Posted on 03/01/2008 3:04:41 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
John McCain could officially wrap up the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday, and he'll celebrate in Atlanta on Thursday.
As the GOP establishment in Georgia begins to align behind the presumptive nominee, trouble still lingers among some conservative voters who doubt McCain's bona fides.
Those skeptical voters ultimately could determine McCain's fate. Do they stay home? Do they vote Democrat instead?
Tom Nesbitt is not sure what he's going to do. A retired postal worker from Turner County, the 66-year-old Republican voter said he's "disgusted" with his party in general and McCain in particular.
"I have not yet decided whether I will, at the last moment, vote for McCain, sit this one out or, out of complete disgust for the Republican Party's lack of consideration, vote for another candidate," Nesbitt said.
McCain, an Arizona senator, is expected to pass the delegate threshold to secure the nomination after Tuesday's primaries in Ohio and Texas. Although former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee remains in the race, McCain has a lock on the top slot on the ticket.
Huckabee won Georgia's Feb. 5 primary, in part because of his strength among evangelical voters, many of whom look at McCain with dismay.
Still, some say conservatives' ire toward McCain has been exaggerated and that he has been unfairly painted as a moderate or liberal by the media or by those who simply don't like him.
In Georgia, at least, it seems unlikely that apathy among conservatives toward McCain could trigger a Democratic victory. Georgia last went for a Democrat for president in 1992 and has been trending Republican ever since.
Besides history, McCain has other reasons for optimism in Georgia.
First is Thursday's $1,000-a-plate reception at the Westin Buckhead with host Gov. Sonny Perdue, who did not endorse a candidate in the primary. Joining Perdue on the host committee are nearly every top elected Republican in the state, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who also did not endorse in the primary, and House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram), who backed McCain after first choice Rudy Giuilani dropped out.
McCain also has the support of Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss. The state's two Republican U.S. senators endorsed their Senate colleague late in the primary campaign, while most U.S. House members went for Huckabee or Mitt Romney. Chambliss is on the ballot in November, too, and it will benefit him to have a strong presidential candidate above him, so Chambliss will be expected to work to bring conservatives back into the GOP fold.
Alec Poitevint, who led McCain's Georgia campaign, said there's no question the GOP will unite behind McCain.
"Absolutely," Poitevint said, "he's a proven leader in a difficult time. And he's the right man to be president now, and I think our people in Georgia understand that."
The primary season is over, he said, and Republicans typically put aside their differences for the good of the party in November.
Shawn Davis, who led Huckabee's Georgia campaign, agrees.
Huckabee will eventually give way, Davis said, and the Arkansan's supporters will back the nominee.
"We believe to win in November it's imperative to have a conservative on the ticket," Davis said. "Once Governor Huckabee releases his 51 delegates to McCain, presumably after his last stand in Texas (on Tuesday), you will see all Georgia Republicans unite strongly behind John McCain."
Some conservatives' anger toward McCain lingers.
A recent report from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 78 percent of white, born-again Protestants voted for George W. Bush over Democrat John Kerry in 2004. But, wrote John Green, Pew's senior fellow in religion and American politics, McCain "may have some trouble achieving that level of support from white evangelicals given that a majority of them preferred other candidates in the primaries."
If the race is close, a drop in support from such a key component of the Republican base could be damaging.
Exit polls taken from the Georgia primary give McCain reason for concern. He lost badly to Huckabee, and in some cases to third-place finisher Romney, among those who identified themselves as either somewhat conservative or very conservative. Among Republican voters who said they chose a candidate who shares their values, McCain got 15 percent, compared with 51 percent for Huckabee and 31 percent for Romney.
Don Neunaber, a physical therapist in Lilburn, looks at his choices in November and is conflicted.
"I haven't yet decided whether I can vote for McCain," Neunaber said. Note the use of the word "can." It's not "whether I will vote" for McCain. It's "whether I can" vote for him. That difference indicates a deeper, more personal level of frustration.
Neunaber finds the choice excruciating.
"I am faced with a real dilemma as a Republican," he said. "I am stuck between adversaries."
Such strong feelings stem from a series of frustrations and perceived betrayals. Neunaber specifically mentioned McCain's support for the failed immigration bill that many conservatives considered amnesty for illegal immigrants.
In the face of loud and angry response from many voters, McCain backed off his support for the measure. But, Neunaber said, McCain later told a television interviewer that he would sign a similar bill if elected president.
"He's playing to conservatives, trying to move to the conservative side, but he's not that much of a conservative when it comes down to it," Neunaber said.
Others criticize McCain for his sponsorship of campaign finance reform they say stifles the political power of pro-family groups. Others, such as the powerful Club for Growth, don't like his economic policies.
Helen Slater of Marietta, a secretary at Lockheed Martin Corp., voted for Romney in the Feb. 5 Georgia primary. Romney dropped out shortly after finishing third here. Slater will vote for McCain in November.
"Although he certainly is not my choice for the Republican nominee, I still feel like he is the lesser of three evils," she said, noting that the other two "evils" would be Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Jim Beck, chairman of the Georgia Christian Coalition, said more and more Republicans displeased with McCain will come to the conclusion that McCain is the best option available to them.
"You're already seeing it," Beck said. "Based on our e-mail traffic, some Huckabee people are waiting (to publicly back McCain) out of respect for him. At the end of the day, you have to pick between imperfect people."
