Posted on 07/03/2011 4:26:36 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Coming out of the July 4th weekend, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the clear front-runner in the crowded Republican field of White House hopefuls — though history suggests the early lead in the polls won’t necessarily make him a shoo-in at the ballot box.
Polling this far out from the first vote being cast can be a shaky barometer for who will emerge victorious from the grueling primary process. Just ask former House Democratic leader Richard A. Gephardt, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani — each of whom sprinted out to leads in early polls, only to gas out in the stretch run of the primary contest.
“Primary polling the summer before a national election has very little value in terms of predicting the ultimate nominee,” said Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports polling. “They measure name recognition but tell us little of how the candidates will perform on the campaign trail or handle the spotlight. They also tell us nothing of how voter opinions will shift as the candidates become better known.”
Mr. Romney, though, knows full well that early-inning polls and surveys shouldn’t be treated like a crystal ball.
In 2007, he topped New Hampshire and Iowa summer primary polls, but later lost the Hawkeye State to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and the Granite State to Arizona Sen. John McCain, the party’s eventual nominee.
He hopes to have learned from that lesson and avoid a repeat performance this time around. The latest RealClearPolitics.com average of national polls shows him holding a double-digit lead.
His two closest rivals are former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Texas Gov. Rick Perry....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The fact that Palin is breathing down his neck and she hasn’t even declared tells you that when she does declare, Milt is going to fade into the background like his pink tie.
“Romney Grabs Momentum”? BWahahahahaha!
Earth to Planet Zongo, your connection with reality has been severed ...
I will, indeed, be fascinated to see where this all stands a year from now.
I wish Maine Governor Paul LePage would step in. He’s not afraid to tell Obama where to go.
Romney can grab it and drop it. Don’t want him to run.
No, they are both just pups working off energy.
Heh! Ya' mean to say "what's his name Huntsman" has been a dud and they need to move on with another likely RINO to carry their torch?
Let him run to MA and get some of that "free" health care that HE pushed!
We need SOMEONE to turn the tide in Washington!
Mr Romney is a side show performer.
The Amazing Flex-O. The Man with No Spine.
Oh, that would be sweet. LePage is great.
Both Palin and Perry look like they’ll jump in the race. Imhom the result will be that romney will fade to gingrich numbers quickly and Perry will take romney’s role of the generic republican vs Palin. It will be a great battle.
I first read a glowing account of LePage in the print edition of Forbes Magazine.
I like him too, I’ll forgive him for that “French speaking” business, it wasn’t really his fault, he was young and didn’t know any better (My attempt at humor) and I hope that connection to Snowes’ first husband doesn’t extend too closely to Snowe herself.
Paul LePage is the eldest son of eighteen children. He grew up speaking French in an impoverished home with what he has described as an abusive father.[1] At age eleven, he left home and lived on the streets of Lewiston, seeking shelter wherever he could find it, including in horse stables and at a “strip joint”.[1][2] After spending roughly two years homeless, he began to earn a living shining shoes. At thirteen, he worked washing dishes at a café and hauling boxes for a truck driver. He later worked at a rubber company, a meat-packing plant, and was a short order cook, and bartender.[3]
LePage applied to Husson College in Bangor, but was initially rejected due to a poor verbal score on the SAT, a result of English being his second language. LePage has said that Peter Snowe – the first husband of current U.S. Senator from Maine Olympia Snowe – persuaded Husson to give LePage a written exam in French, which allowed LePage to show his comprehension and be admitted.[3][4] At Husson, LePage improved his English skills and became editor of the college newspaper.[3] He graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration in Finance and Accounting, and later earned a M.B.A. from the University of Maine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_LePage#Early_life_and_education
P.S. “Name recognition” is sadly lacking with Paul LePage.
I agree.
See #s 16 & 17.
| Poll | Date | Romney | Palin | Perry | Cain | Bachmann | Paul | Gingrich | Pawlenty | Santorum | Huntsman | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCP Average | 6/8 - 6/28 | 24.3 | 12.8 | 11.3 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 6.7 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 1.7 | Romney +11.5 |
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