Free Republic

It’s now been one month since I last did my prediction of the top five Republican Presidential Candidates, and this time around we saw a little change in rank. The biggest leap forward, was Mike Huckabee, which I previously had him placed third, he is now first. Followed by Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Tim Pawlenty. (Chart at link) Now I’m sure many of you disagree with Romney being third behind Sarah Palin, but I don’t view him as a good candidate. I don’t hate him, and I certainly would vote for him over President Obama, but he...

It will be more than a year before New Hampshire voters trudge to the polls for the first primary in the nation, but the New Hampshire Journal feels it’s just the right time to take the Granite State temperature on the Republican field. As expected, Mitt Romney from neighboring Massachusetts takes the early lead in the poll, but perhaps the extent of that lead will provide a mild surprise. Romney leads Sarah Palin by 23 points, and Mike Huckabee is the only other candidate in double digits: Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney holds a commanding lead in New Hampshire in...

A quartet of controversial judicial picks by Gov. Deval Patrick — including the wife of a deep-pocketed state representative — have escalated infighting on the Governor’s Council as some members say nominees are being rushed through before a pair of lame ducks leaves office. Councilors Mary-Ellen Manning and Marilyn Devaney also are criticizing Patrick’s nomination this week of state Rep. Garrett Bradley’s wife, Heather, a Plymouth County prosecutor. Bradley (D-Hingham) gave Patrick a maximum $500 donation in March and has donated more than $36,000 to the state Democratic Party since 2006, records show. He’s also given more than $130,000 to...