Latinos just not that excited by GOP hopefuls

A poll released by Latino Decisions — an organization that focuses on “states in which the Latino vote will play an important role in the 2012 elections” — shows that GOP presidential candidates have low recognition among Latino voters.

According to the Latino Decisions poll released Monday, “none of the Republican presidential candidates has been able to captivate or attract the attention of Latinos until now. In other words, for the time being, among the eight candidates, there is no one equivalent to George W. Bush who would attract a significant percentage of the Latino vote.”

Sarah Palin gets lonely on sidelines, attacks Perry

As if Rick Perry wasn’t taking enough flak from his fellow Republican candidates for president, he has to sit still for a rambling denunciation from none other than Sarah Palin who thinks it is just wrong to let undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition at Texas colleges.

Watchdogs call for greater transparency in corporate political spending

Last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission granted corporations and unions the right to directly and expressly back political candidates, and triggered an enormous new wave of political spending. Now watchdog groups are trying to find ways to make sure voters can see who is funding which candidates.

Perry now the favorite to win Iowa caucuses

If there has been a single thread that has connected the previous 11 editions of The Iowa Independent’s Power Rankings, it has been an overall feeling of discontent among Republicans as activists in the state search for someone who represents their views and that they believe also stands a good chance of unseating Democratic incumbent Barack Obama. Today, that looks more and more like Rick Perry.

PPP: Perry rides tea party, anti-science wave to front of pack in Iowa

As if to prove Colorado College political science professor Bob Loevy is correct when he says the current presidential nominating process gives too much power to fringe groups in small states, Rick Perry is riding a strong anti-science sentiment to the lead in Iowa polling. He also leads Republican contenders in Colorado.

Video: Todd Palin says Sarah resigned to make money

Sarah Palin announced her resignation as governor of Alaska two years ago with a speech so rambling and disjointed it became immediately iconic. She said she was not “wired for politics as usual,” that she wanted to “take a stand” and “not just hit our heads against a wall” and “watch valuable state time and money, millions of your dollars, go down the drain in this new political environment.” She said she was giving her reasons for resigning “very candidly and truthfully,” but no one knew what she was talking about. Her husband, Todd, confronted by an Alaskan in Iowa this week summed up the reasoning more succinctly and more convincingly: Palin resigned in order to earn money to pay high financial debts and to avoid legal complaints. Of course she did! Videos after the jump.

PPP Colorado poll: Lukewarm on Obama; even less warm on likely GOP rivals

Americans are deeply dissatisfied with officeholders across the political spectrum, and in swing-state Colorado, a key battleground for next year’s presidential election, the hot enthusiasm generated here by candidate Obama three years ago has cooled considerably, according to a new survey conducted by Public Policy Polling. Although, the methodology of the poll has rightly come under scrutiny (same as every poll), given the historically dismal economy and the battering Obama has taken on the right since he entered the White House, it’s remarkable that PPP pollsters found he nevertheless notched double-digit leads in the state over every potential GOP opponent except Mitt Romney, whom he leads here by 7 points.

Western Conservative Summit delivers pizza guy for prez, strange takes on gay rights

The Western Conservative Summit in Denver over the weekend saw former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum backpedaling mightily on New York’s new marriage equality law, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson rushing to the defense of Michele and Marcus Bachmann on ex-gay therapy, and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain celebrating a straw poll win.

Palin run could complicate Bachmann’s candidacy

Minnesota congresswoman and Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has been rocketing up polls in early primary and caucus states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Video: Palin campaign movie coming to Highlands Ranch

Sarah Palin’s movie is airing in select Tea Party friendly locations around the country this week– eight locations so far, including Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where it’s showing Friday evening. Palin asked conservative filmmaker Stephen Bannon to make the film, apparently as message vehicle for a 2012 presidential run. The title is “Undefeated,” which will leave some critics scratching their heads. Palin’s most high-profile political campaign– her 2008 vice presidential bid– ended in resounding defeat.