Here we are after Iowa, New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Carolina, Nevada, Florida and Maine.
John McCain has been able to three primaries, one of them in "Republican only" Florida. Mitt Romney's campaign has only been able to win one primary and three caucuses, all-open.
Romney's strategy would make sense if he really was a true conservative and a consistent conservative. But for nearly a dozen years prior to deciding to run for President, Mitt was very clearly a moderate Republican with barely a smattering of conservative views and an equal number of liberal views.
John McCain's difficulties in selling himself to GOP voters reflect his many liberal lurches over the years. From taxes to free speech, prescription drugs and global warming cap and trade. Republicans have a pretty good sense of where he might betray them. Yet few doubt that on other issues including national security and spending. McCain will stick to his principles no matter the opinion polls.
The polls hold for McCain in 10 of the delegate rich states including California, New York and Georgia. Romney has a lead in Massachusetts, but he been losing ground in the last few days. Then there is Utah and Idaho. Most disingenuous to me is that Mitt has been asking Mike Huckabee to bow out of the race and let it be a two-man race. Obviously Huckabee is going no where. Romney's attack ads against him have proven to be a thorn for him. Huckabee is going all the way to take conservative votes away. As I have said in the beginning, Romney's strategy hurt him. Now we will have a race between McCain against Obama or Hillary. Not going to call the Dems yet!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Romney's Health Care Plan
An Article by CNSNEWS.com reports that the cost of Massachusetts' health insurance mandate will rise 85 percent, or $400 million, in 2009.
According to The Boston Globe, the cost increase is largely due to an increase in the number of people signing up for state-subsidized health insurance. State and federal taxpayers are likely to shoulder the cost increase.
As we all know, Romney has been praising this mandate on the campaign trail. "We put in place a plan that gets every citizen in our state health insurance, and it didn't cost us new money," he said during the Republican debate in New Hampshire on Jan. 5. "It didn't require us to raise taxes."
The article also says that he would not mandate at the federal level. "But what I would say at the federal level is we'll keep giving you these special payments we make if you adopt plans that get everybody insured. I'd say each state needs to get busy on the job of getting all our citizens insured. It does not cost more money."
This is a man who has been emphasizing his economic credentials and criticizing McCain's understanding of the economy.
According to The Boston Globe, the cost increase is largely due to an increase in the number of people signing up for state-subsidized health insurance. State and federal taxpayers are likely to shoulder the cost increase.
As we all know, Romney has been praising this mandate on the campaign trail. "We put in place a plan that gets every citizen in our state health insurance, and it didn't cost us new money," he said during the Republican debate in New Hampshire on Jan. 5. "It didn't require us to raise taxes."
The article also says that he would not mandate at the federal level. "But what I would say at the federal level is we'll keep giving you these special payments we make if you adopt plans that get everybody insured. I'd say each state needs to get busy on the job of getting all our citizens insured. It does not cost more money."
This is a man who has been emphasizing his economic credentials and criticizing McCain's understanding of the economy.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Mitt's make it or break it
Latest tracking Poll from Real Clear Politics:
McCain 25%
Romney 24%
Giuliani 19%
Huckabee 16%
Both McCain, Romney and Huckabee are gaining, taking Fred Thompson and Giuliani votes. In a "winner takes all" delegates primary, McCain can blow this wide open. He is leading in California and New Jersey polls.
Endorsements by Governor Charlie Crist and Senator Mel Martinez could put the "icing on the cake" for McCain. In this Republican only primary, Romney should be showing his strength as the "true conservative". If Romney loses Florida, he should be thinking about where his campaign is heading. A potential loss like this will not bode well for the former Massachusetts Governor.
McCain 25%
Romney 24%
Giuliani 19%
Huckabee 16%
Both McCain, Romney and Huckabee are gaining, taking Fred Thompson and Giuliani votes. In a "winner takes all" delegates primary, McCain can blow this wide open. He is leading in California and New Jersey polls.
Endorsements by Governor Charlie Crist and Senator Mel Martinez could put the "icing on the cake" for McCain. In this Republican only primary, Romney should be showing his strength as the "true conservative". If Romney loses Florida, he should be thinking about where his campaign is heading. A potential loss like this will not bode well for the former Massachusetts Governor.
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE????
I'm having a lot of trouble getting fired up about this election.
Where is the true conservative in this race? I loved Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter but their campaigns were missing that fire and where were the true conservatives to rally around them? Why would any true conservative vote for Huckabee or McCain let alone Giuliani?
Romney seems like the lesser of the evils. I just wish there was ONE TRUE conservative left in the race. Is true conservatism dead in the Republican party? If so, where does a true conservative go? Third parties just make it more likely that a Democrat will win and that is definitely the WORSE of the evils. Do we really have to settle for the lesser of the true evils instead of the representation we REALLY want?
Where is the true conservative in this race? I loved Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter but their campaigns were missing that fire and where were the true conservatives to rally around them? Why would any true conservative vote for Huckabee or McCain let alone Giuliani?
Romney seems like the lesser of the evils. I just wish there was ONE TRUE conservative left in the race. Is true conservatism dead in the Republican party? If so, where does a true conservative go? Third parties just make it more likely that a Democrat will win and that is definitely the WORSE of the evils. Do we really have to settle for the lesser of the true evils instead of the representation we REALLY want?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Huckabee Endorsement
Mike Huckabee picks up an endorsement. This one from former candidate, Duncan Hunter.
