I’m beginning to believe Fred Thompson was are only hope to win in November for the Republicans. I think this is a tough election cycle for the Republicans. I think McCain could win ... but worry about him flying off the handle and how he will handle the media pressure once they turn on him.
Gilmore = Consevative, never would have won ... no name recognition
Hunter = Same story as Gilmore (and I like Hunter)
Tancredo = Consevative; My first choice (but I would admit he would have been crucified in the media and would have lost badly)
Brownback = Conservative; not enough national appeal
Thompson = Solid Conservative; more name recognition than the other conservative ... and no major worts. Probably our best chance of winning. He a good grasp of the issues and a decent debater (when he had a pulse)
Romney = Liberal Record/Conservative Rhetoric. Good speaker but people didn’t trust him (flip flops, etc.). Didn’t have much strength in the red states. Could have been a disaster in November. Media and Hillary campaign would have hammered him on flip flops on various social and economic issues
Huckabee = Moderate; not much appeal outside a few states. I think he could handle himself in the debates and campaign speeches (but not enough support). Concern of his economic stances would hurt him in the western red states.
McCain = Moderate; best thing he has to emphasize is being a fiscal hawk against Hillary or Obama (against earmarks, for cutting spending, etc.). Afraid he will be a horrible debater and/or implode.
Rudy = Liberal/Moderate; had name recognition but alot of baggage
Paul = He war stance is nuts. Besides that he is a conservative on most issues. He lose every state in a general election.
Good list ... mainly spot on but ...
Thompson = ran un-energetic not-well-organized campaign that left him 3rd in IA and SC. Could he beat an Obama who gets 10,000 people at events and has huge volunteer operation?
I dont see how a bad campaign = electable candidate.
Romney = conservatives are so wrong about the flipflop attacks from hillary. Do you realize how absurd it is for hillary to run ads basically telling people “Hey, Romney is not really as conservative as he told those primary voters” - it would backfire totally.
The only people bent out of shape over the fact that Romney changed on a few positions are the litmus test extremists looking for perfection, and anti-mormons looking for an excuse. Romney’s record has been solid fiscal conservative, his campaign platform was a Reagan one. He would have been a solidly conservative President.
We missed a chance to elect a fine President in him.
The most electable candidate IMHO was Romney or McCain.
Romney because he is attractive articulate and has superb executive leaderhsip resume, McCain because he is well-known has a moderate / maverick image, has experience and has war hero background.
So we got the safer, stodgier and more RINO of the two.