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Romney, Santorum struggle to arouse consistent passion in their own voters, exit polls show
Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^ | March 19, 2012 | ALAN FRAM

Posted on 03/19/2012 3:38:09 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney may lead in delegates and Rick Santorum might have momentum, but neither of the two leading Republican presidential candidates is having an easy time exciting even his own voters.

Out of a dozen states where voters in the GOP contest have been polled, most Romney voters have said they strongly favor him in just five of them. A majority of Santorum voters felt that committed to him only four times out of 11 states where he was on the ballot and voters were surveyed.

Each man is struggling to consistently spark the intensity that could separate him from the pack.

Consider that Arizona is the only state where Romney had a higher proportion of voters expressing strong feelings about him than his rivals did. And Santorum hasn't had that edge in any state yet, despite an animated campaign style and passion for hot-button social issues like contraception that have contrasted with Romney's stiffer, more analytic manner.

On average, 50 percent of Romney voters and 49 percent of Santorum's say they strongly favor their candidate, with the rest expressing reservations about their man or a greater dislike for his rivals, according to entrance and exit polls of voters in 12 states.

When it comes to winning fervent devotion from his own supporters, both men trail former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Those two GOP presidential campaigns are lagging but 58 percent of Gingrich's backers and 53 percent of Paul's, on average, say they strongly favor their candidate. Analysts say higher percentages of devoted supporters are common with candidates whose lesser backing leaves them with only the most committed followers...........

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: conservatism; gingrich2012; gopprimary
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To: KGeorge

When Gingrich ignited the electorate in the debate before the SC vote, the energy was palpable. They’d seen how Mitt had campaigned with negative ads in Iowa and were fired-up to give Newt their nod with their vote.

Then Romney’s team saw they had to “kill” Newt with an overwhelming barrage of negative ads ($20Million in a 10 day blitz in FA alone) - lies and distortions. Yet Newt still came in 2nd and took a majority of districts (but none of the delegates because the FL GOP is not playing by the rules that say, they would give del proportionally, if they held their primary before March 1).

Then the MSM (inc Fox!) took over and started the beat-down followed by the black-out of Newt’s campaign. But through sheer ability and with a clearly articulated conservative message Newt has remained in the news, discussed by Obama and Axerold because he’s hitting them where they live.


121 posted on 03/19/2012 12:26:11 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: onyx

:-)


122 posted on 03/19/2012 1:05:50 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!)
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To: Marguerite

OMG!!

This is on the same track as the 2008 Democratic Party primary.


123 posted on 03/19/2012 1:42:17 PM PDT by SatinDoll (No Foreign Nationals as our President!)
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To: dforest

“I have said I will support the person who stands to wrest the nomination from Romney. It seems to be Sanrorum because it is too late for Newt in the primaries. Newt knows that too.”

This is March and the Republican convention is August, five months away. The election is in November. It ain’t over until the balloon drop at convention’s end.

And Ronald Reagan’s poll numbers were around 30% in October, 1980, but he pulled ahead to win the Presidency.

It is Newt Gingrich the Democratic Party fears, just like with Sarah Palin. They know that Newt will change Washington, D.C., and the gravy train will end.

We should be choosing candidates who give the Democrats sleepless nights and nervous fits, not laugh out loud with hilarity like Santorum incites.


124 posted on 03/19/2012 1:51:22 PM PDT by SatinDoll (No Foreign Nationals as our President!)
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To: SatinDoll

You do understand that Newt is past the point of winning the nomination, don’t you? He would have to win all the delegates in all the states left.

That is not going to happen.


125 posted on 03/19/2012 2:01:43 PM PDT by dforest
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To: onyx

From a friend on FB....

“I just heard during the newsbreak on the radio that a source from ABC news reported that Gingrich is leaving the race tomorrow. Has anyone heard anything?”

Any truth to this?


