Republican Primary

  • Thread starter Thread starter CMatt25
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
http://conhomeusa.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f4f7f710970b0167617882d0970b-500wi

THE MESSAGE OF THE EXIT POLLS

“According to exit poll data, Romney lost “very conservative voters” — who made up 33 percent of the Florida voters — to Gingrich, 43 percent to 29 percent. While Romney won 51 percent to 32 percent among “somewhat conservative” voters, he lost evangelical voters to Gingrich, albeit by a small margin, 39 percent to 36 percent.” - Politico
Code:
 "In a positive sign for Gingrich, exit polls showed evangelical voters trending for the former House speaker. The exit polls showed Gingrich with 40 percent among that group, and Romney with 36 percent." - [Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/31/romney-leading-among-seniors-hispanics-in-florida-exit-polls/)
“While Romney bested the former House speaker narrowly among men, he strongly outdistanced him among women, winning 52 percent to 28 percent.” - Huffington Post
Code:
"Two in three Florida primary voters say the presidential debates were an important factor in their vote ... Electability was what Florida Republican voters were seeking in a candidate: 45 percent said the most important candidate quality is that they could defeat President Obama." - [CBS](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57369226-503544/florida-primary-exit-polls-2-3rds-say-debates-mattered/)
EXPENSIVE ADVERTISING WON THE DAY
Code:
"The former Massachusetts governor and his allies outspent the former House speaker and his friends by a 5-1 margin on Florida's pricey airwaves, according to some accounts. They blanketed the state with reminders of Gingrich's exhausting past, from the now infamous $1.6 million Freddie Mac payment to the $300,000 ethics fine that contributed to his ouster from the House leadership in the late 1990s." - [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/31/politics/florida-primary-analysis/index.html)

"Santorum (who got 222,248 votes) and Paul (who got 116,776 votes) didn’t buy any TV ads. Gingrich and his super PAC spent $3,277,268 on TV ads, and he got 531,294 votes.  Romney and his super PAC spent $15,538,515 on TV ads, and he got 771,842 votes." - [Weekly Standard](http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/votes-1000-spent-florida_620808.html)

Romney votes cost 3 times Gingrich votes - [Politico](http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/02/romney-votes-cost-times-gingrich-votes-113071.html#.TyjMli9xi1g.twitter)
GINGRICH’S WEAKNESSES
Code:
He reacts badly to Romney's negative ads: "Gingrich's behavior had the same effect in Florida that it had in New Hampshire, which was to turn off voters who might otherwise be open to the Gingrich message." - [Byron York
](http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/article/why-romney-won-why-gingrich-lost/352121)
“Although he offered a much more flexible and lenient policy on illegal immigration, Florida Hispanics gave Romney a 54 percent majority of their votes, nearly double the 28 percent for Gingrich.” - National Journal

“The Romney campaign and friendly groups spent heavily on Florida airwaves to highlight Gingrich’s vulnerabilities.” - Washington Post

GINGRICH DEFIANT IN DEFEAT

“Gingrich made clear that he plans to follow through on his promise to turn the Republican race into a months-long hunt for delegates. … “46 States To Go,” read a sign attached to the front of Gingrich’s podium in Orlando.” - CNN

“In a dizzying display of campaign hubris with a pinch of denial… The former House speaker rattled off eight specific achievements that he promised to accomplish within a few hours of his inauguration, including five that he would enact by executive order” - Daily Caller

“Magnanimous Newt was not in attendance. Apparently, no one had told the former House Speaker this was supposed to be a concession speech. Who knows, perhaps no one even told him he’d lost. He mentioned Romney only in passing - “Massachusetts moderate” - and never came close to congratulating him” - Toby Harnden
 
