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In GOP race, how much electability matters may depend on ‘beatability’ of Obama
Washington Post ^ | October 23, 2011 | Chris Cillizza

Posted on 10/23/2011 3:15:27 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Winning in politics isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

But how important a factor electability should be in a voter’s calculation remains very much in the eye of the beholder, leading to an active debate within the parties about who has the best chance to win next November — and how much it should matter.

That fight is played out every four years as the two parties pick their presidential nominees. The party establishment — and many members of the media — tend to focus heavily on electability while the party’s activist base prizes ideological alignment.

“Electability usually doesn’t matter to Republicans,” said Alex Castellanos, a senior Republican strategist. “All of us consultants can cite limitless examples of campaigns wrecked on the shoals of that false light.”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; 2012election; betrayerromney; conservatism; ineligibleromney; leadership; loserromney; mexicanromney; onetermobama; romney4illegals; romney4mexicans; romneyagenda; romneybigdig; romneycare; romneydogabuse; romneymarriage; saboteurromney; unitedstates
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Rick Perry hates to lose, but can he win over voters? ...."You have a son, Griffin, 28, and a daughter Sydney, 25. What was their reaction when you told them you wanted to run for president?

We had a family conference. My son was there with his wife, they've been married 18 months. There's a young man, a Navy SEAL that Anita and I took care of for about two-and-a-half years. He basically adopted us. His name is Marcus Luttrell [co-author of the book Lone Survivor]. He was in the family meeting too. It was Anita, myself, Griffin, his wife Meredith, Sydney, Marcus, and his wife. Seven of us sat down, and we had a conversation. Everybody gets a black bean. If there's even one black bean, then the deal's off.

Were there any black beans?....

1 posted on 10/23/2011 3:15:33 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: shield; casinva

Republican presidential candidate Texas Governor Rick Perry listens to a question
from the audience at a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire September 30, 2011.
2 posted on 10/23/2011 3:16:09 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Just how electable is a candidate like Perry who, despite being Governor of the state for 10 years, cannot even persuade a majority of his own Texas state party to vote for him?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2795185/posts

Azimuth Poll - Texas Primary (Cain 33%, Perry 18%, Romney 7%)
Azimuth Polling ^ | 10/19/11 | admin


3 posted on 10/23/2011 3:17:07 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Giving more money to DC to fix the Debt is like giving free drugs to addicts think it will cure them)
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To: MNJohnnie

I guess we’ll all be watching how well Gov. Perry does in the coming months.

Many polls yet to come.


4 posted on 10/23/2011 3:22:04 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The Wash Post citing GOP consultants - the kind that picked out John McCain and Bob Dole - as experts?


5 posted on 10/23/2011 3:23:56 PM PDT by relictele (Pax Quaeritur Bello)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Obama cannot be reelected barring walking across the Delware River like a true messiah. So let’s elect a real conservative because as Michelle says we can have it all. She is not the “All” though.


6 posted on 10/23/2011 3:26:57 PM PDT by vicar7 ("Polls are for strippers and cross-country skiers" Sarah Palin)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Mmmmm, beans. I’m getting ready to tuck into some ham & beans.

CW, I want to support him, I really do.
But he’s going to have show us first that he cares more about Americans than illegal aliens. So far he sounds a lot like George W. “See Ya At The Signin’!” Bush.
And he needs to loosen up. A lot.
Something tells me he can communicate, but time’s a wasting. He needs a: “I paid for this microphone” moment, (whatever that might be).


7 posted on 10/23/2011 3:27:04 PM PDT by tumblindice (Don't tread on me)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I am of the belief that anyone on that stage except for Romney or Paul could beat Obama, heck my dog could probably beat Obama.


