The John Batchelor Show

VIDEO: Presidential Beauty Contest

September 23, 2015

Tuesday 22 September 2015 / Hour 1, Block C: Robert Costa, Washington Post, in re: Scott Walker's exit: He ended as the favorite of neither. “In a race increasingly defined by which lane you're running in, at least in Iowa, he never picked one," said Matt Strawn, a former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party. Walker’s departure also demonstrated that a cash-rich superPAC is no substitute for a well-funded official campaign: He dropped out with millions in his superPAC’s treasury, just weeks after former Texas Gov. Rick Perry did the same.  – His advisors served him poorly – no fast-moving, quick-turnaround alert. Very badly managed campaign with too many consultants's spending too much money.  Walker considered himself to be chief strategist, which put a chokehold on things.  /  Gossip that the president wants Joe Biden for president with Duval Patrick for VP – probably mostly fuelled by Patrick camp.  The managing partner of UTA supports Joe Biden, and George Clooney may be looking at Biden.  In 2008, Hollywood drifted away from Clinton. Happening drip by drip with Berne Sanders.  Screenwriters enthusiastic for Biden.  GOP frontrunner: an outsider – Fiorina, Trump, et al. Trump sees Bush as his main threat.   . . . Only Bush has a plan for growth – 4%.  Whom is Trump speaking to?  Forbes?  Who's his second act?  "I don't need one."  / Marco Rubio was successful at both debates; is beneficiary of Walker departure.  Rubio sees Bush and Kasich as main competitors. Donors and Fiorina?  the lingering question.  So far, she's relied on a superPAC, doesn't yet have much of a ground game.   A top Dem: Biden will either enter before the first Dem debate, and have a surge; otherwise, maybe wait till early next year, wait to see how the email scandal unfolds. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/scott-walker-quits-2016-213912#ixzz3mVkVqGkh ;http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/21/scott-wal... ;http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/21/scott-wal...  . . . and Biden hinting, and now this:   Hillary Clinton Opposes Keystone XL Pipeline  The Democratic candidate for president broke her long-standing silence on the project, saying she doesn’t believe it is in the best interest of what needs to be done to fight climate change.