They may be stacked, they may not be. I know one thing, I wondered the same thing when 100% of the Focus group in Iowa, was full of Huckabee supporters last week.
It really does not matter though. The voters are not stupid and will vote their preference, and no focus group is going to change that. I am voting for my myself.
Here is McCain SUCKING up to the GAYS. Then flip flopping just 11 minutes later. McCain is not gay, but he sure does pander to the GAYS, and the Illegal Mexicans, and TAX Hikers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeBw28tX5Nw
In McCain’s defense (and I am not a supporter of his), the first time he seemed to be talking about not criminalizing homosexual “marriage,” meaning not kicking down homos’ doors and arresting them, while the second time he seemed to mean that marriage should not be redefined to include homosexuality. That’s the disctinction that practically all conservatives seem to believe in, which liberals blur with their rhetoric.
I think you came close to the answer. When IOWANS supported Huck, our jaws dropped. Now NH independents go for Romney and there are cries of "conspiracy!".
I think it's a simple matter of geography. New Hampshire Republicans (especially undecideds) would represent an entirely different political entity than other states. For instance, suppose Luntz had chosen GEORGIA Republicans to judge the debate. He may likely have gotten an entirely different response.
And from reading all the analyses, there's a general consensus that Romney did dominate the debates. I thought he won. So why should this group have been any different in their assessments? I was sorry they didn't like Fred, but have to admit they have a point. He just wasn't inspirational (and I've donated to him).