McCain, Giuliani Fare Well Vs. Top Dems, Edwards Might Be Toughest Rival (Investor Business Daily)

Investors ^ | 1/10/07

[areafiftyone]

A new IBD/TIPP poll gives Republican front-runners Sen. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani an edge over top Democratic contenders and shows that John Edwards might be their toughest opponent.

In a potential presidential matchup, McCain led the former one-term senator from North Carolina and 2004 vice presidential nominee by 44% to 43% but had a more comfortable margin over the two Democratic heavyweights expected to run. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton trailed McCain 48% to 41% while Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was down 48% to 36%.

In a matchup against Giuliani, the former New York mayor, Clinton and Edwards both trailed by 5%, (48%-43% and 47%-42%, respectively) while Obama lagged by 13% (49%-36%). But as in the matchup against McCain, Edwards showed a bit better ability than the former first lady to pull in Republicans and independents.

Edwards Strong

While Clinton and Obama have been cast as the Goliaths of the Democratic field, "when you look at the numbers, they're not the strongest in the general election," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.

The poll of 951 adults for IBD by TIPP, a unit of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, was conducted Jan. 2-4.

[Ikemeister]

As Rush Limbaugh said yesterday, there are only conservatives and liberals; if you are a moderate, you will become a liberal. If you believe in nothing, you'll believe in anything.

A "moderate" Republican will never get the nomination, and even if they did, they would never win election without the large conservative base.

[MadIvan]

It may amuse you to know that the Biography channel in the UK once carried a documentary about Ted Kennedy. I nearly choked on my coffee when he said that his career had been dedicated to "helping working families". He hasn't a bloody clue about what the life of working families is like. It never occured to him that perhaps the best he and his gang of meddlers could do would be to leave working families alone and give them their tax money back.

Regards, Ivan

[Ikemeister]

The Kennedy myth continues. JFK was a mediocre President and his little brother Bobby was a liberal wacko.

[Afronaut]

And now a word from Helen:

"As for politics, Republicans seeking the presidency in 2008 would do well to tear a page out of Ford's playbook: Move to the middle and stay away from the far right."

[defconw]

It is a widely accepted myth here, that TK cares about working families. Right you are, he has NO clue. He is the very embodiment of the term limousine liberal.

He's never worked a day in his life and does not even pay his own bills. A corporate office in NYC does. Steve Smith (Husband of Jean) used to take care of all family business, right down to renewing license plates. GIVE ME A BREAK!

[Wormwood]

Us despised moderates have a vote that counts just as much as anyone.

Even more so, if the 2006 mid-terms are any indicator.

Republicans can no longer win by relying on the base alone, IMO. We must grow our party or die.

[defconw]

I think JFK was a mediocre President, but I do not think Bobby was a liberal wacko, his speeches were quite conservative, his stance against the war was calculated. He was a politician that was not afraid to play hardball. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Tom DeLay is one of my heroes. He won't cave.

[defconw]

Civil discourse would be a step in the right direction and I mean amongst the GOP.

[Wormwood]

As Rush Limbaugh said yesterday, there are only conservatives and liberals; if you are a moderate, you will become a liberal.

With all due respect to El Rushbo, he wouldn't know what a moderate was if one bit him on his ass. (*shudder* I could have gone all day without that image in my mind).

His definition of 'moderate' is crafted to appeal to his audience, not to reflect political reality.

[Blackirish]

It's gonna be Romney or Rudy...I think McCaine is too old.

Rush is wrong.

[Wormwood]

Civil discourse would be a step in the right direction and I mean amongst the GOP.

You are absolutely correct---but don;t hold your breath.

[veronica]

Hillary is being outflanked, which is why I think she's getting ready to announce. Other Dems are building some MO, and she's gotta move up her plans. I believe she will NOT get the Dem nomination. I don't even think it's close. She's unelectable in most of the country.

[MadIvan]

If I were managing a rival Democrat's campaign, I would try and force Hillary to speak as much as possible, in particular, I'd try to make her give speeches. She's possibly the worst public speaker in American politics today; her condescending manner, flat tone, and lack of any genuine warmth will switch off people in droves...even Democrats.

Regards, Ivan

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Us despised moderates have a vote that counts just as much as anyone.

Thanks for Lincoln Chafee, Chris Shays, et. al...

[defconw]

LOL, I won't we need my vote.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

You are right on target with that post...

[veronica]

That is so true. In short, she comes across as a hard shrew. Which, I believe, she is. The voice, in her case, is a mirror put up to the soul. Nails on a chalkboard...LOL.

[Antoninus]

I don't always agree with Zogby but in this I agree - it will be won in the center that is why any and all Republican candidates must woo the independents and moderates in order to beat the Democrats. They already have the Republican votes or at least most of them - they need the others who are on the fence to beat the Democrats.

Polls at this point are all smoke and mirrors.

1.) If a liberal like Giuliani wins the nomination, it guarantees a viable 3rd Party challenge on the right. The Democrats and MSM would make absolutely certain that happens.

2.) These way-early polls do not take into account the massive campaign of character assassination that the MSM will wage against a GOP candidate--and if we make the mistake of putting a liberal like Giuliani up as our nominee, the media will pull another Foley on us--that is, constantly highlight those areas where Giuliani has been at serious odds with the base of the party, particularly on moral and social issues. And because Rudy has so much baggage, that strategy will yield catastrophic results.

Either of these guys is poison in the general election.

[NeoCaveman]

"As for politics, Republicans seeking the presidency in 2008 would do well to tear a page out of Ford's playbook: Move to the middle and stay away from the far right."

Hey Helen, that's why Ford never won anything but a gerrymandered House seat, but she already knew that.

[Blackirish]

I believe she will NOT get the Dem nomination. I don't even think it's close. She's unelectable in most of the country.

---

Nope...she's got the money...the IOU's and Bill twisting arms.

She also outpolls all other dims especially where it counts ..rank + file ...teaches unions.....hospital unions..etc. Don't kid yourself she polls well and can win.