ROMNEY STILL HAS MAJOR WEAKNESSES
Code:
"Despite the big win, more than four in 10 Florida voters see him as not conservative enough (including about one in 10 of his own supporters). And about three in 10 say they would be dissatisfied if Romney were the nominee." - [Washington Post
](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...-romneys-romp/2012/01/03/gIQAxF5FgQ_blog.html)
“If you add Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum together, they come in a point behind Mitt Romney. But add in the bitter candidate clingers who just can’t let go… of Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman, and Herman Cain and suddenly, suddenly, the non-Romney’s win without even adding in Ron Paul.” - RedState
Code:
Republicans are not that excited about the race: "With nearly all of the votes counted, Republican turnout is about 1.7 million. By comparison, just under 2 million Republicans voted in Republican primary there in 2008." - [Nate Silver
](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytime...gs/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

Romney to receive Secret Service protection “within days” - CNN

Why Romney Won, Why Gingrich lost - Washington Examiner
 
The charge that Romney denied kosher food to Jewish retirees is a lie typical of Gingrich (or his super-pac).

Essentially nursing homes tried to cut costs by closing the extra kitchens necessary to prepare kosher food in-house and had it catered instead. See this article in Commentary.

I hope Newt and Mitt destroy each other, leaving the way open for Paul or failing that, Santorum.
There was enough twisting of the truth on both sides to last a lifetime. But let’s deal in reality here, not our personal preferences. Dr. Paul has absolutely no chance of being the GOP nominee and I doubt Santorum (sadly) has much more. I am not enthused about either of the other candidates, but it is, IMO, absolutely essential that we retire Obama. I am willing to vote for whoever gets the nomination in hopes of making that happen.
 
There was enough twisting of the truth on both sides to last a lifetime. But let’s deal in reality here, not our personal preferences. Dr. Paul has absolutely no chance of being the GOP nominee and I doubt Santorum (sadly) has much more. I am not enthused about either of the other candidates, but it is, IMO, absolutely essential that we retire Obama. I am willing to vote for whoever gets the nomination in hopes of making that happen.
Me too! 👍
 
ROMNEY STILL HAS MAJOR WEAKNESSES
Code:
"Despite the big win, more than four in 10 Florida voters see him as not conservative enough (including about one in 10 of his own supporters). And about three in 10 say they would be dissatisfied if Romney were the nominee." - [Washington Post
](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...-romneys-romp/2012/01/03/gIQAxF5FgQ_blog.html)
“If you add Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum together, they come in a point behind Mitt Romney. But add in the bitter candidate clingers who just can’t let go… of Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman, and Herman Cain and suddenly, suddenly, the non-Romney’s win without even adding in Ron Paul.” - RedState
Code:
Republicans are not that excited about the race: "With nearly all of the votes counted, Republican turnout is about 1.7 million. By comparison, just under 2 million Republicans voted in Republican primary there in 2008." - [Nate Silver
](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytime...gs/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

Romney to receive Secret Service protection “within days” - CNN

Why Romney Won, Why Gingrich lost - Washington Examiner
Althought 4 in 10 voters don’t see him as conservative enough, this is among conservatives, which only matters in the primary.

In the general election he’ll get more independents than any of the other GOP candidates.

Of course he’ll get less than Obama, so the point may be moot.

Jim
 
THE MESSAGE OF THE EXIT POLLS

“According to exit poll data, Romney lost “very conservative voters” — who made up 33 percent of the Florida voters — to Gingrich, 43 percent to 29 percent. While Romney won 51 percent to 32 percent among “somewhat conservative” voters, he lost evangelical voters to Gingrich, albeit by a small margin, 39 percent to 36 percent.” - Politico

What percentage of the population are “very conservative voters” versus “somewhat conservative voters?” If the latter are a bigger pool, then I’m not too concerned about the “he’s not conservative enough” claims. Obviously, he won a near majority against two other conservatives and a libertarian. He should do fine against a liberal in the general election.​
 
That is inaccurate. He had a consistent pro life record as governor. Even though he was a Republican governor in a liberal state he never flip flopped on the issue of same sex marriage.
No. I live under Mitt Romney’s governorship in Massachusetts. I was there when he ran left of Ted Kennedy for the Senate pandering shamelessly to the NARL/Planned Parenthood crowd. I was there when he ran for governor completely eschewing the life issues. I was there when he lifted nary a finger to stop state-funded abortion and the grotesque judicial usurpation that was MA’s “gay marriage” ruling.

