Gingrich is already trying to position his impending loss in Florida as evidence that the “anti-Romney” conservative vote is larger than the pro-Romney vote:
“If you watch tonight, my prediction is the conservative vote will be dramatically bigger than Governor Romney’s,” he said. “So we’ve got to find a way to consolidate conservatives, and I’m clearly the front-runner among conservatives.”
But a Reuters/Ipsos poll just asked Florida voters about a head-to-head match-up between Romney and Gingrich. Guess what? Romney wins by 11 points:
“If the race were between Romney and Gingrich only, Romney would be at 55 percent to Gingrich’s 44 percent, according to the Sunday’s results. On Saturday the gap between the two was eight percentage points and on Friday it was just two, when respondents were asked the same question.”
The anti-Gingrich vote is large and growing.
I'll never vote for Mitt Romney.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJust to be clear, although I'm anti-Newt, I'm more anti-Obama.
If Newt somehow became our nominee, which I don't forsee, I would certainly vote for him. He'd then be the least bad option.
Staying home is tacit approval of a 2nd Obama term.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnd there are some who will never vote for Newt--thus the results of this poll.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYeah, I'm one of those people.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs am I. I will never, ever vote for Newt Gingrich, for president, dog-catcher, or anything else. He is a horrible human being who should not be entrusted with even the slightest amount of power.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGoodie for you. I would never want to see Newt as president. For that matter I'd never want to see Ron for president. Rick S? That would be alright. You can forgive everybody else their political trespasses but you can't forgive Mitt. That includes Obama. I guess you must have always been an Obama voter. Either that or you hate people named Mitt.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat is just what Democratic Partisans want to hear...
Completely mindless from a Conservative perspective.
If we don't vote for the GOP Candidate in 2012,
we end up with Obama for another 4 years.
And no one else is but Romney is going to do the job at this time.
If Romney doesn't get it right as President, then we replace him in 4 years.
That is how this fine Country works.
Gingrich gives the White House right back to Obama, (Santorum is just as weak):
"A Gingrich nomination, however, would be "a nightmare for Republicans" by turning many purple states blue and giving Obama a starting point of 303 Electoral Votes, 33 more than needed."
Before this Primary began, I was truly open to mostly all, except for another Beltway Insider who was well past their prime lacking Executive experience. I knew McCain was going to lose dramatically, and regretted I didn't try to say more to help avoid the mess.
It doesn't matter. This Primary has exposed much of the dysfunction amongst us, especially those sideline pundit experts who seem to blow with every wind. There are some who are on the sidelines selling opinion, because they simply cannot lead, nor handle the real world. I will still be eager to vote against Obama regardless of the GOP Nominee - and know full well a 3rd Party only enables the Democrats.
However, Romney is a sincere Private Sector success, who will symbolize the strength of the Free Market over the dreadful Public Sector malaise the Democratic Partisans like Obama are forcing upon us. It will be a healthy General Election, especially for Conservatives, with Mr. Romney as the Nominee, as this will be a clear fight to empower Free Market Capitalism. The fashion has foolishly tried to treat Romney as the enemy. It is deeply misguided. Romney's platform and record are far more worthy than the Maverick platform.
Ann Coulter is right again.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'd be in that crowd.
I'm more anti-Newt than I am pro-Romney or pro-Santorum.
But then, that's how I am in nearly every election. I rarely vote FOR someone. Since I believe in a real Messiah, I don't look for Messianic political figures. I'm usually picking the least-bad option and voting against the others who I view as worse.
The question for me isn't who inspires me the most. They are politicians after all. How inspiring are they supposed to be? The swaying and fainting over Obama just creeped me out. What's he going to do, redeem my soul? The question for me is who is the least bad of the options to represent me.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExcellent post. Having been just 4 when Reagan left office, I can say that no politician has ever inspired me in any way. I vote for the guy who repulses me the least.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, I'm hoping Rubio can give me that - voting FOR - feeling. But that's probably putting to much hope into the guy. He's likely a fallible human too.
