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A Hard Loss for Romney (He's all but doomed now)
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ ^ | Jan 4,2008 | By John Ellis

Posted on 01/03/2008 11:39:37 PM PST by Maelstorm

A Hard Loss for Romney By John Ellis

It's one thing to lose as you are. What you lose is an election, but there's always another election and in the case of presidential primary politics, a new electorate that awaits you in the next state. It's another thing to lose as you aren't. Mitt Romney was never the 700 Club right-winger his campaign managers conceived. He was and is a man of business and a very capable one at that.

He's all but doomed now. Senator John McCain will beat him in New Hampshire, probably by a lot, and Romney's media coverage will evaporate and his candidacy will consequently die. On January 9, his managers will walk in and say that the campaign needs $10 million or $15 million to continue and that he, Romney, will have to write the check. Everyone who would contribute has maxed out. Everyone who might won't. Two-time losers don't get new money. It's a basic rule of politics.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ia2008; mitt; mittromney; romney
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To: Maelstorm

‘All but doomed’ is ridiculous and clearly an example of trying to create a fact by first creating the perception of that fact.

One second place finish does not doom a candidate with that much money and organization.


181 posted on 01/04/2008 8:22:04 AM PST by swain_forkbeard (Rationality may not be sufficient, but it is necessary.)
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To: Owen

Ooops error, McCain skipped Iowa 2000.


182 posted on 01/04/2008 8:22:51 AM PST by Owen
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To: Romneyfor President2008

Obama yes, Fred doubtful: I was a Thompson supporter buy after his abyssmal Iowa performance, he is a dead duck.

However, I think McCain will take New Hampshire. Which may lead to a new candidate/brokered convention.


183 posted on 01/04/2008 8:28:43 AM PST by DodoDreamer
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To: Mr Rogers
Please don’t attack the religion of Huckabee supporters. It is their political judgment that is pathetic, not their being evangelicals.

I would never do that. What I object to is some slimy politician like Huckabee using Christianity - - or any serious religion - - as a cheap political gimmick.

FRegards,
LH

184 posted on 01/04/2008 8:31:55 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: LadyNavyVet

He is toast with Mormon too.

I also am disappointed to see a perfectly good political forum turned into such an antagonistic religion forum.

Our message should be: “How can we understand and appreciate each other so we can work together for a common political purpose,” not “I am right and you are wrong and we are not going anywhere until you admit you are wrong.”


185 posted on 01/04/2008 8:37:51 AM PST by broncobilly
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To: EarthBound

Exactly. Thank you.


186 posted on 01/04/2008 8:41:02 AM PST by broncobilly
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To: Star Traveler; WOSG
It’s any group that denies any or all of the basic, historic and foundational doctrines of Christianity, which all the Christian churches hold in common.

Now there's a prime bit of logical fallacy. Circular argument, which assumes your premise in the answer. You basically say Christianity is defined by A, because all Christians are defined by A. You cannot prove your definition true by simply assuming it is in your answer.

"You are not a bird unless you fly, which all birds do."

Under your definition, a Roman Catholic could say that Evangelicals deny any number of "basic, historic and foundational doctrines" from the Catholic catechism, and are therefore a cult.

187 posted on 01/04/2008 8:52:30 AM PST by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: Lancey Howard
Thanks for the posting of Howie's latest column. He really is turning on Mitt, isn't he?

A brokered convention for the GOP? Sounds good if Fred doesn't go anywhere. Who might be the consensus candidate for president to emerge?

188 posted on 01/04/2008 8:52:43 AM PST by LiveFree99
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To: Cinnamon Girl
I don’t really get the rage against Romney. I’d much rather him than Huckabee. Foreign policy and all that.

Many of them invested themselves in the rage back when Fred entered and Huck was nowhere, thinking that they should advance Thompson by pulling down any others in his way. Now that the Huck campaign has benefited from their divisiveness instead of Fred, they find themselves in a quandry, since it seems most of them like Huck even less.

189 posted on 01/04/2008 9:15:03 AM PST by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: Maelstorm
Hey, didja hear Huckleberry's victory speech last night?

Here's his closing line:

"Now, I have to go back to work on my New Hampshire debate opening speech. And I worked on it until pretty late last night. But I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to say this again. I did not raise taxes in that state, Arkansas. I never told anybody to harbor illegals, not a single time; never. These allegations are false. And I need to go back to work for the American people."

(with apologies/thanks to FR poster nhoward14 who originally crafted the above brilliant parody of Huckabee's scary ability to channel Bill Clinton)

190 posted on 01/04/2008 9:19:44 AM PST by Sideshow Bob
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To: counterpunch

I amazes me that Romney and others can be so nasty to their competitors instead of being more positive about their own records and plans for our nation. Doesn’t make much sense to me.


191 posted on 01/04/2008 9:24:04 AM PST by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.)
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To: wardaddy
(Huckabee is dancing on Thompson's card)

Yep. Look to see Huck try to co-opt Fred's "Southern Strategy".

192 posted on 01/04/2008 9:24:26 AM PST by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: Maelstorm

Romney has the resources to stay in this until after
the first primaries in the South. At that time, he will
have to make a decision based on wins and losses. Don’t
write him out yet. He’s got game left.

[disclaimer: I hope he fails]


193 posted on 01/04/2008 9:26:13 AM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: broncobilly; P-Marlowe; Colofornian; colorcountry; Utah Binger; JRochelle; Elsie; FastCoyote; ...
And if the Mormons get the idea they are pushed out because of their religion, you’re not going to have their help with whomever you want to put in.

