Posted on 01/03/2012 8:08:24 AM PST by Free Vulcan
Live thread to cover today's GOP caucus. News, predictions, opinions, totals, and the like.
Will be heading out about 4 pm or so to get our site ready and do a final review with the precinct chairs. I expect it to be bigger than 2008 with very heavy turnout and we are preparing for that.
We are also ready for disruptions. They simply won't be tolerated. The state party sent us a memo saying if there's any trouble call the cops immediately. Anyone trying to cause problems is going to get a rude awakening.
My predictions of the outcome are a narrow field with about a 10 point spread for the top five with Bachmann far behind in single digits:
Santorum - 24 Romney - 22 Paul - 20 Perry - 17 Gingrich - 14 Bachmann - 4 The Rest - 1
Think things are still in flux and many won't decide till right to the wire, so I'm not terribly confident of any predictions.
BBC reporter Ben Bevington reported on their website earlier:
A Santorum supporter confesses to me that she didn’t get round to voting tonight - she’d spent time earlier at the Fox News live position looking out for favourite presenters. “I hope that doesn’t matter at the end!”
It just might....
Keokuk is in.
Santorum +24!
That’s all folks!
Which is why folks shouldn't place too many bets on what will happen over the next few months by the outcome of this contest. The winner of the Iowa Caucus hasn't won the nomination in I don't know how long. It's almost become the kiss of death to win it.
Weird, we turned our numbers in hours ago and Keokuk was all there as far as I know.
It gets Santorum’s foot in the door, he now has an opportunity to build on it, whether he does or not, we shall see, but I’m putting my support behind him now.
“In a pick up truck all across Iowa, and only got a big bus like the big boys in the final days?”
It’s what movies are made up, but it REALLY happened!
from the NY Times, late tonight:
DES MOINES — Mitt Romney’s quest to swiftly lock down the Republican presidential nomination with a commanding finish in the Iowa caucuses was spoiled on Tuesday night by the surging candidacy of Rick Santorum, who fought him to a draw on a shoestring budget by winning over conservatives who remain skeptical of Mr. Romney.
“BBC reporter Ben Bevington reported on their website earlier:
A Santorum supporter confesses to me that she didn’t get round to voting tonight - she’d spent time earlier at the Fox News live position looking out for favourite presenters. “I hope that doesn’t matter at the end!”
It just might....”
One of my candidates lost because I was unable to get to the polls myself. Too busy GOTV. He lost by a single vote in the nomination meeting.
He came out of nowhere, but man, that one stung. So now I’ve always voted first, then GOTV.
” .....may God indeed have Mercy and forgive us for waiting so long to wake up...” <<<
Very well said. We nearly slept through a total take-over as we shopped our nation under. Can you believe something like 80% of our economy, or more, was/is based on consumerism. Shameful.
Rick Santorum, who defeated him.
FTFY. Santorum wins.
The Final Vote count doesn’t matter, Santorum is still the big winner tonight.
Oh, no, this reminds me of those math problems..A train is leaving Penn station to San Francisco, and traveling 60 miles an hour. An hour later, a train leaving San Francisco, traveling at 35 miles an hour...
I would also like to see Perry regroup and stay in awhile longer and see if he can get any momentum back. He has enough money.
Bachmann is low on money and will probably need to drop out soon.
Wonder who she will endorse when she does? or will she wait to endorse.
And I wish Huntsman would drop out, but pundits are saying he will do well in NH.
955 posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2012 9:56:44 PM by Aroostook25: “Having a child at age 48 with the very high risk of Trisomy 18 is beyond foolish and stupid. More like hubris and arrogance.”
What would you recommend be done with a Trisomy 18 child? Abortion? Since you’ve said a lot of stuff about Santorum on this thread tonight I think it’s time to call you out and ask where you stand.
Have you forgotten that the Santorums are Roman Catholic and unlike many Roman Catholics they take church teachings on birth control seriously? For them, “having a child” is not their decision but God’s decision. You may disagree, and that’s fine if you’re not Roman Catholic, but I will not tell someone that they ought to act contrary to the tenets of their faith.
For the record I am not Roman Catholic. I have strong objections to Roman Catholic doctrine on much more serious issues than birth control. However, there is no way I am going to criticize someone for practicing what their church preaches. If you don’t agree with your church, get out, but as long as you’re a member in good standing, do what the church teaches or at least keep quiet about your difficulties or different sentiments rather than claiming to be a loyal church member while publically attacking the church and its teachings.
The first indication will be what happens to Santorum's fund raising tomorrow. Conservatives finally have a viable, truly conservative candidate...will they step up?
Well CNN is showing Santorum up 4. Not sure why it’s not been declared.
Most of that $150K went to gas for the minivan.
Gawd, that was some race. (was it Daschle or Johnson?)
I remember staying up till I crashed at 4am EST with Thune ahead @500 votes; woke up a few hours later, lo and behold, the reservations came in putting IIRC Johnson up by 500.
The next big role for HERMAN CAIN is to ENDORSE!! (And assist with supporters, lists, ground troops, joint appearances, you name it). Remember, Iowa is just the start. Reagan lost Iowa to Bush in 1980, and almost lost New Hampshire until he caught his steam. Romney should do well in New Hampshire, so Rick needs to dig deep into his support as much as possible up there, then make a last distch, hold the line stand in the South and turn out church folks there in DROVES for him against that libertine, moderate New Englander, Romney. South Carolina is where it can happen, where it can start to unravel for Golden Boy.
2008 alone was enough for me. It was the first time I’d ever paid such close attention to an election.
So many twists and turns, ups and downs.
After a while, it started to look rigged the way people were suddenly dropping out.
I’ll do my best in the voting booth and keep on praying for divine intervention. ; )
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