ADVANTAGES—A potent combination of astronomical likability numbers to go along with this cycle’s cherished outsider status…top-notch fundraiser…growing bolder on the issues as the campaign goes on…the most inspirational figure in the field. Posted on 11/02/2015 9:55:51 AM PST by Isara
We started with 17, and officially there are still more than a dozen candidates running for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. However, 90 days out from the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses, the race is really down to its Final Four on the road to next year's convention in Cleveland.
In alphabetical order, either Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, or Donald Trump is going to end up being the Republican nominee for this reason. They are the only four candidates who have established the base of support, resources, and voter enthusiasm necessary to not only sustain their candidacies, but actually grow them.
Every other campaign is at a point of diminishing returns, and therefore simply marking time before accepting the inevitable—they’re not going to be the nominee. It’s just a matter of how and when they choose to bow out, but GOP primary voters have spoken and the process has rendered its verdict.
Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages our Final Four has standing between them and the nomination.
ADVANTAGES—A potent combination of astronomical likability numbers to go along with this cycle’s cherished outsider status…top-notch fundraiser…growing bolder on the issues as the campaign goes on…the most inspirational figure in the field.
DISADVANTAGES—Appeared out-of-his-depth on the issues as a frontrunner in the last debate, not even knowing the details of his own tax plan…yes, he raises a lot of money, but he spends a lot of money, too…his national campaign team does him no favors at times and is the worst at messaging among the top contenders…his reserved persona can come off as socially awkward to some.
WHAT HE MUST DO TO BE THE NOMINEE—His outstanding organization in Iowa is top-notch, but it’s also well ahead of what he has on the ground in the other crucial early states. He also may have the toughest task to close the sale of them all—convincing voters he has what it takes to be commander-in-chief.
ADVANTAGES—Nobody has better campaign infrastructure across the country when you look at his grassroots fundraising base combined with his network of volunteers and organization…no candidate knows the issues better…appears poised to do what no one has been able to do since Reagan: coalesce the bulk of the conservative grassroots behind one candidacy.
DISADVANTAGES—While his prodigious memory serves him well when it comes to substantive policy, it causes him to sound too rehearsed and wooden at times as a candidate…not even his detractors doubt his courage of conviction, but even some of his admirers are concerned about his ability to connect with the larger pool of less conservative voters in a general election.
WHAT MUST HE DO TO BE THE NOMINEE—Convince conservatives, who tend to be squeamish about the electability of their more principled candidates, that he is capable of being a national standard-bearer.
ADVANTAGES—He’s probably the most overall gifted politician in the field…his combination of likability, youth, knowledge, biography, and empathy makes him an ideal general election foil for a Hillary Clinton nominee…has assembled a low-burn rate campaign that has allowed him to wait out Jeb Bush’s implosion as the establishment frontrunner.
DISADVANTAGES—His support for unpopular amnesty, especially his joining the loathsome “gang of 8” two years ago, continues to hang over his candidacy…has disappointed the grassroots so often he’ll have to rely on the establishment to get the nomination…his organization in the early states before his home state of Florida is lagging behind his primary competitors.
WHAT MUST HE DO TO BE THE NOMINEE—Convince the establishment he is the only candidate that would even return their calls who has a chance of being the nominee, and then find a way to win back enough conservative grassroots support to form a winning coalition.
ADVANTAGES—He’s held the consensus top spot in the media polling for several months now because of his ability to destroy false liberal media narratives…as a multi-billionaire can self-fund a campaign with almost limitless resources in relation to his competitors…seems able to “adapt” his issue positions at-will and not have voters hold him accountable for it.
DISADVANTAGES—While he remains the media polling frontrunner, his overall lead has declined despite receiving much more media coverage than any other candidate…has drawn unprecedented crowds on the stump, but how many of those people are actual GOP primary voters as opposed to gawkers, admirers, publicity hounds, etc. remains unclear…while his desire to not to over-managed by the dreaded GOP consultant class is commendable, his national campaign is mainly people who have little to no experience on this big of a stage.
