Fred's not even in it, and he's surging; McCain drops to third place
We've made no bones about our dislike for John McCain. We're not fond of him, we disdain him when he leaps into his "maverick" cape and tights, and despite his steadfastness on the war, we still haven't forgiven him for ripping on the president's strategy in Iraq while campaigning for him in 2004. So, this story from the LA Times definitely warms the sub-cockles of our hearts:
Sen. John McCain, once considered the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has fallen to third place in a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, and is running behind Fred Thompson, an actor and former senator who has not even entered the race.
Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani leads the crowded field of announced and potential contenders with support from 29% of probable Republican primary voters surveyed, followed by Thompson with 15% and McCain with 12%. Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and a fundraising powerhouse, had 8%.
The Arizona senator's showing in the poll is his lowest in any national survey to date, marking a new benchmark in his flagging fortunes. The surge of interest in Thompson is a sign of conservative dissatisfaction with the established field of candidates and underscores just how unsettled the Republican race remains.
"Thompson is a Reagan conservative, and that's what I want," said Robert Little, a poll respondent in Duluth, Ga., who views other leading Republican candidates as unreliable allies on social issues.
Among probable Democratic primary voters, the campaign continues to solidify into a three-way race, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York leading Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina by comfortable margins.
But the poll signals larger obstacles for Clinton in matchups against top Republicans: Even though voters overall said, by a 10-point margin, that they would prefer to see a Democrat win in 2008, the poll shows Clinton eking out only a narrow lead over McCain, and running behind Giuliani.
Sen. Clinton has a serious problem to overcome, and one that's been hounding her since the first of the Rasmussen polls came out last month. She's sitting around 48% against her becoming the nominee, or even the president. So, she needs to take care of that before she gets her hopes up.
On the flip side, the big news is the drop for McCain. This can't bode well for a campaign already in trouble due to a lack of funds. Romney surged in fundraising, but he's still only polling in single digits. Giuliani was expected to continue being the front-runner, as he has been since the start. But Thompson's out-and-out mudstomping of McCain comes as a surprise, and then not really much of a surprise.
It's a surprise because he's not even formally in the race yet. He's formed his committees, and he's still mulling things over. His announcement regarding his lymphoma was the first step in moving towards a definitive announcement. He got out in front of a potential issue that his critics would use against him, and he headed the controversy off at the pass. He's fine, it's in remission, and he could easily carry out his duties.
The non-surprise of this story comes in what the gentlemen above stated about Fred Thompson -- that he's a Reagan conservative. It illuminates many to the simple fact so many in the GOP aren't happy with those running. And unlike Newt Gingrich, who has far too much baggage, and has suddenly gone "Greenie," Fred Thompson carries no such burden. He stands tough on all the issues that matter most to conservatives this election cycle. First and foremost, he won't be spineless on national security; he will be tough on immigration -- enforcement first, regularization second; he'll be fiscally strong, and tax savvy.
People are definitely excited about Fred jumping into the race, and there's already a lot of speculation about the possible defections of campaigners from other candidates jumping into Fred's camp. That's got to have a few of them worried. Moreover, if Fred jumps in, you can kiss Tancredo, Hunter, Brownback, Tommy Thompson, and McCain goodbye. They'll be out of the race in a New York minute for the simple fact that Fred embodies what all of those candidates express. Such a move will turn the race into a three-way dead heat between him, Rudy, and Mitt. And that, folks, is almost as good as the potential NHL playoff matchup of the Sabres and the Penguins.
It'll be winner take all. Additionally, it'll be like watching a high scoring game; who will score most often, and in the end, who gets the game winner. If Fred jumps in, we'll know on 5 February 2008 who gets a shot at the title through far more clearly defined lines.
Publius II
Sen. John McCain, once considered the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has fallen to third place in a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, and is running behind Fred Thompson, an actor and former senator who has not even entered the race.
Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani leads the crowded field of announced and potential contenders with support from 29% of probable Republican primary voters surveyed, followed by Thompson with 15% and McCain with 12%. Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and a fundraising powerhouse, had 8%.
The Arizona senator's showing in the poll is his lowest in any national survey to date, marking a new benchmark in his flagging fortunes. The surge of interest in Thompson is a sign of conservative dissatisfaction with the established field of candidates and underscores just how unsettled the Republican race remains.
"Thompson is a Reagan conservative, and that's what I want," said Robert Little, a poll respondent in Duluth, Ga., who views other leading Republican candidates as unreliable allies on social issues.
Among probable Democratic primary voters, the campaign continues to solidify into a three-way race, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York leading Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina by comfortable margins.
But the poll signals larger obstacles for Clinton in matchups against top Republicans: Even though voters overall said, by a 10-point margin, that they would prefer to see a Democrat win in 2008, the poll shows Clinton eking out only a narrow lead over McCain, and running behind Giuliani.
Sen. Clinton has a serious problem to overcome, and one that's been hounding her since the first of the Rasmussen polls came out last month. She's sitting around 48% against her becoming the nominee, or even the president. So, she needs to take care of that before she gets her hopes up.
On the flip side, the big news is the drop for McCain. This can't bode well for a campaign already in trouble due to a lack of funds. Romney surged in fundraising, but he's still only polling in single digits. Giuliani was expected to continue being the front-runner, as he has been since the start. But Thompson's out-and-out mudstomping of McCain comes as a surprise, and then not really much of a surprise.
It's a surprise because he's not even formally in the race yet. He's formed his committees, and he's still mulling things over. His announcement regarding his lymphoma was the first step in moving towards a definitive announcement. He got out in front of a potential issue that his critics would use against him, and he headed the controversy off at the pass. He's fine, it's in remission, and he could easily carry out his duties.
The non-surprise of this story comes in what the gentlemen above stated about Fred Thompson -- that he's a Reagan conservative. It illuminates many to the simple fact so many in the GOP aren't happy with those running. And unlike Newt Gingrich, who has far too much baggage, and has suddenly gone "Greenie," Fred Thompson carries no such burden. He stands tough on all the issues that matter most to conservatives this election cycle. First and foremost, he won't be spineless on national security; he will be tough on immigration -- enforcement first, regularization second; he'll be fiscally strong, and tax savvy.
People are definitely excited about Fred jumping into the race, and there's already a lot of speculation about the possible defections of campaigners from other candidates jumping into Fred's camp. That's got to have a few of them worried. Moreover, if Fred jumps in, you can kiss Tancredo, Hunter, Brownback, Tommy Thompson, and McCain goodbye. They'll be out of the race in a New York minute for the simple fact that Fred embodies what all of those candidates express. Such a move will turn the race into a three-way dead heat between him, Rudy, and Mitt. And that, folks, is almost as good as the potential NHL playoff matchup of the Sabres and the Penguins.
It'll be winner take all. Additionally, it'll be like watching a high scoring game; who will score most often, and in the end, who gets the game winner. If Fred jumps in, we'll know on 5 February 2008 who gets a shot at the title through far more clearly defined lines.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 2:32 PM
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