8 posted on 10/23/2011 3:27:16 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama = Epic Fail)
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To: MNJohnnie; All
I didn't know much about the Azimuth Poll, so took a minute to find some information:

"The domain azimuthpolls.com is registered to Dave Nalle of Austin, TX. But who is Dave Nalle? Dave Nalle is a Ron Paul supporter and is Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, a group that promotes Libertarianism within the Republican Party. In fact, if you go there, you’ll see an article written by Dave Nalle entitled “Don’t Believe the Hype. Meet the Real Rick Perry.” The RLC also endorses just one current elected official that is running for president. Any guess as to who that is? Yup. Ron Paul. You can also find a great many posts by Nalle which stakes out a lot of which you can hear from Rep. Paul." Source

9 posted on 10/23/2011 3:28:52 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Ohio republicans held a straw poll yesterday. Won by Ron Paul with 53%. Cain 26%, Perry, 3%.
10 posted on 10/23/2011 3:29:10 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Anybody but Obama. Or Romney.


11 posted on 10/23/2011 3:32:26 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; RoosterRedux; jonrick46; deepbluesea; RockinRight; TexMom7; potlatch; ...
Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************


12 posted on 10/23/2011 3:35:03 PM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Perry squandered an early commanding position in the race, and is now faced with the almost impossible task of recovering from his disastrous fumbles.

He blew up his bridge to his core base with his “heartless” remarks, and doddering, near drunken debate performances. From what I’ve seen of presidential primaries (going back to 1960), a candidate cannot re-inspire the sort of standing Perry had, after going off the reservation, and disappointing as badly as he has.

At this point, his only way forward, is over the broken candidacies of others. In other words, he’s become a candidate of last resort. As long as someone who still inspires the base is still in the race, he doesn’t stand a chance.


13 posted on 10/23/2011 3:37:45 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Windflier

I sure wouldn’t want you for my mentor.

Gosh Windflier. Do you ever paint with any other colors?


14 posted on 10/23/2011 3:39:46 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: relictele
Funny you mention Dole since Cain was the top adviser to the Dole/Kemp campaign.

Lets see Cain has:

Advised the ultra conservative Dole/Kemp campaign's losing effort.

He's been a lobbyist in the 90's in D.C.

He's ran for the Senate and lost.

He's ran for President and lost (endorsed Romney)

He's running for President a second time.

None of these points are reasons not to support Cain. They are simply posted to show Cain is not an outsider. Perry is the real outsider. Bottom line.

15 posted on 10/23/2011 3:44:49 PM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; All

Electability..(adjective) defeating an opponent beyond the margin of the opponent’s ability to steal an election.

Excerpt from TheRobb’s Political Dictionary, 2011 Edition


16 posted on 10/23/2011 3:45:12 PM PDT by TheRobb7 (OBAMA 2012: NO TAX LEFT BEHIND)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Great find!!


17 posted on 10/23/2011 3:45:44 PM PDT by LA Woman3
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Gosh Windflier. Do you ever paint with any other colors?

I have no idea what you're driving at, but I suppose you didn't care for what I had to say about Rick Perry and his odds of winning the Republican nomination.

Perhaps you chose to reply to my post because I didn't come out with guns a'blazing, and took a civil tone with you. It's safer to reply to posters like me. I understand.

For what it's worth, I don't hate the man. I just don't support him for president, and feel that he's not the conservative icon his supporters try to make of him. I'm also willing to state the obvious, which is, he's got a long row to hoe, if he's going to get back in the race in any significant way.

18 posted on 10/23/2011 3:47:15 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Thanks for the research. There is an obvious concerted effort by some Freepers and the Paul/Romney camps to paint a picture of Perry that is not true.

there are legitimate Cain supporters here so it's important to treat them with respect. We know the handful of Paul/Romney guys who pretend to support Cain. I suggest we ignore them and keep doggedly putting our candidate's qualities forward. I think the handful we all knows only job is to bait.

Keep up the good work.

19 posted on 10/23/2011 3:52:04 PM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: TexasFreeper2009
heck my dog could probably beat Obama.

LOL, I think I said that about a month ago.

Ain't she cute?

20 posted on 10/23/2011 3:54:19 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (At least I have the decency to kill my food before I eat it.)
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