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Why Virgil Goode matters to Mitt Romney's presidential chances
July 14, 2012 | techno

Posted on 07/13/2012 9:00:22 PM PDT by techno

The complete Virgil Goode rundown:

The ten most asked questions about Virgil Goode and why he matters:

1) Who is Virgil Goode?

He is a former GOP Congressman from Virginia who was defeated in the 2010 election. He is now the presidential nominee for the Constitution Party, a third party.

2) How long has the Constitution Party been around?

About 20 years.

3) I hear that Virgil Goode is NOT yet on the Virginia presidential ballot. Will he fail to get on the ballot.

To give you some perspective, in 2004 and 2008 the Constitution Party presidential nominee was on the Virginia presidential ballot. As Goode is a resident of Virginia and a former Congressman, do you really think he would not know the ins and outs of getting on the ballot, which requires him to get 10,000 signatures with at least 400 from each congressional district. As of June 6, 2012 via the Martinsville Bulletin, a local newspaper, Goode had already collected 4000 signatures. And the article concluded that the Constitution Party had as of that date already collected enough signatures to be on the ballot in 17 states.

4) Third party presidential candidates don't normally a cause a ripple through the process. What's different about Virgil Goode?

Let's put it this way, if the presidential election were decided by popular vote, Goode wouldn't matter. But presidential elections are decided in the electoral college.

5)What do you mean Techno?

There are certain states which are called battleground or swing states in which either the Democratic presidential nominee could win but by the same token the GOP presidential nominee could prevail as well. There are ten or so states in the 2012 electoral college which could be considered battleground states based on recent presidential elections and current polling. Virginia is one of those states. And it is not out of the ordinary for the winner of a battleground state to win by a margin of less than 2%.

6) So again why is Goode important to Romney's chances to become president?

Because Goode apparently is far more popular in Virginia than any other state. A Public Policy poll (PPP) in May found that Goode would garner 5% of the vote in Virginia in the presidential election against Obama and Romney. And now a couple of days ago, Goode increased his share of the vote to 9% with Obama collected 49% of the vote and Romney 35%. Without Goode in the mix it would be Obama 50% and Romney 42%. And for those not schooled in the electoral college, the winner of the popular vote in the presidential race in Virgina earns Virginia's 13 electoral votes in 2012. And that now appears to be Obama and not Romney.

7) Are you saying Techno that Goode is taking away way more voters away from Romney than he is Obama?

Exactly, that is what I am saying, But I am NOT the only one saying that. Local Virginia pundits are saying that as well. And PPP in its summary of the poll found that too. If you don't believe me, go over to the PPP web site and read it for yourself.

8)Techno, I'm lazy. I don't want to go over to PPP and read their s*it. Could you give me a brief synopsis?

Alright brother and sister. Under the Obama--Romney--Goode scenario in Virginia here is how the vote breaks down in four demographics: very conservative voters, somewhat conservative voters, Republicans and independents:

----------------------OBAMA--------ROMNEY-----GOODE

VERY CONSERVATIVE-------7-----------84----------7

SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE---19----------55----------14

REPUBLICANS-------------9-----------78----------9

INDEPENDENTS------------45----------26----------17

It doesn't take a genius to figure out Goode hurts Romney way more than he hurts Obama.

9) But don't third party bids eventually fizzle out?

Yes, that is the rule of thumb nationally. But in Virginia Goode ahs gained 4% in support since May and he's not even on the Virginia ballot yet. Even if he drops back to his previous level of support of 5% that would still be enough to sink Romney's ship in Virginia in a close contest.

10) Techno, could you explain why Virginia is so important?

It comes down to the number of electoral votes (EV) in the electoral college. The general consensus among the folks who do it for a living is that President Obama currently sits at 247 EV when you include all the safe blue states and those states leaning to Obama (likely to win). If Obama wins VA, a battleground state, that takes him to 260 EV and therefore only needs 10 more EV to hit the 270 EV threshold to win re-election. And here are the four swing states which Obama must win these 10 votes again based on a consensus of experts: Iowa (6), NH(4), Nevada (6) and Colorado (9). Obama is currently enjoying a small margin in the polls in every state but Iowa and is running neck and neck with Romney there.

