Republican Campaigns Already Coming Apart

All is not well in the Republican presidential pool;  someone throw them an anchor!

Ben "On Meds?" Carson:

The presidential candidacy of Ben Carson, a tea party star who has catapulted into the top tier of Republican contenders, has been rocked by turmoil with the departures of four senior campaign officials and widespread disarray among his allied super PACs.

In interviews Friday, Carson’s associates described a political network in tumult, saying the retired neurosurgeon’s campaign chairman, national finance chairman, deputy campaign manager and general counsel have resigned since Carson formally launched his bid last month in Detroit. They have not been replaced, campaign aides said.

"Ayn" Rand Paul:

Rand Paul’s presidential campaign, by many recent accounts, is sputtering. The candidate, according to the Atlantic’s Molly Ball, is “flailing.” His campaign, reports National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar, has been called a “disaster.” 

Future clown car entrant John Ellis "J.E.B." Bush:

Jeb Bush is just days away from formally launching his presidential campaign and already a shake-up is underway.

In a surprise move Monday, Bush tapped Republican strategist Danny Diaz to serve as his campaign manager, shoving aside another aide, David Kochel, to head his still-unofficial presidential operation.

Diaz’s promotion is a frank acknowledgment that Bush’s six-month “exploratory phase” has not met expectations and that the former Florida governor needed a new consultant to take the reins ahead of his campaign kickoff in Miami on Monday.

Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum:

When just one Iowan showed up to Rick Santorum's 2 p.m. campaign stop at a restaurant here Monday, the winner of the 2012 Iowa caucuses made a quick decision: Might as well order lunch.

"I haven't eaten, actually, all day," he said to his guest, Peggy Toft, an insurance agent and chair of the county's Republican Party.

For Santorum, who's making a second go at the Republican nomination for president, the low turnout wasn't surprising, he said, but all part of the plan.

Yes, yes, "part of the plan."  Genius, I tells ya'!  Bwahahahaha.

Meanwhile, the campaign of prohibitive Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton continues to hit the right notes on "dreamers," income inequality, and voter enfranchisement, with more policy broadsides to come.  A campaign based on real issues about real people.  What a novel concept.

BONUS:  Michael Tomasky on Hillary's big roll-out this weekend in New York.