Posted on 02/10/2008 6:25:34 AM PST by kellynla
About 30 percent of conservative activists will stay home or vote for somebody else if Sen. John McCain of Arizona is the Republican presidential nominee, Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio said yesterday.
The straw poll of activists at the 35th annual Conservative Political Action Conference showed resistance to Mr. McCain remains strong among conservatives and did not change much with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's suspension of his campaign Thursday.
Before Mr. Romney dropped out, 14 percent said they would not vote, 22 percent said they would vote for someone else and 62 percent said they would back Mr. McCain. After the Romney announcement, 10 percent said they would not vote, 19 percent said they would vote for someone else and 70 percent said they would vote for Mr. McCain.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee struck a defiant note yesterday morning to CPAC's attendees, saying he will stay in the race as the conservative alternative to Mr. McCain, regardless of how daunting the mathematics of Mr. McCain's lead in the delegate count.
"I didn't major in math. I majored in miracles, and I still believe in those, too," the ordained Baptist minister told his audience in Washington, part of a day of campaigning by him in the D.C. region for Tuesday's primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District.
"Everywhere there's still a vote to be cast, I'm still standing," he told CPAC.
Of the 6,880 activists, scholars, officeholders and college students who attended CPAC, 1,558 filled out the straw poll, most after Mr. Romney told them he would suspend his campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
70% will vote for McCain.I’m disappointed with those folks.
I’m going to vote for McCain as a protest vote against Huckabee in the Primary.
In the General election I likely won’t vote for McCain.
So lets get this straight. You don’t like McCain, so you will help him proceed to win the nomination so you can vote for someone else later. Helping the dems in the end. Wow!
Excellent news for our terrorist enemies...
The GOP divided will surly give victory to the idiot Rats who will no doubt reward enemies...
When more Americans die thank a Conservative..
pst.... there is a forest beyond those trees now...
Me too. Maybe I’ll get a bumper sticker that says, “Proud Member of the Vast Thirty Percent Conspiracy.”
Yeah, but if even 5% of regular Republican voters do not vote for McCain, his loss would be historic in size and scope. Depending on which States those votes are lost from, his loss could set a record.
At this point in time, it looks like far more than 5% will not vote for McCain. But that will change by November, I’d guess.
I don’t believe the poll, though it’s likely these results will echo all the way to election day.
Conservatives are angry and frustrated right now - the wound is fresh and still open. What do you expect them to say? It’s our way of saying to McCain “F*** Off! You p’d in our faces MORE than one too many times - now how do you like our response?”
However, when faced with the very real prospect of Obama....
He’ll raise income taxes; raise capital gains taxes; bring the troops home immediately (the equivalent of surrender); give amnesty to illegals (and maybe even the vote); appoint two judges in the Bader-Ginsberg mold - just to recite a few of his plans.
So polls be damned. There’s a certain satisfaction to them, but in the end I’ll vote to save my country. And I DESPISE McCain.
Don’t forget: Conservative participation is “extracurricular politics” to John McCain.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836106/posts
Ultimately, the presidential election is lost for conservatives one way or the other. So vote for you local, state, and congress seats instead.
What is shocking to me is that is an admission (by Rush no less) that the conservative movement is now in retreat.
It's partly Democrat crossovers who intend to vote for the Democrat nominee in November and "protest votes" like yours which GAVE us McCain. Such tactics will only give is a Marxist/Socialist like Hillary of a Socialist like Obama.
I’m going to vote on election day but it won’t be for Senator McCain.
I agree with Rush-let the Democrats own this mess. This is what’s needed for the U.S. to WAKE UP!!!
This 30% is just acting out. Having a tantrum. Throwing a hissy.
Their mind will be in the right place once they have a time-out.
Look, idiots. You have no choice but to defeat Clinton/Obama. I’m glad it helps you to act all pious, but it changes nothing. Clinton/Obama must be defeated at any cost.
You’ve forgotten your recent victories in Congress, haven’t you? A president does not rule by decree. He needs the other branches of government. You mavericks who hate mavericks will still be able to keep idiocy like open borders out of the law books if you will only shift your energies to the right places in due time.
I suspect many of the I am not voting Mccain “ posting are Dem activists stirring up discontent! Do NOt Fall For It.
Regardless of how I vote, Texas will vote for the Republican candidate in the electoral college. Therefore, I might as well show my displeasure with McCain and vote for the least objecitonable third party candidate while voting straight Republican for the rest of the races on my ballot. If McCain wins the electoral college, but loses the popular vote, it will be his problem.
No, That's STUPID. Vote in the election against Hillary/Obama.
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