WHAT MUST HE DO TO BE THE NOMINEE—He needs to avoid eventually getting squeezed between Carson’s popularity and Cruz coalescing conservatives. That means he needs to find a way to undermine Carson without hurting himself, while also championing other issues conservatives care about beyond illegal immigration.
Please click on the pictures at the top of the columns for more details on the ratings of the candidates.
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More at Conservative Review: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates
Note: If you don't like the ratings for any reason, please contact Conservative Review's Editor-in-Chief, "The Great One," Mark Levin. But I have to warn you that you may get this response from him: "GET OFF THE PHONE, YOU BIG DOPE!"
I am becoming quite tired of the Rubio banter. He is a doofus and not conservative. He is a sheet in the wind.
Cruz doesn’t deserve a good on immigration or on free trade. This is baloney and I don’t care if Mark Levin is the editor-in-chief. He’s a Cruz supporter - even though he hasn’t endorsed him formally. He will. Cruz will never get the cross over votes needed to win the general.
Ah yes, people go to Trump’s rallies because they’ve got nothing better to do. There is 1 issue that is the most important today- Immigration. Looks like Trump/Cruz!
Re: Carson: the most inspirational figure in the field.
Clearly contradicted by the fact Trump has undeniably shaken the political process and consistently draws substantially larger crowds.
Re: Trump:
has drawn unprecedented crowds on the stump, but how many of those people are actual GOP primary voters as opposed to gawkers, admirers, publicity hounds, etc. remains unclear
Of course it is unclear, absent a sworn and bonded affidavit by each attendee. However, what is clear is that a sizable portion of the attendees are likely to vote and many who may be undecided may be swayed by the Trump address.
A friend told me he did not like Cruz because he would not compromise. I was not fast enough to tell him it was compromises that got us $20 Trillion in debt.
Sounds like your friend shouldn’t be allowed to vote. The Democrats NEVER compromise. You should point that out to your friend.
Rubio is the current media and establishment favorite but only because he is not Trump, Cruz or Carson.
I think his immigration stance is a killer and the downside of youthful is callow and boyish.
He might have a chance a few years from now if someone else solves the immigration problem and he grows up a little.
For conservatives, the race could hardly be shaping up better.
There doesn’t need to be that much compromise in Congress! If it doesn’t get done, then it doesn’t get done!
If we were still using the U. S. Constitution, the fact that there is little to no compromise would directly affect less then 25% of the entire nation!
But, because you can’t wipe your butt without government approved toilet paper, while sitting on a government approved toilet, only using government approved water, and only using government approved amounts of water, and within a government approved building, I think you get the point!
IF we would get back to being America, we wouldn’t worry about Congress compromising, except in agreeing on the monies spent on national defense and VERY FEW other enumerated jobs!! PERIOD!
It is going to be Trump.
By taking over the debates, he is waging a soft coup on the DNC consolidating his power.
Trump is 10 moves ahead of everyone else.
Trump has a terrible record on free market issues. The only bright spot is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, but this glimmer is countermanded by his repeated support for bailing out Wall Street and the auto industry, and increased stimulus spending. Of particular concern is Trump's belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property in the name of private economic development. This comes as no surprise, given his support for using eminent domain to profit his own company.
Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of London, allowing public authorities to seize private land for economic development by private investors; Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review) This is no surprise given Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain in his own line of work. (Institute for Justice)
Trump supported President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, saying: “The word stimulus is probably not used in its fullest…you know, certain of the things that were given weren't really stimulus. They were pork, as we call it, or they were gifts to certain people. But overall, I think he's [President Obama] doing very well. You do need stimulus and you do have to keep the banks alive.” (CNN)
Trump supported TARP, saying, "You had to do something to shore up the banks, because ... you would have had a run on every bank." (CNN)
Trump supported the 2008 auto bailout, saying, “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They’re great. They make wonderful products.” He also said that the federal government could “easily save the companies.” (Daily Caller)
Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s intervention in the debt market, saying quantitative easing creates “phony numbers” that mislead the marketplace and “will not ultimately benefit the economy. The dollar will go down in value and inflation will start rearing its ugly head.” (CNBC)
Donald Trump has a history of using eminent domain to complete business deals. Multiple times Trump has supported the use of government agencies to take possession of homes and businesses for use in his private business plans. Eminent domain seizures are reserved only for public use of property rather than abuse by the government taking property from one individual and giving to another. (Washington Post)
Donald Trump has sought and received crony capitalist tax breaks for his commercial properties in New York. These tax breaks, and even an abatement, force the property taxes of other property owners to rise at the expense of the connected. Special treatment for one business or industry over another with the tax code conflicts with free market principles. (National Review)
In 2009, Trump supported Barack Obama's call for limits on the pay of executives. (CNN)
I have yet to find a candidate that’s more solid on these two issues outside of fringe 3rd party candidates. Oh, and before you say Trump re: immigration, go look at the things he said before this election cycle and get back to me. Yeah... check and mate. #Cruz2016
Check and shove your mate. You Cruz supporters are turning a lot of us off here - He is a weasel and I don’t trust him.
Yikes! CR rates Rubio this high?
I have a hard time putting trust in a sight that makes you PAY to comment on their *articles*.
I love Levin, but I think this pay to comment thing sheds a bad light. Who’s being paid....and, why? Why not just have a free site....like Breitbart, etc?
Trump is obviously not liked by the owners of CR’s pay-to-play site.
"Trump has an inconsistent record when it comes to civil liberties. He supported the NSA mass surveillance program but did not weigh in on the recently passed reforms. Overall, he has avoided commenting on religious freedom, but says he would be an advocate for Christians. Trump supports an individual’s right to make unlimited campaign contributions, but advocates for an end to soft money in politics. Most concerning is Trump’s belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property for economic benefit for others."
Trump supports the NSA’s metadata collection program, saying, “I support legislation which allows the NSA to hold the bulk metadata. For oversight, I propose that a court, which is available any time on any day, is created to issue individual rulings on when this metadata can be accessed.” This position was identical to the NSA’s mass surveillance program before being reformed by the USA Freedom Act. (Newsweek)
Trump has avoided commenting on religious freedom since Indiana passed its Religious Freedom and Restoration Act into law. Instead, he has said that he will be the “greatest representative of the Christians they've had in a long time” if elected president. (Christian Today) (Breitbart)
Trump believes political soft money should be banned, while individuals should be allowed to make unlimited contributions. "If I were drawing a political cartoon to represent the situation, it would include a very large guy with a huge bag of money. On that bag would be written one word: soft. Soft money is the bane of the current system and we need to get rid of it." (The America We Deserve)
Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of New London, giving public authorities the right to seize private land for economic development by private investors. Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review)
Trump highlighted his support for prosecuting "hate crimes" against homosexuals in his 2000 book, The America We Deserve. “Hate Crime” is a term used to extend special protections for a specific classes and in essence elevates the importance of these classes above others. For example, murder of homosexual or heterosexual should be viewed equally under the law and punished equally. Creating special classes is a liberal tactic used to divide and segment society.(Google Books)
Trump said that Kim Davis should not have been jailed for refusing to issue gay marriage licenses. He also said that she should allow her deputy clerks to do so, but also said that 30 miles away you can get a license so people should do that. He added, "The decision's been made, and that is the law of the land." (CNN)
Much like his stance on eminent domain, Donald Trump has shown a troubling tendency to want to use the power of government to stifle political speech. When the conservative Club for Growth released an advertisement regarding Trump's changing positions on taxation, Trump responded with a legal letter calling for them to cease and desist the advertisements. A chilling move towards the silencing of political speech. (Politico)
Donald Trump attacked SuperPACs (political action committees) in the third Republican debate. By suggesting they should be outlawed he came out against the First Amendment protection of speech, and echoed progressive talking points. (Time) 
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