Posted on 01/30/2008 10:02:49 AM PST by jdm
In the wake of the loss in Florida yesterday, Mitt Romney needs to focus on tonight's debate to break out as the conservative choice for the nomination. John McCain has taken leads in significant Super Tuesday states, and tonight will be the last national audience for all of the remaining candidates before 21 states go to the polls or the caucuses. Romney has to ignite conservatives and make this a binary race across a clear ideological line.
Some feel that the moment has already passed. Writers at The Corner and Dick Morris have resigned themselves to a Romney loss before more than 10% of the necessary delegates have been won. Others, like my friend and indefatigable Romney supporter Hugh Hewitt, argue that the numbers show that no one can win next week. The truth lies in between, as Hugh has the numbers correct but avoids acknowledging the role momentum plays.
Romney has one big advantage, but it will only be an advantage this week. He has better organizational strength and more resources. He can be more places at the same time as John McCain, which makes a difference when 21 states hold their contests on the same day. He can get his message across to more people simultaneously after this debate, and do it more often. After February 5th, that becomes far less necessary as we go back to a series of one- or two-state primary dates that stretches into April, when Pennsylvania goes to the polls.
If Romney wants to build momentum and define the race in binary conservative vs moderate terms, he has to start tonight and get aggressively positive about his credentials. He has only a few days in which he can crowd McCain out of the messaging. If he can't do that tonight and for the next five days, he will have little chance of prevailing, especially if McCain takes a big delegate lead next week.
What does McCain need to do? He needs to reach out to conservatives. He started last night with a gracious victory speech, but he needs to address the real and honest concerns on policy that conservatives still have with McCain. They need to see McCain promise to go after the Democrats with the same fervor that he went after Republicans over the years, and he has to convince them that he won't go back on his word on border security and tax cuts. After this debate, he has to make a significant outreach effort, and CPAC would be the best place to do this.
Romney is sure to lose against Clinton
I think Romney could easily beat Clinton. The conservatives would come out in droves to keep Hillary out and I think there will be less that will sit out if Romney is the candidate. We Know what we are getting with McCain. It’s Hillary lite.
I do have a big problem with the notion of a Mormon in the White House, and I dont really see Romney as being any better than Hillary on abortion gays. Romney congradulates them on Pride week and then acts all conservative when hes running for president. Please, Huckabee is really conservative on these issues. Romney is as liberal as they come.
I was thinking how to respond to this when it occurred to me there's no need to add any of my thoughts at all. This post in and of itself pretty much sums up why I'd never, ever vote for Huckabee.
I see Romney as the only one left that could win debates and articulate a fiscally conservative agenda. I think he got it from Gulianne, who came out with actual NUMBERS, not vague ‘tax cuts’ talk. He needs to have the facts and figures, than use them to show he understands how America works, which no other candidate, Democrat or Republican has.
MSM discussing the 2008 election: "We have the dhimmis stuck in the losing position
of rooting for someone they don't like or trust to whump someone else they neither like nor trust. We win."
It really doesn't matter at this point.
In the meantime, I'll be looking at properties in the Philippines.
Romney has 74 delegates, Huckabee has 29. Huckabees running third in the Rasmussen and Gallup polls behind Romney. Huckabee needs to bow out.
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And Huckabee is running ahead in the other major polls. Romney is a faux conservative. Just an old fashioned rich guy Rockefeller Republican. Bush III. Don’t pretend he’s conservative. Enough crazy has been sold this primary season.
“I think Romney could easily beat Clinton. The conservatives would come out in droves to keep Hillary out and I think there will be less that will sit out if Romney is the candidate.”
Absolutely.
Romney and Bush I are tight. He’s Romney’s mentor. Another reason not to vote for Romney.
Absolutely, Mitt must:
Point out in stark terms, the details of the Amnesty crap McCain wants, and who is serving on his team that advocate this.
Also, hit McCain HARD on the McCain - Leiberman bill and it’s effect on the average voter and the entire economy.
McCain - Feingold is less important than the first 2 issues I brought up to the average voter. They do not get it, so while he should bring it up, the focus on McCain record and platform should stress how a McCain Presidency would screw the average voter.
MOgirl
What Romney needs to do is give Hispanics a reason to vote for him. If the GOP alienates these voters, the GOP will be in the minority for a LONG time to come.
I’m not saying he has to pander. But he has to get across the message that we do not hate Mexicans, Hondurans, etc. That there IS a place for them in the GOP, and that there IS a reasonable way to address immigration.
“You are a bigot!”
No, I’m a Bible believing Blood Bought Christian. The fact that I’m ready to point out Romney’s psuedo-Christian beliefs is not bigotry...it is truth. Something that mormons don’t understand since they have bought into the lies of one of the greatest flim flam artists in history - Joseph Smith (The 19th Century’s L. Ron Hubbard and David Koresh).
>Huckabee can and will make a good VP pick for McCain.
I want some of what you have been smoking.
I will never vote McCain.
Exactly. McCain/Lieberman is calling for a 50 cent/gallon tax increase.
This needs to be repeated like a broken record.
I think McCain will hit Romney hard on the social issues if it turns into a food fight . . . and I think it will hit Romney as hard and as ugly as an amnesty attack will hit McCain.
“A McCain - Hickabee ticket will do about as well as George McGovern in 1972 or Barry Goldwater in 1964. is that what you want?”
You are just a sore loser supporting a loser. A McCain/Huckabee ticket is a winning combination.
THAT is why the MSM wants 'NO CHANCE-Romney' as the losing GOP candidate.
McCain is no liberal. He has backstabbed conservatives on numerous occasions, but he more often than not votes conservative. He has an 82.3 lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. While quite a few are better, many are much worse. Compare that to Santorum at 88.1, or Kennedy at 2.5.
I voted for Mitt yesterday, but if McCain is our nominee, I’ll be there to happily vote against Hillary/Obama and hope that McCain keeps some of his promises to us.
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It is indeed. It's a winning combination for the Democrats.
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