Cruz, Walker top 'Hot Air Primary'

Examiner ^ | April 23, 2015 | Gary Gross

[SoConPubbie]

The latest 'HotAir Primary' results show Ted Cruz and Scott Walker leading the GOP pack by a significant margin. The first question in HotAir's unscientific poll asks "If the Republican Primary were held today, who would you vote for"? Ted Cruz leads with 668 votes, which represents 37.5% of the people surveyed. Scott Walker, by comparison, got 616 votes, which represents 34.6% of the people surveyed. Marco Rubio finished with 10.7% of the respondents, followed by Rand Paul with 6.3% of the votes.

The other statistic that's jumping off the page for the Walker campaign is that Gov. Walker is the second choice of 29% of activists responding, compared with Sen. Cruz's 18%.

There are three things that we should take from this unscientific poll.

First, Sen. Cruz has considerable support amongst the most conservative activists. This isn't surprising considering his unabashed support of conservative policies. The question isn't whether he excites conservatives. It's whether he'll be supported by people who don't identify themselves as conservatives.

Next, we shouldn't think of Jeb Bush as the frontrunner. In 2012, conservatives supported Mitt Romney because he was 'conservative enough'. This cycle, nobody's going to support Jeb Bush because he's conservative enough. Until he proves that he can win over conservatives, he'll simply be the guy with high name recognition, a magnificent fundraising operation and tepid support amongst the activists that powered the 2010 and 2014 landslides.

That isn't enough to win.

The other thing that people should take from this poll is that Scott Walker is drawing support from across the conservative spectrum.Staunch conservatives that support Ted Cruz approve of Scott Walker. So-called mainstream conservatives are excited about Gov. Walker, too.

From the outset, Gov. Walker's appeal has been broad-based and motivated. Despite the DC media's criticism of his missteps,

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

    Ted Cruz Ping!

    If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.
    Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

    CRUZ or LOSE!

[Lurkinanloomin]

For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone is backing Rubio. His scheming with Schumer and the Gang against the citizens were proof he could not be trusted.

[Gator113]

I’ll be voting for Cruz. Period.

[DoughtyOne]

That makes two of us...

I don’t think anyone here is much in favor of Rubio. He’s proved his worth. End of the line...

[Windflier]

For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone is backing Rubio.

Because unfortunately, there's still such a thing as low-info, knee-jerk, Republican voters.

[DoughtyOne]

I don't know if I can support Cruz.

He hasn't lied to me yet.

You know, I just can't trust a guy that doesn't lie to me.

If I can't look others in the eye and say, "Yes, but I trust him anyway! What does it matter now?", it just doesn't feel right. /Sarcasim

I know just how the Clinton and Obama supporters feel. /Sarcasim

They are so right... /Sarcasim

Go Hillary, Go Bill, Go Obama... LIE LIE LIE /Sarcasim

Come on Conservatives, you know I'm right! /Sarcasim

Lets not see anymore trashing of people who lie. /Sarcasim

[dware]

For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone is backing Rubio.

Or Walker, or Bush, or Christie, or Grahmnesty, or (Insert milqtoast GOPe candidate name here)

[Gator113]

Sure fits with the Walker crew. ;>)

[DoughtyOne]

= :^)

Now now, if folks want a known liar, or think it doesn’t matter when someone on ‘our side’ lies, or simply don’t have the mental faculties to be able to comprehend the fact he lied, we should cut them some slack.

We don’t make fun of people with other disabilities.

[Yaelle]

I know someone who is conservative but wants “electable” — doesn’t want a Bush or Romney, but actually thinks Rubio is “perfect.” There may be others.

[DoughtyOne]

Man I don’t get that. LOL

Well, there’s one. = :^)