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To: PhilCollins
Since 1900, only one Republican became president by defeating an incumbent. That was Ronald Reagan, in 1980. He had these four traits that might have helped him

One with those traits won. How many people since 1900 had those traits and didn't win? I'm guessing a whole lot more than one.

Those four traits don't necessarily make a Ronald Reagan. Unlike the others you have mentioned, Reagan had an incredibly likable personality which made it hard for even his enemies to personally dislike him and which made a lot of people who would have otherwise voted against him, vote for him. Reagan was a popular governor of a giant state which could provide a large percentage of the necessary electoral votes for victory. Reagan was the undisputed leader of the conservative movement. The dynamics of 1980 are a lot different than the dynamics of 2012 which means that those traits wouldn't guarantee a victory (although personally, I could easily vote for both Palin and Kempthorne).

Making points 2 and 4 fit Mitt Romney is a real stretch. I know very few conservatives who would claim him. Michigan and Massachusetts (his two strongest claims to a home state) are hardly western states.

87 posted on 05/23/2011 11:14:32 AM PDT by CommerceComet (Governor Romney, why would any conservative vote for the author of the beta version of ObamaCare?)
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To: CommerceComet

The word “conservative” is relative. Romney is more conservative than Sen. McCain, Sen. Kirk, and ex-Mayor Guiliani. A March survey said that 68% of conservatives think that he’s conservative. I don’t support him. I’m only quoting other conservatives.


99 posted on 05/23/2011 12:02:59 PM PDT by PhilCollins
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