Posted on 08/27/2006 9:01:53 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
Washington Whispers
It's Gingrich's to Lose in 2008
Sorry, Hillary. And Big John, you might have missed your chance in 2000.
That's because a new and innovative poll from John Zogby about 2008 presidential candidates finds former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich way out front of fellow GOP-ers like Sen. John McCain and also finds moderates like former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner far ahead of libs like Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Here's the unusual thing about the Zogby poll released to Whispers: When questioning likely primary voters, only brief biographies and not names were given.
In other words, voters picked the one with the best experience. Without her name recognition working for her, Clinton came in a miserable sixth out of 10.
"It looks like the Democrats want to grab the middle," says Zogby, who says outside-the-beltway Democrats lean moderate.
Surprises on the GOP side: Harsh immigration critic Rep. Tom Tancredo ranks fourth, showing the power of the anti-immigrant issue.
Is the poll important? Big time. In 1999, Zogby's "blind bios" poll identified "maverick" McCain as a very attractive candidate in primary states long before he almost knocked off George W. Bush.
The Democratic order and percentage: Warner, 14.8; retired Gen. Wesley Clark, 14.2; Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold, 12.2; Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, 11.1; former Sen. John Edwards, 10.4; Clinton, 5.6; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, 5.3; former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, 4.9; Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, 4.9; Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, 3; Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, 2.8.
The GOP rankings: Gingrich, 21.4; McCain, 13.3; former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 11.2; Tancredo, 9.9; Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, 6.1; Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 5.8; Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, 5.6; Virginia Sen. George Allen, 4.9; Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback,4.3; Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 3.8; New York Gov. George Pataki, 2.8.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...
And if you remember correctly, the Gov. employee unions gave Clinton the A-ok to shut down the Govt. with their promise to blame Newt and the GOP.
It was a set up job the whole time.
LOL
Well just so long as he remembers that every driver is named Dale, Ernie, Rusty, Jeff or Bobby, he'll be fine :)
A very gamey poll. Not oriented to the real world. We do use names at election time you know. Too easy to skew answers on basis of question information. Is this guy an Arab or isn't he? The filter question should have been, "Do you have enough information to select a candidate for President at the present time?" Or, "List the Democrat and Republican candidates for President."
Newt is serious and thoughtful on policy issues, and also simultaneously realistic and willing to innovate. Better yet he is very good at articulating his ideas.
Once the campaign gets serious this will present a very attractive impression, to a broad spectrum of voters, as against a Dhimocrat who is either void of ideas, or unwilling to articulate what they really think.
As to the other stuff -- the inevitable smears that will come -- Newt's advocates need just laugh and reference Clinton's morality in comparison.
I could be wrong. I'm not an experienced politico. But I'm happy with the prospect of a Gingrich candidacy, even in a MUST win year.
Mike Hucklebuck has forgotten one important segment of the voting public: smokers. As long as at least 27% of voters are smokers (and they are), Mike Hucklebuck will never be president. It's the tip of the iceberg on their personalities, an indicator of a control freak mentality.
No person will do more damage and take away "the cause of liberty, or protect the rights of individuals" than Hillary. ANYONE, I repeat anyone, would be better than Hillary.
I don't think that will happen. McLame will never, never, never get the GOP nomination. He's finished. He'll go Independent and try to take GOP/Dem 'moderate' votes. Rudy, while a nice guy, has too many problems with his liberal tendencies on abortion, stem cells, etc.. Newt has no chance with his baggage. Tancredo is a one-issue candidate, and that never works.
I think the only real race is between Nick Romney and George Allen. If I had to hazard a political winds guess for the future, I'd give the edge to Romney for the nomination. The only sticking point for him might be that he's a Mormon; but at the end of the day, that is not going to effect his general electability.
I also do not think Her Thighness will get the Dem nomination. I think it might be Russ Feingold.
Don't forget Ricky!
It's very early. I refuse to validate that choice at this point. McCain and Guiliani both have significant negatives among a fairly large group of likely Republican voters, and yet, oddly, are being hailed as the likely nominee by their respective supporters. The Hillary bogeyman isn't any more useful for those two than for any other Republican.
Crap I knew I forgot one!
Romney. I'm telling you. Rudy is a flaming liberal. McCain will never will the GOP nod. Newt annoys me. He is sanctimonious and I can't figure out why a guy from Georgia has no southern accent. He's Washington to the core and it makes me sick. Tancredo (I live right next to his district) is a strong candidate but he'll never win the general election. Huckaby strikes me as a bit namby--pamby. Romney is the best guy to articulate conservative values in a world desperately in need of them.
Wrong answer. But, never mind, it won't come down to that. There's no chance -- ABSOLUTELY none -- that John McCain could ever win the Republican nomination for president in '08. (Or anytime thereafter, presuming his behavior and judgment, or lack thereof, remains unchanged.)
Oh, I agree. I am not hoping for either of them. However, at the end of the day, if those are the choices we have to vote for, I will vote for ANYONE but Hillary.
You mean there isn't a Bobby-Jeff?
I like Romney. He seems steadfast and as honest as one can be in politics.
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