And Then There Were Four
The AP is reporting that Rudy Giuliani will end his campaign for the GOP nomination today and endorse fellow Republican John McCain. McCain edged out Romney by 6 percent in last night’s Florida GOP primary. The four Republican Candidates left standing: Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and John McCain will debate tonight in California. Rudy Giuliani’s endorsement comes as no surprise because McCain, like Giuliani, is running a campaign fueled predominately by strong pro-war military rhetoric.
McCain pulled out the victory in Florida by continuing to win the largest percentage of moderates and independents. Of the 80% of voters in Florida’s GOP primary who described themselves as Republican, Romney edged out McCain by 2%, so in essence Romney won the Republican base. But of the 17% of voters who described themselves as independent, McCain ran away with the vote leaving Romney finishing 20 percentage points behind in second. Most of the independents described themselves further as moderates or slightly liberal. This means McCain is accomplishing the worst fears of the Republican establishment; he is moving the Republican Party further to the center.
What is going to be important to watch is who Huckabee voters will fall in line behind when Huckabee eventually leaves the race. The Romney camp is going to spend a lot of time and energy this week trying to convince voters in Tuesday’s primaries that it has become a two person race. Romney’s camp believes that Huckabee has proved himself not to be a viable candidate in the South because of his weak showing in South Carolina. As the primary season has progressed polls have shown that votes from the evangelical group have slowly started to move toward Romney. While Huckabee is slowly beginning to lose hold of a once firm grip of social conservative voters because evangelicals are beginning to fear a McCain nomination, so they are beginning to line up behind the “more electable” Romney.
What is not being considered in Main Stream Media analysis is that if Ron Paul survives February 5th , as his fundraising numbers seem to indicate, he could conceivably consolidate a significant chunk of Huckabee’s following (Both candidates promise to eliminate the IRS and both also have firm Pro-Life stances). Any pressure put on Ron Paul by the RNC will be irrelevant, while Romney may cave in to similar pressure. In this scenario the Republican Party would be polarized to the center with McCain and the far right with Paul. If it were to get to this point and the party decided to go ahead and nominate McCain, they would do so at the risk of completely alienating RNC members at the right of the party’s spectrum.
The way the primaries are set up the results make an argument that the center is where the votes are that are needed to beat the Democrats in November, when in reality in this election cycle the votes needed to beat the Democrats might be at the far right, and that vote could go third party making 50+1 in the general election impossible for the Republicans.
Popularity: 3% [?]
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Comment by TL on 30 January 2008:
Republicans will lose my vote by nominating either liberal front runners, McCain or Romney. Voting for them would be the same as voting for Hillary or Barrack. Welcome to our new One-Party system.
Comment by Justamere10 on 31 January 2008:
It was a lively debate in California on January 30th. Romney pinned McCain down on his so obvious lies and made him squirm, smirk, smile when a smile was not warranted, and lash out illogically.
Throughout the debate Romney clearly demonstrated his superiority to McCain on all the issues, and on meaningful real world experience. He even leveled McCain’s proud claim to be the great American “leader” because he once commanded one military base. (As a former governor Romney led the entire national guard in his state.)
In my opinion McCain clearly revealed to the watching world his dishonesty, tendency to illogically act out, and his slouching unpresidential bearing and demeanor.
I do NOT want old boy John McCain representing me to the world!
Nonetheless, McCain gets another endorsement, this time from the serving governor of California.
Something’s wrong with this picture!
During his speech from Florida, Mitt Romney said:
“I THINK IT’S TIME FOR THE POLITICIANS TO LEAVE WASHINGTON AND FOR THE CITIZENS TO TAKE OVER!”
It is my hope that grassroots America will recognize what the Washington insiders, the media, and the talking heads and pundits are trying to foist on us, and will vote for the person most likely to represent THE PEOPLE and change Washington.
McCain is obviously the Washington insiders’ candidate of choice to run against the Clinton’s or the Obama Kennedy’s. (McCain even got the endorsement of the ultra-liberal New York Times.) That way, if McCain’s the Republican nominee, regardless of who becomes president, Democrat or Republican, the old boys win again and Washington remains unchanged.
As I see it, the only real hope for America and Americans is Mitt Romney. Romney is the only candidate with the personal resources, proven expertise, and THE WILL to stand up to the insider lawyer/politicians and fix Washington so that the people’s servants in both parties actually serve the people again, instead of their power hungry selves and the interests of lobbyists. Romney’s the one who makes the insiders of both parties cringe - that’s why they’re pushing McCain.
Romney’s for beefing up the military, research and development to maintain American technological superiority, lower taxes, less government, fixing the economy, jobs for Americans, constitutional justices and judges who do not legislate, winning the war against terrorists and keeping us safe, sealing our borders and stopping illegal immigration, the right of citizens to have and bear arms, religious freedom, traditional marriage, and the family values cherished by god-fearing Americans.
And with his MBA and doctorate from Harvard, his long record of selfless service (one dollar salary to fix the Olympics, no salary as governor) and huge success in business and finance, he’s uniquely prepared to vigorously pursue all of the above.
