High Noon in Michigan (The McCain-Romney shootout)

The Weekly Standard ^ | July 3, 2006 | Mark Hemmingway

[Kieri]

In 2006, RAT crossover could only work for Joe Swartz, but it wont be enough to split the entire Republican vote like last time.

The Swartz, Walberg election will be Aug 8th., Whoever wins there will be elected in Nov.

I think the GOP learned their lesson with Schwartz. Tim Walberg is running hard for the primary seat and he stands a good chance -- Schwartz only had 27% of the GOP vote when he run. And one of them was NOT mine.

The real race in Michigan is for Governor. The last poll I saw shocked me at how many independent voters will cast ballots for DeVos versus Granholm. When it comes to the presidential vote, I will *NEVER* vote for McCain. Michigan has a lot of conservative GOP voters who won't stomach him, myself included.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

If either of these fools get the nod, the Hildabeast is in.

[Beagle8U]

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=12651

Some insight on Chuck Yob.

I am liking him less and less.

[Beagle8U]

"I don't see Smith's name here. Stick with Butler and don't fool yourself, it's going to be a difficult race, Stabenow has been counting on that and has lots of money."

I hadn't known that Nick Smith was running for that seat until I saw it listed on that website.

Perhaps it was just wishful thinking on someones part to have him there as a write in?

Either way, Smith or Butler would beat Stabenow, crossover would do them no good.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"With its open primary, loaded with Dem crossover votes, I can see why two RINOs like McCain and Romney could think that Michigan is a prime hunting ground. "

About all I know about Romney is he is Mormon and he was Olympic chairman, but my gut reaction is that I can't imagine that ANYONE who could get elected in the Socialist Republic of Massachusetts could possibly have anything to offer this nation.

[kjo]

How Debbie Stabenow ever got to the US Senate in the first place is a great mystery. It must have been Spencer Abraham's near total incompetence.

P.S. Never trust a women over fifty who calls herself "Debbie".

[Beagle8U]

"How Debbie Stabenow ever got to the US Senate in the first place is a great mystery. It must have been Spencer Abraham's near total incompetence."

I think StabAcow and Grandstand are both toast in Nov.

Walberg taking Schwartz's seat will only be icing on the cake.

[WFTR]

I still don't believe that McCain will run in 2008. His health hasn't always been good, and bad health would make the campaign a very rough experience. On top of that, the presence of Mitt Romney and possibly Chuck Hagel in the race will split the voters who supported him last time. If he runs, he's likely to come in third or fourth in quite a few early states. If he comes in third in those states, no one will care what he says about anything. If he stays out of the race, he can keep drawing attention throughout the campaign as "the guy who shoulda' been there." He can also keep talk of being nominated in a brokered convention alive. Once he's beaten in a few primaries, all of that attention will disappear.

The Weekly Standard (or is it Weakly Standard) seems to be trying very hard to ignore the fact that stronger conservatives will be in the race. I suspect that both of them will have problems reaching the nomination.

I'm also tired of people thinking that the whole nomination needs to be decided in the first few primaries. The strongest candidates in the general election are the ones who had the toughest fights for the nomination. Bill Clinton was nearly out of it, and he ended up winning in '92. His win kept the Democrats in power for eight years. Ronald Reagan was one primary loss away from quitting in 1980. If he'd lost North Carolina, he'd have given up entirely. He won, and his win carried the GOP to 12 years in the White House. I realize that the insiders would like to think that the best plan is to decide things early before the voters really speak through the primaries, but that plan isn't what's best for the country.

Bill

[tflabo]

"McCain, who has a rocky relationship with the Republican base dating back to 2000, has been vigorously mending fences with social conservatives"

We conservatives aint buying no hooey from McCain. His tongue is forked just like his intentions and throwing bones at conservatives will result in bare bones support from the base. McCan't will NEVER be President. NEVER!

[Dolphy]

I'm going in and out doing yard work so sorry for the delay in responding.

From your link

We are strong conservatives, but we have made the decision to focus on winning general elections in Michigan in 2006 rather than spend energy on costly primaries.

If they are focusing on winning general elections then why don't they have their act together for the Senate campaign? I don't mean to keep saying the same thing but it makes me so mad that Stabenow is benefiting from all of these months of being out of the focus of one candidate.

[kjo]

Don't kid yourself, McCain is definitely running. You can see his miserable attempts to court conservatives. Don't think for a moment that he'd be kissing rightwing butt if he wasn't going to run.

McCain IS the media's candidate for the GOP nomination, that's a very important ally.If he is the nominee there will be essentially two Democrats running. The media can't lose.

[rhinohunter]

Republicans could end up with an open primary on a different date from the Democratic primary.

So does this mean Michigan voters can legally vote in BOTH primaries?

[Springman]

Just to let you know, Republicans have an open primary in Michigan, the Rats have a caucus. So they can/do vote in both.

That's the reason McPain won in 2000 here. Heck IIRC, McPain asked for Dem. votes and the Dems were PO'ed at Engler.

[Beagle8U]

"From your link"

From a link I posted, not my link..lol.

Stabenow and Granholm will both lose, that isn't even a debatable issue now.

Quite likely Schwartz will also lose to Walberg in the primary. That means Walberg wins in the general. Its a Republican district and no amount or RAT crossover can change that.

[freespirited]

Who do you dislike more, Romney or McCain?

It's not even close. McCain wins that one easily. The vicious attack on the Swiftees was the last straw. Not that he hasn't done plenty to alienate me further since, like his near love affair with illegal immigration.

Remind me. Did you hear Romney going around the country in 2004 saying either one, George Bush or John Kerry would make a fine president?

I expect McCain to say the same thing about Hillary too.

[Beagle8U]

"Just to let you know, Republicans have an open primary in Michigan, the Rats have a caucus. So they can/do vote in both."

Its not quite an open primary. You must declare a party before either primary, and once you do, you can't vote in the other primary.

[Springman]

In Warren, I never had to, just select which party to vote. Couldn't cross over vote.

Guess that was a nice thing about the old style voting machines.

[John Lenin]

McCain is only in this race to keep the leftover money from the campaign for when he retires next term. I wouldn't vote for this traitor unless I was forced too.

[caresistance]

One of the news shows had the results of a GOP straw poll showing Tom Tancredo leading a field of top contenders. Surprising that no mention is given in this article.

[Hot Tabasco]

"Local conservative poo-bahs who backed Bush in early primary states, such as Chuck Yob in Michigan

Dont know Chuck and never heard of him. We're going to see more and more of this type of McCain media support up until the primary. I can tell you this tho, I have a friend here in Macomb County (highly republican) who is a delegate and very active in the Macomb County Republican party and will attest that John "crash and burn" McCain is NOT a welcome candidate around these parts........

Media is desperate to get him nominated via positive press but being the biased whores that they are, they will ultimately bring him down if he is the Repub nominee......