Posted on 02/08/2012 12:04:30 PM PST by red flanker
Beneath Rick Santorum's stunning three-state sweep on Tuesday stands another stubborn sign of dissatisfaction with the status quo: Republican turnout is down.
I'm talking embarrassingly, disturbingly, hey-don't-you-know-it's-an-election-year bad. It is a sign of a serious enthusiasm gap among the rank and file, and a particularly bad omen for Mitt Romney and the GOP in the general election.
Here's the tale of the tape, state by state, beginning with Tuesday night: Minnesota had just more than 47,000 people turn out for its caucuses this year -- four years ago it was nearly 63,000 -- and Romney came in first, not a distant third as he did Tuesday night. In Colorado, more than 70,000 people turned out for its caucus in 2008 -- but in 2012 it was 65,000. And Missouri -- even making a generous discount for the fact that this was an entirely symbolic contest -- had 232,000 people turn out, less than half the number who did four years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
This is exactly what I've been thinking. I voted for Newt two weeks ago, but now am trending toward Santorum because Newt is more concerned with settling a score. Ron Paul is the crazy old uncle who's dead on abou thte economy/FED, but is a whack job on everything else. And Romney is just slightly to the Right of 0BowMao and I trust him.
Bottom line .. I have my preference, and I'm not thrilled about any of them, but I'll enthusiastically vote for ANYONE not named "0bama!"
Palin is less conservative than Santorum, wont run, and wont win if she did run.
So why bother, be happy and support the most electable conservative in the race. That man is Santorum.
We are not screwed, Obama will be defeated.
oops! My posting tonight is craptastic!
That sentence SHOULD HAVE BEEN: “And Romney is just slightly to the Right of 0BowMao and I DON’T trust him.”
Here’s an interesting thought. Has anyone been following events in Texas?
Well, it looks like the primary there is going to keep getting pushed later and later. And it is, I think, a big pot of delegates.
Ironically, it may end up being the case that the LATER states become influential...especially the large, late states...such as Texas.
If Santorum does ok in the South on Super Tuesday, and if the delegate count is anywhere close, then a LOT could hinge on Texas! This could get interesting, and I’m not sure that Santorum is out of this yet.
But back to the previous point. I’m voting GOP in the fall. I don’t give a crap if 99% of free republic thinks that Romney is worse than obama. They’re just wrong. (Until the convention, though, I’m certainly going to work to defeat Romney.....I actually think that Santorum has the better chance. At least according to the polls...).
We are not screwed, Obama will be defeated.”
We have to believe that...so let’s stay on that point! And pray that it comes true!!!
You know .. and I think a lot of you need to stop worrying so much about this — are we to believe that so many people back in 2008 were SO much more excited to cast primary votes for Mittens, McCain, Huckabee, and Ron Paul than for Mittens, Santorum, Newt, and Paul?!
I know the tendency around here is to panic and be angry — and a lot of the time I’m right there with you — but I think we need to be confident that everyone whom intends to get rid of the incompetent jerk in the White House is WAY more intent upon voting than the idiots who still support the loser!
When you have “inevitable” candidates, who needs to vote?
When you have “inevitable” candidates, who needs to vote?
Anyone who believes that Mittens is worse than or equal to 0bowMao is just stupid! I DO believe that he is just slightly to the Right of “the won,” however.
My first choice was Newt because he truly did do some great things in the 90’s, against one of the slickest politicians in American history. But as I said, Newt just looks worse every day as he is more concerned with beating Romney than explaining how he’ll beat 0bama. Thus, I too am hoping that Santorum wins the nomination. At first I thought he had no chance against the 0bama Chitcago machine, but I am more confident in his ability to fight every day. I agree with you about Super Tuesday and Texas, as well.
People are not enthused about Romney for a reason. And nominating him will make beating 0bama more difficult! They are just too much alike, and Romneycare is his biggest problem!
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