Cheers!
Posted on 01/03/2012 8:08:24 AM PST by Free Vulcan
Live thread to cover today's GOP caucus. News, predictions, opinions, totals, and the like.
Will be heading out about 4 pm or so to get our site ready and do a final review with the precinct chairs. I expect it to be bigger than 2008 with very heavy turnout and we are preparing for that.
We are also ready for disruptions. They simply won't be tolerated. The state party sent us a memo saying if there's any trouble call the cops immediately. Anyone trying to cause problems is going to get a rude awakening.
My predictions of the outcome are a narrow field with about a 10 point spread for the top five with Bachmann far behind in single digits:
Santorum - 24 Romney - 22 Paul - 20 Perry - 17 Gingrich - 14 Bachmann - 4 The Rest - 1
Think things are still in flux and many won't decide till right to the wire, so I'm not terribly confident of any predictions.
I’d like to know when exactly some of these so called conservatives think the time “IS” right for a social conservative. Because regardless of the conditions on the ground it never seems to be the right time. Perhaps they will explain it.
Big money doesn’t “dry up” in big Texas. The big bucks will back Perry quicker than boy scout Santorum.
It had the look and the sound of a final concession speech.
I wonder who Newt will back now?
True, but it’s very, very good news for Santorum here. His showing is going to really help him out nationally, and in South Carolina.
Oh, he made a lot of votes in the Senate that people didn’t like and I think his disastrous failure in his last senate run will crop up.
What happened there? Why did people despise him so much?
He just doesn’t seem to be a guy who can create any real enthusiasm ... except, apparently, in Iowa.
I just mean that nobody has attacked him because nobody’s paid any attention to him.
All his weaknesses will be highlighted and exploited and he will look pouty and whiney when he tries to refute them.
He’s just not an attractive candidate.
But maybe that’s just me.
Iowa has roughly 2/3 the population of South Carolina. And more than double the population of New Hampshire. We're not that small a state. We're a medium sized state! Yes we choose to select our candidates differently. Respect the 10th and our choice! You don't want a BIG state to start the process as that would assure the nomination to whomever has the biggest sugar daddy in their pocket. Starting in Iowa gives a decent, but little known candidate a chance to shine. And give us credit for knocking the Minnesota candidates out of the race, first TPaw and, unless she's less sane than Paul, Bachman.
Major takeaway for me is that Brett Baier cannot do simple mental arithmetic.
Must’ve gone to publik skool.
“Newt made a great speech.
Willard made a big mistake in ticking him off.”
He sure did. Go Bible Thumping Newt and Santorum all the way to the White House!!
If so, then Perry will be out, but his backers may be taking a longer term view and hey, it’s (more/less) a free country and they can throw their money away as long as they wish.
Newt is in the same position, but if he does nothing more than lead the fight against Romney, it will have served a noble purpose. Fox News just showed a full page ad he’s taking out, comparing himself against Romney. He may end up in a virtual “tag team” with Santorum, being the bad guy who goes after Romney so Santorum can stay positive.
According to the Washington Times site, Story County has only reported 7% of its votes (3 out of 43 precincts). Romney is currently leading there 97 to 67 over Santorum. I don’t like that. That doesn’t bode well. That may be where the race is decided.
AMEN!!! Was it just me, or did you get the sense that Newt will stay in long enough to bitch slap Romney around and use the platform to bolster Santorum???
Brett B attempting to tally votes/margins but having trouble mastering the intricacies of a hand-held calculator...threw it to break. Just how many fnc talking heads does it take to cipher anyway?
They aren't the same. The Angle contains the High Water Mark. A son of Pennsylvania did the same tonight.
But yes, more battles to be fought.
Actually, it turned out to be a beautiful night. Paul got the overwhelming Dem crossover vote and finished third. That’s as good as it’s going to get for him. He’s finished.
125 lead for Santorum now!
The good news is that Newt paid high homage to Rick Santorum tonight in his speech and gave me, at least, the impression that he is taking the gloves off and going after Romney to his or Santorums benefit.
Well, I have ancestors who fought in the American Revolution, but that's not what makes me a Natural Born Citizen. I was born on US soil to two American citizen parents. That's what makes me NBC.
Cheers!
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