McCain was not Beck's first choice. That becomes less important in November, he said.
"Look at the alternative," he said.
Plus, Beck said, McCain could gain independents and moderates to offset any loss of conservatives.
"McCain offers appeal to swing voters that would not have been the case with Huckabee or Romney," Beck said.
In the end, however, "I don't think McCain will turn off the base," Beck said.
Nesbitt, the Turner County Republican, would disagree.
"I am totally disgusted with them all, and have decided to call myself an independent, and will think twice before ever voting Republican again," he said.
What do you mean HUH?????
You must have an explanation??
Male bovine fecal effluvia.
It is the RNC that will be responsible.
He also said he was proud of Justice O'Connor. The only candidate who dared criticize Reagan's appointment of her was Romney.
Sigh. What could have been...
At any rate, McCain's record on judges really undercuts the biggest argument for conservatives to hold their nose and vote for a liberal GOP nominee.
That was the only reason I voted for Bush, and it turned out to be valid. Bush has very few redeeming qualities, and he's harmed the country in many ways, but there's one thing he has been rock-solid on: quality judges.
McCain will be just as bad as Bush on most issues, and he'll be bad on judges to boot.
McCain's one redeeming quality is that he's been good on opposing big government programs. His opposition to ethanol subsidies (despite a few flip-flops) and his opposition to the Medicare drug giveaway to geezers are about the only major positive things I see in his record.
I'm not sure whether this is worth holding my nose and voting for him. I also like his healthcare plan. I have a lot of thinking to do.
Sure...you think McCain and Huck are the most exciting team to run in years...Yep I think HUH??? does it.
No surprise to me. This Conservative is disgusted with you Republicans.
When we have ?million new "imigrant" citizens, Juan Hernandez is the head of homeland security (or ICE) turning the US into a third world country. The 1st amendmendt no longer exists.
All givin to us by the "powers that be"
Better put some ice on that
I never said “exciting”...they could be the most formidable in years. They cover a whole hell of a lot of the American electorate, more than any other ticket in years.
I’m in for McCain - and proud to vote for him.
Two questions for me, and Mac answers both of them.
1. Who is pro-life?
2. Who will finish the job against the terrorists?
It sure isn’t Barack Obama.
I’m not getting everything I want in this election. But this is an easy call for this conservative. John McCain.
Some conservatives’ anger toward McCain lingers.
Like Mt. St. Helens caused some damage in the area close by it.
See the old man winter his presidential ballot come November.
Right Turns
Caddis
“Non Republican voters put McCain in the lead. Further the voting schedule was loaded on the front end with cross over states and left leaning states. This heavily favored the more liberal candidate. In and of itself it doesn’t guarantee results but it sure gives the house (RNC) the edge.”
_____________________________________________________
If you want to blame the primary schedule for McCain’s lead, then go right ahead. However, the only part the RNC played was in keeping Iowa and New Hampshire first, wich is the way it been for a long time and something other conservatives have ‘overcome’ many times.
Those who think that the RNC stacked the deck for McCain ignore the fact that McCain has never been a favorite of the RNC.
“When we have ?million new “imigrant” citizens”
As opposed to ?Million Illegal citizens. Look, these immigrants are already here. Are we going to ‘round them up’ and send them back? We do have to be reasonable RE this issue. They are already here. We definitely CAN do something about stopping illegals coming in, but we also need to come to a reasonable solution about what to do with those who are already here.
They might pull the lever but I doubt they will give him any campaign money. I heard the Dim candidates have raised 7 times what McCain has.
“I am completely disgusted with the Republican party.”
The primary vters voted as they did. Why blame the party?
The GOP sorted through a lot of prospects. Frist, Allen, Gingrich, Tancredo, Hunter, Brownback, Gilmore, Huckabee, Thompson, Thompson, Romney, Paul, etc..
If your favorite “true conservative” is on that list, I am truly sorry he didn’t attract enough votes to bring about the desired result.
But the reality is that “true conservatives” in general didn’t attract very many votes, this cycle.
Instead of just blaming “the party,” consider the candidates and the voters.
The purpose of “the party” is to serve the voters and the candidates. Not the non-voters.
and Ronald Reagan, NOMINATED O’Connor & Kennedy.
Waiting to see if McCain chooses a conservative V.P. that’s against amnesty. If he does, I will hold my nose and vote for him...if not then I will not vote for him.
Enforce the laws that exist, build a secure border, deny benefits to illegals (except for an emergency) and tax the money that is illegaly sent to Mexico
With no reason to be here, they will self deport.
Look at what is happening in Arizona. It reall is quite simple, but that would take a TRUE CONSERVATIVE
It really is quite that simple
“He doesn’t have my support, but I will vote for him, while holding my nose. Then, hopefully, we all hold his feet to the fire. Voting for him, and supporting him are two separate issues.”
I will also vote for McCain over Obama because he will do less damage. Then hopefully in four years he will be replaced with a “conservative conservative” instead of a “liberal conservative” as John McCain called himself.
Do you live in Las Vegas??? If you really do, imagine that city w/o the Illegals! I live in California and, as much as I don’t agree with the way they got here, I cannot imagine this state without them...for starters, I would have no where to eat tonight.
...no one to clean hotel rooms
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