Poll: Obama Leads Perry

Although Rick Perry remains the GOP frontrunner, a new poll places the Texas Governor 4 points behind President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 matchup.

According to a new USA Today/Gallup poll, Perry trails Obama 45 to 49 percent among nationally and 45 to 50 percent among registered voters.

Mitt Romney, Perry’s closest rival, does better when pitted against the President. Among registered voters, Romney leads by 49 to 47 percent and nationally, Romney leads 48 to 46 percent.

However, Romney, who was the Republican frontrunner until Perry’s official entrance into the race last month, continues to lag in the polls. According to Gallup, Perry secures 31 percent of the GOP vote and Romney takes only 24 percent. Ron Paul, who stands at 13 percent, is the only other Republican candidate to score double digit support.

53 percent of those polled stated that they would ultimately side with whatever candidate was perceived to have the best chance at unseating Obama.

The poll was conducted among 1,0004 adults between September 15-18th.

GOP Presidential Contenders Critical Of Obama's Deficit Reduction Plan

President Obama is taking some harsh criticism from a group of individuals over his new proposal to hike taxes on the wealthiest Americans to help pay for his newly unveiled jobs bill.

That group? The GOP presidential field.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, who’s seen her status in the field dip in recent weeks, called Obama’s plans “gimmicks” and simply said “you don’t create jobs by increasing taxes on job creators.”

“If Warren Buffet believes he doesn’t pay enough taxes, then he should write a check today to the Treasury,” Bachmann said in a statement. “He and the President shouldn’t enact warfare on the millions of small businesses, charities and on middle class America with increased tax burdens.”

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) recently emerged victorious in this weekend’s California Straw Poll and his national poll figures have followed suit. Paul now sits just behind former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry.

In response to Obama’s new proposal, Paul said that by increasing taxes on the “so-called rich,” the president is actually targeting small businesses. Paul continued by saying the President’s policies are putting Americans in opposition with each other, stopping just short of using the words “class warfare,” a term that has grown in popularity among conservatives critical of Obama’s plan.

“The President’s class-baiting rhetoric categorizes Americans into opposing groups and pits them against one another, purely for his own political gain,” Paul said.

Romney, who prides himself as a guy who knows the mechanics of the economy and a job creating guru, argued that higher taxes will only be detrimental to economic growth.

“Higher taxes mean fewer jobs - it’s that simple,” Romney said. ” This is yet another indication that [Obama] has no clue how to bring our economy back.”

Perry shot right to the top after joining the GOP presidential field, using Texas’ job creation numbers as a staple in his new White House campaign. Perry tagged Obama’s proposal as a “bait and switch” plan that would only provide temporary tax relief as a trade off for higher taxes.

“The President penalizes investment when it is needed most,” Perry said. “Worst of all, the Obama plan fails to provide the certainty employers need to create jobs and the spending and deficit reduction our economy needs.”

The candidates will likely address and dissect the President’s American Jobs Act and his proposal to pay for it at their next debate this Thursday, Sept. 22 in Orlando, Fla.

Paul Takes California Straw Poll

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and long-shot GOP presidential candidate continues to prove that he is not just another pushover among conservatives like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry.

The Texas Congressman won the California Straw Poll over the weekend and credits his growing status in the GOP field to a younger generation of Americans who want to see the Washington political atmosphere change.

“They’re young people, mostly, who realize our country’s in a mess… and they’re very open to the ideas of liberty, Paul told the San Francisco Chronicle. “They’d just as soon assume responsibility for themselves… be left alone, get the government off their back and get out of wars.”

The Texas congressman raked in 44.9 percent of the vote winning the California poll. Chants of “President Paul! President Paul!” and a number of signs that read “Paul Revolution” signaled Paul’s victory.

Paul said that the race for 2012 is different than previous races he’s run in the past because of the evolution and impact of social media. Paul praises the youth, who call themselves “Paulistas,” for supporting him and credits the social media mogul Facebook for the success of spreading his message.

“The only way we’ll find out is what happens in January, whether that translates into real votes,” he said. “We see the enthusiasm … and the volunteers. But under our system, the litmus test is: Do they come to the polls and vote? We’ll see.”

Economist Echoes Perry's Ponzi Scheme Claim

University of Maryland Business Professor Peter Morici says Texas Governor Rick Perry was right when he referred to Social Security as a “ponzi scheme” in his book, “Fed Up!”

In his book, Perry, a leading candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, described the national benefit program for seniors as being a “Ponzi scheme,” adding that it was created “at the expense of respect for the Constitution and limited government.”

Since he entered the GOP race last month, Perry has received a large amount of blowback from both Democrats and fellow Republicans who have argued that his remarks should make him a dangerous choice for voters who support the popular entitlement.

In a column today, Morici wrote that “Social Security, by the findings of Mr. Obama’s own Social Security Administration, is insolvent and hence a Ponzi Scheme.”

“Governor Perry is right to call Social Security for what it is,” he added.

However, Morici disagreed with the belief of Perry and many Republicans in Congress that the program should be phased out for future generations and replaced with a private system.

“The U.S. stock market,” he notes, “has not returned a dime to investors for more than a decade, and interest on bonds and savings accounts are too low to make the system work.”

The real solution, according to Morici is to gradually raise the retirement age to 70, with exceptions for those who are disabled.

“Americans won’t like that but it beats what President Obama is offering.”

Pelosi: Dems Won’t Change Strategy Following New York Loss

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) brushed off her party’s recent loss in New York’s ninth district, telling reporters Thursday that Democrats won’t change their political strategy in response.

“It does not alter our plan for taking back the House,” Pelosi said during a press conference. “We’re optimistic about the recruitment of candidates, the raising of money, the raising of the issues that are out there and that’s positive for us.”

Pelosi added that following the election there was a surge of campaign funds, adding a silver lining to an otherwise disappointing result.

“It was a good day because … other people realized we really have to buckle down to win this,” Pelosi said.

Tuesday’s special election saw Democrats lose the seat held by former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who resigned amid a cyber sex scandal. The district,which has been held by a Democrat for over 80 years, granted Republican Bob Turner an 8 point victory.

Democrats also suffered an additional blow in Nevada, where the Republican candidate, Mark Amodei, won an open house seat in a landslide. However, Pelosi dismissed the silver state election, noting that Democrats didn’t believe they would be able to win the heavily conservative district.