I think the GOP leaders think they can block any legislative coups Obama has in mind if he's re-elected. What they're overlooking is his plan to govern dictatorially through bureaucratic "czars," liberal judge appointments and executive orders. We desperately need Newt!
Romney has a lot of issues that make him vulnerable right now and in the general election.
Newt however also has a lot of issues that make him equally if not more vulnerable in the general election. Again no one has laid out for me how Newt wins the midwest swing states such as OH, PA, WI, MI, CO, Iowa. Despite all the unity around Newt at this site and in some southern states, he just isn’t very popular in those swing states that we need to beat Obama. The electoral map is critical.
Neither guy is ideal to run in the fall.
Bernard, that’s a theory that has been consistently espoused by many of these so-called elites, but it’s been debunked over and over and over again. Jonah Goldberg said the elites are MORE afraid that Newt will defeat Obama than that he will lose. They are divided on whether he can win or not.
Likewise, the theory you’re saying makes no sense. They’re assuming Newt will somehow maximize liberal turnout, and get more no votes on House and Senate Republicans. Makes no sense, since Obama is a hardcore extremist socialist who has delivered ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING his base wanted. The liberal base is going to turn out in massive numbers. If we nominate a squishy moderate, in theory we could attract more moderate voters, who will only vote for conservative House and Senate candidates maybe HALF the time. OTOH, if we maximize conservatice turnout with a conservative candidate, they are guaranteed to pull the lever for Republicans down ticket.
If the elites you talk to think that conservatives are going to turn out “no matter what,” they’re going to be very surprised in November. We are not going to have our votes taken for granted. And we won’t for someone like Romney who has done more to advance the causes of liberalism and socialism in government than any Republican in history and is an unethical, unprincipled liar to boot.