From your website link: Given current American voting trends and demographics, he would have no chance. If the Huckster is nominated, the swing states of Nevada (about 10% Mormon), Oregon (4%) and New Mexico (4%) will swing to the Democrats.

Oregon going democrat? What a surprise! NM is sewed up for the dems by Richardson's dem leglislatiure getting rid of voting machines and voter ID. Nevada? 10%? Nevada is nearly the fastest growing state, and 10% is not going to mean much.

Besides losing swing states in 2008, Republicans could also lose solidly red states if they embrace the bigot for president. What would losing Idaho (15%), Utah (1,800,000 Mormons), and Arizona (6%) (McCain's mom talking at the 5 minute mark of this video demonstrates her bigoted bias...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree)

Arizona is growing rapidly and 6% is not going to be the determining factor, Utah and Idaho don't have that many electoral votes

Defections of Mormons in Colorado (131,000), California (750,000) or Washington (250,000) might cost a few Republican congressional seats (Dave Reichert R-WA, not a Mormon, but was strongly supported financially and with boots on the ground by Mormons, won re-election to a nobody by only a few votes) or a senate seat (Sen Smith R- OR, a Mormon) along the way. Losing the most-solidly Republican block in the country, the Mormons, or even putting it in play, would turn red states blue and put the Republican Party back into permanent minority status.

IMO, your website gives mormons a lot more electoral power than they have in actuality, and the question is still, WHERE DO THEY GO... TO THE DEMS? Mormons staying home will not affect the Republicans as much as evangelicals staying home, and the turnout in Iowa is indicative of that fact.

194 posted on 01/04/2008 9:56:04 AM PST by greyfoxx39 (Mitt willingly gives up his personal freedoms to his church..why would he protect YOURS!)
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To: WOSG
Which RINO - McCain or Huckabee - are all the mItt bashers going to root for now?

Fred or Duncan, same as always.

195 posted on 01/04/2008 10:07:05 AM PST by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: JohnnyZ

“I think Huck has to be favored to win South Carolina, but Fred still has a good shot, especially as Huckabee’s gaffes hit critical mass.”

I tend to think that Huckabee is going to implode before South Carolina. His rise was media inspired but that boost has started to fade. In fact, Huck had already been trending down in national polls before Iowa. Hopefully Fred picks up - otherwise we’ll have to draft Petraeus for 2012.


196 posted on 01/04/2008 10:13:20 AM PST by GOPGuide
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To: LadyNavyVet; broncobilly
So what’s your assessment of Huckabee’s chances with Mormons if he happens to win the nomination? I think he’s toast with Catholics.

I don't think you can make assumptions.

For example, had someone asked me prior to the Iowa vote, would Romney's "charm" have more effect upon male or female voters in Iowa? (I'd probably said "female")

As it turned out, female voters showed greater discernment in Iowa than male voters. I believe as CNN reported, Romney got 24% of the female vote & 26% of the male vote. Huckabee got 40% of the female vote & only 28% of the male vote.

So for females, it was 40-24% Huckabee. Among males, it was a squeeker: 28-26% Huckabee.

If Clinton does a comeback, these numbers are important...it shows you that Huck can draw the female vote.

197 posted on 01/04/2008 10:15:05 AM PST by Colofornian
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To: cowdog77

They expect to do well in NH, but SC...that is a horse of a different color.

***********************************************************

I doubt they’ll do all that well in NH at all. NH is right next door to Mass, and you can bet there’s alot of conservatives in NH who are pointing at Mass and saying “Do you want that kind of mess here? No way!!”


198 posted on 01/04/2008 10:20:00 AM PST by djf (Q: What would America's founders be called today? A: Ron Paul supporters!!!)
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To: greyfoxx39

WHERE DO THEY GO... TO THE DEMS? Mormons staying home will not affect the Republicans as much as evangelicals staying home, and the turnout in Iowa is indicative of that fact.


To bad you see it as a choice between the one or the other.
Unfortunately, the same intolerance that can push the Mormons out can also turn Catholics off. Try those numbers out.


199 posted on 01/04/2008 10:24:14 AM PST by broncobilly
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To: broncobilly

Romney ran negative ads against Huckabee. Huckabee ran an ad wishing everybody Merry Christmas. Huckabee made a responding negative ad but then decided not to show it. I’ve been in campaigns and would give odds that it was Rollins that wanted to hit back and hard and that Huckabee to his credit decided at the last minute not to. I’m not a Huckabee supporter but I don’t think the anger against Huckabee is justified. It’s just sour grapes. The problem is this: Romney has supported homosexual scoutmasters, abortion, homosexual partnership rights and the like. He flip-flopped to try to become President (no core values). So in addition to the guys like me that won’t vote for a Mormon for President because I think Mormonism is a cult and a terrible twisting of the truth there are way more people that just don’t like Romney’s flip-flops. Throw in the fact that Romney comes across as a Ken doll, plastic and phony, and without a good sense of humor, especially compared to Huckabee, and you get a guy that is crushed in the Republican primaries. Romney, with the resume and all the money in the world, isn’t that great a candidate.

Thompson is the path away from chaos in my opinion.


200 posted on 01/04/2008 10:26:58 AM PST by Greg F (Duncan Hunter is a good man.)
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