The Shot!

How many shots did these pollsters take? Perhaps 17, the number of points Mitt Romney went up. Or 11, the number Fred Thompson went down.

We’ve told you over and over how skeptical we are of some of these polls, but the press seems to always cover ARG, so we will too.

The big news coming from the ARG poll released this weekend is that Mitt Romney now leads in South Carolina. Just a few weeks ago Romney went up on TV for the “first real time” this year giving him a 17 point bump. He did go up in early January, but only for a few days with a very small buy.

Giuliani remains strong and McCain has picked up a couple points. Fred Thompson is no where near as strong as many thought he would be at 10%, dropping 11 points. Huckabee is only at 1%. South Carolina is absolutely vital for both Thompson and Huckabee. Game over for Brownback.

Here it is:

Brownback - 1%
Gingrich - 7%
Giuliani - 23%
Huckabee - 1%
Hunter - 1%
McCain - 15%
Paul - 2%
Romney - 26%
Tancredo - 1%
F Thompson - 10%
Undecided - 13%

I went to the USC / Mississippi State game yesterday. I ask, where were the signs?

Where were all the Clinton, Obama, Biden, Dodd, Richardson signs we saw at the South Carolina State game?

Tavis Smiley was on Meet the Press this morning bashing the Republican candidates for ignoring “people of color.” He accusses Republicans of playing racial politics, but what about the Democrats?

South Carolina State is a historically black college, the site of the first Democrat debate this year. It was more than obvious that the Democrat candidates were targeting the black fans of South Carolina State just two weeks ago.

So, weren’t they playing racial politics?

So we were checking out Mitt Romney’s new ad at www.youtube.com/mittromney when we noticed something strange.

The video sits right under the Mitt Romney logo featuring the “Romney eagle.” That’s why we noticed the eagle strikes a remarkable resemblance to Romney’s hair. Is it just me or is there something “hairy” going on?

Hmm…

NEW MEDIA

• The Brody File | Video: Giuliani Explains Cell Phone Call
• Redstate | Change Begins With Us
• Michelle Malkin | Goose Creek update: Pipe bomb jihadists sought to hurt troops
• Open Left | Verizon’s Tauke and Retribution Against NARAL

THE STATE

• USC | Huge strides in 5 years
• Pelion airport shaping up; $3.2 million more needed
• 3 Facts About | S.C. and SCHIP
• Warthen | McAlister’s blog has gone dark, and I don’t feel so good myself
• Who is behind political signs?
• Paper: SC, NC senators have low attendance at veterans panel
• Thompson picks up a dozen legislative endorsements
• Barrett calls on House to enforce immigration laws
• Obama will visit S.C. Sunday

GREENVILLE NEWS

• Harrell looking like a candidate
• McCain: Democrats ‘pandering’ on Iraq
• Easley candidates attend backyard meeting
• Candidates scattered on Iran terror amendment
• Newt still hinting, teasing
• No okra for Mitt

SHJ

• Grand jury indicts Greer commissioner
• SC official says agreement nearly complete on port deal with Ga.
• City officials to hear Hillcrest’s concerns
• Inglis: Put heat on leaders in Iraq

P&C

• Bomb suspect says he did video
• School board voids Buist priority plan
• First forum on growth ordinance held
• Lawmakers considering open season like Georgia’s
• Panelists talk about drilling off S.C. coast
• 9th Circuit Solicitor to run for post
• Floyd gets good job rating
• Speaking out brings subpoena
• Math, reading scores change little for S.C.

