The Rod Martin Report: January 29, 2016
You can read about the world anywhere. You read The Rod Martin Report to understand it.
by Rod D. Martin
January 29, 2016
We have a lot to cover this week, so we'll get right to it. But there are a couple things I'd like to highlight.
With the Iowa caucuses upon us, Donald Trump's gamble -- skipping the final GOP debate -- seems to have paid off about as well as any of us predicted. Trump's counterprogramming -- a benefit for wounded veterans -- was co-headlined by the previous two Iowa winners (Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum) and broadcast live on at least two networks. Meanwhile, over at the debate itself, Trump dominated much of the discussion from beginning to end. Hmmm...three channels instead of one. Not bad.
More to the point, (1) Trump avoided the video attacks Fox News deployed against Cruz and Rubio, contrasting past positions with current (minor damage if any to Cruz, though uncomfortable; serious damage to "Gang of 8" Rubio), which would have been potentially devastating to Trump (and yes, he knew this was coming when he pulled out, whether or not he'd ever adm…