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Romney, Santorum struggle to arouse consistent passion in their own voters, exit polls show
Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^ | March 19, 2012 | ALAN FRAM

Posted on 03/19/2012 3:38:09 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney may lead in delegates and Rick Santorum might have momentum, but neither of the two leading Republican presidential candidates is having an easy time exciting even his own voters.

Out of a dozen states where voters in the GOP contest have been polled, most Romney voters have said they strongly favor him in just five of them. A majority of Santorum voters felt that committed to him only four times out of 11 states where he was on the ballot and voters were surveyed.

Each man is struggling to consistently spark the intensity that could separate him from the pack.

Consider that Arizona is the only state where Romney had a higher proportion of voters expressing strong feelings about him than his rivals did. And Santorum hasn't had that edge in any state yet, despite an animated campaign style and passion for hot-button social issues like contraception that have contrasted with Romney's stiffer, more analytic manner.

On average, 50 percent of Romney voters and 49 percent of Santorum's say they strongly favor their candidate, with the rest expressing reservations about their man or a greater dislike for his rivals, according to entrance and exit polls of voters in 12 states.

When it comes to winning fervent devotion from his own supporters, both men trail former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Those two GOP presidential campaigns are lagging but 58 percent of Gingrich's backers and 53 percent of Paul's, on average, say they strongly favor their candidate. Analysts say higher percentages of devoted supporters are common with candidates whose lesser backing leaves them with only the most committed followers...........

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: conservatism; gingrich2012; gopprimary
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Rick Santorum is on Fox - talking about his campaign and hisself.

Nothing about ideas - solutions - policies or past experience.


21 posted on 03/19/2012 4:57:24 AM PDT by sodpoodle (Newtrition - soul food for a starving America.)
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To: sodpoodle

Rick still has a chance while Newt is finished finished finished.

So who do YOU want? Mitt?

The GOP-e will be running the convention in Tampa—do you think they are going to let their golden Boy Mitt lose?

Only Santorum can save us and Newt is in the way!


22 posted on 03/19/2012 5:00:53 AM PDT by Happy Rain ("Newt can't beat Mitt and Mitt can't beat Obama so what does Newt do? Picks Obama over Rick.")
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To: Happy Rain

Depressing ain’t it?


23 posted on 03/19/2012 5:05:51 AM PDT by sodpoodle (Newtrition - soul food for a starving America.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

24 posted on 03/19/2012 5:06:36 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (Without virtue, happiness cannot be. -- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Wait a second... these numbers are only nine percentage points apart on total spread, with only 3 points between the Romney/Santorum and Paul/Gingrich pairing. Also, as the article points out, “higher percentages of devoted supporters are common with candidates whose lesser backing leaves them with only the most committed followers.”

If I had been asked that question I'm not sure I would have said I strongly favor Santorum. Much would have depended on the exact wording. I have concerns about Santorum, but the same is true of the entire Republican field, and I would almost certainly vote for Gingrich if he were to become the nominee.

What **IS** interesting about the poll is the fervent dedication by Gingrich supporters compared to Ron Paul supporters. I'm very surprised by that. Either lots of Paulbots are having second thoughts (good!) or Newt Gingrich has managed to generate more enthusiasm among his people than Ron Paul, which is wonderful if true.

“On average, 50 percent of Romney voters and 49 percent of Santorum’s say they strongly favor their candidate... 58 percent of Gingrich's backers and 53 percent of Paul's, on average, say they strongly favor their candidate. Analysts say higher percentages of devoted supporters are common with candidates whose lesser backing leaves them with only the most committed followers.”

25 posted on 03/19/2012 5:07:23 AM PDT by darrellmaurina
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To: sodpoodle

It was an interview conducted by Kilmeade and some lady host.

Santorum was asked questions and he answered them.
He wasn’t asked to be on to do a policy speech in a 2 minute session.

Anything you can manufacture is what many of you do just to have a reason to criticize Santorum.

Geesh


26 posted on 03/19/2012 5:08:31 AM PDT by dforest
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To: sodpoodle
Neither Romney or Santorum are equipped to undo the damage that we have witnessed for the past 3 years.
Who will they choose for their ‘hatchet’ men and women; in the Cabinet?
How will they dismantle and abolish the Federal agencies that are dysfunctional or overreaching?
How much experience does either one have for dealing with Congress?
Impotence is not a winning strategy.

I hate to do it but......to quote Biden (from more than a few years ago when he was lecturing Condi Rice):

Bingo. Period. Dot.

27 posted on 03/19/2012 5:10:10 AM PDT by CAluvdubya
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To: Cincinatus' Wife


"No, he's putting the brakes to a Romney win and giving the base hope for a "discussion" at the convention. "

I understand...that's your story and you're skickin' with it. Only time will tell, now. Changing much at a brokered convention is fuzzy thinking in my opinion.


