Posted on 01/06/2012 6:17:53 AM PST by Rational Thought
What a difference a caucus makes. Rick Santorum who two months ago had one percent (1%) support among likely South Carolina Republican Primary voters now is running a close second there with 24% of the vote.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the Palmetto State finds former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney still in the lead, earning 27% support from likely GOP Primary Voters, up from 23% in early November. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is in third with 18% of the vote, followed by Texas Congressman Ron Paul at 11%.
Bringing up the rear are Texas Governor Rick Perry with five percent (5%) and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman at two percent (2%). Another two percent (2%) of these likely primary voters like some other candidate, and 11% remain undecided
(Excerpt) Read more at rasmussenreports.com ...
Newt will do better in SC than what the polls show. In fact, a Newt, Santorum, Mitt win order would not surprise me at all.
Rick Santorum just may be the next Ronald Reagan!
I think both Perry is doing the Fred Thompson Fan Dance in order to give us another RINO nominee. I’m not sure about Gingrich but he represents the same caste.
It’s not the most important issue in this campaign,: generally policy issues are not important at all in this culture. Most uninformed voters don’t care about policy issues. They just want to “choose one”, based on who feels good and hope it works out. But, THIS is an issue that will resonate. And this issue is another one which will make Santorum look extremely UN likable. The average voter, who doesn’t analyze policy like you do here, will not only not like Santorum, they will HATE Santorum after the media gets through with him. We will lose.
I understand that some conservatives don’t care if we lose. The bigger issue is defeating the GOP. So be it.
actually one outlier poll by CNN created the entire Santorum surge.
What you don’t get is that people respond STRONGLY to a conservative message when they are give the choice. Nobody gave Reagan a chance and he KIILED with massive landslides. Twice. Stop listening to the agitprop from the media. Romney is not the only chance, in fact he will LOOSE because he is the o-dude lite, and people will choose the real thing every time.
Huh? Romney has charisma? Is that what they call it these days? I normally use terms like unprincipled, dishonest, and snake oil salesman, when describing Romney.
It's comical listening to the same people who told us McCain was the most "electable candidate" in 2008 now tell us that Romney is the most electable candidate in 2012. How many times do you need to be kicked in the groin before you learn your lesson?
I was just thinking about this last night. I’ve been supporting Perry, but the thing that hit me was: Perry would raise taxes. He would negotiate the baby away in terms of tax increases. He did it here in Texas, and it actually worked out kind of well because we would up with a surplus when the rest of the country was drowning in red ink. But it was still a tax increase, and it was still offensive.
LOL. A CNN poll set this in motion? I think the tweet by Sarah Palin boosting Santorum and the endorsements from religious leaders in IA had far more to do with this.
“Santorum got to where he is on his own. There is no evidence that the media had anything to do with it. If it were not for Hannity and Levin, he wouldn’t have had any air time at all. Since the media didn’t create him, they can’t destroy him. He is the strongest candidate we have by far.”
He is paper thin all around. You dont see any negatives because the press hasn’t focused on him. They have all they need.
It is the height of foolishness to act like they are just all at a lose as to how to deal with him or that he is just the ultimate candidate. One well-timed hit and POOF.
I keep trying to tell you guys. It’s almost like looking at a car wreck in slo-motion.
If he doesn’t get out there and start acting like a real force instead of a Cinderella fluke then that wreck will be occurring shortly.
The right is fickle and desperate. Easy to manipulate. That is why we are dithering with Romney and Santorum. Neither group of supporters can articulate anything of substance or real value as to how either of these guys will even touch Obama.
Gingrich has a history of being very dislikeable. He was even disliked by Republican members of the House when he was Speaker. Relatively small time negative ads nearly destroyed him in Iowa. The baggage he carries with him, most unknown to the public at large, will define him as a candidate and lead to an Obama victory. As you stated, "The average voter doesn’t analyze policy" like we do here
There is no sense in giving a truckload of ammunition to the Obama campaign by selecting a candidate who has such a tawdry past. Sure, they will try to destroy Santorum, but they will have to manufacture their own ammunition to do so. Let's not make it easier for them.
With respect to abortion, homosexual marriage, birth control, etc., these are all issues a president should have little involvement with anyhow.
The perfect stand for a conservative presidential candidate to take on these issues is that his private opinion is irrelevant and that the states should decide on those issues.
Throw it back on the states and let the American people know that if you get elected president, you are going to focus on the economy, foreign affairs and getting the federal government out of the way so that businesses and American people can prosper. The federal government should have nothing to do with getting involved in social issues.
Or Newt folks could actually support Santorum? I mean you can vote for Newt and split the vote again.
Your argument on how weak Santorum is has no basis in truth. He is getting crowds today in NH that the Fire Marshall needs to kick people out of. The people not paying attention to the race talk about how Santorum is a one trick pony as a social Conservative. If you will bother to listen to his stump speeches, he has a solid plan for manufacturing that will play great in the rust belt. He is adamant about ending Obummer care and all the regulations the Regime instituted. He has a solid plan on foreign policy and shutting Iran down. He has an easy to understand tax policy of dropping tax rates both corporate and personal. He has a plan to massively cut spending and programs.
Whatever train wreck you seem to see is a mirage. He is solid all around and is a coherent, focused debater knowledgeable on a whole slew of topics. He is going to do well in NH and have the cash to be very competitive in SC.
He can and will, if the vote is split between Santorum and Gingrich.
Face the facts, the game has changed, and Santorum is the frontrunner now.
You use those words because you don’t want Mitt. You want a principled conservative to win. That’s great. So do I. But it’s not gonna happen in the culture we live in. Not for a long long time, if ever. Again, I understand that some conservatives don’t care about losing as long as they get their nominee. Point proven to who again?. . . Oh, the media and the GOP. That will be a big help in the next 4 years as we see this country completely fail drip by drip under Obama. This president is no Clinton, no Carter, no FDR, combined. It’s much worse than that. Good luck with your principles. I’m thinking about my kids & future grandkids.
“He was even disliked by Republican members of the House when he was Speaker.”
yes Establishment pukes like Boehner, Scarborough, Delay, who after Gingrich forced Clinton into Balancing the Budget...
...those yahoos ran the House into the ground with their Big Spending ways...killing GOP majorities in future elections.
“(bounces have a shelf life)”
Weren’t you all telling us that the only one who could beat Romney was Newt?
Apparently his ‘lead’ was ephemeral. The game has changed.
I predicted that Santorum would be leading Newt in SC, and it looks like I was right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.