President Tancredo? Just Maybe, If You Believe This Poll

Human Events Online ^ | 04/27/06 | Robert B. Bluey

[VU4G10]

A new poll from Rasmussen Reports has some bad news for Republicans—well, almost all Republicans. If you’re Rep. Tom Tancredo (R.-Colo.), the news couldn’t be better.

While a generic Republican candidate trails a generic Democrat by 12 percentage points, according to the poll, a third-party candidate who runs on a get-tough-on-immigration platform not only beats the Republican, but also actually runs even with the Democrat. Here’s an excerpt:

The survey also asked respondents how they would vote if "a third party candidate ran in 2008 and promised to build a barrier along the Mexican border and make enforcement of immigration law his top priority."

With that option, support fell sharply for both major parties. The Democrats still come out on top with support from 31% of Americans. The third party candidate moved into a virtual tie at 30% while the GOP fell to 21%.

If anyone fits Rasmussen’s description it’s Tancredo, who has made a very public name for himself as the anti-illegal-immigration crusader in Congress. And having spent time in both Iowa and New Hampshire beginning last year, he’s posited himself to be the candidate who could play spoiler.

Coming back to reality for just one moment, I should note the rest of the Rasmussen commentary about the poll numbers:

This result probably reflects unhappiness with both parties on the immigration issue rather than a true opportunity for a third party. Historically, issues that drive third party candidates get co-opted by one of the major parties as they demonstrate popular appeal. Most Americans favor a barrier along the border and enforcement of existing law prior to other reforms.

With the immigration issue candidate as an option, 36% of conservative voters opt for the Republican candidate while 35% take the third party option. Among political moderates, 34% pick the Democrat while 32% prefer the third party option.

I’d recommend reading the full Rasmussen summary as well as my post last night about the new Diageo/Hotline poll on Democrats.

[Scribbz]

I can't wait to see the response to this posting!

[John Jorsett]

Tancredo's been making noises like he'll run in the 2008 primary, if for no other reason than to force the other presidential candidates to take a stand on the illegal immigration issue. I hope he does it.

[altura]

Has immigration really become the most important thing in the world to everyone, or is this temporary insanity??

[VU4G10]

FreeRepublic.com

If the White House and GOP controlled congress does not act immediately to seal the borders, penalize employers who hire illegals and deport illegals when caught, how will it affect your vote in November?

I will continue to vote GOP
41.4%
I will vote third party
31.1%
I will stay home
21.4%
I will vote for the Democrat
6.1%

[Old_Mil]

Now see here, all you conservatives better just shut up and keep voting for Republicans no matter what we do.

"I make the decisions." /sarc

[MaineVoter2002]

I saw some Tancredo websites. I hope we can solve this illegal alien problem soon. I am interested in what Tancredo's other beliefs are.

ELECTION 2006 LINKS

[DTogo]

The current GOP stance on immigration is certainly pushing the party into the Rio Grande for Nov. '06 and '08.

Giuliani-Tancredo '08 might be a good ticket if Rudy were to promise Tom would have free reign over immigration enforcement and border security if elected.

[Cyber Liberty]

A one-issue wonder. Not a chance.

[Old_Mil]

"I'm not a crook!"

...just posting the posts RINOs don't want to post.

[Pukin Dog]

I think I could get more votes than Tancredo.

President Pukin?

[cmsgop]

Tancredo's entrance might shake things up alright with Rudy,George and John, but thats along ways away in Political Time as we know.

[stopem]

Stranger things have happened, I am sure all of us who are disgusted with the pro-illegal traitors would definitely vote for him.

Heard today that the socialist, marxist demand demonstration on May,1 are saying that it's "good for America" well fool don't even try to tell AMERICANS what good for us we can smell fertilizer socialist LIBERAL agenda and propaganda a mile away or more.

[MPJackal]

"a third-party candidate who runs on a get-tough-on-immigration platform not only beats the Republican, but also actually runs even with the Democrat"

Yea, until the media start the attack machine on this obvious racist that only other sick racist right wing wackos could support. Are you one of those racist? You want to starve poor little Mexican babies? You make me sick. Your just like the Nazis.

Get the point?

[samadams2000]

You obviously dont live in San Jose, Ca.

