Duncan Hunter Surprises Pundits In South Carolina Straw Poll

Rick Amato Show ^ | 3/2/07 | Rick Amato

[pissant]

The FOX television talking heads were gushing over the usual suspects- Mitt Romney, Rudy Gulliani and John McCain- when the results of the South Carolina Republican straw poll rolled in and left the pundits stuttering and speechless in mid sentence.

In a surprise result not predicted by any of the national political commentators, California Congressman Duncan Hunterfinished second with 110 votes behind Rudy Gulliani's 123 votes with 71 of the 75 precincts reporting.

Arizona Sen. John McCain was third with 86 votes, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 59 votes, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback had 68 votes, and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rounded out the front-runners with 18 votes.

The underdog Hunter has now taken first in an Arizona straw poll and second in the South Carolina.

The charm of Duncan Hunter is that he is authentic. In a world of hyper-branding and packaging... where politicial speeches sound as if they are the result of focus group studies... Hunter comes across as unscripted, unrehearsed and firm in his beliefs.

...And do not dismiss his unwavering support for Border Patrol Agents Ramos & Compeon. It is the stuff that resonates with people.

As I wrote in The Washington Times back in November, Hunter has a message that connects with republican voters...particularly those in early primary states such as Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire. His message is one of peace through strength, conservative social values and conservative illegal immigration policy.

[Antoninus]

I've been contributing right along and have received 4 stickers and 4 lapel buttons. I wish Hunter supporter on FR would make a contribution, we'd all be able to help get his name out and overcome the bias towards Rudi, Romney etc.

Yep. Make a contribution, and the campaign will send you stuff. If you just sign up, they probably won't send you anything. Sadly, one tactic the left uses is to saturate GOP campaigns with fake supporters to help drain their resources.

Here's another option: Purchase "Hunter for President" items. Proceeds go to the Hunter campaign.

[nctexan]

"voting for the ruinous Sarbanes-Oxley to be conservative"

The vote for Sarbanes by all who voted for it was a typical unthinking 'feelgood' vote with horrible unintended consequences.

It certainly was not good for business and offered the public little in return.

[Antoninus]

The thing that troubles me is that supporters of other candidates for the Republican nomination seem to be saying that they'll support the eventual nominee, whomever that might be. Many, if not most, Hunter supporters have your attitude.

No. Many of us have said we will not and can not support Rudy Giuliani. Some have said we will not support Mitt Romney. A few have said we will not support Senator McCain. No one has said they won't support anyone but Hunter. That's just BS.

I will support any of the other GOP candidates--and would probably hold my nose for Romney or McCain. But I think Hunter is far-and-away the best candidate.

Of course, Rudy's supporters are going to say they'll vote for whoever the nominee turns out to be. Just be careful. Such people are also willing to lie about Rudy's record. And as I know from 1st hand experience here in NJ, Northeastern RINOs are very good at breaking their word and supporting Democrats. They do it all the time. Heck, Rudy did it himself to George Pataki!

I'll do the RINOs one better: As a Hunter supporter, I do hereby solemnly swear that I will not support the Democrat candidate if Mr. Giuliani is the GOP choice.

Satisfied?

[Antoninus]

He's still riding that snail however.

Better find some better dirt. Your material is weak.

[derllak]

Lol Pissy, you can reserve that doghouse for someone else.
I never heard of Duncan until I started to see his name pop up on FR recently and the more I learn, the more I like!
Leatherneck has promised to help me see the light, even if he has to beat it into me. There's hope for me yet! :)

[nctexan]

"But this vicious, childish hatred is a whole 'nother thing, and it's disgraceful here on FR."

Amen... Unfortunately, the 'slime and destroy' of candidates (and anyone who dare consider them) by some of the good folks on FR discredits themselves and their candidates.

I'm certain that the continue bashing will unintended consequences with both regular and lurking viewers.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Welcome aboard derllak, even if you are late and had to be led to the shed once again ;)

[pissant]

She likes the shed.

[jmc813]

I guess you don't travel much and don't have a concept of the time it takes to travel from California to DC. There's even direct flights!

I actually work in the travel industry and I can assure you that it is next to impossible to book a last-minute flight in the middle of the night on a Sunday.

The Senate version of the bill was passed on the afternoon of Sunday, March 20 (by voice vote -- as a result, there is not an official record of this Senate action). The House followed suit just after midnight on Monday, March 21.

Tell you what. Next Sunday afternoon, go to any travel website and request a flight from San Diego to one of the DC airports by 11:00PM, keeping in mind the travel time from the airport to the Capitol building. Just view the available flights without purchasing tickets. I'll give you my e-mail address and you can send me a copy of the page, and I will be happy to send $50 to either the candidate or the charity of your choice. Sound good?

[nctexan]

"What part of that don't you understand?

If you can't see the difference between criticizing a candidate and a lot of the hateful personal attacks on candidates and anyone who dares support them, then you are Stevie Wonder blind to the issue... and you wouldn't understand.

[jmc813]

Ping to post 229. I doubt I'll be getting a response.

[auto power]

By the way, can you tell me what Dunce Hunter did for those border patrol agents whom he came out blasting about the injustice of their arrest??....Funny, you haven't heard squirt from the Dunce ever since.....all talk...no show.

Go Rudy!

[Non-Sequitur]

I'm beginning to think that if any of the candidates can confound conventional wisdom and knock off the big names then it's him.

[jmc813]

The thing that troubles me is that supporters of other candidates for the Republican nomination seem to be saying that they'll support the eventual nominee, whomever that might be. Many, if not most, Hunter supporters have your attitude.

I personally would be happy to support Gingrich if need be. Also, if Romney is the candidate, I might be able to go out, get $hitfaced drunk and vote for him. He still needs to convince me a bit more oon hhis 2nd Amendment stances though.

[zook]

"I doubt you'll like him after some of the comment he made on China."


I don't know. I'm not a one issue kind of guy. I'm not really fixated on China. But if he's one of these bloody shirt TI kind of guys, yeah, it would probably reduce my enthusiasm dramatically.

[Registered]

LOL, right, you want me to Expedia a flight on Sunday night? You are such a joke. Things don't work that way in the real world. Telling them I am a sitting Congressman that needs to get to DC for a vote would have them putting me on the next plane out and you know it.

Let's just agree to ignore each other from now on okay? You are ridiculous.

[Politicalmom]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793947/posts?page=170#170

Details vicious LIES posted last night by a Rudyphile.

[WFTR]

Okay, where do I order one of those buttons?

[Antoninus]

Lots more Duncan Hunter stuff is here.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the buttons.

[derllak]

Little snitch! :P Just for that, I'm voting for Hillary!