In Orlando, GOP hopefuls hammer away at Clinton

The Orlando Sentinal ^ | October 21, 2007 | John Kennedy and Jim Stratton

[codercpc]

I was much more impressed with Fred last night. I thought he did a good job, but I think Mike Huckabee may outshine him in the publicity this week. We will wait and see.

[LS]

Early reaction on FOX was that Fred did ok, they quoted Huckabee, had McClame’s comments about Romney, and that Rudy did well.

[kabar]

In watching Fred T. I get the sense that he doesn’t truly want to be president. Can you imagine a person becoming a doctor if that person had no deep desire to be a doctor?

This has become the conventional MSM message and wisdom. Don't believe it. I thought Fred did very well last night, especially his response at the end of the debate about him being "lazy." I see him emerging as the consensus candidate in a brokered convention. I don't think any candidate is going to have the votes to be elected on the first ballot. Romney, Giuliani, Thompson, and McCain will emerge as the top primary vote winners with Huckabee capable of drawing a significant number of votes as well. Then there will be deal making at the convention to determine who is best to represent the party, which is why I don't believe that Giuliani will get the nomination.

I think this crap about Fred not having the "fire in the belly" started from the Dems and the MSM as a way to discredit Thompson because of his "late" entry into the race. In fact, in normal times, candidates didn't enter until after Labor Day. For a guy who got a late start, he is doing quite well.

[mission9]

Guys, it is time for us to send all the vanity campaigns back to whence they came. Unless you are comfortable with a Giuliani campaign. It is my assessment that a Giuliani nomination will fracture our coalition. We cannot allow this to happen. Please let us agree among ourselves upon an acceptable candidate.
Mitt Romney made a very solid, Presidential performance this week. He will win in Iowa, and New Hampshire, and place well in South Carolina. If we keep flirting with all the dark horses, Rudy will win. If I can swallow a small amount of pride and back him, I know that you can, for the sake of our UNION, you can too.

[Guenevere]

Sorry....but I’m not ready to concede Duncan Hunter.

[LS]

Yes, I heard he did well. Didn’t see it, or hear clips yet.

[LS]

My choices, in order, are Fred, Rudy, Mitt. I cannot back McCain because I think he is mentally unbalanced, and would truly fear for a "crazy moment." Of the other guys, they have no chance.

I do not think Rudy will "fracture" anything. Some won't like him and will help try to elect Hillary by sitting home; but if you go to the "wideawakes" pro-Rudy Republican board, you will see similar sentiments about any pro-life/social conservative. It is my view that the LARGE majority on each site will eventually support the nominee, and the others, well, to heck with them.

I agree Mitt will likely win IA and NH; but given Super Tuesday and FL, Rudy only has to not get creamed in these early few primaries to win. Once he is into NY, CT, PA, NJ, CA, he'll mop up.

Therefore, I think Fred's ONLY hope is to win early, perhaps SC and to come in second in at least one other. But be prepared. Fred will NOT play will in the northeast, and so far he hasn't done much in OH. If he can score one early win, and several second place finishes, he has a chance. Mitt absolutely MUST win both IA and NH or he is finished; Rudy will be the most resilient of all, because his strength is NOT in the early primaries.

[WVNan]

kabar, I know that the MSM has been saying all that, but that is not why I think it. I have been watching him very very closely because I really wanted to be able to support him. What I have seen so far is not someone who can defeat the witch in a debate where (without a doubt) the liberal media will "set up" the GOP candidate. It's going to take someone who is slick enough to catch the setup and turn it around. I don't see that in Fred. I still think Mitt is the only one who can do that.

A Zogby poll I saw today was interesting concerning the women's vote. Mitt is attractive to women in both parties. I wish Duncan Hunter had enough of the "it" factor to make the grade, but he just couldn't seem to get off the ground.

Lord knows I'm no expert in these matters, I simply go by my woman's intuition about people. I'm usually pretty good at "reading" people.

[WVNan]

So far Romney is the one I see as viable. He may be a little too slick, but people seem to like slick (bill). Polls say that women like Mitt. I like his experience as a CEO and Gov. He seems to be competent and I think he can go toe to toe with hillary.