But the liberal orthodoxy of Repub consultants and strategists said that independents and the middle win elections. Who needs those pesky "puritans"? They were supposed to be on the plantation anyway with nowhere else to go. Precisely. Team Romney's strategy all along was to knock out any potential TEA Party competitors (like Palin and Cain), get just enough Conservative votes to get through the primaries, and then turn left for the general election, aiming at "moderates," "independents," "fence-sitters," and disaffected democRats, based on the assumption that Conservative "purists" would ultimately get their arses in line and back Romney.
Now they're looking around and finding that the plantation is deserted, and so they're getting worried.
Now they're looking around and finding that the plantation is deserted, and so they're getting worried.
There was plenty of warning from everyone from Rush Limbaugh to about 90% of FReepers.
Here's the big problem, Greta, for the Republicans. And I am a lone wolf on this. The rule of thumb in elections, both parties, 40 percent are going to vote Democrat automatically, whatever you do, 40 percent are going to vote Republican, automatic, no matter what you do. And in the middle, who do we have? The precious, God love them, independents and the moderates. And they are the targets. They are the focus of every election. And our brilliant campaign consultants tell our candidates they are the ones that know how to go get a majority of those independents. And we have, as Republicans, put ourselves in prison to this whole silly notion that you only win elections by moving to the center and getting great independents. Fine and dandy, but if you squander your base in the process, you haven't a prayer.
Rush Goes On the Record with Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren
Romney could fix this but he's got to stop listening to the yes men and start listening to the people on the right who don't like him.
As far as the media is concerned, sure the polls are probably biased but it won't make any more difference than it did in 08. The only way to overcome something like that is to nominate someone the people actually like enough to bury the democrats completely.