Mitt Romney makes deals because he wants to be a “winner.” He pushed through Romneycare, knowing full well the legislature would make each individual veto moot, because he was willing to accept that outcome to get the parts he did want. He instructed state employees to issue same-sex “marriage” licenses to applicants even though the Legislature had put no such law on the books.

As a witness, I’ll tell you that Mitt Romney’s record is one of someone that puts being a “winner” first and puts conservative principles at the back of the bus.

Even the Florida polling plays this reality out:

politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/01/exit-polls-romney-wins-the-electability-argument-113041.html
a full 45 percent of Florida voters said their top priority was a candidate who could President Obama, and of those, 58 percent backed Romney. That’s a full 25 points more than Gingrich, who got 33 percent; Santorum got 6 percent and Paul got 2 percent. Among those who said they wanted a “true conservative,” Gingrich won with 45 percent, compared with 30 percent for Santorum, 14 percent for Paul and 10 percent for Romney.
Romney is dead last among voters who put conservative principles (pro-life, pro-marriage, free religion, limited government, 2nd amendment, strong national defense) first.

Romney wins in an argument (“electibility”) that’s largely media-manufactured and controlled and easily swayed by how much money you throw at an issue. It’s also an argument that completely collapses in the general election because the media pushing him right now immediately turns on him like they did John McCain once Obama is introduced into the equation.

I’m not backing someone so uncommitted and unproven on the issues that matter just because he has the hair for television and a large pile of money. Elections aren’t about bragging at the water-cooler the day after that you “picked a winner” like it’s fantasy football. They are the hard work of democracy that’s involved with putting the right principles into effect.

When we vote for the “easy” way because it is less work we’re just digging ourselves an even deeper hole, and we only have ourselves and our own culture to blame for it.
  • Marty Lund
 
Althought 4 in 10 voters don’t see him as conservative enough, this is among conservatives, which only matters in the primary.

In the general election he’ll get more independents than any of the other GOP candidates.

Of course he’ll get less than Obama, so the point may be moot.

Jim
The general election hasn’t begun yet, Jim. I don’t give up during the warm-ups.
 
No. I live under Mitt Romney’s governorship in Massachusetts. I was there when he ran left of Ted Kennedy for the Senate pandering shamelessly to the NARL/Planned Parenthood crowd. I was there when he ran for governor completely eschewing the life issues. I was there when he lifted nary a finger to stop state-funded abortion and the grotesque judicial usurpation that was MA’s “gay marriage” ruling.

Mitt Romney makes deals because he wants to be a “winner.” He pushed through Romneycare, knowing full well the legislature would make each individual veto moot, because he was willing to accept that outcome to get the parts he did want. He instructed state employees to issue same-sex “marriage” licenses to applicants even though the Legislature had put no such law on the books.

As a witness, I’ll tell you that Mitt Romney’s record is one of someone that puts being a “winner” first and puts conservative principles at the back of the bus.

Even the Florida polling plays this reality out:

politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/01/exit-polls-romney-wins-the-electability-argument-113041.html

Romney is dead last among voters who put conservative principles (pro-life, pro-marriage, free religion, limited government, 2nd amendment, strong national defense) first.

Romney wins in an argument (“electibility”) that’s largely media-manufactured and controlled and easily swayed by how much money you throw at an issue. It’s also an argument that completely collapses in the general election because the media pushing him right now immediately turns on him like they did John McCain once Obama is introduced into the equation.

