Posted on 09/14/2007 3:15:19 PM PDT by Pistolshot
Friday, September 14, 2007
Republican voters continue to see Fred Thompson as the most politically conservative candidate in the GOP Presidential field. Mitt Romney is not too far behind while most Republican voters see John McCain and Rudy Giuliani as politically moderate.
A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 48% of Republican voters view Thompson as politically conservative while 42% have that perception of Romney. Just 33% of Republican voters see McCain as politically conservative and 25% hold that view of Giuliani.
Looked at from the other perspective, 68% see Giuliani as moderate or liberal while 58% of Republicans say the same of McCain. Romney is viewed as moderate or liberal by 39% of GOP voters and 31% say the same about Thompson.
Those perceptions are similar to the way Republican voters saw the candidates a month ago. The biggest shift is a seven-point increase in the number of Republicans who see Romney as politically conservative.
The race for the Republican nomination is very fluid with Thompson and Giuliani holding the top two positions for several months. While Thompson is seen as more ideologically in synch with the conservative-leaning party, Giuliani is seen as the most electable Republican candidate.
Thompson has enjoyed a nice bounce in the polls since formally entering the race.
For most of this year, Giuliani has also been far and away the most popular Republican candidate. Now, however, 68% of Republican voters have a favorable opinion of Giuliani and 64% say the same about Thompson. Those figures include 26% with a Very Favorable opinion of Giuliani and 28% with a Very Favorable opinion of Thompson.
Interestingly, while Thompson is seen as the most conservative candidate by Republican voters, the perception is a bit different among all voters. Forty-one percent (41%) of all voters see Romney as politically conservative. Thirty-eight percent (38%) see Thompson as conservative and 33% see McCain in that way. Just 25% of all voters see Giuliani as a conservative.
Data on the ideological perceptions of leading Democratic candidates has also been released today. Other key stats are continuously updated for all Republican and Democratic candidates.
Healthy enough? I think he looks fantastic and grown up.
Based on what I know right now, yes, I believe Romney is more conservative than Thompson. Both have plenty of chances to show me otherwise.
Conservative Republican Claim Ping!
He's obviously both the most conservative of the candidates and the most qualified of the non-Governors.
Hunter as VP would be excellent. The question is whether he’d like to sit in the office of VP and bake for eight years.
This isn’t a slam on Hunter, it is a reality of the political situation.
See Tag Line..
It's quiet as a grave when you try to mention Duncan Hunter away from the internet. He's the very definition of a 'dark horse candidate'. Sure, we see his name on FR, but nobody else does.
Here is that famous Reagan conservative Romney defending the Reagan Revolution during the year that all the conservatives were swept into office. Thanks Newt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI
“Based on what I know right now, yes, I believe Romney is more conservative than Thompson.”
Let’s see -— Romney is for the assault weapon ban and Thompson has a charity shooting competition named for him he’s so pro-2nd Amendment.
Hmmmmmmmmm
Aren't you doing the same thing with your gut feeling? Thompson's voting record is very Conservative with only a few problems.. I would take that over a gut feeling any day.
I think you are right.
It’s not a gut feeling; it’s my impression of both men based on what I’ve seen up to this point. It’s not an opinion set in stone, nor am I guaranteed to vote for Hunter, Romney, or Whoever Else Is Not Named Thompson. (Though I’ve already decided never to vote for McCain. I’d vote for Giuliani if he was running against Hillary, though.)
All I’m saying is that, right now, right this second, I see Romney as more conservative than Thompson, and I see people projecting their political opinions onto Thompson. This has more to do with Thompson, in my opinion, not having firmly established his conservative credentials yet. After a debate or two, I may decide to vote for him, or I may decide to vote for someone else.
I don’t get why this is so controversial on FR.
Mitt has been running for Vice President the whole time. No one understands the Mormon problem better than him. He also knows that the Mormon hurdle disappears if he is a sitting V.P. After 4 or 8 years the Mormon bogey-man attack no longer has any effect on a V.P. that everybody in the country is already very familiar with and either likes or not. Romney knows that Giuliani is running against “conservatives” and that if their votes are fractured Rudy wins. By running a strong campaign, gathering volunteers and raising big $ nationwide and holding leads in IA and NH he has put himself in the Kingmaker role. McCain could have gained the same role but his ego is too much to want the #2 spot and his delusions of victory are too strong to see the big picture. Thompson might be able to take Rudy on his own and end up with a close nomination. If he can bring Mitt into his camp he has a much easier path to nomination. A Thompson-Romney ticket will fly with moderates and conservatives (when given the other option of Hillary) whereas Rudy does not have the same opportunity to woo Mitt as a Rudy-Mitt ticket would leave southern social conservatives dis-heartened. Rudy has to take somebody like Huckabee but unfortunately he doesn’t bring the vote or dollars that Mitt has lined up.
I didn't know this was a controversy, just a conversation.
I was more referencing the sheer volume of replies I’m receiving. You’re being polite about it, though, which I thank you for.
Yes, arguably on immigration, on tort reform, on the Federal Marriage Amendment, on taxes, on family and faith....
Mitt’s not going to be anybody’s VP. Mitt would make a great running mate for anybody, given his ability to work a crowd, and to debate the issues, but I just don’t see him as 2nd banana to anybody. Look at his career. He’s been in charge for the last 40 years. Don’t see that changing anytime soon.
You don't see Duncan listed because the lamestream media is ignoring him, the article verifys that.
Oh, please. Hunter’s campaign is operating in stealth mode.
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