Posted on 03/01/2007 9:38:22 AM PST by CNS
CNSNews.com) - In the first of at least two 2008 presidential straw polls scheduled for release this week, members of the conservative Citizens United have thrown their support behind non-candidate Newt Gingrich.
The unscientific poll of more than 2,500 of the group's members found that 31 percent would vote for the former House Speaker if the 2008 Republican presidential nomination were held today. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani ranked second with 25 percent of the vote.
As Cybercast News Service previously reported, Gingrich has been critical of politicians announcing their candidacy nearly two years before the general election. He has said he will announce his intentions in September, less than 6 months before the first presidential primaries.
"The conservative movement is thirsty for a leader with Ronald Reagan's vision, passion and unique ability to convey what is great about America," CU President David Bossie said in a release announcing the results. "We want someone who inspires us."
Bossie said the poll "suggests that if he were to enter the presidential race, Newt Gingrich could be the heir to President Reagan whom conservatives are looking for."
The straw poll results come while a similar poll is being conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the annual gathering of conservative activists taking place in Washington, D.C. Results from that poll will be released Saturday evening.
Gingrich and Giuliani dominated the field of 13 candidates, together gathering more than half of all support. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in third place with 10 percent of the votes. Arizona Sen. John McCain came in fourth with 8 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
If I thought that Newt would survive the MSM onslaught he'd suffer if he was the nominee, I'd be behind him. But I don't think he can politically survive the "Gingrich who stole Christmas" stories that will become a daily fixture of the MSM until Election Day.
It's not amazing. It's a year before the first primaries. We have a long way to go, contrary to the conventional wisdom among some people here.
Agreed, it is still a long ways before the first primary. Keep in mind at this time in 1991 Slick Willie was at 2%.
Yeah, and some conservatives liked Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot, too. So what?
My sister-in-law loves the story of his divorce.
It went from his wife being in the hospital, to her being in ICU to being on the way into surgery (and sometimes, "as she was being rushed into surgery").
The debate's over. There's nobody else out there that can win on the Republican side. I'm tellin you Giuliani is the only hope for the Republicans to keep the White House
bump
I like Newt. I think he'd be a great president.
But like Tom DeMolette he has not lived up to the JC Pubbie standard. Dems can run gay call boys out of their house, have underaged sex with pages and it is fine.
But a Pubby is ruined for life for far less.
Thank you lamestream media!
Some don't.
Way to go filbert ... let the liberal media dictate your convictions, or lack thereof.
Polling is the latest means to herd the sheeple. It is so easy to create a perspective by polling a 'designer' or front loaded demography.
Clinton was at 2% in '91?
If Gingrich did get the nomination, Pubbies could no longer bring up Hillary's baggage.
And, if the Dems did drop Hillary in favor of Obama, a Gingrich nomination would hand the White House to Obama.
Newt is not electible. Too many remember that he was forced to resign the speakership. Too many remember that he basically walked out on his House seat. Too many remember too much, negative, about Newt.
If Newt is the best the GOP can offer, they are in deep, deep trouble.
I personally think it's goofy to put stock into who has announced and who hasn't so early in the "season". The elections are still so far away, I think we'll see several crash and burn before the primaries.
I'd very happily and in good conscience support Newt - I couldn't with any of the other candidates who have announced.
ditto
And if Rudy wins, the GOP still loses. Basically this party is f'd if we can't find someone better than RINO RUDY
In case of emergency, break glass.
I know you keep making that argument, but in so many ways this is NOT 1992.
This is the first Presidential year since 1952 that there is not either an incumbent or sitting VP in the race.
Add to that the factor of the Internet (and the joy of YouTube), the front loaded primaries, 24-hour news...we're in a post 9/11 environment.
I'm not saying things couldn't change. They certainly could overnight.
At the same time, I just don't think you can compare this to any other year.
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