So far, they've all proven to be so.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWatching Newt and Mitt fight at the last debate reminded me of junior high recess. Thank goodness for Rick Santorum pulling me out of that bad flashback!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSome are still trying to sell Santorum. It is interesting.
Mrs. Malkin whom I do greatly appreciate, is the latest sideline entity to join the Santorum lean. Is it just a tactic of "playing it safe" in the opinion market? Rick has some pros, but his cons are quite large. The most glaring is Santorum's career Washington Politician status, having gone to Congress just 5 years after finishing Law School, staying for 17 years (hardly "blue collar"). Rick has no executive experience, no real private sector ability, no serious economic credentials, even lacks influence in his home State of PA. This makes him a terribly weak Candidate for the General Election. But Santorum has a very unattractive demeanor. It makes his offering quite regretful, as Rick always provides the most self righteous indignation, advertising the most smug smirks and head shaking. Rick's petulance matches Gingrich's delusional hubris. Besides, we know the reality is far from pristine. Rick is known for massive earmarks, leftist opposition to "Right to Work", his close alliance with Arlen Specter - supporting the established Specter over the more sound conservative Toomey, even reportedly campaigning on a Federal Level Mandate in 1994, etc. Rick's desire to censor the internet, as well as ban contraceptions are hardly Conservative,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot that I disagree on any of that Santorum commentary, but to that same question of home state impotence with Romney, I'm not looking forward to having to endure the Gore criticism of, "couldn't even carry his home state!" Is there ANY evidence Romney could bring Taxachussetts with him?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou remind me that Santorum won two statewide elections in Pennsylvania, only losing to the son of one of the state's most popular Governors (who was staunchly pro-life, even if his son vacillates a bit on the issue) in a year where Republicans got hammered at the polls. That bit of criticism of Santorum has always been particularly weak in my view.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe loss in PA for Rick Santorum was astonishing.
And it wasn't just a case of a poor political environment.
I have a number of friends and associates from PA,
and they were not thrilled with Rick Santorum.
Rick lost to a terribly weak Candidate in Casey Jr.
It was largely due to the rejection of Rick Santorum:
"Santorum’s behavior offered more insight into his true character than any vote could provide. His selfish actions disrespected every person in that church, but most of all the deceased, who, despite being a big Santorum supporter, apparently wasn’t worth two hours of Rick’s time."
Rick Santorum is not attractive and hardly the conservative ideal:
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Santorum Touts Work With Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton In 2006 Ad"
Thanks for the note Shawn.
Romney may carry a number of Democratic Partisan States, as the poll data reveals he is quite competitive. Even in MA, NJ, CA, etc. Romney does quite well against Obama in a number of samplings.
Romney is more importantly polling strong in the essential Swing States:
"Mitt Romney currently leads President Barack Obama by competitive margins in five general election swing states."
Gingrich, Santorum, etc., polled losing dramatically in the same venues to Obama.
Romney's sound organization offers a chance to compete against Obama and the Democrats in every State in the USA. The Romney Team has proven, especially after Florida, they have a serious campaign organization, which will be very aggressive in going after Obama in the Democrats.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOld Fan is engaged in more than a little spin here.
Yes, I agree that Santorum isn't a perfect conservative candidate. But his supposed "petulance" keeps getting talked about but has rarely been seen over the primary and caucus season. Meanwhile, Romney and Gingrich have shown the demeanor of playground adversaries standing across a mud pit from each other. This is one of those silly conventional wisdom criticisms that leaves neutrals shaking their heads.
Santorum's lack of executive experience is no more a disadvantage than Gingrich's or Paul's, and Romney's executive experience includes a massive health care entitlement, including a health insurance mandate that all the other candidates are running from.
