Posted on 04/27/2006 3:17:35 PM PDT by VU4G10
A new poll from Rasmussen Reports has some bad news for Republicans—well, almost all Republicans. If you’re Rep. Tom Tancredo (R.-Colo.), the news couldn’t be better.
While a generic Republican candidate trails a generic Democrat by 12 percentage points, according to the poll, a third-party candidate who runs on a get-tough-on-immigration platform not only beats the Republican, but also actually runs even with the Democrat. Here’s an excerpt:
The survey also asked respondents how they would vote if "a third party candidate ran in 2008 and promised to build a barrier along the Mexican border and make enforcement of immigration law his top priority."
With that option, support fell sharply for both major parties. The Democrats still come out on top with support from 31% of Americans. The third party candidate moved into a virtual tie at 30% while the GOP fell to 21%.
If anyone fits Rasmussen’s description it’s Tancredo, who has made a very public name for himself as the anti-illegal-immigration crusader in Congress. And having spent time in both Iowa and New Hampshire beginning last year, he’s posited himself to be the candidate who could play spoiler.
Coming back to reality for just one moment, I should note the rest of the Rasmussen commentary about the poll numbers:
This result probably reflects unhappiness with both parties on the immigration issue rather than a true opportunity for a third party. Historically, issues that drive third party candidates get co-opted by one of the major parties as they demonstrate popular appeal. Most Americans favor a barrier along the border and enforcement of existing law prior to other reforms.
With the immigration issue candidate as an option, 36% of conservative voters opt for the Republican candidate while 35% take the third party option. Among political moderates, 34% pick the Democrat while 32% prefer the third party option.
I’d recommend reading the full Rasmussen summary as well as my post last night about the new Diageo/Hotline poll on Democrats.
A third party candidacy bt Tancredo would cost the Republicans far more votes than a third party by McCain.
Sounds like you and I are going to be on some sort of government hit list shortly my friend. I'm with ya.
It is not that Illegal aliens are our most pressing problem. It is that nothing being done about it, is being done correctly!!!
Iraq is being handled, and then of course it is, "over There". About all that can be done is being done. So except for a few left-wing nuts it is a non-issue.
The economy is going robustly, and subtle brakes are being applied. The MSM will eventually have to acknowledge it, just in time for the elections.
That leaves next in line, Illegal aliens and immigration. Actually two seperate issues.
Immigration is being handled, not well, but that does not effect us unless we are trying to get a family member entered legally.
Illegal aliens are something that effects us all.
Up close.
Personal.
All the pros and cons have been hashed and rehashed here. Nothing new will be added by all the words typed here today.
To me, It seems it is long past time to secure our borders. Then it will be time to discuss the rest.
Tom has a 98% ACU lifetime rating and a 100% rating for last year. Obviously he is doing well on a broad range of conservative issues. Perhaps that's why the Bush fans dislike him so much.
So did this:
Has immigration really become the most important thing in the world to everyone, or is this temporary insanity??
How in the hell is this possibly a good thing?
Shiites will do what Sistani tells them. Iraq ain't America.
Your posts make less and less sense.
But I'm willing to learn, if you will try to make your meaning clear.
Tom Tancredo grew up in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Political Science.
In 1976, while teaching civics at Drake Junior High School, Tom was elected to the state legislature, and re-elected in 1978 and 1980. He was a leader in the conservative freshman class, which won legislative victories in abolishing the state's sales tax on food and utilities, in abolishing the state's inheritance tax, and in abolishing the auto safety inspection sticker tax.
In 1981, Tom resigned his seat in the legislature to accept an appointment in the Reagan administration. He served as the Secretary of Education's Regional Representative and was re-appointed by President Bush. Tom succeeded in downsizing the regional office from 220 employees to approximately 60, resulting in a 75 percent saving in the regional office budget. This success was in spite of strong opposition from the national unions and their defenders in Congress.
In May 1993, Tom accepted the presidency of the Independence Institute, a conservative, public policy research organization in Golden, Colorado. During his tenure, the Institute experienced dramatic growth in both revenues and visibility. The Institute's weekly television program - Independent
Thinking - is well regarded, and Tom was a regular panelist on the TV program Colorado Inside Out. Tom has been a leading spokesman for initiatives ranging from term limits, to school choice and parents' rights.
In August 1998, Tom won the Republican Primary in a five person race for the Sixth Congressional District of Colorado, which includes parts of Jefferson and Arapahoe Counties. Tom was elected to Congress in November 1998, and was appointed to the Education and the Workforce Committee, the Committee on Resources, and the Committee on International Relations.
Tom and his wife Jackie have been married for 21 years, and they have raised two children and have one grandchild, Thomas, whom they call "the light of our lives."
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