Posted on 01/25/2008 10:02:32 AM PST by BplusK
With Thompson dropping out of the presidential race, his conservative supporters are wondering who to support now. He has not yet endorsed one of the remaining candidates. There are four viable Republican candidates left; Huckabee, Romney, McCain and Giuliani. Giuliani is unacceptable to the kind of conservative who was supporting Thompson, because of his liberal social views and reputation as a moderate. He has yet to win a primary and may drop out of the race if he doesn’t win Florida. McCain and Romney are currently tied for the lead in Florida polls.
McCain is leading national polls, but Huckabee and Romney have more delegates than he does so far, which is what will ultimately determine the primary outcome. Huckabee is expected to do well on Super Tuesday, February 5, when 21 states, including quite a few southern states, will be holding their primaries. Many of those primaries are closed, so Independents won’t be able to vote in the Republican primary, which had helped McCain.
Although not quite as liberal as Giuliani, Huckabee, Romney and McCain have problems with their records which have made conservatives hesitant to support them. Rush Limbaugh said yesterday this may be the first election he doesn’t support a Republican.
Huckabee’s record on fiscal issues is troubling. However, his record on social issues is outstanding and he is to be admired for not hiding the fact he’s a Christian. Compare this with John McCain, who not only has a poor record on fiscal issues such as tax cuts, but also has a poor record on social issues, receiving only a 65 rating in the most recent rating from the American Conservative Union, lower than even Nebraska’s Senator Chuck Hagel who received a 75. He's also referred to conservative Christian leaders who didn't support him as "agents of intolerance," comparing them to Louis Farrakhan. National talk radio hosts like Limbaugh and Sean Hannity can’t stand McCain, and columnist George Will recently said he’s no maverick, he’s really just a Democrat. McCain received a 75 rating from National Right to Life, and Brent Bozell reported yesterday that McCain aides whispered to reporters that he wasn’t really that opposed to abortion and would come around on gay rights. McCain is disliked by the Republican party base and conservatives in Arizona, who consistently rate him as the most unacceptable candidate for president. Last year the chairman of the Maricopa County GOP wore a sticker that said “McCain 2008” crossed out.
Romney claims to be a conservative now that he’s running for president, and to his credit, did make some changes his last year or so in office, such as signing a bill banning partial-birth abortion. However, supporting Romney is a big gamble, since the pattern is that most candidates tend to run conservative then become more liberal after they enter office.
Yesterday Duncan Hunter endorsed Huckabee. Hunter was one of the most solid conservatives in the race, so this endorsement should not be taken lightly. Even libertarian Neil Boortz appears to be supporting Huckabee, because of his Fair Tax plan which would eliminate the IRS. At this point, Huckabee is looking like the best remaining viable candidate for conservatives to support.
Romney for me, I don’t think Huckabee has what it takes right now to be President but I will certainly pull his lever if it comes down to between him and any of the Dem’s running.
It’s Mitt or a miracle for me.
ditto
1. Mitt
2. Giuliani
3/4. MacAbee
I really don’t like this at all....Mitt, I guess.
Huckabee is like a pro-life John Edwards.
I vote for a nice sturdy thoroughbred . . .
Dark Horse!
Mitt Romney, without a doubt.
Staying home.
Sorry, but Fred's supporters are mostly going to Mitt or staying home. A few with go to Huckabee, but that will be less than 20%.
Don't stay home. There will be other races and measures which will need your vote.
We are talking about FRedHeads ????
Y’OK...
A REAL FRedHead would never go for RINO Romney
If a “FRedHead moved on to RINO Romney....
1. They did not agree with FRed on the issues
2. They are not a REAL conservative themselves
No conservative would deliberately toss aside their conservative principles and values to vote for liberal Romney or any of the other RINOs left in the GOP lineup...
Vote your conscience ?????
Things go Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I’m going to Romney because he’s the best of the rest IMHO.
I think the last guy from Hope was enough in the White House.
“Where do Fred Thompson supporters go from here?”
Home? Third party? Whatever.
The Republican wing of the Republican Party is no longer represented in the current presidential election.
We go where all the Mitt supporters who bashed Fred for months want us to go.
All together now: “We are all individuals.”
I am not voting for Huckabee. Ever.
My kids are going to go to a Baptist school. It’s not the religious aspect of his candidacy. Though, I must say that I’m not enthused by some of his previous social proposals.
He just seems way too slimy, like another Governor from AK we had as POTUS.
As for myself, where do I go after Fred? Ron Paul. Yes, many of you think he’s a loon — but he stands for all the underlying principles that made this country great. His Big Sin is his opposition to the War in Iraq.
I’d rather desert Iraq than cede any more ground to the enemy at home. I don’t need socialized medicine, perks for children of illegals, etc...
Huck is just another MeCain.
...don't you see that?
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