OTHER NEWS

• U.S. to Allow Key Detainees to Request Lawyers
• Showdown Looms as Child Health Bill Passes
• Pakistan Court Rules Musharraf Can Run for Re-election
• Blackwater Shooting Scene Was Chaotic
• Rare Supreme Court Stay Halts a Texas Execution
• Steve Jobs Girds for the Long iPhone War

2008 | REPUBLICANS

• The Line: A Tale of Two Nomination Fights
• The Republican riddle
• Question on Tennessee trips up Fred Thompson
• How Ron Paul raises money
• McCain Plays Up His P.O.W. Past
• Leading GOP Candidates Skip Debate on Black Issues
• G.O.P. Candidates Criticize Absent Rivals
• GOP’s crucial ‘08 base divided
• No clear GOP leader seen in N.H. poll
• Evangelicals turn on Thompson
• Giuliani Replaces Chief Fund-Raiser
• McCain Campaign To Run New Hampshire Ads

2008 | DEMOCRATS

• Edwards to Accept Public Financing
• Read Her Lips. And Hands. Oh, And Eyes, Too
• A Pioneer in the Next Brave New MTV World
• They Can’t Get Enough of Obama In Greenwood, S.C.
• Democratic Rivals Press Clinton, Courteously
• Clinton backs off support for torture
• Hillary flip-flops, contradicts Bill - & herself - in N.H. debate

John McCain has found enough money to launch TV ads in New Hampshire. He remains dark in South Carolina.

You can view his ads here.

Don’t worry guys. The First Round is coming this morning. We are just dragging a bit. Rough morning…

NEW MEDIA

• Redstate | MSNBC’s Attempted Political Assassination of Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
• Michelle Malkin | The White Flag Democrats retreat
• Open Left | Verizon Censors Pro-Choice Text Messages
• Captain’s Quarters | Take From The Poor, Give To The Middle Class
• MyDD | Both Don Young and Ted Stevens Look Shaky in Alaska

THE STATE

• Who is behind political signs?
• Paper: SC, NC senators have low attendance at veterans panel
• Thompson picks up a dozen legislative endorsements
• Barrett calls on House to enforce immigration laws
• Obama will visit S.C. Sunday
• S.C. first in violent crime rate
• Obama strives to put race aside
• Romney will miss Okra Strut
• Clyburn brings $80 million to S.C. for water needs
• 1,200 Greenville jobs could be saved with vote
• City drops Northeast Richland water use restrictions

GREENVILLE NEWS

• Candidates scattered on Iran terror amendment
• Newt still hinting, teasing
• No okra for Mitt
• Board OKs $3 million for Donaldson Center
• Thompson adds to Upstate support
• Signs irk GOP
• Timing of newsletter questioned
• Sanders advocates fiscal conservatism, no tax hikes

SHJ

• Grand jury indicts Greer commissioner
• SC official says agreement nearly complete on port deal with Ga.
• City officials to hear Hillcrest’s concerns
• Inglis: Put heat on leaders in Iraq

P&C

• Lawmakers considering open season like Georgia’s
• Panelists talk about drilling off S.C. coast
• 9th Circuit Solicitor to run for post
• Floyd gets good job rating
• Speaking out brings subpoena
• Math, reading scores change little for S.C.

OTHER NEWS

• Lindsey Graham’s Iraq Deadline
• Increase In War Funding Sought
• NRSC poll shows Johanns with commanding primary lead
• House moves on bipartisan Iraq resolution
• Shootings by Blackwater Exceed Other Firms in Iraq
• Verizon Rejects Messages of Abortion Rights Group
• Judge Frees Musharraf Opponents

2008 | REPUBLICANS

• No clear GOP leader seen in N.H. poll
• Evangelicals turn on Thompson
• Giuliani Replaces Chief Fund-Raiser
• McCain Campaign To Run New Hampshire Ads
• Romney says he may donate more of own money to his campaign
• MLK niece for Brownback
• GOP candidates use Iran to show foreign policy
• Giuliani Stuck on Sept. 11
• N.R.A. Targets ‘Camouflage Candidates’

2008 | DEMOCRATS

• They Can’t Get Enough of Obama In Greenwood, S.C.
• Democratic Rivals Press Clinton, Courteously
• Clinton backs off support for torture
• Hillary flip-flops, contradicts Bill - & herself - in N.H. debate
• Why Hillary will say no to Obama
• Small donors rewrite fundraising handbook
• Queen Hillary, Empress of Mesopotamia
• The courtship of black voters in South Carolina

In what has to be the most shocking story since we found out that Thomas Ravenel does cocaine, Brad Warthen writes that The Palmetto Scoop is run by an employee of Rick Quinn’s mail firm.

