Romney, Santorum struggle to arouse consistent passion in their own voters, exit polls show

Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^ | March 19, 2012 | ALAN FRAM

[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...........

[txrangerette]

Bump!

[Alt Right]

Voting my conscience in Illinois on Tuesday... and that ain’t for Saint Rick.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I guess I mixed my message — Newt is the firewall and that is why his supporters are begging him to stay in the race. He is the only conservative who is giving a “shake up” D.C. message.

Mitt and Rick echo Newt each and every time the president goes after Newt, for taking it to him. Their handlers are able to follow the conservative bread crumbs Newt is dropping each and every day.

[Bailee]

Exactly.

And you Pro Santorum nuts that only complain about oh BooHoo Newt is splitting the Conservative Vote.

Well we are Conservative and frankly just not impressed with the other two GOP-e Moderates Santorum or Mittens.

GO NEWT.

[dforest]

here is what I think makes no sense. After the Miss and Ala promaries, Newt made a statement that He and Rick, collectively, were keeping Romney from sailing to the nomination. That they can force a brokered convention.

Well okay, lets say that is so. That neither Rick or Newt can win enough delegates to seize the nomination for thenself.

Sooooo, I don’t understand why so much effort is expended here attcking and ridiculing Rick, who is taking the most delegates from Romney to keep him from an easy win. Especially if you want a brokered convention. It seems all the focus and ridicule should be on Mitt to lower his standing.

A person doesn’t have to be crazy for Rick or Newt, all they have to be is against Romney and accept whoever can win deleagtes to stop Romney.

But that isn’t happening here. The opposite is happening. The hate is all directed at Santorum which doesn’t help Newt, but bolsters Romney.

There is no logic in this if people aim for a brokered convention.

[Bailee]

“Their handlers are able to follow the conservative bread crumbs Newt is dropping each and every day.”

ROFL

Yep If Newt gets out where will Mittens or Santorum get their Daily Conservative talking points.

Its a Shame when the Messenger is not good enough but the Message is.

[Yosemitest]

"Mitt, It's Time To Quit!"



Mitt. It’s time you quit!
Your credibility isn’t worth spit.
RINOs, the “Establishment”, and Democrats all agree,
But in the General Election, to Obama they’ll flee.
Against Obama, liberals and moderates know you’ll lose.
But conservatives, Romney they’ll never choose.

Mitt, our loyalty you can’t buy.
Back to Massachusetts, you’d better fly.
Just like Gerald Ford, Bob Dole, and John McCain,
Nominee Willard Mitt Romney will result in the same.
As a Governor, your record isn’t that great.
Out of 50 states, your popularity was number 48.

Your experience, the “Establishment” types tout.
Defending federal bailouts and FDIC loan forgiveness will find you out.
Democrats and RINOs cower from their liberal wives,
Supporting Romney with nothing but lies.
In 1994 Ted Kennedy showed Willard to be a great bane,
With Mitt’s Bain, and Bain Capital, Obama will do the same.

Damon Corp, with Romney paid $119 million in a fine.
Yet Willard says, for his leadership, it’s time.
He claims jobs he can create and taxes he can lower,
47th out of 50 in growth he rates. Can it get any slower?
$740.5 million dollars a year, fees and taxes under Mitt increased.
Will the half-truths and lies from Romney ever cease?

For Liberty and Freedom, we don’t need “Flakes”,
But Romney says Healthcare responsibilities belong to the States.
Conservatives stand for “Self-responsibility, Self-accountability, and Self-reliance.”
But against these things, Willard’s actions scream in defiance.
“Establishment Republicans” thinks Romney can help take back the Senate,
But they know that for President, Mitt can NOT win it.

Like everything the “Establishment Republicans” try to do,
It leads to failure, and we get the bill, as well as the screw.
In their corruption, little change do they seek,
They don’t want our Freedom to peak.
Their craving for power has pushed their bravery,
To ignore our Constitution, and sell us into economical slavery.

So Willard, don’t lecture us on the need for “patience” and “compromise”.
Romney, be selfless. Conservatism is on the rise.
Choosing the lesser of two evils, isn’t what we desire.
You let them rewrite the language. Where’s your fire?
Romney, they accuse us falsely, and you do little.
Where’s your response, or can you only twiddle?

Mitt, you don’t have what it takes to lead.
So with you I plead.
Do you really want to go from Obama-care to Romney-care?
With you, this nation will pull out its hair!
Go somewhere and quietly think … and sit.
“Know your own limitations!” Mitt. It’s time you quit!



By Yosemitest, Mar 15, 2012

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[onyx]

Precisely. Newt Gingrich is the only candidate this time around who's fully prepared to be Commander-in-Chief and he's the only candidate of substance and real solutions of his very own.

Obama is answering him, on his platform of $2.50 a gallon gas, not the others, but the media ignores Newt and that fact.

Typical.

This primary remains all about shutting down Newt Gingrich, but shutting him OUT.

GO NEWT!

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Would you like some cheese with that whine?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You put more effort into “Mitt, It’s Time to Quit!” than the Establishment did choosing that loser.

[onyx]

Mitt and Rick echo Newt each and every time the president goes after Newt, for taking it to him. Their handlers are able to follow the conservative bread crumbs Newt is dropping each and every day.

Not an original thought or idea of substance from either of Newt Gingrich's rivals. Only variations of Newt's ideas and solutions that neither can articulate.

It's pitiful and pathetic.

GO NEWT!

[onyx]

[Yosemitest]

Since when did you stop backing Loser Mitt?
I'm glad you see the light.

[Mozilla]

[Marguerite]

I think it’s more than 58%.
From what I see and read, Gingrich’s supporters stand with him at about 80%

[Marguerite]

“Newt is the best of the three... I could vote for Santorum but he is a weak sister. romney is as bad as obama and worse if you give him a cooperative and progressive republican Senate.”

Let’s confront the truth, guys.
The FACT is that the primaries have been kidnapped by democrats, who are playing the GOP like a fiddle.

Newt was deprived of victory in both Alabama and Mississippi. He had been consistently leading in the opinion polls ...
As the exit election polls indicated, 8 to 10% of the voters were democrats, WHO pushed Santorum forward, even though he was lagging in the opinion polls.

Imagine the situation of the race today if Newt won those states ...

Obama wants a weak republican candidate. Rick/Mitt are perfect for him.

The ONLY one he truly fears is NEWT.

[onyx]

I will be happy to agree with your 80%.

[onyx]

Cincinatus’ Wife has NEVER supported Romney.

[Yosemitest]

Well who did she support, liar Perry?

[onyx]

Newt Gingrich had to be deprived of those two wins in the South “at all costs.”

Local news channel 12 in Jackson, Mississippi had the last minute polling at Gingrich 34, Romney 31 and Santorum 27.

It’s history now.

We gave it our best shot here, (honestly), but the GOP-E is to blame with open primaries and on site decisions that permit voters to declare which ballot they want: Republican or democrat.