I don’t know why anyone cares what this Bunis woman thinks. I have never heard of her. And her recommendation at the end of her article of Newt Gingrich, is a hoot. Talk about a recipe for electoral disaster. He is the only candidate who has higher negatives than Hillary.
I do not even know if I care that much what Orange County collectively thinks. IMHO California is so far gone that no Republican can expect to carry it at the national level. That said, I think that genuine conservatives in Orange County, not libertarians, will like Fred Thompson a lot.
“I do not even know if I care that much what Orange County collectively thinks.”
OC doesn’t think collectively. OC thinks action, business. Three million population, lowest unemployment rate in California. Four of the six most southern counties in California vote Republican. San Diego, Orange, Ventura and San Luis Obispo.
While the rest of the country talks about immigration, Orange County made news with the County and the City of Costa Mesa hitting hard in the jails, to check immigration status.
A good Republican can win California. Reagan did. Nixon did. GHW Bush did, 1988. Several Governors, too.
Collectively perhaps not red-meat conservative enough to statisfy some at FR, but nonetheless far better than the alternatives.
My criteria are 1. Ability to win (primary, general). 2. Policy positions, overall.
For me Thompson and Romney meet those requirements.