this would be a good time to help FR, click the pic
thank you!
With respect to needing and winning independents ... it’s a bunch of hogwash.
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: CORRECTING MYTHS ABOUT INDEPENDENT VOTERS
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/aia2011070702/
- the large majority of independents are independents in name only
- the large majority of self-identified independents are “closet partisans”
- independents with no party preference are 10% of the electorate & have a low rate of turnout
- in all three closely contested presidential elections since 1972, the candidate backed by most independent voters lost.
We don’t need independents. We need the conservative base. When we run moderates that the base opposes, we lose every time.
BuckeyeTexan is right about Independents. We do need someone who will turn out the base. The problem that the GOP faces is that their base used to be simpler to define. With the Tea Party there is now a distinctly small government libertararian leaning chunk of high motivatable (but not to be taken for granted) voters. This group is not motivated by the same issues as the Christian right. The Christian right delivered the turnout for both GWB wins. The Tea Party provided the turnout for the 2010 midterm win. The current GOP field is a disaster when you look at these two demographics. The candidates who appealed strongly to both, Perry, Bachman & Cain are all gone. Santorum appeals to the Christian right but the Tea Party doesn’t like his big government, pro-union, big brother votes. Newt both appeals to and disgusts both of those bases. Mitt appeals to neither. If it has to be one of those three than they really need to reach out to those groups. Romney and Santorum have both snubbed the Tea Party to their own demise. Newt’s penis has betrayed the Christian right too many time for their tolerance. Maybe the right VP can redeem one of those three. For turning out those bases here are some options - Santorum-West, Santorum-Rubio, Santorum-Cantor, Romney-Huckabee, Romney-West, Romney Santorum, Romney Perry, Gingrich-Huckabee, Gingrich-Perry.