Posted on 05/20/2007 2:54:16 PM PDT by Reaganesque
The new Des Moines Register poll shows an AMAZING jump for Romney up to 30%!!! He has a double digit lead over Giuliani and McCain (17% and 18% respectively). This is among "Likely Republican Caucus-goers" and exclude unannounced possible candidates (F. Thompson and Newt namely).
However, these figures are far from "set in stone":
The race at this early stage could take many twists and turns before the Iowa finish line is reached in January.
Twelve percent of those polled are undecided or declare themselves uncommitted. Among those stating a preference, 87 percent say they could still be persuaded to support another candidate as their first choice.
Why is he surging? Some ideas below:
Romney’s front-runner status in the new Des Moines Register poll could stem in part from solid performances in the two national debates, his work in building a network of supporters in Iowa, his fundraising prowess and money spent on TV ads, said J. Ann Selzer, The Register’s pollster.
“His success raising money seems to have aroused caucusgoers’ interest, prompting them to take a serious look at the candidate,” Selzer said. “He’s helped by the top two qualifications Republican caucusgoers are looking for in a candidate — experience as a governor and as CEO.”
The poll shows Romney is regarded favorably by 74 percent of likely caucus participants and unfavorably by just 13 percent, with the rest unsure how they feel about him.
He does better in the poll among older Iowans, who tend to be more faithful in attending the caucuses, than he does among younger ones. Roughly one-third of those 55 or older make him their first choice, compared with support from about one-fifth of adults younger than 35.
Some opinions from participants:
Republican caucusgoers place a premium on a candidate who has experience as a governor, with 60 percent saying they are more likely to support a person with that experience on their resume.
“Just being elected out east, where the hard core of the Democrats are, speaks pretty highly of” Romney, said poll participant Edward Green, 57, of Davenport.
“He’s got a good family and his children are on the right track,” said Green, a minister who does missions work for Assemblies of God International.
Green wonders, however, whether Romney — a Mormon — can win the Republican nomination because of his religion. “People will poke and prod at his religion — a lot like they did with Kennedy in the ’60s.” John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, was the first Catholic elected president.
Most likely Republican caucus participants — 71 percent — say it makes no difference in their choice of a candidate if that person would be elected the first Mormon president. However, 22 percent say that would make their support for the candidate less likely.
Six percent say electing the first Mormon president would make them more apt to support that person and 1 percent are unsure.
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Iowa is a nice microcosm proving that those who get to know Romney . . . like Romney. His campaign is picking up steam and will be hard to derail. Full steam ahead to the Ames Straw Poll!!!
I would call it informing someone who had questions. Care to take issue with the content?
Was that a nuke I just heard going off?
Good answer!
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Dicey? As Governor, he signed a permanent assault weapons ban, and in the debate the other night reiterated his support for banning guns.
And, for thirty-five years, since BEFORE Roe, he was a hardcore abortionist. The only thing that has changed is that he now wants the votes of pro-lifers.
Romney fiercely defends his status as a hardcore abortionist
That was a helluva gaffe on George’s part (the brainwashed bit) and it proved he wasn’t ready for prime time. IIRC, wasn’t Willard’s mama, Lenore (and a politician in her own right), a militant pro-abort ? I always wondered where his all-over-the-map stances came from. Precious looks good on tv (so did his father, whom he looks like a carbon-copy of), but the substance just ain’t there. I admit I got bowled over by his looks back when I was a supporter of his in ‘94 against the Swimmer, but had he won the Senate race, he just would’ve been another Missing Linc Chafee.
Why fool around? :-)
Can any conservative here understand that the majority of people in Massachusetts want gay marriage and no amount of whining about it from outsiders is going to change that? I thought conservatives were all about states rights?
Remember how Dean allegedly had the momentum going into Iowa in 2004 and seemingly nobody was talking John Kerry until the last 48 hours and then Kerry won from seemingly nowhere? I don’t trust the Iowa polls. I think those folks probably get pushpolled to death.
What will matter in Iowa is a) money and b) organization.
EternalVigilance was answering a question that was posed at least thrice on this thread already. Who ever said you had to type everything from scratch on a thread? I appreciated the information and am planning on bookmarking it for future reference. It looks to be thorough, and I intend to check out the accuracy.
Full steam ahead to the Ames Straw Poll!!!
I think he is the Bill Clinton of the Republican party - the candidate who can say anything smoothly and get people to believe him. He does very well in the debates. I prefer Hunter.
It was George Romney who walked out of the great speech given by Barry Goldwater in 64. George Romney was a megaRINO, and his son was proud of his walking out at that convention.
Like father like son, isn’t Bush 1 and Bush 2 the perfect example of the father being a RINO, the son trying to come of as a conservative?
Fool me once...
They have tons of stuff on other issues as well.
When Mitt ran against Kennedy, he made it a point of running against Reaganism, and bragged that during the time of Reagan/Bush he was an independent.
Yes, I take issue with at least 457 factual mistakes. Please address them.
Like I said I’ll take him over Giuliani and McCain. But not enthusiastically.
So you are telling me that you read it?
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