Senior Advisor to the McCain for President Campaign here in California… As I watched last night’s presidential debate at the Reagan Library, it became crystal clear to me that among the ten Republicans on stage, there was only one with both the experience and the energy needed in our next commander-in-chief: Senator John McCain.

John McCain’s record in public service is well-known by now: with 22 years in the Navy and 20 years in the Senate, he is clearly the candidate best prepared to serve as President. And with newly released polling data showing him leading in the pivotal early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, Senator McCain entered the night strongly positioned to win the Republican nomination.

And yet, I didn’t see Senator McCain rest on his laurels for one second. In fact, he distinguished himself from the rest of the field by passionately addressing head on the most pressing issues our country faces. In doing so, he sounded Reaganesque and looked presidential.

When… Read More

Everybody Loves Arnold & Jeb

You may have noticed the GOP candidates at last night’s debate in California spent an inordinate amount of time sucking up to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Wait till they go to Florida. That state’s former Gov. Jeb Bush, who left office as popular as his presidential brother isn’t, was already in big demand for his endorsement in the GOP presidential contest. That nod just became an even more coveted prize now that Florida’s legislature has voted to move the state’s presidential primary up to January 29.

That makes Florida’s primary one of the earliest in the nation, creating outsized influence in the race for the White House. A January 29 primary would come shortly after early contests in Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire, but a week before the mosh pit of 23… Read More

Late this afternoon, ten GOP contenders for the White House will be trying their hardest to make in impression at a debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. The fact that the debate includes all ten candidates, and not just the three front runners, means that no single candidate is going to receive a significant amount of exposure during this event. You can be sure that each of the campaigns has figured out what message or theme they want to try to strike in what will be just a very few minutes. Don’t look to be overly impressed with the perfomances as I think that with 10 people vying for time, there will be little chance for anyone to really make one. I guess, especially with the lesser-known contenders, it will be fun to see them try to pick up some momentum by being a little bit more ‘outlandish’ — which should provide some interesting moments. As for McCain, Giuliani, and Romney — expect them to continue to emphasize the same campaign points that they have been making on the trail… As it has been said, Fred Thompson, who is speaking to the annual dinner of the Orange County Lincoln Club tomorrow night, is more likely to… Read More

Late this afternoon, ten GOP contenders for the White House will be trying their hardest to make in impression at a debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. The fact that the debate includes all ten candidates, and not just the three front runners, means that no single candidate is going to receive a significant amount of exposure during this event. You can be sure that each of the campaigns has figured out what message or theme they want to try to strike in what will be just a very few minutes. Don’t look to be overly impressed with the perfomances as I think that with 10 people vying for time, there will be little chance for anyone to really make one. I guess, especially with the lesser-known contenders, it will be fun to see them try to pick up some momentum by being a little bit more ‘outlandish’ — which should provide some interesting moments. As for McCain, Giuliani, and Romney — expect them to continue to emphasize the same campaign points that they have been making on the trail… As it has been said, Fred Thompson, who is speaking to the annual dinner of the Orange County Lincoln Club tomorrow night, is more likely to… Read More

Okay, okay. After some e-mails for pictures, I’ve slowed down long enough to pull one off of the camera. I stopped in to chat with Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines yesterday… … Read More

On Tuesday Orange County Register columnist Frank Mickadeit wrote about the failed effort of state senator Jenny Oropeza to ban outdoor smoking on state beaches and in state parks. Mickadeit who is most concerned that enjoying a cigar on the beach could become illegal, quipped that had Oropeza found the votes for her bill he would have unleashed me on an "Oropeza Oppresses Girl Scouts" campaign. The reason…camp fires are far more noxious and produce much more lung damaging toxins. Perhaps camp fires are next?

The following well illustrates what my message/campaign would look like if I were to run such an effort.

Just in case the Senator decides to bring the issue back…she knows what she could be up against.… Read More

FIrst the debate won’t really change anything — Guiliani, McCain and Romney will still be the front-runners tomorrow (with Fred Thompson as a popular, undeclared alternative). Bottom line is that they have the money, organization and support to win votes and compete nationally.

There were no real losers. Everyone looked credible and serious — and, other than Cong. Ron Paul, mostly agreed on the issues.

While I have been impressed with Giuliani as a solid front-runner, Romney got the biggest boost from his performance at the just concluded Presidential debate. And, this being his de jure introduction to the nation, the time could not have been better for his campaign.

Romney looked Presidential, handled questions with aplomb and gave credible responses to critiques that he’d flipped on key issues.

McCain made no fatal mistakes — but hit no long drives either.

Rudy looked tentative and seemed to stumble over… Read More