For Super Tuesday, McCain's edge is substantial

Christian Science Monitor ^ | Feb. 5, 2008 | Linda Feldmann

[FocusNexus]

The latest Realclearpolitics.com average of national polls shows Senator McCain towering over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by 19 points -- 43 percent to 24 percent, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 18 percent and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas at 6.

Still, given the rules of delegate allocation, Mr. Romney could rack up a decent number of delegates for the Republican convention in September, especially in states that award delegates by congressional district, such as California. Romney could also do well in some of the smaller states, most of which are holding caucuses, a format that has benefited Romney's highly organized campaign. And both Missouri, a winner-take-all state, and Tennessee are within reach for Romney.

The Rev. Richard Land, an influential evangelical leader who heads the public policy department of the Southern Baptist Convention, has been all over the media in the past week, encouraging conservatives -- including the very anti-McCain talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh -- to calm down and "listen to the voters."

Evangelical leader Gary Bauer notes that there have been conversations between the McCain campaign and various conservative leaders in the past couple of weeks, and that McCain has stepped up his signals to conservative voters, such as his promises to veto any Democratic tax increases.

[FocusNexus]

Polling Averages Put McCain, Clinton Ahead in Feb. 5 States

In surveys leading up to Super Tuesday’s nomination battles in 24 states, the Republican race is showing a pretty strong trend toward Arizona Sen. John McCain while Hillary Clinton leads in a mixed bag in the Democratic contests. RealClearPolitics has polling averages in 11 of the 21 states holding Republican nomination contests, McCain is ahead in all but one state: Massachusetts, the state where rival Mitt Romney once held the governor’s seat. Romney is leading in that polling average by 22. 2 percentage points.

McCain's widest margin is in New York, where he leads Romney by 31 percentage points.

Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee does not hold the lead in any of the polling averages, but he edges out Romney for second place in Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama.

[Tarpon]

Patriots a sure thing winner, Brady best quarterback in the history of the world, then the game began ....

[Jeff Head]

I believe that Mitt can do far better than what the polls are projecting. Reference Maine on Saturday.

The only polls that count are the actual votes...and those will tell the tale tomorrow.

How I came to the difficult decision to support Mitt Romney

[DoughtyOne]

Look, McCain is backing off on the importance of a California win. If that doesn’t tell you something...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I’ll vote Mitt tomorrow here in Missouri because Fred’s not on the ballot.

[Parley Baer]

We shall see. We have 4 California votes for Mitt in this household.

[JaneNC]

No kidding. People are waking up to McAmnesty...more and more and more.

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Here is a handy dandy chart comparing all of the candidates, remember this when you vote




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Fresh national poll numbers from Rasmussen:

In the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination, it’s John McCain at 30%, Mitt Romney at 30%, and Mike Huckabee at 21%. Ron Paul is supported by 5% of Likely Republican Primary Voters…Romney leads by sixteen percentage points among conservatives while McCain has a two-to-one advantage among moderate Primary Voters…

…

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Phony preachers, cafeteria conservatives. No thanks.

Maybe they need to have a Jim Baker type television show.

[Jeff Head]

It is interesting...like he is conceding Mitt’s surge there and trying to solidify those states where it is a true winner take all. I believe that given time, Mitt can overtake him.

[keepitreal]

MSM doesn’t get this. National polling preference is meaningless. This is a state by state, often district by district race. This will be decided in the trenches.

[Jeff Head]

I believe Missouri is a key battle ground and one of the winner take alls that Mitt has a chance to win.

[Earthdweller]

No commie mandates for Healthcare or for anything else from Mitt or Hillary.

Just say no to flip the surge Mitt and say yes to Freedom for all!

Romney wants to replace “don’t ask don’t tell” by ending all restrictions on homosexuality in our armed forces.

Insurance in Massachusetts is among the most expensive in the nation because of multiple mandates, such as premium price controls and rules dictating that coverage be offered to all comers regardless of health...WSJ 2/2/2008

Romney claims to be a gun rights backer but cannot be a "true Second Amendment" supporter because he supports an assault weapons ban.

“My goal is to elect conservatives. Free Republic’s goal is to elect conservatives. Romney is NO conservative.”
295 posted on 01/31/2008 3:37:56 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Our God-given unalienable rights are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)

[ari-freedom]

intrade on mcCain winning the nomination: 90.5. Mitt: 8.0

[keepitreal]

“Patriots a sure thing winner, Brady best quarterback in the history of the world, then the game began ....”

And then it was the last minute that mattered!

[Jeff Head]

Great! Hope you in CA can pull it off. It is much more than a nation wide, or even state wide race now...it’s a down in the trenches precinct by precinct battle IMHO.

[ari-freedom]

What happens in Boston must stay in Boston

[DoughtyOne]

I believe there is a real groundswell for Mitt out there.

He’s not my guy, but I do think he has given folks something to cling on to, if they want to claim he is a conservative and vote for him. I just don’t think there’s any way of knowing for sure if that is true or not.

Time will tell. I think McCain is in trouble. I cannot believe his temprament and history would gain him the nomination.

[freeangel]

I for one, are sure hoping the polls are wrong—as usual.

[FreeAtlanta]

I will vote for Mitt in Georgia!

I may have just watched my last Fox News cast. They appear to be shilling for that "Moderate" McInsane.