Posted on 02/09/2008 11:27:22 AM PST by El Gato
AUSTIN — Some Texas Republican leaders quickly rallied behind John McCain on Thursday, while others warned that the party's likely presidential nominee must be prepared to work tirelessly to woo the state's frustrated conservatives.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas endorsed his Senate colleague from Arizona, saying in a statement that "it is time for the Republican Party to come together and stand behind" McCain.
Valoree Swanson of Spring, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, disagreed. "I think he's going to have a hard time," she said.
A promise of a conservative running mate could help, Swanson said, but she added that it will be difficult for McCain to overcome "such a long history of being with the Democrats on the issues."
Some expressed the hope that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee would remain in the race to challenge McCain. The Texas primary is March 4.
Royal Masset, a GOP strategist, said he thinks Texas' conservative voters will go with McCain, even if their beliefs are more allied with Huckabee.
Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel of the Liberty Legal Institute, a conservative group, said most Texas conservatives would back McCain if faced with the alternative of having Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in the White House. But they would do so grudgingly.
"I think you'd have a decent percentage of the base that is completely demoralized," he said. "I think a decent percentage of people might not vote."
Shackelford cited a litany of issues in which conservatives feel betrayed by McCain — stem cell research, the federal marriage amendment, campaign finance. "He's definitely not the conservatives' choice," Shackelford said.
janet.elliott@chron.com, lsandberg@express-news.net
This member of base certainly is completely demoralized. However, I will, at mimimun still turn out to vote in the other races, from Congress to local judges.
Yes, a CONSERVATIVE running-mate, who could step into the next cycle. How about Jon Kyl or Duncan Hunter or someone like that?
Ditto here.
I will not reward the GOP and McAmnesty for his bad behavior and non-conservative stance on the issues by voting for him.
I will, however, make sure that every CONSERVATIVE GOP candidate on my ballot gets my vote.
I urge every serious and committed conservative to do the same and resist the “Lessor of Two Evils Game” the Liberals and Moderates in the GOP would have you play.
Remember, If you reward bad behavior, all you will get is more bad behavior.
Texan’s do know when someone is “all Hat and No cattle”.
As for being demoralized, I’m more disappointed. I’ll vote for someone for president, it just won’t be any of the three potential democrats (McCain/Obama/Hillary). I’m only voting for candidates who are conservative, and reflect my values. I refuse to stay home, but I refuse to be forced to vote for bad worse worst. The good news is surely we’ve scraped the bottom of the barrel this election and there is only one direction to go from here...up?
My vote in TX for this primary will still go to Romney.
You can still vote for Romney. He has only suspended his campaign.
We are definitely on the same page. And I am urging serious and committed conservatives in my area to do the same.
Remember, If you reward bad behavior, all you will get is more bad behavior.
Indeed. We must deny McAmnesty his prize and get down to the business of the Republican reformation now. It's time we put an end to the liberal infiltration that has brought our party to this sad state of affairs that we have seen for years.
AMEN! Same here. Everybody keeps talking about running mate, which doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
MM (in TX)
You can still vote for Romney. He has only suspended his campaign.
Romney is still on the ballot in TX.
I’m supposed to listen to the guys that were for a fence before they were against it? I don’t think so.
If he is still in, mine will go to Huckabee. If not, I’m voting for Hunter. NO MCCAIN!
Mine too. I will be voting for Romney in the Texas primary. I suggest most Texans do the same.
I’ll vote for McCain in the general but I want him to have to run against Obama not hillary.
McCain should have problems with Republicans everywhere. Of all the Democrats he wins the prize for having worked the hardest to bring down the Republican Party and its conservative efforts. Texas Republicans shouldn’t tolerate him.
I’m going to vote for Hillary in the primary, even if Huckabee is still in it. She’s the lessor of the two Democrat evils in my opinion, plus the easier of the two to beat. If Obama gets the nomination, I’ll be forced to vote for McCain. If Hillary gets the nomination, I may or may not vote (for the first time in my life).
That is a possibility that should be taken seriously by more voters. The dude is old now, and White House years age a person faster than regular years. He almost certainly has high blood pressure, and strikes me as less than the picture of health. I doubt we will see pictures of McCain windsurfing like Jean Francois Kerry. His choice of VP is probably more important than it would be with a younger and more robust candidate.
So if he picks a RINO, that choice might kill his chances of being elected.
That is not bad advice. The last thing any Republican would want to do is stand in such a way as their back is turned on him.
I have been wondering about this. If I vote for Romney, what happens to his delegates? What is the difference between "withdrawing" from the campaign, as Fred Thompson did, and "suspending" his campaign, as Romney did? Can Romney still accumulate delegates if he's still on the ballot?
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