People get excited about presidential races--not down-ticket races. Last night, we had four times as many people at our caucus as normal--and all they were interested in was the presidential straw poll.
At best, Republicans are going to be unexcited about McCain. More likely, the regular volunteers who turn out election after election are going to cross their arms and not hang door knockers in 20 degree weather. A certain percent of unexcited voters don't get to the polls, even if they intend to. Same for disgusted voters.
The effect on our senate, congressional and state legislative races will be devastating. With McCain as the candidate, we have a significant chance of going below 40 in the Senate. This is true even if McCain wins. He will win, if at all, with independent and dem votes. Those folks will not vote Republican down-tickets.
So this is a long-winded way of saying that, if the RNC engineered this, they engineered a party-wide disaster.
I am curious as to whether the virulent Romney haters, now that Mitt doesn't appear to be a 'threat" to their views, will switch their vicious and destructive attacks toward McCain... who by all measures has been far far worst for the conservative cause these past eight years.
Somehow I doubt it.
It’s back to the pre-Reagan 70’s again. We need a real leader to help us regain control of the liberal-lite party, I don’t see such a leader anywhere.......
Last night, I posted a few things confided to me by long-time GOP foot soldiers, and in a nutshell, it wasn't good. I'm ex-GOP now, but it still sucks to watch this disaster unfold.
Mr. niteowl77