Of course the dynamic of the race could shift in the next three months or so but it appears Obama has the edge in winning Colorado and its 9 EV. If he did that he would reach 269 EV and would only need to win one of the remaining three states to get a second term.

As for Mitt Romney if he loses Virginia, assuming he wins the other huge 4 swing states of Ohio, NC, Indiana and Florida and reaches 253 EV, Romney would be forced to win Colorado to have any chance of winning the presidency in the electoral college. The best he could hope for otherwise is a tie (269-269) in which case the contest goes to the House of Representatives.

One other element to consider: In 2008 President Obama won 1 EV in Nebraska who allots it EV by whoever wins the congressional district. Obama actually won this district (Omaha) by 9.77% which is a pretty hefty margin. If Obama could again win this district and on top of it win Virginia and Colorado that would take him to 270 EV on the button and Romney would be denied regardless of what he did in Iowa, NH and Nevada.

A final note: If Romney can win Virginia with Ohio, NC, Indiana and Florida he would then be at 266 EV. He would then not be forced to win Colorado but would only have to be victorious in Iowa to become the new president.

And that folks is why Team Obama has had many sleepless nights over the past 3 years. Virgil Goode is a godsend for Obama and his team.


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: goode; obama; palin; presidential; romney; virgilgoode
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To: skeama

“Abortion will not cause war”

The root of the dispute is between those who believe that abortion is the greatest atrocity ever committed by western society and those who believe it to be a surgical procedure.

Why would we expect someone who doesn’t see abortion in the same way to understand why a prolifer cannot vote for Romney?

Why do you think we are in trouble fiscally? 50 million dead American citizens is the cause. What could we have done with these people who were instead aborted?


81 posted on 07/14/2012 12:58:01 AM PDT by JCBreckenridge (Texas, Texas, Whisky)
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To: kabar

It’s a wasted vote. No third party candidate has won a national election and he won’t be the first, after all, you can’t win with only 17 states huh. What’s really happening is a big temper tantrum...but this one has the chance to bite him in the a** and give Obama four more years. But at least he will have those principles to keep him warm at night while the US burns.


82 posted on 07/14/2012 1:13:34 AM PDT by MissouriConservative (Voting Anyone but Obama in 2012.)
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To: MissouriConservative

Voting for Kodos I see.


83 posted on 07/14/2012 2:43:27 AM PDT by JCBreckenridge (Texas, Texas, Whisky)
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To: kabar; JRandomFreeper
The GOP Establishment has thumbed its nose at conservatives for a long time. People are tired of holding their noses to vote for candidates like McCain and now Romney. Reagan was the last real conservative to be nominated.
. . . and also the first, in my lifetime which goes back to FDR. And you could even pick a nit or two with Reagan, if you were so inclined.
It is the leftist who claims that democracy is supposed to give us the best possible officials; conservatives should realize that it is a lot to hope for to even get passable ones in office. Consider the last four Democrat presidents - Obama, Clinton, Carter, and Johnson. Any of them passable? Each one worse than the last. The Bushes were mostly passable, no more, and before that we had Ford and Nixon. Even Eisenhower, who I was a fan of in my youth, I now understand to have been marginal. At this point if we could have JFK, as he actually was in life, we’d take it gratefully.
Churchill said that democracy is like a raft - it won’t sink, but your feet are always wet. We now nave to wonder if it is even that good. Which all traces back to the fact that wire service journalism is utterly corrupt.

84 posted on 07/14/2012 2:54:40 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which “liberalism" coheres is that NOTHING actually matters except PR.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

Let me ask you a question.

Say your favorite breakfast cereal, decides to add marshmallows and load up on the sugar, and no longer offers what it once did.

