GOP guru Steve Schmidt: exit polls suggest Perry, Bachmann no longer “plausible”

SFGate: Politics Blog ^ | 1/3/12 | Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

[SmithL]

GOP political consultant Steve Schmidt, one of the toughest guys in the business and the guru behind the 2008 John McCain presidential campaign, said that early polls suggest Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann are likely no longer “plausible” candidates after tonight.

And he told MSNBC it increasingly looks like former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum “may well emerge as the chief alternative to Mitt Romney.”

With Santorum showing strong in early exit polls, Schmidt — an MSNBC analyst — told the network moments ago that Santorum is “going to have to make a lot of decisions very quickly if he comes out on top tonight..he’s going to have to be drinking water out of a fire hose.”

[Yashcheritsiy]

This guy is an idiot. From Drudge:

“RICK 24.3% MITT 23.6% RON 21.8%”

Yea, Perry is done after WINNING.

Uh, that's Rick SANTORUM who has 24.3%, not Rick Perry. According to the (somewhat) up to the minute results at Google's politics and elections map, Perry is pulling in a distant 5th at 10%, behind Gingrich.

[cableguymn]

Poor showing for Milt given the amount of money he has spent. I think HE should drop out.

Anyone care to argue with me on that one? ;)

[greeneyes]

“So you’re OK with middle of the road Iowa and left leaning east coast states picking the candidates for us?”

No I think the first states should be the swing states, or midwest and southern states. LOL. Let the east coastees be last. If they don’t like it, let them secede.LOL.

[cableguymn]

[piytar]

Whoa. My bad...

[mkjessup]

Who the hell is Steve Schmidt?

He's kind of a 'Mark McKinnon-lite'.

VERY lite. lol

[mkjessup]

Personally I want a single primary day nationwide.
When there are so many candidates, that would mean that someone could win the nomination with only around 25% of the vote( which means that 75% do not support the winner). Not sure that would be so great for conservatives.

Well you are correct that it would not be great for conservatives, however after this latest electoral cycle of primary foolishness, I actually have a solution that not only would bring balance and common sense back into the GOP primaries, it will never be adopted because it is above all things, infinitely FAIR:

Adopt a lottery selection process to determine the order of the presidential primaries. Each election cycle, all the states names go into a hat, and the order in which they are drawn will determine 'who goes first' as the primary process begins on 3 January of that election year.

Every 4 years, a new lottery is drawn with new results every time, a November/Thanksgiving date would be a good point to pull the names from the hat.

Iowa and New Hampshire can take their chances with the rest of their fellow states, no more favorites, no more divas, no more of the clamoring about how 'special' this caucus or this primary is, and ONLY Republicans registering within 30 days of the primaries will be allowed to participate.

Well, it was a neat brainstorm anyhow.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Great at getting the nomination. He ran a HORRIBLE mushy-moderate presidential campaign.

[Antoninus]

Poor showing for Milt given the amount of money he has spent. I think HE should drop out.

I second.

I call for Romney to drop out now!

[greeneyes]

LOL. Especially the part about registered Republicans would be better to pick a Pubbie candidate. We don’t have to do anything other than ask for a ballot in the primary, show our driver’s license, and sign our name next to our address.

Sometimes I get a Dem ballot when I need to for some reason.

[Antoninus]

the guru behind the 2008 John McCain presidential campaign

Correction: "the incompetent buffoon behind McCain's 2008 election debacle."

[vaudine]

Yes, Schmidt is a legend in his own mind, and I think he was the one who smeared Sarah and kept McClain from attacking Ogolfo.

I read a few of the SF comments and all were vitriolic left utterances from the cesspool. These people are so predictable because they are essentially programmed and incapable of individual analytical thought--talk about sheeple!

I think Santorum COULD carry the South. He is conservative and much more likeable than McCain.

Basically, I see Iowa as the preview for the long knives of the media, including some of the so-called conservative media. The only reason I care about Iowa is that they get to have a say in MY candidate. I am all for having the primary voting on the same night.

vaudine

[okie01]

I am all for having the primary voting on the same night.

Think about that for a little longer.

It's an idea that would uniformly favor the candidate who raised the most money before a vote was cast.

In a national primary, there would be no chance for a Santorum, a Gingrich or a Bachmann. It would be the Romneys...all the way.

[NVDave]

My sentiments exactly... with the possible difference that my laugh is a cross between a bark and sarcastic snort.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yep. Newt is going to take the South now that he has woken up from his dream of a positive campaign. That was a big mistake. I loved all of the Fox pundits in the bag for Romney tonight basically saying everybody but Romney, Paul and Santorum are out of the running. What a crock!!! Rick Santorum will be back at 3% within a week and Ron Paul is a cuckoo bird. Its going to be Newt and Willard. Maybe Rick Perry if he has the money to stay in.

[Nifster]

Got it. Sorry for being so dense. Just could not see how someone with the tag cripplecreek ( a Coloradoan I presume)could dis a good conservative like Santorum.

[gogogodzilla]

GOP political consultant Steve Schmidt, one of the toughest guys in the business and the guru behind the 2008 John McCain presidential campaign...

What a *GREAT* source!

I note that he doesn't say anything about Huntsman, who finished dead last. Steve must think Huntsman still has a shot.

Talk about someone who isn't the brightest bulb out there.

[gogogodzilla]

I’d have the national GOP auction the primaries off to the highest state bidder (ie: whichever state GOP offered the most money for the honor).

And then hold the money until after the convention, where then the winning candidate would then get it as their starting campaign fund for President.

[Ann Archy]

If ANY Republican Hires Steve Schmidt, I will have a very hard time voting for someone who has no judgment or discernment!! Same with that smiling creep that was Bush’s Media consultant who is a DEMOCRAT....can’t remember his name.

[Ann Archy]

Thanks, Newbie, but Santorum can DEFINITELY win in the south!!