Santorum's more moderate approach to labor issues is a concern. However, I can't remember the former Senator having any more of an alliance with Arlen Specter than the many Republicans who went with the establishment and backed the incumbent over the challenger. Suggesting this was a close alliance is a big reach.
The contraception position is Santorum trying to remain a good Catholic, but it'll never happen and he knows it.
Compared to Gingrich and Romney (not to mention Paul) Santorum continues to be the best of a weak bunch. Conservatives looking for an alternative to a decidedly moderate Romney could do worse.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"...supposed "petulance" keeps getting talked about but has rarely been seen over the primary and caucus season..."
Sorry CB_10, I have watched every debate, and Santorum is way too overt with his self righteous indignation. His petulance is on display in every debate. Overwhelming smug, constantly smirking. Rick simply lacks the ability to grow others to his side, as his demeanor is so deeply unattractive. And the contradictions are vivid. As soon as Ron Paul confronted Rick on his support for the Prescription Drug effort, Santorum ran away from his vote, very typical for a Beltway Player.
* You simply are not doing your homework in regards to the Specter - Santorum alliance:
"Santorum was in trouble, and Arlen Specter came to his rescue. I remember visiting the Santorum headquarters in Philadelphia that fall, where it was apparent that Specter operatives had taken over the campaign and were running it very effectively indeed."
Gingrich and Paul's Washington Insider credentials, coupled with a lack of serious Executive Experience, is a major reason why they are poor Candidates for the job in the General and the Presidency. Santorum has the same glaring problems. He may have spent a 17 years in Washington after Law School, but he has no Executive experience running anything worthy to prepare him for the job in the Executive Branch. Santorum is just another Washington Politician who cannot make a strong case to the American Public. Rick's claims about the "establishment" simply look silly for career Washington Politician, who stayed in the Beltway to sell influence after his historic loss in PA.
Romney's Executive experience goes well beyond the MA Governorship, where he balanced an inherited budget deficit of 3 Billion, cut taxation 19 times, lowered regulatory burdens, turning around an entrenched Democratic Partisan anti-Business climate. Romney's turning around the Olympics is just another example of prove Executive leadership. But it is Romney's outstanding Private Sector CEO record which is ideal for the run in 2012, the conservative nature of a proven Free Market Capitalist like Romney will be ideal to challenge the Public Sector Malaise provided by the disastrous Democratic Party and Obama.
Rick Santorum's position on contraception and internet bans, even his campaigning for a Federal Level Mandate in 1994, only reveal the Washington Politician con game. They expose the contradictory nature of the Washington Politician. Santorum only would help reelect Obama, just like the horrid Gingrich.
Ann Coulter, Sen. Thune, Gov. Haley, Jack Welch, Gov. Christie, Sheriff Babeu, John Bolton, etc., are quite right. Mr. Romney is the best offering for the job in the General Election as well as the Presidency.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSantorum is way too overt with his self righteous indignation. His petulance is on display in every debate. Overwhelming smug, constantly smirking. Rick simply lacks the ability to grow others to his side, as his demeanor is so deeply unattractive.
Not buying, OF. Sounds more like a teen crush gone bad than anything else. And I think his smile is cute! :)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAll these weaknesses are 100% accurate.
So are most of the weaknesses leveled at Romney.
Personally, I think Paul is our best candidate in the fall, and he has bigger weaknesses than either of them. (I think he makes up for it with his tremendous strengths.) But, for my money, Santorum is slightly less weak than Romney, so I would prefer that he make a comeback now.
However, they're both decent candidates. I'd be happy to support either of them come fall. I do hope that the Gingrich fad has passed, and that we can spend the next couple of months honestly, openly, and *calmly* running Romney and Santorum through the gauntlet to hash out which is more likely to (1) beat Obama and (2) implement a strong conservative agenda.
Of course, I also hope that Ron Paul pulls a come-from-behind win after winning Ramesh Ponnuru's surprise endorsement. My hopes are not necessarily realistic.
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