Posted on 01/22/2012 2:24:38 PM PST by Steelfish
Dan Balz
Florida Will Show Which GOP Candidate Has Momentum
By Dan Balz, Published: January 21
Columbia, S.C. — Just a week ago, what was most striking about the Republican presidential race was the possibility that the party’s least-dominant front-runner in many years — Mitt Romney — could effectively wrap up the GOP nomination faster than anyone in his party ever had. That came crashing down Saturday night.
Newt Gingrich’s stunning victory in South Carolina, which came after he finished fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire, respectively, rewrites in dramatic fashion the latest story line of the Republican campaign. Now a competition that, for all practical purposes, might have ended here moves on to Florida for another major showdown on Jan. 31. In all probability, the fight will continue well beyond that.
Florida presents a major challenge, given its size and complexity. The stakes there will be sizable. Romney cannot afford another defeat there, given that he has more resources to wage a campaign in a state where campaigning is costly. Gingrich, however, risks losing his momentum if he is not able to capitalize on this success in Florida.
Though Romney is clearly hurt, many Republicans still see him as the favorite to win the nomination. The overriding question is whether Saturday’s loss is merely a small setback of the kind experienced by many past presidential nominees. Or does South Carolina mark the beginning of real erosion in Romney’s standing that could lead to the former House speaker winning the nomination, something unthinkable only a month ago?
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“Though Romney is clearly hurt, many Republicans still see him as the favorite to win the nomination. The overriding question is whether Saturday’s loss is merely a small setback of the kind experienced by many past presidential nominees. “
Yes it is! Like Cain, Perry, Huntsman, Pawlenty, & Bachman!!!!
So 3 small States and 1 big State are going to Dictate to the other 46 who will be the Republican Nominee????
Translation.... Probably less than 3 million voters will tell our Republic of over 300 Million people who is going to be the other choice in 2012.
Simple question: Why can’t all 50 States vote on the same day just like we do for the President?
The current process only drags this process out, and has Republicans tearing each other to ribbons. This process needs to change and makes absolute no sense.
Newt! Newt! Newt! He’ll save us!
It is absolutely an embarrasing situation we have in modern America when it comes to picking candidates...
“Simple question: Why can’t all 50 States vote on the same day just like we do for the President?”
I like the idea.
The current process only drags this process out, and has Republicans tearing each other to ribbons. This process needs to change and makes absolute no sense.
I've wondered this for a long time and always felt it should be as you suggest. But I'm beginning to realize that it would be a sure way to guarantee the guy with the most money wins. It's just easier for candidates to go state-by-state campaigning, concentrating their efforts on smaller segments of the population and building momentum. Can you imagine the nightmare of 6 or 7 candidates trying to cover the entire country for one day of voting?
What really needs to be done is to close all primaries. Why are we letting those with a vested interest in destroying our party have a vote on who our nominee is? And the GOP establishment needs to BUTT OUT and let the voters decide who is best to represent them. It's the one good thing I have to say about the Dems. At least they let their people choose their candidate rather than force their selection on the masses.
This is what I don’t get - Romney is supposed to be the “electable one” because he will get not only the conservative vote - but the independent, moderates and “conservative” democrat voters too. Where as a conservative can’t win in the general election because these “moderates” won’t vote for him.
If that is the case, don’t Iowa, NH AND South Carolina allow open primaries - where dems can cross over & vote in our primary? And Romney hasn’t carried all of these states? Doesn’t look like that strategy is working very well.
When we vote for president, we generally choose between two candidates. In the early stage of the primary process, we had a bunch of candidates. If we had all the primaries on one day, the vote would have been split with the result that a candidate could have won with a small plurality of maybe 20%, and who would have been disliked by most Republicans.
What the current process does is force the weeding out of weak candidates and makes people choose from the remainder. One substitute might be a ballot that allowed one to specify first, second, third, and fourth choices, with the candidate with the least votes being dropped and his votes distributed to voters second choice, and so on.
and has Republicans tearing each other to ribbons.
***
Democrats do it when it’s their turn also. Does that comfort you?
That would be “Newtmentum”, thank you...
“which came after he finished fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire”
Here we go again, not that it matters all that much but I would like to set the record straight. Newt finished 4th in New Hampshire, Santorum 5th.
I don't think so. Yesterday my wife told me that Republican women won't vote for him. "He's disgusting" she added. Today my conservative mom told me the same thing. I think we have a real problem with Newt. I've said that I would hold my nose and vote for him. But I don't think he can ever beat Obama.
It is frustrating to see so many people discounting the primaries yet to come. There have only been 3! Three out of 50 means there is still a long way to go. There will be wins and losses for three of the four candidates, Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum. Each currently has a win. Ron Paul and his staff will bolster their supporters with the proximity to a placing.
How about the first one with 51% wins? If no one has it, then the top 2 have a run off the following week?
I have big issue with 3 or 4 States dictating to the other 46 who the Republican candidate will be.
Not really... They can continue on with that as far as I’m concerned.
From the Greenville (SC) News today: “Among women, however, whom Gingrich had struggled for months to win over, he ultimately received favorable marks...”
Your wife and your mom are our of step, ExtremeUnction. Tell them to get with the program.
Newt is the one and ONLY candidate who can beat Obama.
And, unlike “icon” Bill Clinton, he has acknowledged and repented of his past adulteries.
Think you are right... Thanks for the good reply!
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