[quote] The only person I can think of with Reagan's "likability" is Rudy(HE isn't a "Conservative" but he has "it") IF he can position himself correctly with States rights issues and such, smooth sailin'
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Romney loses in a LANDSLIDE... He wont even win his home state against Hilary.
McCain loses by a few more States than Kerry and Gore lost by. Namely because Hillary will likely win several states in the South (Arkansas and maybe Florida and Republicans CAN NOT WIN without sweeping the South.)
Rudy WINS. And he KICKS HER &%$ ALL across America...
MOST IMPORTANTLY, he wins New York... NO DEMOCRAT WINS without winning NEW YORK... It would be an early evening if Rudy is the nominee.
Rudy is a native son of New York. Hilary is a carpetbagger. He will win the entire state EXCEPT MAYBE for Manhattan where he makes it real close if not a win... He wins the rest of the Burroughs, and all of Upstate. And doesn't get his teeth knocked in ANYWHERE in the state, which is enough for a win.
Plus he forces her to BLEED money IN NEW YORK, which leaves less money for the states that have been "Battlegrounds" for the last two elections. Rudy wins Pennsylvania & PROBABLY OHIO. Rudy wins much of the Northeast except for Mass & Vermont. Rudy wins most of the Midwest except for Illinois & maybe Minnesota. Rudy wins most of the traditional central "red states". Hilary MAY pick up a couple of these, New Mexico & Colorado. But after losing New York, it doesn't matter... By the time those polls close, nobody is watching.
Reagan won as a CONSERVATIVE because he was running against a FAILED LIBERAL. That is not going to be the case. Its an open seat... To win you have to move DRASTICALY to the center. 2008 is NOT the year to make a last stand on principles...
You said, in part: Reagan won as a CONSERVATIVE because he was running against a FAILED LIBERAL. That is not going to be the case. Its an open seat... To win you have to move DRASTICALY to the center. 2008 is NOT the year to make a last stand on principles...
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I could not agree with you less. It is not, or at least should not be, only about winning. The GOP could probably run a "moderate" (i.e., liberal) candidate and win the presidency, but what would we have won? Politicians seek to win. Conservatives should seek to govern with conservative policies. If the electorate doesn't get it, they eventually (as they did beginning in 1980) will. I oppose softening our positions solely in order to win.
I think Rudy would take MN.