• Send FReep Mail to Unmarked Package to get [ON] or [OFF] the Mitt Romney Ping List •
Posted on 07/13/2007 4:54:32 AM PDT by Reaganesque
The results of the latest Insiders Poll are out and Mitt Romney has pulled into a dead heat with Rudy Giuliani as the frontrunner for the '08 GOP nod. Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to lead the Democratic field for her party’s nod.
Following Giuliani and Romney are: Fred Thompson and John McCain, with Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee tied for fifth.
In the volatile GOP contest, Romney’s steady rise in the poll is credited to his org. strength in IA and NH, fundraising, and capacity to break into his own wallet if needed. Giuliani continues to confound the skeptics, but some think his apparent strategy for sweeping up delegates in states like CA, IL, NY and NJ is a smart one. Others wonder if he can get there if he doesn’t win early in IA, NH or SC.
Many GOP Insiders think Thompson’s star power helps make him a contender, especially because conservatives have yet to coalesce behind any one GOPer. McCain -- who was ranked first in the poll as recently as 12/06, second in 3/07, and third in 4/07 -- has fallen to fourth. Amid continued fundraising woes and a staff shake-up, many GOP Insiders see his campaign in free fall, but some are not ready to count him out.
But as one GOP grimly joked: “The fat lady is about the sing, but she isn’t going to get paid either.”
The Democratic Insiders’ Top 5 for '08: Clinton, followed by Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Al Gore, all unchanged from the survey in 4/07.
Clinton has been ranked as the top contender for the nomination in every poll since National Journal began conducting its '08 poll in 4/05. She actually picked up strength in the poll over the previous reading. Many Insiders cite her organizational advantage, consistently good debate performances and all-around toughness to gut out a victory next year. As one Dem Insider put it: “On the way to being the candidate you may or may not love, but most likely to be up to the job of running the country in perilous times.”
Obama is clearly the number two choice of Dem Insiders capturing a whopping 62 percent of all Dem Insiders’ second-place votes. While he is still ranked third in the poll, Edwards has lost strength since the last previous survey in 4/07. Many attribute this to his weak fundraising and, well, bad hair days.
I love the line about the Edward's campaign having "bad hair" days!
Good News. Mitt continues to do better and better.
Anyone but Rudy is OK with me.
Rudy is the only candidate who would be a complete disaster for the Republican party.
did a florida yr rig the poll?
Great news! Despite of his detractors, Romney is still pulling ahead. Some of the detractors should examine exactly why that is!
Don’t hold your breath on that one...
It is an on going thing, isn’t it. The energy committed to bringing Romney down should tell any thinking individual that those doing this are afraid of him and what he offers to the country.
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.