Posted on 07/11/2007 7:59:23 AM PDT by hardback
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is down and nearly out in his quest for the GOP presidential nomination.
Several factors contributed to the one-time Republican frontrunner's demise.
*McCain was never a favorite of social conservatives, a key voting block within the party. In McCain's 2000 campaign much of his "straight talk" appeal lay in the fact that he took on that faction, endearing him to independents and for awhile the news media. McCain realized he'd need social conservatives if he wanted the '08 nomination and he strongly courted them this time around. The plan backfired. He appeared to be flip-flopping, still never won over the religious right and his media coverage turned negative.
*McCain never got traction when it came to fund raising, which was a huge problem because the eventual winner of the race will likely spend north of $500 million.
*And, ironically, McCain was ultimately doomed by his close association with President Bush. Bush took out McCain in 2000, and the Arizona senator was bitter about what he saw as nasty moves made by those who backed Bush. It surprised some that McCain became such a strong supporter of the Iraq war. Most Republican candidates are now distancing themselves from the Bush administration's handling of Iraq, but McCain became linked in the public's mind with that unpopular conflict.
So all this is good news for Rudy Giuliani, right? Maybe not. The former New York mayor has been leading in the polls, but an unannounced candidate- the actor-turned-politician-turned actor Fred Thompson - is gaining on him and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is running strong in Iowa and New Hampshire.
As the National Journal writes in its rankings of GOP candidates:
Mr. Electable (Giuliani) has map-changing capabilities that no other Republican would dare claim. And he's still popular among Republicans, as evidenced by those national polls. But while everyone's been obsessing over how low John McCain will go, it's Giuliani who has seen his national numbers cut in half since April, and his leads in Iowa and New Hampshire erased by Romney. Does Rudy Inc. realize that the window is closing on his own ability to define his biography? Get some paid media up soon, Mr. Mayor.
Interesting. I wonder what that big spike was in mid-May?
When Fred announces, Rudy will plummet, and McCain will drop out. Then Fred will will trounce the alleged conservative Romney.
Good analysis. I think your point is right on about political dynasties...and I think that is a point against Romney, as well. His dad was governor and ran for president, his mom ran for the senate, his brother ran for Michigan attorney general, and Mitt himself ran for the senate before winning the governorship and now running for president. He has had success in the private sector, which helps — but it’s still a problem IMO.
Agreed. Rudy has a far more substantial national campaign than Mitt and one is astounded at the numbness of many Pub voters when they delete him already . The MSM wants Rudy gone. They will also try to delete Fred. If that leaves Mitt, we are all toast. The Rudy-Fred ticket is still the one that I think could actually win. We shall see. The Dems could still implode but with the surrender monkeys in the NE RINO Pub Senators, the GOP might implode before.
Liberal wet dream of why McCain’s campaign is in trouble. We all know the real reasons — CFR, gang of 14, amnesty, etc.
Wonder how Voinovich will fare?
Fred needs to whip up on his staff, I tried to donate by check, asked for a mailing address, 3 weeks ago, never recieved a reply. I don’t use credit cards, believe it or not, it is still possible.
“Thats what happens when you forsake the conservative base of the GOP.”
...got that right!
“Well, BOO HOO FOR YOU! You don’t find that term half as offensive as I find your cynical dismissal of the pro-life plank of the political party you claim to support.”
Ouch, that is going to leave a mark...well said.
Sounds like an excellent cautionary tale. One all Repub candidates should heed.
I think we all agree that the GOP has gone funny in the head. They thought they could ram amnesty down our throats with little fanfare. We can’t run another Bush, or a Rudy, or we are finished!
My deepest appreciation. In one short but very succinct sentence, you sum up the Repub dilemma.
The push to dump conservatives off the party's lifeboat is a total failure. Repubs cannot and will not win without conservatives.....something the party should have never forgotten.
We will let the party deal with the consequences at our leisure.
Now what with amnesty, the SPP, the NAU, etc.........clearly, the globalists have got Bush and Rudy by the gonads and they are squeezing real hard. Makes you wonder what the globals got on these two guys, eh?
The globalist SOB’s and (I include Bush and “daddy” in this configuration), counted on the fact that most Americans were too busy working hard, supporting their families, and just plain living their lives to pay close attention to what was going on. Well Bush & Co. made a mistake......they made such a big deal out of it that by the time the dust cleared, 80% of Americans were against it. Bush didn’t care, but our Congress DID!
One more thing.....these D C Ba$tards work for US....we do not work for them! If we keep up relentless pressure on these reprobates, we will win the battle, AND the war! I have seen so many posters recently saying “we have lost” that it makes me puke! We can, and WILL prevail, unless we weaken! Methinks we will not weaken, we will not relent, we will win!!
God willing, this will be a Mitt v Thompson race,
with Rudy in 3rd not first.
Rudy as a frontrunner is too dangerous and could make primary voters do stupid things (like nominate him!!!).
“This story is way off base. It never mentions immigration, campaign finance reform, gang of 13. The only thing keeping him ali ve was his strong support against the War on Terror and what feeble support he was garnering from the MSM. Hes toast.”
Yes, McCain is toast. And yes immigration is reason #1 for mcCain’s final fall.
Rudy ‘sanctuary city’ Guliani got a pass on immigration because he wasn’t in the senate voting with Obama, Hillary, Grahamnesty and McCain.
However, his inclination would have been to go for amnesty, had the political winds allowed it.
WhAT!?!?
“I think we need to start by reaching out to Fatah and seeing if they can contain Hamas and keep the peace. ...”
Sorry, that is an awful answer... same old same old on mid-east, catering to the palistinian kakistocrats.
No mention of the fact that Iran is behind Hamas.
Nor does Rudy ever explain how to win in Iraq.
Your #3 is all wrong. Every other candidate wants to see Roe v Wade repealed and know which judges need to be nominated. Rudy seems to thinkg Justice Ginsburg could make a good judge. He exposed his real self on multiple occasions and has come out of the closet as a pro-choicer. Rudy CANNOT be trusted to nominate the right kind of judges, to make the right decision that impact life, family and other serious and fundamental cultural issues.
His wearing a dress and cavorting with gays is just a visible symbol, the canary in the coalmine of how liberal he is on these issues and therefore how unacceptable he is as a candidate for America.
“I was at a Giuliani fundraiser a few weeks ago and I have to say that he was pretty impressive. He was getting some tough questions and handling them pretty well.”
FWIW, I thought he did poorly in both debates I saw and I don’t understand why he does as well as he does in the polls.
You left out btw:
7. Corruption/Kerik.
8. Image as an anti-freedom control freak.
9. Opposed welfare reform in 1990s.
10. Liked Clinton’s domestic policy.
11. Was a former mcgovern supporter.
12. seems to have many subordinates mired in scandals.
runs with wrong crowd in many ways.
13. messy divorces, estranged kids, 3rd wife - not a good family man example.
14. Not strong on Constitution - just ask Ron Paul :-)
15. Not strong of 1st amendment rights.
16. highest office held was mayor, no private executive epxerience. is that really training for president?
>Now what with amnesty, the SPP, the NAU, etc.........clearly, the globalists have got Bush and Rudy by the gonads and they are squeezing real hard.<
Quick, hand me that knife.
No, Plutarch, the big immigration ‘deal’ announcment was mid May... He had a 30% share then, same as he had in late Feb.
From then the death spiral began.
That puts a new light on it.
Ahhhg, you are right! McCain was doing pretty well until the very day it was announced. I remembered it was on the 17th, but in all the excitement, I forgot how long ago it was.
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