Poll Vaulting: Romney Takes the Lead in Michigan; Giuliani and McCain Fall Off Dramatically

2008 Central ^

[CheyennePress]

Continuing a week of not-so-good news for Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney in the latest ARG poll is ahead by a statistically insignificant two points over John McCain.

One can see how precipitous a fall this is for Giuliani. He lost over 11 points from the last poll, in February. But that’s childs play compared to John McCain, who fell from 35% in the February poll to only 22% now. The only two to go up in polling were Romney and Fred Thompson. Thompson entered the poll with a support figure of 8%. Romney, on the other - but he’s in a fight with Romney now and probably will be soon in the early primary states.

This is the kind of news that the Romney campaign needed with Fred Thompson gearing up to enhand, jumped up all the way from 8% to 24%.

Now clearly, this is evidence of Romney gaining ground over time. The lengthy time between the polls - 3 months - makes generalizations a little harder than in most cases. But it is clear that Romney’s extremely hard work in the state is paying off. Giuliani should be less surpised - the entrance of Thompson everywhere has had a similar effect on his poll numbers.

McCain should be more worried. This is Mitt Romney gaining ground at his expense, nothing else. It’s hard to pin down what has hurt McCain - it’s been a long three months ter the race.

[Vigilanteman]

I'm not so sure Duncan Hunter is an impossible shot. He's doing very well in South Carolina, one of the early primary states. He also had a respectable debate performance at the Reagan library.

Right now, Romney is doing conservatives a big favor by eating into the support of McCain and Guilani. I think he would be a respectable candidate and quite competent on economic issues. But I have my doubts as to him being mean-as*ed enough to fight the war on terror and the terrorist enablers at home. An ex-army ranger and paratrooper is clearly the better man for that job.

[CheyennePress]

>>>But I have my doubts as to him being mean-as*ed enough to fight the war on terror and the terrorist enablers at home. An ex-army ranger and paratrooper is clearly the better man for that job.<<

Duncan Hunter is a very capable candidate, no doubt. Hopefully the debates on Fox will help bring him more into the spotlight. It seems he doesn’t have the groundswell of support that he needs, though perhaps that will change.

I’ve seen him speak on illegal immigration, and I’m very much in his court on that issue.

That said, Romney is the only candidate other than Hunter who I hear regularly calling our enemies jihadists. Not insurgents, not the Iraq problem. Not terrorists. He gets to heart of the matter. That’s a good sign, in my estimation.

[TheLion]

Good news!

[Vigilanteman]

Agreed. I'm also impressed with the way he talks back to the press rather than trying to pander to them.

I'd much rather have an imperfect conservative with brass balls than a perfect conservative who lacks the backbone to fight back.

[To Hell With Poverty]

I think he would be a respectable candidate and quite competent on economic issues

One thing I find promising about Romney is that, while Governor of Massachusetts, he was able to make some substantial conservative gains while working with an *overwhelmingly* liberal Democrat state legislature. He's an innovative thinker. We need someone like that with this unfortunately Dem-controlled House/Senate situation in DC.

[Vigilanteman]

You are right. Unfortunately, there is no way we are likely to get the senate back in 2008 just based on the number of seat up for re-election. And the house is a long shot.

If the primary were held in my house, I'd still vote for Duncan Hunter, but my wife and three daughters would all vote for Mitt.

[LS]

Hunter is, by "qualifications," clearly the best out there. But qualifications for the presidency are about more than a track record of political issues---it involves a track record of national organizing, of national fundraising, of getting national notoriety.

In terms of having a shot, no. He doesn't. I think one of the reasons Kerry was able to bushwhack Dean so easliy is that Kerry DID have the national name recognition, and had a long-standing party apparatus willing to get behind him. Hunter isn't close to having the statewide organization in place, so even if he does well in a single state primary, it won't carry over as it did with Kerry.

Meanwhile, both Romney and Rudy appear to be doing well in NH. Rudy has had a bad two weeks. His abortion stuff hurt---and not his POSITION on abortion so much as he seemed to waffle in that position. I think he would have been much better off, early on, to say what he is now saying. He would have gotten some props for honesty.

Romney, on the other hand, is benefitting from the attacks by Sharpton and from Romney's unwillingness to back down.

For two months, I've said that the winner would be the first one perceived as a "FIGHTER" who will attack DEMS (not Republicans) and who will call them out BY NAME.

[LS]

Agree it's all about who takes on our enemies. Not just the terrorists, but also the DEMS.

Rudy got an early head start on this, then has waned. Mitt has now come on. Whowever is perceived as someone who will get "down and dirty" to defeat our enemies---both the Islamofascists and the enemy at home---will win going away.

[Delphinium]

I think I could hold my nose and vote for him

I would hold my nose tight, and feel sick, but I'd vote for him too , rather than a democrat.

What bugs me is so many say Duncan Hunters the best, but.. . Instead we should go hard for Duncan and see what he can do instead of giving up before weve started.

[Kevmo]

I agree. I’m sticking with Hunter because he’s the best. We have been through too much here on FR to condone compromising during the primaries. JimRob has some interesting things to say about Mitt as well. Here’s just one f’rinstance:

Critics Fault Romney’s Abortion Record
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1831774/posts?page=3#3
Posted by Jim Robinson to jdm
On News/Activism 05/10/2007 9:49:40 PM PDT · 3 of 88

Romney seems to be Giuliani-lite, only slicker. No thanks.

[Delphinium]

I agree, and don't trust Romney.

I do believe that he might atleast listen to some who are true conservatives, unlike Rudy who actually has spoken his true agenda of taking the party back to before Reagan. Problem is, he has never shown that he has had true core conservative beliefs.

His stands as an eastern liberal betrayed his own religious beliefs, so how can we trust him not to be swayed in the presidency?

[Grunthor]

“It’s hard to pin down what has hurt McCain”

Gang of 14?

McCain-Feingold?

Open borders treachery?

Take yer pick.

[Radix]

"Anything that knocks out Rudy and McCain early is a good thing."

They are already out, and have been out.

The media notwithstanding. They are usually the last to know stuff anyhow.

[Radix]

Gosh, you’ve been FReeping ever since just the other day to post that photoshop.

[WOSG]

I am thinking Romney/Hunter would make a good ticket.

[CPT Clay]

In reality, I’d love to see you eat your words. I wish Gingrich and Tancredo would drop out and find a way to move Mr. Hunter into some prominence.

[CPT Clay]

When is the California Primary?

[LS]

LOL. This is politics, not fantasy. Not only did Hunter never even get out of the gate, but Brownback just threw himself under a bus with his silly support/non-disclosure of the Sebilius "national guard" business.

There are historical reasons congressmen don't ever become president.

[LS]

I think they moved it up to Feb. So you have NH, SC, IA, CA, and I think another biggie (NY? moved its primary up, too), all within about 3 weeks of each other.

The clock is ticking on Fred Thompson.

[SunkenCiv]

Obama Condemns Big and Fast Gas Guzzlers, But Drives Hemi V8 Sedan
NewsBusters.org | Lynn Davidson
Posted on 05/12/2007 7:28:55 PM EDT by SandRat
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1832638/posts