Now That He's Running For Senate, Will Tommy Thompson Finally Give Up His Lobbying Ties?

Just as he has been pretending not to be a lobbyist, Tommy Thompson has spent the last few months pretending not to be a candidate for Senate. Maintaining this “unofficial candidate” status has allowed him to continue working for his corporate clients while raising money from them for his campaign with a wink and a nod. Now that Thompson is officially announcing his candidacy and dropping the charade, the question remains, will he sever his ties with his corporate clients?

CNN: Tough illegal immigration foe set to endorse Perry

On November 28, 2011, CNN reported:

An Arizona sheriff who has gained a national reputation for his tough stance against illegal immigrants is set to endorse Texas Governor Rick Perry Tuesday in New Hampshire, Perry's campaign confirmed. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose tactics have caused controversy and spurred civil rights lawsuits, will give his nod to Perry in a Tuesday morning event. Arpaio will also campaign with Perry at several events throughout the state.

Dean Heller's Wall Street Doublespeak

In a blatant attempt to hide his record of standing up for Wall Street at the expense of Main Street, Senator Dean Heller went on KLAS-TV8 to lament how “there's no shame on Wall Street.”  (Video here)  The fact is, Heller voted repeatedly to protect taxpayer-funded bonuses to Wall Street executives while filling his campaign coffers with their money. “Did Dean Heller feel any shame as he voted to hand taxpayer money to Wall Street CEOs?  Did he feel any shame when he gladly cashed their contribution checks?  Nevadans deserve better than Dean Heller’s Wall Street doublespeak,” said Matt Thornton, spokesman for American Bridge 21st Century.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Heller takes a hit from Washington group

On November 28, 2011, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported:

Senate Dean Heller continues to take shots from organizations critical of his voting record as his race for election heats up. American Bridge 21st Century is the latest outfit to fire on Heller. Its spokesman, Matt Thornton, thumps him for his "blatant attempt to hide his record of standing up for Wall Street at the expense of Main Street."

Bloomberg: Romney in 2006 Backed Immigration Stance He Now Deems ‘Amnesty’

On November 28, 2011, Bloomberg reported:

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who charged Republican presidential primary rival Newt Gingrich with proposing “amnesty” for certain illegal immigrants, took a nearly identical position in a 2006 Bloomberg interview, saying some foreigners who entered the U.S. illegally should be allowed to remain and gain legal status.

AP: NH gay marriage push highlights GOP shifts

On November 24, 2011, the Associated Press reported:

Whether they like it or not, Republican presidential candidates are joining New Hampshire’s intensifying gay marriage debate.

LA Times: Mitt Romney still faces a trust deficit with GOP voters

On November 24, 2011, the Los Angeles Times reported:

But for months, the threshold of support for the former Massachusetts governor [Mitt Romney] hasn't inched above a quarter of Republican voters in national polls. For many GOP voters in early primary states, hesitation about Romney comes back to one thing: their perception that he has routinely molded his views to suit the political mood, with ambition his overriding principle. "He's not a person we could trust to lead our country," said Angela Cesar, a 41-year-old Republican from Ypsilanti, Mich., who said Romney had changed his position on too many issues. "He's going to be listening to voices outside. I want someone who can hear his own voice — a clear voice." Steve Holroyd, a 54-year-old chef from Rye, N.H., was initially attracted to Romney's candidacy, but now describes him as evasive: "The more I listen to him, the more he just kind of flip-flops and doesn't know where he stands on anything." Romney's advisors say the argument that their candidate is a political contortionist will not resonate because voters are concerned about the economy — and little else. But in his failed 2008 bid, when the issue was raised — as now — by opponents, it hit its mark not because of the issues involved but because of what Romney's flip-flops suggested about his character.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Heller Backs off on 'March Madness'

On November 21, 2011, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported:

There has been a quick change in the fundraiser that Sen. Dean Heller is planning during the NCAA basketball tournament next spring.

NY Times: Vilifying Rival, Wall St. Rallies for Senate Ally

On November 18, 2011, the New York Times reported:

The warning has ricocheted around the financial world in recent weeks, in conversations at Midtown restaurants and Washington fund-raisers, carrying urgent appeals for money from financial executives around the Northeast: The battle to re-elect Senator Scott P. Brown, the Republican from Massachusetts, just got a little more interesting.

Fox News Reports On American Bridge

On November 17, 2011, Fox News' Megyn Kelly hosted GOP strategist Ed Rollins to discuss American Bridge 21st Century: