GOP Primaries/Candidates thread

[whitesoxfan101]

The WTA format in most of the states on the republican side combined with the success McCain will have Tuesday means he's pretty much got this locked up barring some complete shocking turns next week. However, he's very fortunate because the lack of money in his campaign would otherwise be a major issue obviously. Then again, he's also fortunate that Mitt Romney has run a very poor campaign, as many of the wounds he's suffered in this campaign have been self induced IMO.

[NorthSideSox72]

The WTA format in most of the states on the republican side combined with the success McCain will have Tuesday means he's pretty much got this locked up barring some complete shocking turns next week. However, he's very fortunate because the lack of money in his campaign would otherwise be a major issue obviously. Then again, he's also fortunate that Mitt Romney has run a very poor campaign, as many of the wounds he's suffered in this campaign have been self induced IMO.

As long as McCain wins in a big way on SDOGPEIT, then I agree, McCain probably can cruise to the nomination and not have to worry about the money (in terms of the primary campaign). But if Romney keeps it close next week, then McCain will have major problems.

 

[whitesoxfan101]

As long as McCain wins in a big way on SDOGPEIT, then I agree, McCain probably can cruise to the nomination and not have to worry about the money (in terms of the primary campaign). But if Romney keeps it close next week, then McCain will have major problems.

 

Oh for sure, that's why I reference the WTA format as McCain's best friend. He's not going to blow out Romney in any of these states (and if he does, it'll only be a state or two), but since winning by even just 1 vote in a lot of these states gets you all the delegates, I can't see how Romney will even be close by this time Wednesday.

[NorthSideSox72]

Oh for sure, that's why I reference the WTA format as McCain's best friend. He's not going to blow out Romney in any of these states (and if he does, it'll only be a state or two), but since winning by even just 1 vote in a lot of these states gets you all the delegates, I can't see how Romney will even be close by this time Wednesday.

Its all about state strategy, like in the general. Romney won't campaign everywhere - just in the states where he has a good shot at pushing the vote to a win, if its WTA. There are a few states that are gimme wins for each candidate, and they won't campaign in those states.

 

But also keep in mind, not all states are WTA. In fact, of all the states going on Tuesday, only New York (101 Delegates), Missouri (58), Arizona (53), New Jersey (52), Utah (36), Connecticut (30), and Montana (25). The other 14 states and their 729 delegates are non-WTA. California, by far the biggest prize, is not, and neither are GA or IL, the 3rd and 4th bigges prizes.

 

 

[Balta1701]

McCain scores the other LA Times endorsement.

[Balta1701]

One little note...Rudy 9iu11ani seems to have actually run the worst campaign in history...in terms of dollars spent per delegate. Rudy spent about $50 million and won 1 delegate. The worst before that was $11 million for a delegate in 1980.

[sox4lifeinPA]

One little note...Rudy 9iu11ani seems to have actually run the worst campaign in history...in terms of dollars spent per delegate. Rudy spent about $50 million and won 1 delegate. The worst before that was $11 million for a delegate in 1980.

 

 

Between him and Fred T, I don't know what the hell they were doing. These guys need to do some Viagra commercials next...talk about impotent campaigns.

[NorthSideSox72]

Under the radar, the Maine GOP Caucus is underway. There are 21 delegates at stake (18 pledged on results).

 

With 68% reporting...

 

Romney: 52%

McCain: 21%

Paul: 19%

Huckabee: 6%

 

Now, I am pretty sure that most folks skiped Maine anyway. But, those are still 18 valid delegates up for grabs.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Heh. Utah has its first poll out. I'm sure everyone will be shocked to learn that Romney is leading. Here are the numbers...

 

Romney: 84%

McCain: 4%

 

Those are not typos. Romney may break the state record for the biggest margin of victory ever in a state-wide vote.

 

[DBAHO]

That's quite a pounding there for McCain.

 

Of course it means absolutely nothing. If Romney wasn't winning by that much, I'd be worried if I was him.

[mr_genius]

Heh. Utah has its first poll out. I'm sure everyone will be shocked to learn that Romney is leading. Here are the numbers...

 

Romney: 84%

McCain: 4%

 

Those are not typos. Romney may break the state record for the biggest margin of victory ever in a state-wide vote.

Utah is a mirror image of the US population as a whole.

[knightni]

Hey, Mondale won Minnesota...

 

 

[Texsox]

Heh. Utah has its first poll out. I'm sure everyone will be shocked to learn that Romney is leading. Here are the numbers...

 

Romney: 84%

McCain: 4%

 

Those are not typos. Romney may break the state record for the biggest margin of victory ever in a state-wide vote.

Is there any connection to the two nice young men who just peddled up and dropped off some Romney '08 materials?

[southsider2k5]

Another interesting thought for the day... With Obama and Clinton seemingly locked into a 50-50 battle with no end in sight, could the big cash advantage that both of them have over McCain be nullified by a protracted and expensive battle for the Democratic nomination? McCain has the potential with a big super Tuesday to all but bury Mitt Romney. He might not be able to clinch, but he could put a big enough lead up to make it futile for Mitt to keep up the expensive fight. If McCain can obtain early victory he can seemingly sit on the sidelines waiting for the bloodied and well spent Democratic opponent to emerge.

[BigSqwert]

Another interesting thought for the day... With Obama and Clinton seemingly locked into a 50-50 battle with no end in sight, could the big cash advantage that both of them have over McCain be nullified by a protracted and expensive battle for the Democratic nomination? McCain has the potential with a big super Tuesday to all but bury Mitt Romney. He might not be able to clinch, but he could put a big enough lead up to make it futile for Mitt to keep up the expensive fight. If McCain can obtain early victory he can seemingly sit on the sidelines waiting for the bloodied and well spent Democratic opponent to emerge.

That is quite plausible IMO.

[Rex Kickass]

Another interesting thought for the day... With Obama and Clinton seemingly locked into a 50-50 battle with no end in sight, could the big cash advantage that both of them have over McCain be nullified by a protracted and expensive battle for the Democratic nomination? McCain has the potential with a big super Tuesday to all but bury Mitt Romney. He might not be able to clinch, but he could put a big enough lead up to make it futile for Mitt to keep up the expensive fight. If McCain can obtain early victory he can seemingly sit on the sidelines waiting for the bloodied and well spent Democratic opponent to emerge.

 

Unless the fight looks more like what we saw in South Carolina and less what we've seen in the last ten days, I think this may actually be worse for McCain.

 

A primary horse race that stays mostly positive merely makes both candidates look better and stronger every day for the general.

[mr_genius]

Unless the fight looks more like what we saw in South Carolina and less what we've seen in the last ten days, I think this may actually be worse for McCain.

 

If Clinton thinks she might lose, she will pull out every dirty trick in the Clinton book.

[southsider2k5]

So if McCain does cruise to an expected victory in Super Tuesday, he pretty much puts away Mitt Romney, and it is time to start thinking about VP candidates. Its obvious he has to find a right wing religious guy to balance him out. The rumor has been Mike Huckabee, and that might be a good fit if Obama was the Dem's nominee. That would cut into his strength in the south and religious areas. I got to thinking though, if it is Hillary, might you see McCain go to someone like Rick Santorium of PA, who get cut into Hill's strength in the NE?

[Rex Kickass]

Rick Santorum or Mike Huckabee would be as galvanizing to Democrats as Hillary Clinton would be to Republicans.

[southsider2k5]

Scratch Santorium. I had no idea how much bad blood there was between McCain and Santorium. They have had some legendary throwdowns.

[Rex Kickass]

Dear John McCain,

 

Please stop using my music at your rallies. I'm a Democrat, you aren't.

 

Love,John Mellencamp

[Balta1701]

Dear John McCain,

 

Please stop using my music at your rallies. I'm a Democrat, you aren't.

 

Love,John Mellencamp

Dude, they brought out Cheney to ROCK in the USA at the RNC in 04. They don't care.

 

And if that doesn't cut it, I can always bring up the classic Reagan/Boss combo.

[Balta1701]

So if McCain does cruise to an expected victory in Super Tuesday, he pretty much puts away Mitt Romney, and it is time to start thinking about VP candidates. Its obvious he has to find a right wing religious guy to balance him out. The rumor has been Mike Huckabee, and that might be a good fit if Obama was the Dem's nominee. That would cut into his strength in the south and religious areas. I got to thinking though, if it is Hillary, might you see McCain go to someone like Rick Santorium of PA, who get cut into Hill's strength in the NE?

The one other issue that I'll keep bringing up...John McCain is 72 years old. He is a war veteran, he has been through an awful lot in his life, he's spent the last however many years in an incredibly stressful position as a Senator and on top of it has run 2 presidential campaigns...and is trying out for an even more stressful job. Heck, he took out a life insurance policy as collateral to secure a loan to fund his campaign. He's personally even suggested that he wasn't sure if he'd be up for a 2nd term if he won the first.

 

Whoever he picks...they better be ready for the big chair on their own.

[Balta1701]

Here's some more info on whether or not McCain will be able to maneuver his way out of the spending limits that come with accepting public money for a campaign. The short answer seems to be that he'll probably be able to.

[StrangeSox]

Romney on Dole:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romney on Dole (a little later):

Romney clarified his comments on "Fox & Friends" about Bob Dole.

 

“I think very highly of Senator Dole,” said Romney to reporters in Charleston, West Virgina. “I do not think highly of the mental set that says we should choose our nominee based on how many years they’ve served and how long they’ve waited in line.”

 

Romney said he’d “love” to have Dole’s support and recalled going to several of his fundraisers.

 

“I believe I was a contributor to his presidential campaign,” said Romney. “If I wasn’t, I should have been.”

 

 

Mitt Romney, the most consistent man in politics.

Edited February 5, 2008 by StrangeSox