Will conservatives back McCain?

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 3/2/08 | AARON GOULD SHEININ

[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.

[Liz]

In a very telling headline, The Washington Times recently reported, “McCain Refuses to Pander.” McCain's campaign manager stupidly said "McCain will not pander for conservative support......" According to McQueeg, it's called "pandering" only when applied to conservatives. McC has no problem pandering to illegals, RINOS, religious haters, and other campaign losers.

McCain chose a dual-loyalty traitor to be his "Hispanic Outreach Director"..........McCain said he agrees with Hernandez's positions to give back the SW to illegals.

BGRND Juan Hernandez was born in Dallas and decided as an adult to become a dual-national Mexican citizen. His last verifiable job was serving in Mexican President Vicente Fox's cabinet as Fox's "American Reconquista Director." Hernandez then worked for Bush-hater George Soros' international foundations---(one such foundation published Hernendez's book that taunts Americans).

Hernandez believes all illegal Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the USA should become dual citizens and consider themselves Mexicans first, "to the 8th generation." The "New American Pioneers" proclaimed in his book are the illegal alien invaders he urges to become settlers in the USA for "Reconquista"---the plan to take back the SW.

MEMO TO McCAIN: You can't win without so/cons behind your candidacy. You will not get so/con support until you assiduously court so/cons. MCCAIN WILL NOT GET OUR SUPPORT UNTIL HE PLACES SO/CONS IN KEY POSITION IN HIS CAMPAIGN. No so/con support until McCain tells the RINOs, haters, illegals, and other losers around him to get lost.

[cgbg]

I predict McCain will pick a VP candidate that will enrage conservatives.

That will settle this question once and for all.

McCain's pattern is that when he has a choice he moves left.

[The_Republican]

Enough Will to get rid of bad BO.

[NoGrayZone]

You have plenty of time to decide. Don’t let anyone bully you into any decision. Mclamers here are quite into the bully tactics.

Well wishes to you in your decision!

[Cricket24]

I am NOT uniting behind the Republican party. They can forget it. I am just hoping Huckabee stays in until our primary April 22. Although I can’t stand him either, I will vote for him in the primary. I am changing my part affiliation the day after to independent which is something I thought I would never do. I am sick of the Republican Party.

[Liberty Valance]

It’s amazing what a few clothespins and a “willing suspension of disbelief” can do for ANY candidate...not just McCain.

[Politicalmom]

Oh, good. I didn’t realize that Chambliss was up this year, I thought it was not for a couple years.

I get to keep my promise to work against him, and NEVER vote for him, after his staff lied to me about his involvement with
the amnesty proposal.

[Liz]

Watch McCain closely---notice his posture changes whenever he mentions handing over the SW to illegals (amnesty), The 100 Year War, and kicking conservatives to the curb------that's Billy Kristol and the Boys tightening McCain's leash.

The Kristol coterie are architects of the current admin's most-failed policies including amnesty and the trillion dollar bleeding of tax dollars into Mideast hellholes.

They are chaining McCain to these issues (after their first pick---RINO Giuliani---tanked like a deadweight down a 300 ft cistern).

Kicking conservatives to the curb and religious cleansing of the Repub party are the Billy crowd's longtime obsession. He and his foul cohorts spring from the Everything-For-Us-Nothing-For-You wing of US politics.

[TomGuy]

A great deal will depend on how liberal McCain's VP pick is.

The video at this link, shows McCain a tottering old guy who stammers and makes significant misstatements even in this short speech. In politics, one misstatement can ruin a career. McCain made 2 slip-ups in this single video. Also, he ended it by vowing to continue to infringe on and quell First Amendment rights. This is who the GOP is sending to challenge Obama??????

McCain a 'Proud Liberal'? (Video)

Watch the video and then visualize this guy going up against Obama in a series of debates.

[Names Ash Housewares]

to stop the Obamanation or Hildabeast?

Hell yeah.

Freeper Poll

(2/16) If it’s McCain vs Obama in the general, how do you vote?

McCain
62.1%

[kellynla]

As I have done for the past 20 years;
I’ll hold my nose and vote for the GOP candidate for POTUS.
With up to 4 Supremes up for possible replacement and a war on;
allowing a ‘Rat to be POTUS is just unacceptable.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[RJL]

65 is about where I’d score if I was in Congress, but McCain isn’t as bad as Specter, Snowe or Collins, who regularly score in the 40s.

You've named three of only four Senators more liberal than McCain, if McCain wants to be a rino fine, but then he shouldn't lie to us saying he's a conservative when plainly he's not.

McCain's Freudian slip the other day when he called himself a liberal Republican told the truth.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Right now I’m ticked off at all Republican’s who are either endorsing or voting for McCain in the primaries. They have put this nation between a rock and a hard spot! Possibly to the point of no return.

I was going to vote for McCain in the general then he comes out and does something really stupid...like the Cunningham comment.

btw, The RNC called last week and I told them to stuff it.

[mware]

In the end I believe many a conservative will hold their nose and vote for him.

As a matter of fact the many life long Democrats I have spoken with will also be voting for McCain. It really is stunning how many I have spoken with that feel the dem's left them with no options.

[ezed72]

Would a McCain/Huckabee ticket be enough to get Cons on board? I really think if we don’t back him and get out the vote, we will end up w/8 years of Dem rule

[Ingtar]

I believe the answer to that is yes.

I believe a lot more will hold out than you think. The groups that would not support Dole, especially the more socially conservative among us, will find reason to stay home or ignore that line on their ballot.

[nyconse]

If McCain is getting only 62 % on a free republic poll, he is toast.

[lollytyg]

McCain’s polotics are just to the right of a full fledged socialist.

I wouldn’t vote for him if I was being threatened by a gun.

I WILL NEVER forget he co-authored the travesty with Kennedy, and now says he’s in favor of border enforcement...

Wonder what he changes his mind about tomorrow?

There’s a grass roots call for Lou Dobbs to run...!

No matter what, I’m writing him in!

[bill1952]

trouble still lingers among some conservative voters who doubt McCain's bona fides.

The trouble is, most do not doubt his bona fides at all.
They understand his positions perfectly.

Neunaber specifically mentioned McCain's support for the failed immigration bill ...

It wasn't support. - He authored it.

Plus, Beck said, McCain could gain independents and moderates to offset any loss of conservatives.

That says it all...

[nyconse]

Both Johnny and Saxby were big supporters of amnesty. Georgia through a fit...they backed down. I personally called and emailed their offices everyday. I used to live in Georgia.