[cmsgop]

I took an informal Poll with 5 GOP Cops 1 RINO 3 MOD and one Paleo. Rudy got 4 out of 5 Votes over McCain.

[krunkygirl]

I'll support anybody who is tough on issues important to conservatives.

[mission9]

Doesn't Gingrich want to get tough on immigration?

[ARCADIA]

I will vote for him whether he runs or not. He is the only one with any credibility on the issue of illegal immigration. Most of the rest have only discovered that we had borders within the last few weeks.

[Howlin]

CBS News Poll. April 6-9, 2006. N=899 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
					.
"What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" Open-ended
					.
			%
	War in Iraq		27
	Economy/Jobs		13
	Immigration		7
	Terrorism (general)		6
	Health care		5
	President Bush		4
	Gas/Heating oil crisis		4
	Poverty/Homelessness		4
	Other		26
	Unsure		4

[manwiththehands]

Anyone care to wager that the "Republican" party will do all they can to discourage Tancredo from running? The "Republican" party can't have anyone rocking the boat like this. He's going down.

[JDoutrider]

"Tancredo/Rumsfeld '08

LOL!

[ARCADIA]

What is more important then no borders, and no laws. Go buy yourself a clue.

[Old_Mil]

You mean this Rudy?

"I am not Hannibal Lecter! And I did not have sexual relations with the male roommate who I kiss on my way out the door in the morning." /sarc

At this rate, I'm going to run out of /sarcs.

[battletank]

"I will vote for him whether he runs or not. "

Me too. I've had it.

[sinkspur]

Has immigration really become the most important thing in the world to everyone, or is this temporary insanity??

It's only the most important thing in the world to some FReepers, Minutemen, and 5-6% of the rest of the population.

Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq has just said that all Shiites should turn their weapons in to the government, that only the Iraqi government should have weapons.

He is determined to shut down the militias, and told fat boy al-Sadr to disband his, immediately.

This is huge, and helps Maliki get control of the insurgency.

[Kluster]

quoth: Cyber Liberty

A one-issue wonder. Not a chance.

---

I agree with you on both points. Fortunately I'm a one issue voter, so I will vote for Tancredo any chance I get.

[Scribbz]

Being married to an American of Mexican decent it doesn't bother me one bit.

[Map Kernow]

Now see here, all you conservatives better just shut up and keep voting for Republicans no matter what we do. "I make the decisions." /sarc

"I am the decider!

YOU are the go-along-besider!!!!" ;)

[lormand]

Hmmm, lets see.

If the matchup was between

McCain (RINO)
Hitlery Rotten Khlinton (RAT)
Tancredo (Independent)

...who would you vote for?

I hate RINOs and hate RATs even more, so it would be a no brainer.

[Jarhead1957]

It is to me. I have a rnach on the Rio Grande, and I would love to see a wall. Since I don't hire any illegals, It would not bother me if everyone who does was jailed. You don't realize that backpackers are not just illegal immigrants, Most of the empty backpacks you see pictures of were full of dope at one time.

We on the border live in armed camps.

So to answer you question again, yes it is the most important thing in the world to me, and if it is insanity twenty years of nothing is not temporary.

[Wolfstar]

Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq has just said that all Shiites should turn their weapons in to the government, that only the Iraqi government should have weapons. He is determined to shut down the militias, and told fat boy al-Sadr to disband his, immediately. This is huge, and helps Maliki get control of the insurgency.

That is huge, Sinkspur -- and I was totally unaware of it until I read your post. Just goes to show how both the MSM too busy bashing the President 24x7 to report such positive news.

[BigSkyFreeper]

PING

[Reagan Man]

I don't know how the "world" feels about immigration and frankly, I don't care. I do know that immigration reform which secures the borders and advances serious enforcement policy, is one of the most important issues to citizens who love America.

The President and his sycophants don't see it that way. They have no problem with open borders, illegal immigration and amnesty.

[Peach]

It's temporary insanity. This has never been an issue in the presidential elections in my lifetime.

[Jack Black]

It has become the most important thing in politics, for a lot of people, for a long time. Including Tom Tancredo. It's been his single issue for a few years now. Ahead of the parade.

The 9/11 hijackers killed 3000 people, which was horrible. In response we launched two wars, spent trillions of dollars, created the TSA and Homeland Security departments, etc.

