Free Republic

[BIG Snip] Jared Woodfill, chairman of the Harris County Republican Party and a Perry supporter, thinks an Austin-Boston connection represents a potentially powerful ticket for his party, but he maintains the roles should be reversed. "Perry's going to be strong in the primaries," he said last week. "Romney may fall short, and he could be number two. Gov. Perry has a very strong record as governor of Texas that will play strong across the country. I think he'll beat Romney in the primaries." Romney falling short is a possibility, political scientist Jillson says, noting that Republicans usually nominate the person...

In a match-up between the early 2008 frontrunners, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) leads New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) 52% to 43%. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Giuliani’s lead growing in recent months. His current nine-point advantage is up from a six point lead in January and a four-point lead in December. Clinton is viewed favorably by 50% and unfavorably by 48%. The last four times that Rasmussen Reports has polled on a Giuliani-Clinton race, Clinton’s support has remained unchanged at 43%. While both candidates draw reasonable levels of support from within their...

Keen observers of American politics have been quick note that the three leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination have been subtly (or not so subtly) inching rightward on social issues. The list of flip-flops is by now quite lengthy. It was just six years ago that John McCain denounced televangelist Jerry Falwell as an "agent of intolerance". Then, last May, McCain delivered the commencement address at Falwell's Liberty University. During his ill-fated 1994 Senate campaign, Mitt Romney told voters he would do more for gay rights than liberal lion Ted Kennedy. Now he says he rejects both gay marriage...