I’m not backing someone so uncommitted and unproven on the issues that matter just because he has the hair for television and a large pile of money. Elections aren’t about bragging at the water-cooler the day after that you “picked a winner” like it’s fantasy football. They are the hard work of democracy that’s involved with putting the right principles into effect.

When we vote for the “easy” way because it is less work we’re just digging ourselves an even deeper hole, and we only have ourselves and our own culture to blame for it.
  • Marty Lund
It’s pretty simple, Marty. Your preferred candidate has to get enough votes in the primaries. If they can’t beat other conservatives, they certainly can’t beat Obama. All the sour grapes excuses and whining aren’t going to get your guy elected.
 
The general election hasn’t begun yet, Jim. I don’t give up during the warm-ups.
But Romney already won the Florida primary, so regardless of what conservatives feel about Romney at this point is meaningless.

Jim
 
Good point. He may have calculated that the winner takes all states aren’t worth campaigning in.
Specifically a winner-take-all state that costs a lot of money to compete in, and in which he doesn’t have much of a foot-hold already. He said in interviews prior to the primary that he didn’t think it was right to throw his donors money away for zero delegates and a few percentage points in a primary that will be forgotten in a couple weeks.

Personally I like the fact that he doesn’t view his donors money as his to throw around willy-nilly. 🙂

Peace and God god bless!
 
No surprises expected there. Romney will win both without much of a fuss.
I think you may have told me you don’t watch TV and for others I note John King is not a FOX analyst. But last night in his projections the rest of the way, he did not rule out Ron Paul taking the Maine caucus. He did think the rather large Mormon population among the GOP electorate in Nevada would benefit Romney there though. He had Romney in one scenario securing the required number of delegates by June even if Newt is able to hold on and takes some states including TX.
 
Your preferred candidate has to get enough votes in the primaries.
Yeah, Romney hasn’t been able to clear 50% of primary voters anywhere.

His hopes entirely hinge on trying to play media whack-a-mole via his sleazy Super-PAC so that the majority vote that opposed him remains divided while he tries to convince everyone else of his supposed inevitability. Heaven forbid Mitt Romney actually having to knuckle up and actually try campaigning on differentiating himself from the other primary candidates on the issues.

The only person he’s willing to contrast himself with publicly on the issues is Obama because Obama is that far gone that he makes Mitt look remotely palatable.
  • Marty Lund
 
No. I live under Mitt Romney’s governorship in Massachusetts. I was there when he ran left of Ted Kennedy for the Senate pandering shamelessly to the NARL/Planned Parenthood crowd. I was there when he ran for governor completely eschewing the life issues. I was there when he lifted nary a finger to stop state-funded abortion and the grotesque judicial usurpation that was MA’s “gay marriage” ruling.

Mitt Romney makes deals because he wants to be a “winner.” He pushed through Romneycare, knowing full well the legislature would make each individual veto moot, because he was willing to accept that outcome to get the parts he did want. He instructed state employees to issue same-sex “marriage” licenses to applicants even though the Legislature had put no such law on the books.


  • Marty Lund
RomneyCare did not mention abortion coverage. NARAL Pro Choice America has said:

NARAL Pro-Choice America’s position is that the Massachusetts health care plan enacted during former Gov. Romney’s tenure expanded on a system that already covered abortion. Thus, Romney should not get credit for improving women’s access to abortion in Massachusetts,” spokesman Ted Miller said in an email.

Did Mitt Romney used to be pro choice? Yes, but like many, he has become a pro life convert.

Way back in 2002 Romney said, “Call me old fashioned, but I don’t support gay marriage nor do I support civil union,” in a gubernatorial debate. He opposed same sex marriage during his governorship. In 2006 he wrote a letter to each member of the US Senate asking them to vote in favor of the Marriage Protection Amendment. Romney wrote, “Attaching the word marriage to the association of same-sex individuals mistakenly presumes that marriage is principally a matter of adult benefits and adult rights. In fact, marriage is principally about the nurturing and development of children. And the successful development of children is critical to the preservation and success of our nation.”

