Posted on 01/15/2008 6:16:27 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Michigan native Mitt Romney won the affection of the largest plurality of poll-goers in the state Tuesday, pulling ahead of rival John McCain by appealing to the Republican base with an economic message.
With 11 percent of the voting in, Romney was at 37 percent over McCain with 31 percent. Mike Huckabee had 16 percent while Ron Paul polled at 7 percent. Fred Thompson had 4 percent and Rudy Giuliani was at 3 percent.
Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said Romney’s message on the economy resonated with voters.
“We feel very good, very optimistic about the turnout we’ve had,” he told FOX News, adding that the governor’s message appealed to voters “who want to see somebody who can bring together economic conservatives, social conservatives and national conservatives, but also who’s the leader for the future, who’s going to bring the Republican Party back, who’s going to help bring Michigan’s economy back and the American economy back.”
Democratic delegates are not being seated at the national convention and most Democratic candidates withdrew from the race, leaving Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel the only active contenders on that ballot. With 10 percent in, Clinton had 61 percent compared to 34 percent for “uncommitted,” 4 percent for Kucinich and 1 percent for Gravel.
Low turnout appeared to help Romney in the 2008 Republican presidential primary race, as the more committed party types braved frigid temperatures despite a night of snowfall of up to 6 inches in some areas. Estimates were that only about 20 percent of eligible voters were expected to show up at polling stations across the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at youdecide08.foxnews.com ...
Not the end of Mitt. Maybe a wrap for Rooty ?
Hillary wins a Soviet-style election... only name on the ballot...
It would seem that about 40% of her own party doesn’t want her.
The actor is my first choice even if he voted for mccain/feingold, but I can get 100% behind Romney. I am a Bible Believing Christian who would vote for a Conservative Mormon before a Bible Believing Christian “Liberal” like the huckster. I last voted democratic for jimmy carter, But if McCain becomes nominee of the party I will vote Democrat because McCain has hurt the conservative movement more than any other Republican. Can you image what liberals ideas would become law if he became president? I last voted democratic for jimmy carter, But if McCain becomes nominee of the party I will vote Democrat because McCain has hurt the conservative movement more than any other Republican. Can you image what liberals ideas would become law if he became president?, at least hillary would have the Republicans in congress fighting her and not making mccain legislation which could kill the conservative movement for decades.
This can hardly be called a win for Hillary...It was just her way of getting out of saying the wrong thing "again". Smile, frown...kiss a few babies...
Michigan violated both parties’ primary rules by moving up their primary.
The Dems took away all of Michigan’s delegates. All of the candidates promised not to enter the Michigan primary. Then Hillary double crossed the others by entering at the last minute.
The Republicans took away most but not all of Michigan’s delegates. Romney made a big effort here because it is his home state and his father was Governor.
Reading your post gave me Deja Vu.
Only if it's a wrap for Fred too.
Did you hear Romney’s speech? Borders and Economic revival. Mitt looked like the guy his record suggests he is: a super-effective CEO who can fix messed up crap. Go Mitt!
Given the reasonable prospect of brokered conventions in both parties, why would any state risk losing some or all of its delegates?
Here in Wisconsin I finally decided and I put a Romney sticker on my car. With only 5 weeks until our primary, I figure I need to do a little advertising for Romney, just in case our primary actually counts for something this year.
I don’t know how valid it is, or what it takes, but some of the voters in Michigan claim they voted for Paul to give him the false impression he had a surge behind him so he would go third party in November and sink the Republicans.
Don’t know what it takes to get on a Presidential Ballot but the guy could hook up with Huckabee and give us a Twilight Zone pair that could appeal to nut jobs from both parties.
First, a brokered convention hasn’t happened in a long time. However, nominations decided early in the primary process has happened a lot. For Michigan, getting an early say with a primary matters more than having a few delegates at a convention that’s usually a coronation show. And look, an early Michigan primary got GOP candidates talking about the economy (which is issue number one in that state).
Second, those delegates might be restored at the convention. If Hillary needs some delegates to win, you can almost guarantee that she’ll do whatever it takes to have them restored. Heck, she’ll probably be working behind the scenes to make sure uncommitted delegates are hers too, so she can have an nice chunk of extra potential votes at the convention.
Also, one or both parties might restore them to curry favor in the general election.
All in all, I believe that moving up and taking the penalties was probably worth it for Michigan.
They are just nuts, let them be as nuts as they like, we don't want them inside our party influencing policy.
My point was not about the epic strength of Ron at 7% in one state primary. It was about the continued ability of real life politicians to win great whopping blocks of votes as pundits and media types of all kinds, including here, turn up their noses at their professional pol-ishness and swoon for anything else.
Those numbers are a stinging defeat for Clinton.
Running against Kucinich, Gravel, and “Uncommitted”, Clinton can barely manage 60% in the democratic primary.
Ah, crap. Hillary WINS? Was she even on the ballot?
If Rudy wins some big states on super tuesday, he's back in the mix, but I think the late arrivers made a mistake, and will pay for it. People may not pay complete attention, but they know who's in the game and who's not. Rudy and Fred will likely be gone by the time the Super Tuesday votes are counted.
Even if Fred wins SC, it's still sort of like, so what? It's looking more and more like it's gonna come down to McCain, Huck, and Romney. Folks can piss and moan about the MSM all they want, but the lay of the land is well known. It's their job to overcome it.
Anyone but McInsane
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.