Posted on 01/27/2008 10:43:45 PM PST by gpapa
WASHINGTON -- You would never realize how big the stakes are in Tuesday's winner-take-all Florida Republican primary if you judged only the behavior of the leading presidential candidates these last few days.
Their final pre-primary debate was bland to the point of apathy. Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee and even iconoclastic Ron Paul were on their best behavior -- as if oblivious to what the 57 delegates available in Florida could mean to anyone who pulls out a plurality victory.
A win could establish either McCain or Romney as the man to beat in the massive round of Feb. 5 primaries. It could launch Giuliani into a late rush for the nomination, wiping out his weak showing in the earlier contests. And an upset by Huckabee would force an upper revision in his prospects, which have been diminished since he surprised the field in Iowa.
But their televised confrontation in Boca Raton on Thursday was haunted by the spirit of the departed Fred Thompson. It was as if the actor and former senator had left a blanket of boredom behind when he exited the race after finishing third behind McCain and Huckabee in South Carolina.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
I can’t believe how many FReepers parroted the Drive-By Media line about Fred, the only real conservative in the race. “He’s lazy!” “No fire in the belly!” “Started too late!” The Drive-Bys pushed that meme endlessly, while almost completely ignoring Thompson’s fine debate performances and campaign events. They were miffed, of course, at Fred’s attitude towards them. Since the beginning, the Drive-Bys have been trying to choose our candidate for us — one that Hillary! can beat — which is why they’re pushing hard for McCain. They know he’s Bob Dole ‘08.
Me too. I don’t know what SC voters were thinking.
True. HA’s traffic has plummeted since Fred dropped out and discussions have become very weird. Not sure about FR traffic, but I think the fundraiser went from fairly quick to very slow after Fred.
do they get paid on the number of articles written or the content.
This one was not worth the ink. And the third one I’ve read this evening, but who’s counting ...
the minute he said he was running I was in favor of Thompson. I am very disappointed, but not much I can do if he doesn’t want to run. The next viable cadidate for me is Mitt Romney. I’d rather have a mormon in the white house than a muslim.
McCain can just go away I cannot stand him.
And they’ll get what they deserve.
Fred ran a lousy campaign, and surely would have run a similar campaign in the general election.
He would have made the best president, but the trouble is he had to get himself elected first, and he didn’t have much interest in working at that.
The MSM charge stuck because it rang true.
Suddenly, the liberal candidates have become conservatives and we are being instructed that their liberal records, policies, and statements were simply misunderstood. Those of us who provide facts to the contrary are spreading “filth”.
The premiere conservative website in the world has not been a friendly place for conservatives in recent days. I fervently pray for a shift the direction we are currently headed, because the only place I'm seeing much of real conservative principles is in our rear view mirror.
Romney was on Human Events magazine TOP 10 RINOS list 2 years ago and now hes a conservative.
In an exit poll in South Carolina, which asked who was the conservative in the race, 61% said Fred, 45% said Mitt, 43% said Huckabee; and McCain & Rudy trailed at I think 23-27% & 14%. If you look at the details of the exit poll in SC it shows a significantly different result as to where conservative votes actually went.
I can only conclude, as a Fred supporter, he did not get in early enough to establish a ground game in Iowa and South Carolina. He probably never should have skipped the Iowa debates or caucuses. I think he would have been better off dusting off his old red truck and barnstorm across Iowa for a month. That at least would create some buzz in his campaign, and may have stopped the Huckabee boomlet early on.
Fred won the debate for best conservative but lost the debate for best presidential candidate.
I figured Fred would dominate, but he didn’t.
I think you’re right about the late start - the other horses were off and running before he got on the track.
None of the current Republicans in the hunt for the nomination
come close to exciting the conservative base of the party.
Is this the freaking best we can come up with?
These guys would not even place in a dog show.
I’ll be sure and always check with you from now on to find out what REAL conservatives should be thinking and doing.
David Broder? I thought he died. Well, I guess be both thinks and looks like a corpse.
I agree. There is no one running on the republican side that moves me in the least . If this is the best we can do we are in serious trouble .Obama or Klinton will be president and America is on the decline for sure .
Exactly.
Romney won that debate hands down.
yup AND HE IS OUR WINNER
HANDS DOWN!
YER RIGHT r/m
now lets get fred on board with MITT
and sail headlong into the WHITEHOUSE come nov.
r ya with me?
yup and look at the list who DONT endorse him
most importantly...
RUSH AND ANNIE AND LAURA.....THEY’RE A BACKIN MITT
if those 3 are behind u...havent the alarm bells gone off?
ie BACK MITT.....ALL THE SMART HORSES DO!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.