“I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail,” Hunter said in a statement. “Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America’s industrial base."Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee’s candidacy that compels my endorsement," he added. "Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well."
I think it's a nice pickup for Huckabee. Hunter is beloved in the Republican Party for his positions on immigration and experience on the House Armed Services Committee. He would have been my man. A true Republican in every sense of the word. Can anyone see Secretary of Defense Hunter in a Huckabee Administration?
On Another note...
My prediction that Romney would lose the South Carolina Primary came to fruition. As I see the tracking polls today:
McCain 24%
Romney 21 %
Giuliani 18%
Huckabee 15%
Both Romney and McCain are on the upswing while Giuliani and Huckabee are on a downtrend.
Tonight's debate proves to be important to both McCain and Romney. Romney must be perfect tonight to win Florida. He has incorporated some members of Fred Thompson's team. And this is a great benefit to Romney. But it may be a bit too late to help his campaign. I will suspect McCain and Huckabee to do a job on him tonight. If Romney does well, there could be hope for him.
“I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail,” Hunter said in a statement. “Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America’s industrial base."Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee’s candidacy that compels my endorsement," he added. "Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well."
I think it's a nice pickup for Huckabee. Hunter is beloved in the Republican Party for his positions on immigration and experience on the House Armed Services Committee. He would have been my man. A true Republican in every sense of the word. Can anyone see Secretary of Defense Hunter in a Huckabee Administration?
On Another note...
My prediction that Romney would lose the South Carolina Primary came to fruition. As I see the tracking polls today:
McCain 24%
Romney 21 %
Giuliani 18%
Huckabee 15%
Both Romney and McCain are on the upswing while Giuliani and Huckabee are on a downtrend.
Tonight's debate proves to be important to both McCain and Romney. Romney must be perfect tonight to win Florida. He has incorporated some members of Fred Thompson's team. And this is a great benefit to Romney. But it may be a bit too late to help his campaign. I will suspect McCain and Huckabee to do a job on him tonight. If Romney does well, there could be hope for him.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Romney's win in Michigan
Will it carry over to South Carolina? I do not think so.
Latest Zobgy Poll:
McCain 29%
Huckabee 22%
Thompson 14%
Romney 12%
Mitt's problem was not getting his message out to the voters in the first two Major primaries. Romney's people go by the polls. This has been very clear with the changing of positions in each State.
The attack(comparison) ads were of no help either. Although this kind of stuff works in the South, Romney's use of these ads gave a bad taste to voters not faniliar with his character.
Bottom line..Romney's supporters are on the fence. They are waiting for another flippity-floppity to push them over.
Latest Zobgy Poll:
McCain 29%
Huckabee 22%
Thompson 14%
Romney 12%
Mitt's problem was not getting his message out to the voters in the first two Major primaries. Romney's people go by the polls. This has been very clear with the changing of positions in each State.
The attack(comparison) ads were of no help either. Although this kind of stuff works in the South, Romney's use of these ads gave a bad taste to voters not faniliar with his character.
Bottom line..Romney's supporters are on the fence. They are waiting for another flippity-floppity to push them over.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Romney plans for Michigan
Mitt Romney declined Wednesday to say he would win his home state’s Feb. 5 primary, which the former governor’s campaign is forecasting will be a decisive date for what they hope will be his come-from-behind effort.
Romney said he planned to spend all his time after tonight’s South Carolina debate in Michigan, but refused to call it a must-win... While Romney was raising money in Boston, New Hampshire victor John McCain was already in Michigan by Wednesday morning.
Reacting to polls showing that voters believe he was the most negative GOP candidate, Romney said, “I’ve got a positive message. I’m certainly going to point out differences on issues between myself and other candidates, and I recognize that’s a big part of politics. I know there are some people who’d say that you really should never point out differences between yourself and your opposition. I just don’t think that’s right in politics. But certainly we’ll keep our own counsel on the nature of our ads going forward,” he said.
Question is, if he does not think it is right in politics to be negative...why did he do it? People were not pointing to his ads being about differences between the candidates..they were telling him that they were negative. He probably should have waited until South Carolina before even thinking about going negative. Now he is behind... and it will be a tough road trying to just get his "positive message"out!
Romney said he planned to spend all his time after tonight’s South Carolina debate in Michigan, but refused to call it a must-win... While Romney was raising money in Boston, New Hampshire victor John McCain was already in Michigan by Wednesday morning.
Reacting to polls showing that voters believe he was the most negative GOP candidate, Romney said, “I’ve got a positive message. I’m certainly going to point out differences on issues between myself and other candidates, and I recognize that’s a big part of politics. I know there are some people who’d say that you really should never point out differences between yourself and your opposition. I just don’t think that’s right in politics. But certainly we’ll keep our own counsel on the nature of our ads going forward,” he said.
Question is, if he does not think it is right in politics to be negative...why did he do it? People were not pointing to his ads being about differences between the candidates..they were telling him that they were negative. He probably should have waited until South Carolina before even thinking about going negative. Now he is behind... and it will be a tough road trying to just get his "positive message"out!
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