Turns out that the joker behind TPS is Adam Fogle who writes “I was hired by Rick Quinn as an account representative for Mail Marketing Strategies, a direct mail business in Columbia.”

We here at The Shot just can’t believe it.

Fogle says “I have continued my blog on my own. It is not and has never been a part of my official duties.”

We can go on for days and days about how hypocritical Fogle and Quinn are, but we won’t waste our energy.

One little comment can’t go ignored. Fogle says that TPS “has never and will never engage in anonymous character assassination.”

I guess he forgot about this.

And this.

And this.

If you ask us, Rick Quinn and crew are starting to seem a little wishy-washing…flip-flopper…wishy-washy…flip-flopper…

But what’s new?

NEW MEDIA

• Captain’s Quarters | Hillary Against The Free Press
• Hot Air | Audio: Jewish lesbian dKos diarist tells John Gibson her Ahmadinejad crush is satire
• Open Left | Anti-Hillary? I Don’t Get It
• New Website | Blairjennings.com
• Keith Kelly | General Aviation

THE STATE

• S.C. first in violent crime rate
• Obama strives to put race aside
• Romney will miss Okra Strut
• Clyburn brings $80 million to S.C. for water needs
• 1,200 Greenville jobs could be saved with vote
• City drops Northeast Richland water use restrictions
• State briefs | Watchdog group wants Ravenel to pay state
• Romney to tour S.C., march in Okra Strut parade
• Gov. Sanford’s “Open Door after 4? meetings today
• Ex-trustees back new guard
• Others should do as Reform SC says it will do: Disclose

GREENVILLE NEWS

• Board OKs $3 million for Donaldson Center
• Thompson adds to Upstate support
• Signs irk GOP
• Timing of newsletter questioned
• Sanders advocates fiscal conservatism, no tax hikes
• Loe cites her business experience, desire to serve
• Two challenge incumbent in Simpsonville’s Ward 3
• Wilkins disgusted at magazine’s depiction of Bush
• Clinton, Romney launch South Carolina radio ads
• Barrett wants immigration laws enforced

SHJ

• SC official says agreement nearly complete on port deal with Ga.
• City officials to hear Hillcrest’s concerns
• Inglis: Put heat on leaders in Iraq
• 31 charged in riot at crowded county jail
• Council backs lease changes
• One acre for college might launch future

P&C

• 9th Circuit Solicitor to run for post
• Floyd gets good job rating
• Speaking out brings subpoena
• Math, reading scores change little for S.C.
• All-star night at City Council
• Sullivan’s Is. among priciest ZIP codes 
• Berkeley County to tackle elementary school truancy
• New parks would use half-cent tax money

OTHER NEWS

• At U.N., Iranian Leader Is Defiant on Nuclear Efforts
• Boehner retreats on NRCC resignation threats
• Justices Agree to Hear Case About Voter ID Laws
• House Passes Children’s Health Bill
• Scandals take a load off Craig, others
• G.M. and Union Reach Tentative Agreement
• Bush’s ‘Virtual Fence’ Faces Trouble, Delays
• Democrat takes beating for pro-war stance
• Bush Announces Sanctions Against Burma

2008 | REPUBLICANS

• GOP candidates use Iran to show foreign policy
• Giuliani Stuck on Sept. 11
• N.R.A. Targets ‘Camouflage Candidates’
• Romney ad contest is down to nine, also gets spoofed
• Romney Bashes Harvard in New Ad
• In switch, NRA eyeing role in GOP primaries
• Stick to your guns, Rudy
• Romney Blasts Iranian Leader

2008 | DEMOCRATS

• Why Hillary will say no to Obama
• Small donors rewrite fundraising handbook
• Queen Hillary, Empress of Mesopotamia
• The courtship of black voters in South Carolina
• Clinton May Erase Obama’s Fund-Raising Edge in Third Quarter
• Clinton Camp
  Raises Q3 Money Expectations for Rival
• Clinton campaign kills negative story
• Florida Defies the DNC

Now this is funny. You have to check out this Slate video.