Posted on 01/29/2008 6:20:11 PM PST by NormsRevenge
MIAMI - Sen. John McCain won a breakthrough triumph in the Florida Republican primary Tuesday night, edging past former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and seizing precious campaign momentum for next week's string of contests across 21 states.
"It shows one thing: I'm the conservative leader who can unite the party," the Arizona senator said in a brief interview with The Associated Press. "It's a very significant boost, but I think we've got a tough week ahead and a lot of states to come."
The victory was worth 57 national convention delegates for McCain, a winner-take-all's haul and the largest single prize to date in the race.
Rudy Giuliani was in third place, his best showing of the campaign but possibly not good enough to warrant continuing.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee trailed but told supporters he would forge on.
Here in FL, it was the state party the rallied around McCain in the closing days to win it. Romney was moving into the lead until the party decided to put the party muscle behind McCain. They used the entire existing network including past email lists, call lists, etc to attack Romney and promote McCain as the ‘only one who can win in November’.
Sadly, that may be true, however, Rush is 100% right. McCain would be a complete disaster is a President. Of course, he’ll never be President, as he’ll lose by 8 points to whoever wins the Democratic nomination.
My local cable news station just reported that Associated Press confirmed Guilliani drop out and endorse McCain.
What a disappointment from Rudy.
Looks like the old guard of the republican party is moving to McCain.
I guess they figure it’s his turn, like it was Bob Dole’s turn in 1996.
Our ticket to oblivion.
Last I looked I didn’t get paid millions to be relevant, so that is really not the issue is it?
Enough, apparently. Plus, Fla is a big military state. I wonder how much that helped.
What’s the matter with you Republicans in Florida? It’s nice to see the GOP is absolutely clueless in that state. Thank you for giving us McCain as our nominee and a butt kicking in November by the Dems. Nice going Sunshine State. You just made our day.
Which is why the Clinton machine has been elevating McCain and doing all they could to marginalize Romney and get the media’s attention on BJC.
As I’ve said several times, I’m no Romney fan. But he is Mrs. BJC’s worst nightmare.
The one thing I just talked to my dad about, who by the way hates McCain, is JUDGES, JUDGES, JUDGES!!!!!!
These are often times, lifetime appointments. Obama and Hillary will give us a Ruth Buzzy Ginsberg on every bench in the nation. They, in turn, will make partial birth abortion and gay marriage a constitutional right and slash and burn the 2nd amendment and make freedom for religious (Christian that is) assembly a crime.
While I am not under any allusion that MCain will give us strong conservatives, I don’t think he will give us socialist liberals like Hillary or Obama.
The other issue to remember is the WOT. John McCain is leap years better than Obama on that issue. I would even venture to say the McCain is to the right of Bush on the issue of Iran. He's ready to bomb then tomorrow. If Hill or Obama win, the first thing they will do is sign over this country to the UN. I don’t see McCain doing that.
I understand everyones frustration with McCain. (I am still hoping for Romney.) While he is a disappointment on many issues he is NOT Hillary OR Obama.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I can’t stand McCain on MANY levels, but to say that you could support Obama???
May cooler heads prevail in the general...
Thanks for putting this in perspective. It’s very early; lots of time to go.
“What it shows is that Rush Limbaugh has absolutely no influence in Republican politics.”
I think Rush has a lot of influence, but it’s not something that can be pulled out just before an election to swing the vote. He’s influenced millions over the years, and his influence is in the form of conversions to more conservative thinking. He’s help convince many to become conservatives and Republicans. But that happens fairly slowly.
The 1994 freshman Republican class in the House did give him an award as the “Majority Maker”. And talk radio no doubt influenced many to express their opinions during the amnesty debate. (Unfortunately, elect McCain and there won’t enough phone calls in the world to defeat amnesty again. They pols will have learned that not enough will ever make immigration a vote deciding issue. They will ignore any future protest.)
McCain is one of 51 Senators who voted against the Cornyn amendment , which would have established a permanent bar for gang members, terrorists, and other criminals looking to snag a shamnesty visa:
Never forget McCain not only pushed the amnesty bill, he refused to allow exclusions for the worst of the lot. And he unloaded his infamous temper on his mild- mannered senate colleague for having the audacity to introduce this amendment.
“Romney was favored by voters opposed to abortion and to easing the path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.”
Talk about a joke.. Romney being favored by voters opposed to abortion over Pro-Life John McCain? Barf alert!
“We need a nation wide write in vote.”
Write in votes do not count Presidential elections. You need to vote for a slate of electors in each state that are pledged to vote for your candidate in the electoral college.
I’m with you. I have a nice couch. I can sit it it.
NUTS
And I guess taking more “poor” people completely off the tax rolls and expanding entitlements (SCHIP, Medicare drugs, privatizing SS), not to mention Harriet Miers and the 20+ million illegal aliens he wanted to grant amnesty to doesn’t ring a bell with you, either.
They had a good candidate in Hunter and no one listened. Instead they put all their efforts in drafting Fred Thompson who stumbled out of the gate and collapsed when it mattered most. Now we have a moderate (McCain), a phony (Romney) and a Christian fascist (Huckabee).
These are the days I’m glad I’m not a Republican. (And no, I’m not some DUmmie troll. I’m a registered independent who stands for smaller government, a tougher Southern border, a unified culture, limits on judicial activism, and most every other conservative principle, unlike this GOP.)
"We have to ensure a Democrat - uh - Republican wins in November."
God help us all.
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