Posted on 06/22/2007 9:17:33 PM PDT by gpapa
WASHINGTON -- The acceptance of former Rep. Jim Nussle to be President Bush's budget director provides more evidence that Republican presidential front-runner Rudy Giuliani is downgrading his effort in Iowa caucuses leading off the GOP delegate selection process next January.
When Giuliani bowed out of this summer's Republican presidential straw poll at Ames, Iowa, the former New York City mayor's camp insisted he was not abandoning the caucuses. But Nussle, defeated for governor of Iowa last year, was the most prominent Iowan for Giuliani. The perception in Iowa is that Nussle would not become Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director if Giuliani were serious about the caucuses.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
I see Bush is picking another staunch conservative for an important position.
With "Super Tuesday" I don't think Iowa matters as much.
“With “Super Tuesday” I don’t think Iowa matters as much”
Neither does Rudy : )
Iowa is actually a swing state, it does matter a bit.
And then there is the fact that Rudy needs to win places like Iowa or at least run, otherwise it will be
Iowa=loss
NH=Loss
SC=loss
With only the stuanchest of Republicans voting in the primaries, three losses may not appeal to very many folks.
It doesn’t to me.
The only state where Rudy remains at the top is Florida. Methinks the old ladies in Sarasota and Ft. Myers think he’s (inexplicably) sexy, and he has spent alot of time campaigning among Cuban Americans.
Hey Clemenza.
Hola, Ern!
The race is already down to Romney or Thompson. Romney has to crush Thompson in Iowa and NH or Romney is in trouble. Romney is the establishment candidate. Thompson the interloper. It’ll be an interesting race.
Let's do a word association with each of the two candidates.
Fred Thompson = Hollywood = Senator = Gang of 14 = fillibusters = Bush = Washington = lobbyist = earmarks = immigration reform bill = campaign finance reform bill = Trent Lott = Fairness Doctrine. Mark my words, the Republican Washington insiders will rally around him.
Romney = governor = Massachusetts = federalism = Bain Capital = Wall Street = Olympics = Mormon = Michigan
In other words, Romney may be favored by Wall Street, but Thompson should be favored by Washington. After all, he was one of them for many years.
“The only state where Rudy remains at the top is Florida. Methinks the old ladies in Sarasota and Ft. Myers think he’s (inexplicably) sexy, and he has spent alot of time campaigning among Cuban Americans.”
New York snowbird vote impacting Florida?
I am assuming Rudy would win NY and NJ as well.
Romney is the wannabe establishment candidate but I would call it for him yet.
I have been a minor level party insider for a while. The letters I got from folks endorsing Romney and who they are from tell me that he is the guy the R party establishment is pushing.
My previous post wasn't meant to make Romney the bad guy and Thompson the good guy. I haven't got a horse in the race yet. But I'm telling you, Romney warms the cockles of the hearts of the party establishment. I think Romney is the guy to beat as a result of that.
Frankly, I suspect both of them will end up disappointing their conservative supporters.
I wasn't. It's a two way race at this point. I think Romney is in real trouble if he does not crush Thompson in Iowa and NH. If Thompson comes in a decent second in both, he's probably the nominee.
I agree with your analysis overall ... McCain and Rudy are both in big trouble.
The national polls tend to favor Thompson winning, but he needs a state win to break in. I’d guess for Thompson it won’t be Iowa, it will be NH or SC, more likely the latter.
It may look like
Iowa, NH - Romney
SC - Thompson
FL - Rudy
Then all hell breaks loose on big Cali super day.
McCain will be MIA by then.
With all this uncertainty about the Media Darling candidates...I would not be surprised if one of the second tier candidates sneaks up.
Quite frankly, I wouldnt want to be the “establishment” candidate right now. Who wants to be linked with what most voters now despise.
I have two words for you... Universal Healthcare!
Fred will wipe the floor with Mr. Spitpolish, IMHO.
LLS
What is your name? Liberal Lie Spreader?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.