As for you claim about marriage licenses, nine conservatives leaders from Massachusetts who wrote a letter defending Romney’s record disagree with you:
Governor Romney immediately and strongly condemned the November 18, 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decision that legalized “same-sex marriage” in our state. More importantly, he followed up on that denunciation with action – action that saved our nation from a constitutional crisis over the definition of marriage. He and his staff identified and enforced a little-known 1913 law that allowed them to order local clerks not to issue marriage licenses to out-of-state couples. Absent this action, homosexual couples would surely have flooded into Massachusetts from other states to get “married” and then demanded that their home states recognize the “marriages,” putting the nation only one court decision away from nationalizing “same-sex marriage.”

We do not agree with the claims that Gov. Romney had bogus Party A and Party B marriage licenses printed and ordered Justices of the Peace and Town Clerks to perform same-sex “marriages” when asked or be fired. As May 17, 2004 (the SJC’s declaratory judgment date) approached, the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel issued provisional advisory instructions to the justices of the peace and prepared revised license applications. These executive actions did not result in the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples before May 17. The new policies were carried out only after and as a direct result of the judiciary’s final action in Goodridge on May 17. They did not generate same-sex marriages; that responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

We do not agree with the claims that Gov. Romney issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The governor does not issue marriage licenses in Massachusetts. Only the town clerks can do that. But the governor can issue one-day justice of the peace authorizations to an individual who wants to perform a marriage ceremony but is not a licensed minister, town clerk or justice of the peace. The governor’s office issues thousands of those in a four year term with the only criteria being that the individual doing the ceremony is in good standing and the parties getting married have a valid marriage license.

Worked hard to overturn “same-sex marriage” in the Commonwealth with substantial results. In 2004 he lobbied hard, before a very hostile legislature, for a constitutional amendment protecting marriage – an amendment later changed by the legislature to include civil unions, which the Governor and many marriage amendment supporters opposed. Working with the Governor, we were successful in defeating this amendment.
mittromney.com/news/press/2012/01/conservative-leaders-pen-letter-praising-romney-life-marriage-and-religious-freed
 
Yeah, Romney hasn’t been able to clear 50% of primary voters anywhere.

His hopes entirely hinge on trying to play media whack-a-mole via his sleazy Super-PAC so that the majority vote that opposed him remains divided while he tries to convince everyone else of his supposed inevitability. Heaven forbid Mitt Romney actually having to knuckle up and actually try campaigning on differentiating himself from the other primary candidates on the issues.

The only person he’s willing to contrast himself with publicly on the issues is Obama because Obama is that far gone that he makes Mitt look remotely palatable.
  • Marty Lund
Okay. And, your preferred candidate has been able to clear 50% where?
 
I think you may have told me you don’t watch TV and for others I note John King is not a FOX analyst. But last night in his projections the rest of the way, he did not rule out Ron Paul taking the Maine caucus. He did think the rather large Mormon population among the GOP electorate in Nevada would benefit Romney there though. He had Romney in one scenario securing the required number of delegates by June even if Newt is able to hold on and takes some states including TX.
Thanks for the report. I dont watch TV. That would be interesting if Ron Paul were to win a state. I find it unlikely, but it would be interesting.
 
Praying for Obama? Are you happy with what Obama is forcing upon our Catholic hospitals - forcing them to provide for sterilizations, abortions, etc. ?

Ishii
Praying for what the poster said about conservatives wanting a more conservative candidate than Romney on the ballot. Or else conservatives won’t volunteer for Mitt and there will be no enthusiasm. I wouldn’t say I’m happy or sad.
 
What percentage of the population are “very conservative voters” versus “somewhat conservative voters?” If the latter are a bigger pool, then I’m not too concerned about the “he’s not conservative enough” claims. Obviously, he won a near majority against two other conservatives and a libertarian. He should do fine against a liberal in the general election.
Maybe if there was a liberal running
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top