WASHINGTON, D.C. -- While President George W. Bush has maintained neutrality among contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, he privately expresses to friends his exasperation with Mitt Romney's hard-line stance on immigration.
He was back again on Wednesday, never so eloquent as in withdrawing from the Democratic race for the presidential nomination.
The three-way race to win Missouri’s Republican Presidential Primary couldn’t get any closer—three candidates are within four points of each other in a poll with a four-point margin of sampling error.
Just shy of a month ago, after the first votes were cast in Iowa and New Hampshire, it seemed that the Republican Party faced a fluid and fractious nomination contest, while the Democrats faced a clear-cut choice between two not particularly adversarial candidates. What a difference a few weeks can make
Hillary Clinton’s lead over Barack Obama in Alabama has fallen ten points in a week.
Make no mistake about it: If Hillary Clinton is elected president, her husband will be her rogue co-president, causing constant chaos, crises and conflicts for her new administration.
The Republican Presidential Primary in Tennessee is very competitive. A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey found John McCain narrowly on top with 32% support followed closely by Mitt Romney at 29% and Mike Huckabee at 23%. Ron Paul attracts 8% of the vote while 5% still plan to vote for some other candidate.
In Tennessee, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama by fourteen percentage points. A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey conducted Wednesday night found Clinton with 49% of the Volunteer State vote while Obama earned 35%.
John McCain has an eight percentage point lead over Mike Huckabee in Alabama’s Republican Presidential Primary.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Atlanta fell for the third consecutive month in January, dropping 1.8 points 91.7. Financial concerns and decreased job satisfaction drove the decline. The city’s latest reading of worker sentiment is 18.6 points lower than last January’s Index of 110.3. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, held steady at 89.0.
Following two consecutive months of dramatic drops, the Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Florida rose 2.7 points to 93.4 in January. Fewer expected job cuts and a stronger sense of job security helped boost workers’ morale. Nevertheless, Florida’s latest measure of worker confidence is nearly 25 points lower than last January’s 118.3. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, held steady at 89.0.
Worker confidence in Pennsylvania fell for the third consecutive month in January, as the state’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) decreased 7.1 points to an all-time low of 81.6. Weaker hiring expectations and less confidence in personal finances triggered the decline. The state’s measure of worker confidence is nearly 20 points shy of last January’s 100.1. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, held steady at 89.0.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Boston held steady in January, slipping just 0.1 points to 91.9. Improved perceptions of workers’ finances were offset by less confidence around hiring and job security. The current measure of worker confidence is well below last January’s reading of 98.0. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, held steady at 89.0.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Democratic primary voters in Illinois shows favorite sone Senator Barack Obama dominating his opponent with 60% of votes. Senator Hillary Clinton comes in a very distant second with 24%.
After five consecutive months of declining numbers, confidence among accounting and finance workers began rebounding in January, as the group’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) rose 3.3 points to 96.0. Increased job security and better hiring expectations contributed to the up-tick. The Index for accounting & finance workers was 119.8 last January. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all occupations, held steady at 89.0.
Confidence among manufacturing workers declined for the third consecutive month in January, as the sector’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) dropped 2.2 points to 77.4. Financial concerns helped drive the decline. In contrast, the Index for manufacturing workers was more than 11 points stronger last January, when it registered 88.9. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all occupations, held steady at 89.0.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Hispanics rose 1.8 points to 85.4 in January. Conversely, the monthly measure of worker confidence for African Americans plummeted 19.6 points to 67.5. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers from all races and ethnicities, held steady at 89.0.
Worker confidence sank in Dallas-Ft. Worth in January, as the market’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) fell 5.7 points to 103.7. Record low hiring plans and more layoff expectations triggered the decline. Dallas-Ft. Worth’s latest measure of worker confidence falls short of last January’s 106.1. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, held steady at 89.0.
Following two consecutive dramatic drops, the Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Chicago rose 7.5 points to 86.0. Fewer job security fears and improving perceptions of personal finances contributed to the increase. Nevertheless, the Windy City’s measure of worker confidence is well below last January’s 92.4. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, held steady at 89.0.
Worker confidence waned in Texas in January, as the state’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) slipped 1.2 points to 113.1. The current measure of worker confidence for the Lone Star State falls shy of last January’s 120.3. The composite Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, held steady at 89.0.
