While McCain might get the independent votes, he will lose the core of the GOP conservative base. These will offset, and he will get creamed. Same goes for Rudy. Huckabee will lose the fiscal conservatives and conservatives with any amount of real intelligence, which after viewing these first few primaries one might wonder how big a percentage that really is. But for argument sake, let's assume it is significant. That leaves us with Romney, who has argued during this presidential race all the right positions. But many conclude he is insincere or at least not conservative in his gut.
Without Thompson, this is looking pretty grim.
McCain needed South Carolina to emerge as the front runner..Thompson delivered it to him...Thompson spent the last week excoriating Huckabee, who was McCain's only threat in South Carolina....Are you so naive that you think Thompson does not have a polling staff... he knew exactly where he would land, who didn't?
Thompson is establishment....the republican establishment will not have Huckabee....because..by golly ...if we have to choose between moderate Christian and a moderate maverick...the establishment is going for the maverick....
The social conservatives have been the trained dogs of the republican party...we get a bone now and then to keep us under the table. But there is no jumpping up and sitting at the table.....thats where the money and the power sit.