You go to the store and find another cereal, made by a company you’ve never heard of, that is similar to your old cereal.

Which would you place in your cart when you shop for the day?


85 posted on 07/14/2012 3:05:46 AM PDT by JCBreckenridge (Texas, Texas, Whisky)
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To: Kansas58

Virgil Goode is a former Democrat
_________________________________________

So is Willard


86 posted on 07/14/2012 3:12:50 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana (Why should I vote for Bishop Romney when he hates me because I am a Christian)
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To: JRandomFreeper; wjcsux

The Mittbots and their lapdogs are going to have to stop using the term “Conservative” anyway ~ they aren’t!


87 posted on 07/14/2012 3:31:20 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Hegewisch Dupa; aruanan

your side will need to stop thinking of yourselves as Conservatives though ~ because you aren’t.


88 posted on 07/14/2012 3:33:55 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Kansas58

Virgil Goode is a former Republican.

He is a lifelong conservative looking for a conservative party.

He has voted conservative as both a democrat and a republican.

His voting record is far more conservative than most republicans.


89 posted on 07/14/2012 3:35:42 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: MrEdd

They’ll also need to get used to being referred to as ANTI-AMERICAN.


90 posted on 07/14/2012 3:37:45 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: gusty; kabar
As anybody can tell you Romney's forces CHEATED to get their boy byes in the primary.

That action has pretty well destroyed the political futures for a good number of people who used to pretend to be hard core Conservatives in this state ~ starting with the Governor, the lt. Governor, their friends and relatives, and probably even the number 2 Republican in the House.

Even some of the people involved in the misdeeds have lost faith in these people.

The vote for Goode will be a vote for integrity in the political process.

Be a good idea for the MIttbots to just stay out of this state from now on. Plenty of tar and feathers about, just need a few rails, and there it is (allegorically of course ~ tar can cause permanent skin damage)>

91 posted on 07/14/2012 3:42:30 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Tennessee Nana

Mitt is a major campaign donor to Democrats. That’s just about the worst sin a Republican politician can commit ~ although I’m sure Mitt has some other things in mind that’ll make everyone aghast.


92 posted on 07/14/2012 3:44:08 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Tennessee Nana
Virgil Goode is a former Democrat _________________________________________ So is Willard

WIllard still is a Democrat.

93 posted on 07/14/2012 3:44:16 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Broken Record. Just who else was this saintly perfect candidate in the race vs mittens that met your standard?


94 posted on 07/14/2012 3:46:58 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: MissouriConservative
George Wallace almost sent the Humphrey/Nixon contest into the House.

That's the objective, and given the institutionalized tightness of the race it's possible!

Mitt will fritz out if it goes there !~

95 posted on 07/14/2012 3:47:08 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: skeama
I do believe the same god who invites you to vote for Romney is also inviting you to vote for Obama.

No, that's not the God we know.

96 posted on 07/14/2012 3:51:43 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Hegewisch Dupa

Actually, things are the other way around. Voting for evil and saying it’s a matter of relative good is always a big mistake ~ you go with the two major parties this time you have no choice ~ same thing on either ticket.


97 posted on 07/14/2012 3:54:17 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Kansas58
I think you got your hands on the wrong Jesus there ~ maybe jesus Valdez from San Juan Puerto Rico?!

Of course we have the liberty to vote according to our religious views and with fundamental morality. That means we probably won't vote for either of the two major party candidates ~

You do not save civilization by giving up to the forces of darkness!

98 posted on 07/14/2012 4:00:00 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

LOL. So when are you starting shooting and starting the revolution?


99 posted on 07/14/2012 4:01:04 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: JCBreckenridge

Oh please. More garbage. if the “pro life” crowd unified behind Santorum or newt early on they would have won.

they didn’t.

some of you single issue voters will yo to any lengths to distort the truth.


100 posted on 07/14/2012 4:05:28 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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