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Posted on 06/03/2007 9:38:03 AM PDT by TexanSniper
MACKINAC ISLAND -- Who will be the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees in 2008? Two veteran political “handicappers” predicted Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney would be the last candidates standing Saturday night during the closing session of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference.
Charlie Cook and Stuart Rothenberg, both columnists and analysts with their own Washington-based newsletters, told the Saturday dinner audience that it’s really a matter of determining who most likely will avoid fatal landmines during the campaign ahead.
Cook described Clinton’s campaign as one of “Prussian efficiency,” more like Richard Nixon’s campaign in 1972 and certainly “more organized than any Democratic campaign that I’ve ever seen.”
But Clinton also has a liability – 46-48 percent of Americans “won’t vote for her no matter what. If she were a stock, she’d have a very narrow trading range. There’s no room for error. She’s cautious and she doesn’t make mistakes.”
Cook said if Barack Obama were able to broaden support to a majority of African-American voters, less-educated Democratic voters and older voters, he could be a contender.
Rothenberg, who handicapped the GOP race, said “I don’t know what the hell’s happening. Normally, you’d look for the oldest white guy in the race.”
But McCain has lost his outside status, Rudy Giuliani is “in the wrong party,” (“He’s pro adultery in a party that is not officially pro adultery,” he quipped) and Mitt Romney “oozes leadership but has multiple positions on issues like abortion” that are important to GOP voters in Iowa.
Fred Thompson is in the race, Rothenberg said, “because the media needs a new name. He’s a vessel each of you can pour your hopes and dreams into, the Republican Barack Obama.”
Cook said the most important factors influencing who will get their parties’ nominations are: Iowa caucus, the New Hampshire primary, national polls and ability to raise dollars.
Both analysts said if history were a guide, Democrats will win the White House because the pattern is that generally since World War II, no party earns third terms. The exception was George Bush’s election to succeed the popular Ronald Reagan.
The wild card this year may be New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a third-party bid. “If you can walk, chew gum and have a billion dollars, I might be able to do something with that,” Rothenberg said. He could easily get on the ballot in all 50 states if, early next year, each party has candidates who are “deeply flawed.”
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Mitt vs. yet another unbecoming opponent.
What an idiot. Fred is in there not because the media but because of the GOP base who are dying for a candidate who can articulate conservative values.
Don’t want Rommney. He reminds me to much of Lyle Waggoner. You know the type. Just a little to good looking. Apologies to Lyle Waggoner.
“if history were a guide... no party earns third terms.”
If history were a guide, no woman would become president...
For me, he reminds me more of a game show host (his nuancing, opportunism and weaseling of particular issues aside). He could host Wheel of Fortune or something.
always right: you make a good point. I would rewrite the sentence simply substituting “GOP base” for “the media”...
Fred Thompson is in the race, Rothenberg said, “because the GOP BASE needs a new name. He’s a vessel each of them can pour their hopes and dreams into, the Republican Barack Obama.”
Agreed - he is the GOP version of Bill Clinton. Smooth and covered with teflon. He used McCain as a punching bag in the last debate.
I knew there was something there. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. You nailed it.
-—Fred Thompson is in the race, Rothenberg said, “because the media needs a new name. He’s a vessel each of you can pour your hopes and dreams into, the Republican Barack Obama.”-—
We conservatives are just a fringe minority you know. Since it’s been made clear to me that I don’t care about the country and just want to frighten people I’m thinking of supporting Hagar the Horrible.
We would need Hagar’s wife at State!
LLS
Cartoon characters couldn’t do worse.
What a bunch of doggerl!
Pun Intended Alert!
Being a Mormon, did not hurt Harry Reid. . .think that needs to be 'called' on. Personally, for as much as I engage politics; did not know - or had forgotten - that Harry was a Mormon; as that info seldom came into play.
Nor did I EVER hear Dem. Governor Bill Richardson, referenced as 'Hispanic' as in 'first Hispanic candidate'. . .until he was deciding to make a run for Demrat Presidential nomination. . .
. . .have to say, it was news to me!
That said; a certain irony; inasmuch as Romney; 'despite' his Mormon credentials; is the ONLY candidate running who personally exemplifies the family values that Conservatives hold dear in their Candidates.
Personally, wish his hair were a bit messed up on occasion; but hey. . .no one is perfect!
If a Conservative had been in that photo while standing in front of that banner it would have been used as a club by Olbermann et al for weeks. Not one peep about it did I see except for Drudge.
Thank you for posting this, TexanSniper. As soon as the political ‘vets’ makes such a statement, I know immediately that it can’t possibly come to pass. I like Romney and I would love to see him crush any Dem. candidate in a debate, but it will be much more fun if the dummy in question is either Obama or Edwards.
But I don’t think it will happen. Neither Clinton or Obama will get the nomination. The insiders behind the scenes who pull the strings have got to know that neither Clinton or Obama has a chance of winning the White House.
Clinton simply has too much negative political and criminal baggage to survive even the pillow fight Republicans will probably put up. Obama is so far to the left that Democrat have not dared to talk about his voting record which is far to the left of even Clinton’s.. And he keeps talking about “free” universal health care.
On top of that, the brutal truth is that America is not yet ready for a black or a woman president. Maybe next time.
It’s highly doubtful if Democrats can even hang onto control of Congress in 08.
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