28 posted on 03/19/2012 5:12:34 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: jacknhoo

We’ll get Romney in a brokered convention


29 posted on 03/19/2012 5:29:07 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: cripplecreek

I don’t think we will have a brokered convention. I believe it is all noise to keep the remaining vote between Santorum and Gingrich split by the dream of a brokered convention.

A convention where the dream candidate will be installed as the nominee.

Romney is already halfway there. It may be June, but he will likely pick up enough delegates.

I hope I am wrong, but wishing doesn’t make it so either.


30 posted on 03/19/2012 5:37:44 AM PDT by dforest
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To: Happy Rain
Please. Santorum is Santorum's biggest threat.

See this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2860907/posts

Starting at 3:20, I've paraphrased, since I'm doing this mobile on a bus. mostly quoted (removed the "uhs" and "you knows").

Republicans, to our credit, have sort of morphed away from the Goldwater idea, you know, that the government needs to be smaller, needs to do less, it needs to be doing nothing except what it's core functions are, to a party that says we need to restructure the way we do programs to create the kind of incentives, help and programs that gives that authority to solve these problems to folks closer to these people, the family or individual themselves.

31 posted on 03/19/2012 5:48:18 AM PDT by cizinec ("Brother, your best friend ain't your Momma, it's the Field Artillery.")
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To: katiedidit1

Replacing a would be dictator with a lacklustre opponent isn’t going to be easy.

Romney-the Repoublican leadership pick is about as exciting as watching grass grow, Santorum isn’t much better , and the real candidate who might be able to actually save the Constitution is hated by most Republicans.

Newt is the only one with any chance of beating Obama, and he cannot beat his two opponents.


32 posted on 03/19/2012 5:53:16 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: darrellmaurina
What **IS** interesting about the poll is the fervent dedication by Gingrich supporters compared to Ron Paul supporters. I'm very surprised by that. Either lots of Paulbots are having second thoughts (good!) or Newt Gingrich has managed to generate more enthusiasm among his people than Ron Paul, which is wonderful if true.

You saw the same thing I did. I know that the GOP-e saw it too.

33 posted on 03/19/2012 5:56:40 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Venturer

That’s the spirit! /half joking


34 posted on 03/19/2012 5:57:05 AM PDT by PghBaldy (Obama is afraid if he needs to start a fight with Catholics. He's losing the women vote!!!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I don’t understand this type of article. OBAMA HAS ALREADY INSPIRED ME TO THE MAX! NO Republican candidate can do anything to get me more inspired to vote Obama out of office.


35 posted on 03/19/2012 6:04:29 AM PDT by LZ_Bayonet ( I AM THE TEA PARTY LEADER !)
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To: Happy Rain

“The conservative vote won’t be split in Nov if Rick is the candidate”

I am no more excited about Rick than I am Mitt and, yes, I am conservative. I just don’t believe either of them are.


36 posted on 03/19/2012 6:07:41 AM PDT by Amntn
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

GO NEWT!

My large family in CA can’t wait to vote for him!


37 posted on 03/19/2012 6:26:10 AM PDT by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Everyone except the GOP establishment could have seen this coming. The establishment cleared the decks of legitimate candidates because they deemed Mitt to be their boy. The rest was very predictable. They pumped up another RINO. However, this one is so odious and so blatant about his prgressive instincts that ther base is openly rejecting him. The establishment, and Mitt, assumed it would be easier and that the mouth-breathers in the base would just fall in line behind him.

That arrogance alone guarantees I will never vote for Romney.


38 posted on 03/19/2012 6:28:14 AM PDT by Buckeye Battle Cry (Not Romney - Not ever!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; kalee; TitansAFC; LuvFreeRepublic; Sea Parrot; SweetCaroline; matthew fuller; ...

58%’s ping :) GO NEWT!


39 posted on 03/19/2012 6:30:47 AM PDT by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

‘Good morning! It seems the Romney/Santorum voters are experiencing a bit of indigestion after voting for the “inevitable” and the “non-Romney” who isn’t viable unless the path is cleared for him.’

I’ve changed my view on Newt remaining in the race, given a recent poll that showed Santorum and Romney splitting his supporters more or less evenly. That would mean an easy Romney victory - and that is to be avoided at all costs!

As for Santorum “not being viable unless the path is cleared for him”, that criticism would go double for Gingrich, wouldn’t it? lol

“Newt is the firewall keeping the Establishment from rolling over us before the convention. And the GOP-e knows it. Time to fan the rise of Gingrich and a conservative uprising.”

I’m afraid you’re dreaming here. Newt had his chance, and blew it. Further, if he somehow did land the nomination, in my view he’d get creamed in the general. Even his performance among the “faithful” (Republicans) has been pretty abysmal.


40 posted on 03/19/2012 6:39:53 AM PDT by PreciousLiberty (Real Hope - Santorum '12!!!)
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