But the only way Romney can get to the Whitehouse is if GRASSROOTS AMERICA unitedly rises up, ignores the establishment, the media, religious doctrinal bickering and partisan politics, and puts him there!
It is my hope too now that Giuliani is McCain’s most likely choice for his running mate that Huckabee will prove he is a man with the best interests of the American people at heart, and will gracefully withdraw his candidacy and endorse Romney. If he doesn’t, he’s just watering down the votes against McCain and working in effect for no change in Washington. (Romney still has a running mate to announce so Huckabee might have a chance there, though I’d personally prefer Thompson.)
With the exception of Jews and Muslims it’s probably true that most god-fearing Americans believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. And they believe so strongly that they would rather die than deny that belief. In my opinion that and people living the way Jesus taught is the real strength of America, and why we’ll prevail against the driven by fear and hatred terrorists!
Disagreements about points of religious doctrine will probably always exist as long as there are humans on this planet. Those discussions should not be part of the process of electing the most qualified person to the highest TEMPORAL office in our nation. They more properly belong on “apologetic” sites such as the Mormon’s “FAIR” website http://www.fairlds.org/ and others that seek to address misunderstandings about their own doctrinal beliefs rather than to attack the beliefs of other Americans.
I think it’s best to leave the attempt to force others to believe one’s own way to the terrorists. In my opinion those few energetic well-meaning but bigoted individuals with a hatred for the Latter-day Saints have written so much supposedly in favor of Huckabee that they’ve greatly reduced his national electability. Americans don’t want to be ruled by an extreme religious leader - that’s what our international enemies are trying to impose!
I think it’s logical to conclude and acknowledge that long-term active informed members in good standing with any religious congregation or church, and the official media of that congregation or church, are the best qualified sources of information about their own beliefs and practices. Why should a sincere truth seeker look to the Baptists or Catholics or their paid pastors and priests for information about the Mormons, or vice versa?
The Clintons and Obama Kennedy elitist establishment has huge resources, including much of American media and institutions of learning. The fight for control of the Whitehouse will be very tough.
I encourage every freedom-loving family-oriented person in America to vigorously start and build an inexorable viral/exponential GRASSROOTS SWELL for the people.
Vote Mitt Romney for President, and tell others if they’ll get out and make an informed vote there’s a real choice and HOPE FOR AMERICA this season…
That’s how I see it. The only thing that power hungry godless self-styled “elitists” fear is the people relentlessly united in a cause to BRING REAL CHANGE TO WASHINGTON.
It’s time for the politicians to leave Washington and for the citizens to take over. Mitt Romney is prepared, capable, and willing to spend millions of his own money to work with us to take back Washington. Working together, I know we can do it.
Permission is granted to anyone who values freedom and recognizes that America is at a crossroads to use parts or all of this message in their own name or as is to support Mitt Romney as President and help bring REAL CHANGE to Washington and America.
I donate to the Mitt Romney for President campaign. And I will vote for Mitt.
http://www.mittromney.com/
http://justamere10.blogspot.com/
Comment by Jerid H. on 31 January 2008:
I am very disappointed with the Republican Party as a whole. There is absolutely no reason why John McCain should even be close to becoming the Republican Nominee. There is a reason he lost his first bid to be President. There is a reason he gets booed when he speaks about his immigration policy at conservative events. There is a reason the New York Times…Arnold Schwarzenegger…and Rudy Giuliani endorsed this man. He is not a true conservative…on military issues yes…but not on much else. Arnold and Rudy are by no means true conservatives…and everyone knows it. I’ve worked in Washington, DC, and it’s very easy to see how things are becoming there. These Senators and Congressman spend years and years forging political alliances with other legislators and form there little circle of buddies. John McCain has been in Washington, DC for so long he has already made his friends…and has also made his enemies. Do we want someone who has been in Washington so long? Someone who will have all his old groupies/sidekicks, lobbyist friends, and enemies just a few blocks down the road from the White House….NO! McCain has had his time in Washington to lead, to provide change, and new ideas…his time is over! I think it’s selfish of him to think providing the same old leadership he has been providing for the last 30 odd years to the American people will create any sort of change. Do we not deserve new ideas, problem solving skills, and leadership? YES WE DO! Senator McCain is robbing the American people by not giving us the new ideas, leadership capabilities, and clean slate that a new face could provide this country. Concerning foreign affairs…Senator McCain has also already made his friends and enemies abroad! How can Republicans believe that choosing McCain will forge new friends/allies and have the chance to change the hearts and minds of potential new enemies? Worst of all…John McCain won’t stand a chance against Obama! I’m a lifetime Republican and I feel betrayed by my fellow Republicans who have decided on placing the future of this great country in his hands. Is he a bad guy? NO. Is he robbing the future of this country by providing his old leadership and ideas…YES!
If anyone has a brain…they would consider Mitt Romney for President. LOOK HIM UP!