Void in GOP's '08 Lineup May Yet Be Filled(Bob Novak)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | BOB NOVAK

[kellynla]

New York-based political consultant Kieran Mahoney's statewide survey of probable Republican participants in the 2008 Iowa presidential caucuses shows this support for the ''big three'' GOP candidates: John McCain, 20.5 percent; Rudy Giuliani, 16.3 percent; Mitt Romney, 3.5 percent. Astonishingly, they all trail James Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia, with 31 percent.

How could that be? Because it was not a legitimate survey, but a ''push poll.'' That normally is a clandestine effort to rig a poll by telling respondents negative things about various candidates. Mahoney makes no secret that his voter sample was told of liberal deviations by McCain, Giuliani and Romney, and of true-blue conservatism by Gilmore (Mahoney's client).

Mahoney is trying to prove a point widely accepted in Republican ranks. None of the three front-line candidates is a natural fit for the nation's right-of-center party. Without question, there is a conservative void. The question is whether Gilmore or any new candidate can fill it.

The most commonly mentioned void filler is not Gilmore but Newt Gingrich. A straw poll by the right-wing Citizens United organization of its political contributors showed Gingrich leading with 31 percent (followed by Giuliani at 25 percent, Romney at 10 percent and McCain at 8 percent). But based on his record as speaker of the House, Gingrich's conservative record is far from flawless.

Mahoney did not include Gingrich in his Iowa poll of Republicans likely to vote in next year's caucuses. It first showed McCain leading with 33 percent, followed by Giuliani with 31.5 percent and Romney with 8.8 percent (and the unknown Gilmore at 1.3 percent). This is a voter sample that described itself as 70 percent conservative and 68 percent pro-life, and gave an astounding 76 percent favorable rating for President Bush.

[jellybean]

I haven't heard anything since the announcement on Fox. Last I heard from STARWISE he was meeting with his advisors this week.

[daybreakcoming]

Wish there was an address for Thompson in order to encourage him.

[Natchez Hawk]

Hell, a dead politician is less threatening than one drawing breath.

[Natchez Hawk]

That's not a threat or call for violence or anything like that...
just to make sure it's not misconstrued. I mean VOTING for the dearly departed is safer than trusting most of these monkey's uncles who walk amongst us.

[jellybean]

More buzz...

Gingrich Up, McCain Down

Former Sen. Fred Thompson wasn't even on the agenda at CPAC, but his cast a huge shadow across the event. By Sunday, folks were buzzing more enthusiastically about Romney and Brownback and Gingrich...but still talking Thompson. Interesting.

Searching for Mr. Right

Right now, the message of CPAC is that that job description hasn't been filled yet by anyone running or planning to run. That's why many CPAC attendees were eager to believe rumors that Jeb Bush or former senator Fred Thompson was about to enter the race. If conservatives were united on a 2008 candidate, such rumors would yield shrugs rather than excitement.

Conservatives unhappy with 2008 GOP candidates

Many activists said they hoped another conservative would get in the race -- perhaps Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, or Fred Thompson, the former actor turned senator turned actor again.

Join the Draft Fred Thompson Bandwagon

▲ Click the box to see where he stands on the issues. ▲

Let me know if you'd like to join the Fred Thompson ping list.

[Howlin]

I am so praying they make a decision that will put us out of our misery.

I have my checkbook READY!

[jellybean]

Wish there was an address for Thompson in order to encourage him.

You can find contact information for Fred Thompson at American Enterprise Institute. I won't post it here due to the trolls and bots.