Romney's TEA Party problems present opportunities for Cain and Gingrich

Coach is Right ^ | 11/18/2011 | Suzanne Eovaldi

[Oldpuppymax]

This week’s CNN/TIME/ORC poll of Republican voters in the first four primary battlegrounds provides a snapshot of how Tea Party fickleness has enhanced Romney’s standing.

In Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida, Romney fares better among more moderate GOPers than he does among religious conservatives and self-identified Tea Party supporters. But the latter group has been unable to zero in on a favorite.

In Iowa, for example, Cain — the current object of Tea Party ardor — leads with 29% of self-professed Tea Party backers, with Gingrich at 13%, Paul at 12% and Perry at 8%. Romney, running first with 24% overall (and 17% among Tea Partyers), is the beneficiary of this crowded field. Thanks to a divided Tea Party bloc, he leads among this cohort in New Hampshire, ties Cain for first among movement supporters in Florida and sits second in South Carolina.

There are no internal numbers for Rasmussen’s Iowa poll showing a big lead for Newt Gingrich over both Romney and Cain, nor are there such numbers available for the Iowa college poll showing Cain on top and Gingrich at less than 5%.

“Romney’s hope has to be that all the conservative’s stay in the race through the first few states,” says Ryan Hecker, a Tea Party activist who crafted the movement’s Contract From America.

“If there is one conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, Tea Partyers will rally around that person.”

[brooklyn dave]

Newt even though he has been in the mix of politics unlike Cain, he has been supportive of th Tea Party. I saw him at one in NYC 2 or 3 years ago. We have had only 3. Romney stays far away from the Tea Party crowd.

[Darksheare]

Romney busts so many moves

I wouldn't trust him to be an ice cream man.
Support FR, defeat the rinos.

[DemforBush]

Neither Cain nor Gingrich are perfect, but I dread a Romney candidacy. Aside from my differences with his past policy decisions and his current stances, I don’t think the guy can win. The party insiders harp about choosing a candidate that is electable. I have to ask just how electable is a guy who won’t embrace the party base and frankly does not come off as believable on many of his positions?