Perry Leads GOP Field in Florida
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on September 22nd, 2011 4:38 am by HL
Perry Leads GOP Field in Florida
A new Quinnipiac poll in Florida finds Rick Perry leading Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential race, 31% to 22%. All other candidates are in the single digits.
However, in general election match ups, Romney is clearly the stronger candidate. He leads President Obama, 47% to 40%, while Obama edges Perry, 44% to 42%.
Said pollster Peter Brown: “Gov. Rick Perry has the lead — and the momentum — among Florida Republicans, while former Gov. Mitt Romney can point to a better general election showing. Adding to Perry’s strength is support among Sarah Palin backers, who shift more to the Texas governor if the former Alaska governor stays out of the race.”
Government Shutdown Looms Again
The House of Representatives rejected a temporary measure to fund the government — a continuing resolution — by a vote of 195 to 230, The Hill reports.
With Congress once again unable to produce a budget on time, Democrats and Republicans must come to an agreement by September 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
David Weigel explains the vote: “This CR, which included $1 billion of FEMA funding, also included $1.5 billion of cuts to an efficient vehicle program that Democrats supported… When Majority Leader Eric Cantor was asked if FEMA funds would be tied to cuts, he implied that they would be, then rejected the notion that he would hold anything ‘hostage’ when relief was on the line… The immediate request turned out to be $500 million. Instead of setting up a vote on this, the GOP put a package together. There would be $1 billion of FEMA funds, twice what was requested. There would be $2.6 billion for a disaster fund that had been set up by the debt deal. And, oh, there would be ‘pay-fors’ in the form of cuts to that efficiency program, which Democrats wanted.”
Members of the House have been advised by Cantor that a weekend session is possible to resolve the impasse.