126 posted on 03/19/2012 3:24:47 PM PDT by luvie (This space reserved for heroes............my AF son....our troops....the vets from all wars...)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I know. And it just makes me sick. :-) But I am in to the end. When they get to Texas, I will be working hard for him.
He would have won the in person Texas straw poll if the Paultards hadn’t blown it out. They completely fried the text poll. I believe he will at least have a strong showing here & may win it outright.

:-) Stay cheerful & resolute!


127 posted on 03/19/2012 5:31:19 PM PDT by KGeorge
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Comment #128 Removed by Moderator

To: SatinDoll

You keep bringing this up. It does not apply to Santorum. get a grip and face reality.

All this just make you look desperate and nobody is listening.

One thing is going to happen for sure. Primaries are going to continue. Newt can’t win all the rest of the delegates and unfortunately Rick probably won’t win enough either.

Either Romney will win what he needs before the convention, or we will have a brokered convention and they will throw it to Romney using delegate hokey pokey.

Fantasy is nice, but is is wishful thinking.

Now if someone finds a tweet with Mitt doin’ a weiner or a bimbo shows up, give me a ping, that could change things.


129 posted on 03/19/2012 5:55:02 PM PDT by dforest
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Comment #130 Removed by Moderator

To: SatinDoll

How do you know he hasn’t? Are you the one checking the papers? Is his Dad still alive? Did you buy into this over the internetz?

Again, get a grip.


131 posted on 03/19/2012 6:03:00 PM PDT by dforest
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To: SatinDoll

Drop the Santorum birtherism. And that is straight from Jim.


132 posted on 03/19/2012 6:03:29 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
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To: magritte
Who wants to shoot ILLEGALS at the border?
Make them live up to the same penalties Mexico has, 2 years in prison.
Besides, two years would be a great start to using their labor to build a real fence along the complete border.
Me, I voted for Santorum, but I'd support Newt just as much.
But liar Perry, NEVER!!!!
133 posted on 03/19/2012 9:13:45 PM PDT by Yosemitest (It's simple, fight or die!)
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Thomas Sowell for President.


134 posted on 03/20/2012 1:07:24 AM PDT by syriacus (Irony: BO's childhood pres, Suharto, used free bc to reduce Catholic population in Indonesia.)
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To: Yosemitest

What a load of dung.

Perry’s approach to the problems you cited were best for Texas in his opinion.

Please proceed with the screed concerning Perry’s deeply insulting and gut-wrenching “Heartless” remark.


135 posted on 03/20/2012 1:20:53 AM PDT by Gene Eric (Newt/Sarah 2012)
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To: Gene Eric
Perry played Texans for fools.
I don't understand how anyone could support him, unless they loved hiring ILLEGALS.
Build the damned fence!
136 posted on 03/20/2012 1:26:34 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's simple, fight or die!)
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To: LUV W

I’ve not heard anything remotely like that and I’m replying to you almost 12 hours later.


137 posted on 03/20/2012 2:09:12 AM PDT by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: Marguerite
Romney is the least capable of uniting the voters for the national elections. He will fail, as the polls indicate 18% of republicans will stay home in case of Mitt’s nomination and the GOPers will lose heavily in the Congress as well.

Marguerite, I'm not doubting your numbers but I'd love to have the name of the poll with that 18% number to inform people of this specific danger in beating Obama. Thanks in advance.

138 posted on 03/20/2012 9:00:54 AM PDT by Sal (BHO is serving America--SERVING US RIGHT UP ON A PLATTER!!!)
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To: Sal

It’s from a Gallup poll, Sal.
Sorry, I don’t have the link, but you can google it.


139 posted on 03/20/2012 9:22:56 AM PDT by Marguerite (When I'm good, I am very, very good. But! When I'm bad, I'm even better)
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To: Sal

It’s from a Gallup poll, Sal.
Sorry, I don’t have the link, but you can google it.


140 posted on 03/20/2012 9:23:19 AM PDT by Marguerite (When I'm good, I am very, very good. But! When I'm bad, I'm even better)
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