Posted on 01/16/2012 8:15:58 AM PST by TBBT
Good bye Jon Huntsman, Rick Perry, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum-- May their campaigns RIP
Palin, Daniels, Christie and Ryan opted out early in the game
Earlier this year, the big Republican names took themselves out of the running: (1) Sarah Palin, the former Alaska Governor and 2008 McCain running mate who had more charisma and less gravitas than was good for her, (2) Mitch Daniels, America’s and Indiana’s governor, with solid Midwestern values and pro-growth credentials, but perhaps a wife with a few too many skeletons in the closet, (3) Chris Christie, America’s up and coming Governor, with a tough, no-nonsense reform reputation and demonstrated appeal to independents and Democrats that propelled him to victory in New Jersey (but perhaps some not too conservative views in his quiver, and impatience for what he called the “crazies.”), (4) Cong. Paul Ryan, America’s congressman from Janesville, Wisconsin, and the brains behind the Republicans’ House Reform Budget on Medicare, Social Security and everything else (perhaps he chewed up some good will by being too up front and personal with his reform proposals.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagonow.com ...
The upcoming debates will not likely help Newt. Questions and time allotted to Newt will be minimized as much as possible. What time is given to Newt will be about this Bain video and other topics that put Newt on the defensive. You know the old saying - if you're defending, you're not winning.
Based on the latest Insider Advantage poll, Newt's only shot in S.C. appears to be if Perry and Santorum drop out. The probability of that happening - 0.1% - and that's being optimistic. If the candidates viewed this endeavor as being about something bigger (the conservative cause and the good of the country) than themselves and their personal ambition, then something like the could happen. But, that's not the reality.
I expect the Santorum clingers to chime in and demand that Newt drop out. Please spare us your emotional, illogical, non-pragmatic, dribble. Yes. The guy in second should step out of the way for the guy in 4th, who is down by 19%, and has no money or organization to compete with Romney in a national campaign. Political pragmatism will not sway the clingers and the result will end in Romney running away with it. They will all be here crying about the outcome, wondering how it could have happened, when it's all over with.
We can thank Iowa for giving us Santorum - and by extension - Romney as the nominee.
The author suggest that Newt will go on to Florida and perhaps Santorum and Perry will drop out after S.C.. I suspect Perry will. I'm not so sure Santorum will, but he may. It would make for an interesting race if it could come down to Newt vs. Mitt.
If Romney gets the nomination then Newt might as well go 3rd party....no downside whatsoever and it gets him into any debates that air. He could use the platform to move Romney to the right and destroy Obama....then at the last moment resign from the campaign and throw his support to Romney IF and I say again IF Romney agrees to a set of principles and swears he will adhere to them.
There simply is no other way Romney could win...only Newt could save him.... It would be an unusual subterfuge, but it could work. It would also keep a dem inspired 3rd party run by someone else from occurring (Paul) since there would seem to be no need because with Newt running 3rd party there would be no chance of a republican win.
My question is: if a candidate cannot be the consensus anti-Romney candidate in a fairly idea conservative state as South Carolina then what makes you believe he would be the one to beat Romney in the long run ( voters divided over Newt, Santorum, slightly for Perry and a few siding with Paul shows that the candidates are essentially weak) Most are not satisfied with the current conservative alternative
Newt is a big mouth fat slob who is probably the easiest politician to dislike in the last couple of decades. Imus is correct when he labels him a vile disgusting person!
I feel your frustration, but let’s not panic or get discouraged. This is how I see it.
Newt has taken the BAIN issue out of the debate. Look for Perry to pick up on that one. Newt will say that he told the PAC to stop running the ad or edit out any false hoods. It is a non-issue now, but the damage has been done to Romney.
So don’t worry there. BAIN was a good move. Romney was stripped bare for all to see. He has not given us his tax returns. He can’t prove that he made 100,000 jobs, etc. bit Newt will go back to being above all this.
The SC primary will be close. If Newt manages to eek out a win...and it’s truly possible then that would be HUGE!!! HUGE. Because then it will put pressure on Perry to drop out, which he will. Newt will have momentum going into Florida where he can make it close.
I agree with you, Santorum is going to be the spoiler here. He’s selling sweaters. His ego is as big as a barn. He’ll keep in as long as he can. So let’s forget him. What bothers me is that the guy is going after Newt when he should going after Romney.
If Newt does well in SC, but doesn’t win, I say keep going. Perry will drop out. He stays in as long as he can until Santorum drops out and it’s just he and Romney.
LESS THAN 1% OF THE TOTAL PRIMARY VOTES IN 2008 HAVE BEEN CAST THUS FAR. ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THE MSM, THE ESTABLISH AND SANTORUM TO DICTATE THE WINNER AFTER JUST A COUPLE PRIMARIES?
NO!!!!!!
I’m hoping Newt will hang in there. It would be great if he wins SC. It would be awesome. There is so much negative crap being thrown at the guy from all sides that even finishing close would be an achievement.
In summary, I am confident that once it comes down to two men, and people start listening to Newt it will be a no brainer.
****If Romney gets the nomination then Newt might as well go 3rd party...****
It would actually be SECOND PARTY!
The GOP ‘primaries’ have been media driven push polls on behalf of the DEM party. A side-show.
Newt should really organize a Constitutional Party from the TEA participants. Add funding and publicity to the local, County and State ground troops.
I'll be one. Santorum beat the smartest man in the room in both IA and NH. Just look at the delegate count so far.
I love how you Newters are always calling for Santorum to drop out even though he does far better with no money than Newt does. Why are you not calling for Paul to drop out? By far he is the one siphoning the votes needed for a Conservative to win.
Folks who would voke for an insane surrender monkey like Dr. Paul are not going to vote for a real GOP conservative. But that is a nicew dream you’re sustaining. However, magic thinking elects no one worth having.
According to the Columbia paper (The State) Mitt has no public events scheduled this week. What do you make of that (if it’s true)?
I recohgnize that newt has some accomplishments in the 90’s. Since then he has done nothing but promote Newt. There is a reason that most of the Republcans who served with him in the Congress don’t like him. He is a self centered egotistical angry man whose only priority is Newt.
I think newt and perry will never make it out of the 10% range. Santorum seems to be the only conservative left. Things can always change we will see.
As opposed to Newt. The man who slept around on his wives because of his "Love of America". No ego there at all.
Well, if Newt did mount a 3rd party challenge just imagine the power he would have in October.
He could give the presidency to Romney or deny him the presidency.
Now that’s a LOT of leverage. He could get Romney to commit to anything... just think about how badly Romney wants this.
They could unveil Romney’s commitments and Newt could bow out at the end of the final debate...on live TV, in front of God and everybody.
Why do you link Perry with Newt? Newt is the ONLY candidate who can successfully debate Obama to defeat. Newt has what is needed to win. Santorum is a very nice man with zero charisma and will NOT survive the lberal media. Newt can. Anybody but Romney. I am sick and tired of the elitists picking our candidate. They did that last time with McCain and look at what happened. Newt will handle the press and Obama much better than Romney or Perry or Santorum.
” As Ann Richards used to say in Texas, you can stick a fork in Perry, he is “done.”
Doesn’t F Berkowitz remember that when she said that, events proved her wrong?
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