[B Knotts]

Cool. Newt is ahead!

[rightinthemiddle]

I am a:

Economic conservative

Social conservative

War-on-terro conservative


I can't pick just one!

[chad_in_georgia]

I get the impression that Newt may attempt a comeback.

[alicewonders]

I wish they had provided the option of "None of the Above".

[Maneesh]

From the results so far Newt is the front runner. He is bay far the most visionary and most eloquent ambassador of conservative principles. However he has way too much baggage especially in his personal life to survive a general election. Romney would be a fantastic candidate but since he is from MA, that will lose him a lot of votes nationwide, the association with this bluest blue states is too negative. I live in MA and think Romney would make an excellent president. Guliani will be the strongest in a general election but will have a tough time in the primaries as he is a social liberal which will not play well in the South. No clear front runner at the moment but these are the top 3. McCain would win a general election but he is dead in the primaries.

[YdontUleaveLibs]

My top three picks are Pataki, Tancredo, and Huckabee in no particular order. I like Duncan Hunter and Newt Gingrich as well. But on the ballot that got a gateway timeout I put Pataki as my first choice.

McCain is unacceptable, if it was McCain and Hillary I would need a lot of councelling to vote for McCain. I would vote for Brownback if he was the one that is nominated, but I hope he isn't. I can't remember who else was on the ballot and that site won't load for me right now. See ya tonight.

[mtairycitizen]

Who cares?

Why did Newt have to leave again?

Did he file divorce papers on his wife when
she was dying?

Or was that John Kerry?

[irishlass]

Just finished having a conversation with my boss over this exact topic. I'll say here what I said to him, "I love Newt and think he is the most clear minded, articulate, and intelligent conservative out there; however, he has way too much baggage to be elected." Guliani will never get the Evangelicals because he is pro abortion-and whether some here want to accept it or not, the Republicans need the Evangelical vote. In my mind, this leaves Romney. I'd like to think Newt could do it, but I think not.

[petkus]

If John McCain wins the GOP nomination in 2008 the results will be same as when Bob Dole won the nomination in 1996!

It will be another wipeout for the GOP.

The USA will become a true socialistic state! With the influx of illegal aliens, Hugo Chavez will become are Presidente for life & the Spanish language will be our national language.

English will be our second language!

Bush & the GOP congress may not be perfect but they are much better than Harry & Nancy!

[RetiredArmy]

Newt has two chances to be president. Slim and none. Thought I would vote for him over all the RINOs in the party, he doesn't stand a chance.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

In a nationwide election, Newt is simply unelectable. Hillary would trounce him, and so the sooner we can pop this particular bubble, the better it will be for our propsetcs in 2008.

Don't get me wrong, I like Newt. He's a damn fine historian and educator, but he has no political clout anymore and no nationwide support base. We need a relatively young, articulate, solidly Conservative governor with no personal baggage or skeletons in his closet to rally around and to carry the Conservative banner forward in 2008.

[HapaxLegamenon]

Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

[Vision]

It's Newt, as I've been saying for over a year.

[Poser]

I watched John Boehner (Ohio Congressman) for about 10 minutes on a talk show a few weeks ago. He's smart, telegenic, well spoken and on message. He should be on the list.

[Vision]

And anyone who doesn't like Newt should check out "Winning the Future."

[jsmaineconservative]

Are there any conservative, self-made billionares out there who want to run for president? Someone who worked their way from the bottom to the top? Someone who knows how to get things done? Are representatives in government sure as hell don't.

[JCEccles]

I am not convinced that we need a Newt, as smart as he is.

We need a Reagan: a likeable and charismatic, forward-thinking, optimistic and articulate champion of conservative values that Republicans and Reagan Democrats alike can rally around.

Barack Obama will likely be the Democrats' offering in 2008, and anyone the Republicans put up had better be able to hold his own and then some in the charm department. Obama conveys a powerful sense of easy optimism, and a decisive number of people are drawn to that in a presidential election almost irrespective of the substantive politics behind the smile.

Bill Clinton versus Bob Dole was a good example of that dynamic in operation, as was Bush versus Kerry.

If we put up another Dole-style candidate, we are doomed.

[RichardW]

Good Grief!! Do we ever learn? I like Newt in many ways but the chances of his winning the president are somewhere between zero and -zero with an emphasis on -zero.

There are only three candidates to choose from. McCain, Romney and Giuliani. Pick your poison. I choose Giuliani because he would win. But the to the "social purists" here many will find him to liberal. This is a huge mistake unless they want to learn to say "President Hillary Clinton." This is like cutting off one's nose to spite their face. Evidently many are willing to do exactly that.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Looks like I'm not the only one thinking Newt would be a great candidate:

I'll admit I'm glad to see Hagel, Frist, Pataki at the bottom of the list! and the three I think (My opinion only) could actually beat Hillary.

First Choice: Gingrich 1944 25.7%

Giuliani 1860 24.6%

Romney 1528 20.2%

697 9.2%

Tancredo 451 6%

McCain 409 5.4%

Brownback 158 2.1%

Hagel 154 2%

Hunter 133 1.8%

Huckabee 115 1.5%

Frist 79 1%

Pataki 34 0.4%

[Nancee]

This gives me a wee little bit of hope! Thanks for the thread!

Nancee