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.
I think we should agree to disagree at this point, time to get the BBQ fired up (Chicken) Enjoyed the conversation though, take care FRiend, hope to converse again!
Yeah, they first tell us how we are unimportant, or even irrelevant. Now we are expected to hold our noses and vote for the RINO. And if he gets clobbered, it will be our fault even though we were supposed to be unimportant or irrelevant.
Same reasoning as the Rudy Giuliani robots.
Yes. Round up the illegals and take them home crammed in the backs of small trucks, just like they came in with.
I got news for Chambliss. He will lose. His participation in crafting the Amesty bill will cause conservatives in Georgia to sit it out.
The liberal and moderate republicans have the primary's so rigged that the conservative is shafted long before it gets to the south. There should be no Iowa and new Hampshire first for the next one hundred years.
uh, no.
is huckabee still in the race?
maybe he’s got a better plan
Not my problem,
Your ideal is no different than saying if your just let the bank robber keep the stolen money, their life would be much better. Come to think of it are you that slum landlord that was posting here a while back.
Mercy...you support an underclass of citizenry, slave labor. Are you saying that the ""immigrants" are lesser human beings? Americans are superior so we need less thans to clean our toilets. You should really re-think your statement...and no, I never said round them up but I did suggest a way for them to self deport....back to th chicken, Nite!
“The liberal and moderate republicans have the primary’s so rigged that the conservative is shafted long before it gets to the south.”
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There are those who believe their lot in life is dictated by others (or the ‘system’). They tend to complain a lot. This is a common attitude among the poor, those on drugs, and those in jail. They also tend to vote democratic.
Then their are others who believe, as I do, that their lot in life is determined by their actions.
Since your post was in response to my comment that many of those who are complaining about John McCain’s lead in the primaries “never did anything to help the candidate they preferred except post their opinions on FR” I can only assume that you are one of those I was referring to.
He is the best the GOP has to offer as a candidate for President. That is a sad commentary on the GOP.
I know where you’re going, but if push comes to shove I’d rather deal with them than another 9-11 or worse-—and they’ve sworn next time will be worse. Then again, I’m sure with all their experience, Hill or Obama will keep us safe. No thanks, I’ll take my chances with John over the other two.
I've called him a RINO and occasionally a poser.
I've even speculated that he'll play the spoiler if he doesn't get the nomination.
I voted for Mitt in the CA primary.
Now, I will vote for McCain this November.
But, I want some things first.
The GOP needs to adopt 100% Conservative planks in convention.
I mean Border Fence (physical) ASAP, illegal aliens sent back, no more anchor babies, (if illegal aliens vote, they go to JAIL), unapologetic support for the troops and troop surge, I could go on.
And, if McCain either agrees to aggressive and unwaivering support and pursuit of the conservative planks or true conservatives will see to it that he looses all 50 states.
Also, we want a vigorous, well-spoken, CONSERVATIVE VEEP. (Michael Steele comes to mind.)
Anything less, and (in appropriate Spanish) is ADIOS to the GOP.
Answere the question though...would you ‘round them up?’. And if so, how?
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You don’t have to round them up, they just show up at schools, hospitals, work sites ect. Punish the company that hires them and they migrate. I mean it might mess up your dinner plans, and what have you but so what??? This is a Country, not a mall, legal immigration will get your dinner fixed and hotel room cleaned. Heres a simple question back at you...what do you do with the next 20 million folks who wander in???
The rest of the country has seen the damage a progressive republican can do watching Schwartzenkerry run California to the poor house, and McCain and Huck are gonna run the table????? Geez?????
I live in California too. I know that California spends in excess of $10 billion per year in benefits for illegal aliens. And the numbers are growing. It is not unrealistic to enforce the law. Deport those who are arrested for minor crimes instead of jailing them and releasing them on the street. Workplace enforcement is a must. If the jobs aren't there, deportation or the hyperbolic "round-the-all-up" would not be required.
You would be talking about billions of $$$ plus separating families (most illegals have had children here which make them legal), crippling businesses, and tanking the economy of the entire west coast.
Yeah? And it costs billions more if they stay. Frankly, I don't care if families are separated--that is the result of a decision the illegal immigrant made, not U.S. citizens. As to crippling businesses, you mean they won't have slave labor anymore? Good! Long term, that does nothing for the economy, it just builds a house of cards. If labor is needed, lobby for increases in legal immigration. Lobby for a decrease to the minimum wage. Bypassing the law is not the answer.
BUMPED for The Truth!!!
That said, I've decided to look at this upcoming election as one where there will be two Democrats running, RINO McCain for the GOP, versus one of two extreme left wingnuts, Hussein or Hillary. To me, the single biggest issue we are facing now is the war on terror, and there is no comparison there between McCain and those other two buffoons. The choice for me is clear - hold my nose, vote for McCain, and hope that the GOP has some up and coming conservatives in the farm leagues (Bobby Jindal, anyone?).
I think it will be a blowout.
Either McCain wins big or Obama does.
But whoever it is, it won’t be close.
The Bushbots and RINOs will..
Do you really believe that Obama is going to nominate someone more like John Roberts instead of like Ginsberg? With McCain you would.
Is changing the subject all that you got?
Because we are talking about McCain, not Obama, and if you are trying to tell me that McCain is going to put forth better judges than Ginsburg, I am going to look at his record of nominating ... judges.
don’t like that?
Not what I read.
>McCain is bad enough without having to lie about him.
got that right.
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