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.
Save and paste this post every time they start the one issue cr**. You have defined the problem well.
Bingo. Well stated. Unfortunately, some folks here are clueless.
Thanks for a good post.
Possibly. If so, it will show in the primaries and action will occur. 'Til then, I don't see it.
Sure. Voted that way with Pat Buchanan once, before he went psycho. Nothing wrong with supporting Tancredo now. I'm looking at him too, just not jumping anywhere.
I don't live in San Jose...but I do know the way.
I do live in a town in Texas where we white trash folks are the minority.
I do agree that it's a problem, has been for years and needs to be addressed.
I just don't understand the sudden panic and frantic search for someone to blame or vote for or .....
Oh goody! Now I can go to DC and slash tires of as many Libs as I want. Right? Maybe give free flying lessons to terrorists who are here illegally.
Hey, my son has a passel of land down in that area too.
(not big enough to be called a ranch in Texas)
He keeps a gun for mountain lion but it's way too deserted for Mexicans to be a problem.
My campaign will be based on a pledge to bring more a more lighthearted spirit to the White House, fueled on a copious but responsible increase in the available booze.
Darned good post, battletank. What, they couldn't distract you and get you to look at the shiny thing? You know, the WOT? Funny, ILLEGAL immigration even has connections to THAT big ol' one issue. (Oh, but no terrorist would come through an open border, now would he? HAH)
Hold your horses Cobra!
I do not condone people who break the law.
Did I miss something here?
Your right, it is not a ranch, I have a place, It's less than 10,000 acres. Loaded with cougars and a few black bear.
Illegal immigration is SO unimportant you feel the burning need to jump on every such thread poo-pooing anyone with an opinion different than your's.
As a fellow Texan, I'm surprised that you are poo-pooing the immigration issue. I want our President and Congress to do their duty and secure our borders, period. This is one of the hugest threats to our country and we cannot continue to allow millions of people to ignore existing laws and enter our country from a safety standpoint alone. Nevermind that illegals are bankrupting our healthcare and educational systems and using up all of our social services designed to help our citizens. It sickens me that politicians won't drop everything and immediately do everything possible to secure our borders now. Details allowing work visas can be worked out later.
And yes, that's one of the highest things on my wish list, right along with getting our elected officials to listen to their constituents so that we'll want to go to the polls and make sure the dems don't win the majority in the next election. I'm also wanting the GOP to make the tax cuts permanent, revamp the tax code, win the war on terror (and that includes terrorists democrats and the MSM), reform social security and allow oil companies to drill off shore and in ANWR, etc.
It would be nice if many would grow a spine and quit acting like oil companies are the bad guys. Someone in Washington needs to bone up and point out that Exxon-Mobile only makes 9 cents a gallon profit, while taking all the risks, while the blood sucking government makes over 18 cents a gallon in Federal Taxes, not counting State taxes!
I swear, I've worked myself up into a huge mad and need to go have a drink and calm down, but I hope you'll understand where I'm coming from and will never again imply that those of us who are alarmed about illegal immigration and list it as our number one issue are temporarily insane. Afterall, Congress seems to always be the problem and ever since they've brought up immigration reform (and done nothing about it but posture), tens of thousands MORE illegals are crossing our borders in droves.
Look who is relying on CBS for their news.
Aren't the White House talking points working for you anymore?
Tom Tancredo's Voting Record
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votingrecord.xpd?people=400394
Aren't different opinions welcome on these immigration threads? Or are they just butt-pattin' sessions between the good ole boys?
I've been p*ssed about the problem for years, but speaking for others perhaps there was a collective epiphany when Americans turned on their tvs a few weeks back to see tens of thousands of latinos, a good number of them illegal, in the streets having a purple-rage fit & waving foreign flags.
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