Meanwhile suspected illegal aliens make up a huge percent of the outstanding felony warrents in LA, illegals are 33% of the federal prison population, etc. And the response has been ZIP.

The proportions are just all wrong. It might not be a dramatic all at once event, but the effect on the quality of life is as high, or higher.

[battletank]

I don't get this "one issue" debate. ILLEGAL immigration is all encompassing. It hits our hospitals, our traffic, our prisons, our welfare state, our schools, our culture, our taxes, our stolen identities and on and on and on. Not to mention that it's against the law! How this could ever be labeled as "one issue" is just beyond me. It affects all of our lives in numerous and varied ways and none of them are good.

[sinkspur]

Of course it's huge. Maliki is receiving the help of Sistani, and Sistani's word is LAW among the Shiites. That will isolate the Sunnis.

But, if you don't dig around, you'll think that all that's happening in America is hordes of illegals running amok, trying to destroy the country.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Has immigration really become the most important thing in the world to everyone, or is this temporary insanity??

It's the one and ONLY issue of Tancredo and his followers, who themselves are single-issue voters.

[Echo Talon]

Has immigration really become the most important thing in the world to everyone, or is this temporary insanity??

You noticed that too, I mean yea its a problem... one we have had for a LONG TIME.

[Old_Mil]

Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq has just said that all Shiites should turn their weapons in to the government, that only the Iraqi government should have weapons.

...and undoubtedly a gun buyback program is going to work really well in a city teeming with hostile jihadis when it doesn't even work in Philadelphia.

[fizziwig]

"It's temporary insanity. This has never been an issue in the presidential elections in my lifetime."
_____________________________________

Its insanity to think that concern over open borders and illegal immigration is insanity.

Sheesh, its like 911 never occurred and we have nothing to worry about from the south. We go all out to increase security in almost every other way but leave the borders wide open....now that is INSANE!

And that is just the tip of the iceburg with the problems caused by massive illegal immigration and the proposed solution with amnesty. It was not an issue in previous elections because it had not boiled to the point that it became an issue. Well its boiling now, like or not, and it WILL be a key issue in the next election....at least for sane people.

[battletank]

"I mean yea its a problem... one we have had for a LONG TIME."

I would agree. I've been squawking about it for years and years. Would you agree that in the last...oh..say 5 years or so it has gotten unbearably worse? Between Vincente's encouragement and President Bush's banging the gavel of amnesty...the hordes of illegals has jumped tremendously it seems to me. It's now reaching critical mass and it's why the issue is rising to the top. IMO.

[Jarhead1957]

Rinos are running scared, so it's shame on me for my beliefs time. It worked for them once, and they think it will work again. Even if they retain control of congress in 06, they will have alienated enough people that 2008 will have slow walk with sad singing.

In their eyes it will be our fault.

Rinos are showing their Democrat upbringing. To them power and winning is everything. They really are having problems understanding principles.

[Dane]

Gotta love these polls.

A poll says that 70% of the people are against the ports deal, some on FR jump for joy.

Another poll comes out saying 65% are for a guest worker program, those same people damn the polls to hell.

All these polls have their own biases(zogby and rasmussen, and both of them have botched Presidential election results).

Just utter noise and giving some people what they want to hear.

I ignore all polls these days.

[itsahoot]

or is this temporary insanity??

Nope, Temporary Sanity, of course it will pass, being it's only temporary.

[battletank]

Yep. And voting dem-lite is completely acceptable as long as there's an (R) showing after a name. Principles be damned.

[spikeytx86]

I like tancredo's stances on illegals but where dose he stand on other issues like taxes,trade,the deficit, spending restraint,privatization,health care etc? any one know where I could get his voting record?

[georgia2006]

""I hope we can solve this illegal alien problem soon""

So long as Mexico is a 3rd world country, it isnt solvable..there are only degrees of which the problem exists

[Echo Talon]

I believe I seen some numbers on this, not sure how they can tell how accurate they are, but it looks like the influx has a direct correlation to our economy. i.e. when our economy is down, illegal numbers are down, when the economy is chugging along the numbers increase(maybe it reflects the job market, when jobs are here they come when they aren't they don't).

The border needs to get secure thats a given and anyone thinking differently is functionally retarded, after the border is secure then we address a "guest worker program" or whatever they want to do for future employees that are needed.