Posted on 02/08/2012 5:12:12 AM PST by RoosterRedux
Whatever your perspective on how likely Mitt Romney was to lose the Republican nomination race prior to Tuesday evening, it should be acknowledged that he had about the worst results conceivable.
In Minnesota, a state which Mr. Romney carried easily in 2008, he has so far failed to win a single county and got just 17 percent of the vote. That put him 27 points behind Rick Santorum, and 10 points behind Ron Paul, who finished in second.
Missouri is a less important result since its beauty contest primary did not count for delegate selection and since turnout was understandably low there. But Mr. Romney lost all 114 counties in Missouri and the state as a whole by 30 points, far more than polls projected.
Then there was Colorado, a state that has reasonably similar demographics to Nevada, which Mr. Romney carried easily on Saturday. Colorado has somewhat fewer Mormon voters than Nevada, which hurts Mr. Romney but it has somewhat more wealthy ones, which favors him. The betting market Intrade gave Mr. Romney about a 97 percent chance of winning Colorado entering the evening. But he lost the state by 5 points to Mr. Santorum.
(Excerpt) Read more at fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com ...
If lightning were to strike and Santorum were to become the nominee (albeit unlikely), I can’t help but think the dems would be rather uneasy about the inevitability of Santorum bringing up cultural/social issues.
A better chance than the blue guy or the red guy. Their voters hate each other. The green guy is their second choice.
Thats the truth. And don’t leave out Britt Hume who has been on trashing Newt night after night. He has gotten the Rombot pill also.
The trouble is that the green guy hasnt much of a chance against the Jug-eared Muslim.”
You may of course be right...in which case, it doesn’t matter what happens in the GOP, because I don’t think that either Newt or Romney can win the general.
So with that gloominess, let’s reconsider. Santorum actually posted some pretty good general election numbers against obama this week. IF he starts with what McCain won, and adds Pennsulvania (I know that’s a big IF...but surely there is some residual affection from a guy’s home state...especially one where obama is very unpopular), then, we are down to, yet again, just a few big states. Remember also that the McCain states have picked up like 4 or 5 additional EVs b/c of the census...that’s sort of like throwing in Iowa to the McCain base.
And, in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, etc....I think Santorum has a fighting chance because obama is very unpopular in those places. I think any GOP nominee would have a fighting chance, including Romney and Gingrich, but the problem I see with Romney is that he is going to have to convince conservatives (won’t be easy...and will cost time and money) and Gingrich is going to have to convince women and everyone else who is (wrongly) put off by his demeanor.
Yes, the obama people are going to turn the general election into one big discussion of condoms, etc. But if Rick can successfully turn that into “obama is bashing Catholics” (remember, obama won a small majority of Catholics in 08), then, he will come out on the top of that. That conversation will be easier in light of all that has happened last week on the obama contraception mandate. If Rick does THAT, and finds a way to get a leg up in Florida, Ohio, WI, etc....then, I think he has a chance.
I just see a clearer path forward for Santorum right now, rather than Romney or Gingrich. (Make no mistake, though....unlike what appears to be the majority at FR, I will support the GOP nominee b/c obama has to go).
In any event. I am deeply concerned, but that is sort of how I see it at this time....
In reality, none of them have much of a chance. But Gingrich polls the worst vs. the JEM (jug-eared muslim). He has great ideas... sometimes... but he can be aggravatingly erratic at times, and that turns voters off.
Same here, and one other point. While much is made of Newt's debating skills, Santorum's are underrated. His taking down of Romneycare was a classic. Rick is quite capable of getting in his share of punches.
I remember the story I was still in DC at the time Brit Humes son, Sandy aka Alexander, was a drinker who has fallen off the wagon and been arrested for DWI and tried to hang himself in jail He was released and went home and ate a shotgun
That back pain pill popping weasel Joe Scarborough was more likely the guy who outed Hume and Paxton but there has been lots of speculation tossed Newts direction given FOXs stilted coverage of Newt
Did Newt Gingrich Out Brit Humes Dead Gay Son?
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At one time I was as loyal a Fox watcher as anybody. Not now, since it's all Romney, all the time. It's just too disgusting to watch.
I thought to choose two or three names among those you listed to name which disgust me the most but couldn't do it, they are equally disgusting.
Where have I been? I had no idea about that.
Mitt: “Thank you sir, may I have another?”
and it's pretty easy to come up with a dozen more
There is a market for an honest and a conseveritive media alternative
FOX News may have 'jumped the shark' over mittens
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They're just so sophisticated and we unwashed have no need to know
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I don't know, but there was some Minnesota (I think) city democrat mayor calling him extreme last night on the news. He had nice hair, too, so he might have been in cahoots with Romney.
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