Posted on 01/03/2008 10:03:03 PM PST by americanophile
Huckabee? Oh please.
Iowa has demonstrated once again why its choices for president are persistently incorrect. Recent winners of the Iowa caucuses include John Kerry, Al Gore, Tom Harkin, Dick Gephardt, Walter Mondale, and Bob Dole. None of whom went on to be President. While Iowa has proven to be a better indicator for Republicans, it is rare that there is not a heavy GOP favorite or heir apparent in the race.
The Huckabee victory proves only what we already knew about GOP politics in Iowa. An exceedingly small group of people participate, those who do tend to be activists, most are more concerned with social and religious issues, notably unconcerned with foreign affairs, and largely dismissive of general election viability. Iowans vote for the guy they like.
Governor Huckabee deserves credit for his victory, especially in light of his near nonexistent campaign infrastructure and fundraising apparatus. We congratulate him.
The truth of the matter however, is that Governor Huckabee is a primary phenomenon, and a sure general election loser. Moreover, rather than building momentum, Huckabee’s victory is likely to startle more conventional, victory-minded voters into the waiting arms of the only three viable national candidates, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. Of the three, Mitt Romney carries the least amount of baggage for conservatives, so once again, in our opinion, Romney remains the man to beat.
Moreover, now that the campaign has left Iowa, specific issues will begin to matter more than religious affiliation, and immigration, taxation, healthcare, education, and foreign affairs will begin to come into focus. Romney is well placed to compete on all these issues, save foreign affairs, and while he isn’t experienced in diplomacy, Romney needs only to advance a clear and credible foreign policy and do so with his characteristic eloquence.
(Excerpt) Read more at gopublius.com ...
Just goes to show that the Republicans in Iowa are an ignorant lot when it comes to presidential candidates!
A lot of new people are for unFR choices. The vets mostly seem to be behind Fred or Hunter.
Just how I see it.
I came to that conclusion shortly after the 2004 presidential election. Republicans are strong in the south. We need to be able to pick off more states in the east and midwest that barely went to Gore and Kerry in 2000 and 2004. Romney might not carry Massachussets, but he might be able to carry Maine and Pennsylvania in the east. He has ties to Michigan where his father was a governor in the 1960's, and he potentially could help the GOP pick up Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. His ties to Utah would be helpful in keeping the mountain west states in the GOP fold. I'm sure the DemocRATS will be trying to pick off Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.
It wasn’t just party activists at our caucus. I couldn’t believe how many ususally uninvolved GOP people were there. I am mystified how Huckabee got such a turnout without any organization there was no organizing in my county I got wind of.
The South will shatter that illusion like glass.
Mitt has no support outside of Florida, where he is, in fact, spending very heavily.
I wish him luck there to help bloody Rudy, who has built up a large organization here with, and among, NYC refugees.
Other than that, Mitt - and Rudy - will garner little support in the South, and no GOP National candidate will ever win again without the 110% backing of the Southern tier.
Huckabee looks like Gomer Pyle's brother and if that's what people want, well..... Still, a guy as good looking as Mitt needs to look more approachable, likable and the clothing is a good start. The suit 24/7 makes him look too rich and that is off-putting. It's too early to start looking that Presidential.
>but he might be able to carry Maine and Pennsylvania in the east.
Carry Pennsylvania? - You dream.
Visit there some day.
Homeschoolers. They must be a cult unto themselves, never participating unless there is something that they really want.
Would Obama get enough support to carry South Carolina? My NC son thinks he could carry both the Carolinas.
Huckabee cannot be the nominee. He is ambrosia to Iowan evangelicals and poison to the GOP.
McCain has the same problems he's had all along. Too old, feeble (Ron Paul is older, but is spry). He is an anti-tax cut, amnesty pusher. As he becomes more of a front runner, like the nail that sticks up, the many enemies he's created will pound him down (eg Rush Limbaugh did it too him in South Carolina in 2000, and can do it again if need be).
Thompson has tended to fade over time.
Giuliani keeps on receding, and is an anathema to the social conservatives.
Romney might win by coming in second in successive states, where the winner in each state keeps on changing. If Romney is still standing on Super Tuesday, he might then have as good a chance as any of the other candidates, all of whom have built-in ceilings to the amount of GOP support they can receive.
In the National or the primary?
A Republican can’t win with just the south either, which is why Romney is the clear choice (and not my personal favorite candidate by the way).
Ignorant comment my friend.
I never alluded that one could.
What I AM saying is that a Mitt or a Rudy will not have the support of the South and thats all she wrote.
The backing of a few conservatives in the NE is worth a bucket of warm spit.
The dems have that pretty sewed up and the remaining battlegrounds after the secure states are discounted are in Ohio, parts of the Midwest, and a couple of SW states.
I've pointed out the exact same point previously, using this electoral map from 2004. Mitt could help us where we need it most.
Thank you, thank you and thank you for posting this article.
It will be because of these words, that I may actually be able to sleep tonight.....
” Recent winners of the Iowa caucuses include John Kerry, Al Gore, Tom Harkin, Dick Gephardt, Walter Mondale, and Bob Dole. None of whom went on to be President.”
;>)
Iowa has proven pretty reliable in choosing the party Presidential candidate. That is what this is about, why are people getting confused with a Presidential pick.
And some Freepers think I just pulled PA out of my @$$.
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