2016 is the fight we’ve been waiting for…

The debate moderator is CBS News political director John Dickerson.  He will be joined by CBS News White House correspondent Major Garrett, and to provide the Rupert Murdoch influence, The Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley Strassel.  The debate will air live on CBS from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST tonight.

Fox News has already positioned their optics and narrative front-man John Roberts on the ground in/around Greenville.  The Roberts production team is one of the key follows for anyone interested in discovering where Fox News executives are directing the public’s attention.

South Carolina has been hosting the evangelical-dominated Faith and Values conference in advance of the debate tonight.  The audience has been carefully selected from conference attendees and professional republican party insiders.

Given the absolute need for young Marco Rubio to regain his viable candidate footing, every possible lean and party indulgence will be apportioned to provide maximum benefit.  Knowing also that Roberts production staff is on the ground at the venue, The Peace Center, we can remain confident Murdoch is leveraging furiously on behalf of his preferred candidate, Rubio. (more…)

Mohamed Barry, 30, carried a machete into an Ohio restaurant and began chopping at people.

However, Barry was known to the FBI, and was in their suspect database because of prior radical jihadist threats he made.

But that didn’t stop the Columbus police spokesman Rich Weiner from proclaiming:

“There’s nothing to lead us to believe this is anything more than a random attack.”

I doubt there is severe enough sarcasm possible here; because everyone knows “random attack” is generally defined as a self-proclaimed Muslim jihadist walking into a kosher deli, which coincidentally is named, Nazareth Restaurant and Deli, and chopping people up with a machete.

C’mon, happens all the time – right?  Nothing to see here folks, move along, step right this way… move along now.  Pay no attention to the Jihad near the counter.

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Presidential Race and/or any of the candidates therein.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Candidate Donald Trump sold out the University of South Florida Sun Dome stadium tonight for a campaign rally.   With 11,000 inside the venue and thousands outside, Trump vows to return.

Long lines to get in: (more…)

Tonight Donald Trump is holding a rally in Tampa, FL at the University of South Florida Sun Dome. The event is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM EDT.

Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream #2 – Alternate Live Stream #3

Fox10 Live Stream HERE:

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In the southern rock spirit (genre) of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock: ‘Merica

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A Southern Political Poll released today (full pdf below) conducted for the Augusta Chronicle and Fox5 is exceptionally interesting.  The poll data itself is deep, extensive, succinct and well presented.  Good sample size, low MOE and few assumptions.

The top line results, show remarkable consistency with the previous NBC/WSJ and Maris polls conducted in January.  With the exception of a modest bump for John Kasich, the latest polling shows almost no change – and most of the SC electorate have not only made up their mind, but their decision has been settled for quite a while:

A close review of the poll internals, shows some remarkable and consistent insights when contrast against ground reports, alternate polling and field data.  What many political junkies might find remarkable is the dominance of the Trump coalition.

After reviewing the poll data, the current decisions of the Trump campaign’s approach in South Carolina make VERY good sense.

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(Via CBS) The six remaining major GOP presidential candidates have all qualified for CBS News’ Republican debate in South Carolina on Saturday night, the network announced Friday.

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson and John Kasich have been invited to participate in the debate at the Peace Center in Greenville.

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, who had only previously participated in undercard debates, did not qualify for the main stage, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina dropped out of the 2016 race earlier this week. (more…)