tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post2890387232028893242..comments2024-02-23T03:29:54.261-05:00Comments on The Unreligious Right: The GOP's Top Three ContendersUNRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093711439992855042noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-23695468712835233802011-08-18T14:50:14.298-04:002011-08-18T14:50:14.298-04:00Romney couldn't even beat McCain last time aro...Romney couldn't even beat McCain last time around. Why will he do better this time? The Tea Party arose after the last election. That represents the views of a large section of the electorate. They loathe Obamacare and Romneycare, and Romney's failure to disavow Romneycare will hurt him even more this time around.<br /><br />Perry is the new kid on the block with a great record, but a lot of enemies in Texas, including the Bushies, and the Paulians. The LSM will attempt to "Palinize" him and there is enough material out there for some of it to stick. <br /><br />Most GOP candidates will be put through the wringer by the LSM. Look how Bachmann is getting bashed on "submission".<br /><br />I still expect Palin to get into the race, but she'll wait until Perry and Romney have bloodied each other. She has four things going for her - she has been though the wringer and she's still standing, she has wide name recognition, she earned a bunch of chits in 2010, and she has a huge base of support that will spring into action the minute she announces. She also has three things against her. The LSM did inflict some damage so she needs to repair that, the GOP establishment hate her, and she needs to explain why she quit to a wider audience than her fans.<br /><br />I don't think the country is the mood for a moderate or business as usual. It blames Bush and Obama for our dire economic straits, and it wants a candidate willing and able to balance the budget. That mood favors Perry with his jobs record in Texas, and Palin, who has a record of reducing spending in Alaska.PatDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822032997751400487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-89064308986577537522011-08-16T11:41:05.699-04:002011-08-16T11:41:05.699-04:00Yeah, that will probably hurt him some if he's...Yeah, that will probably hurt him some if he's the nominee. I'm not sure how much though. I don't see it as a deciding factor. I think it definitely does hurt him with the GOP base, but not as much as his policies as governor of Mass. I think if he was seen as a staunch conservative, a significant number of hardcore Republicans would support him regardless of whether or not they were comfortable with his religion.UNRRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17093711439992855042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-2421921543892195202011-08-16T01:53:02.522-04:002011-08-16T01:53:02.522-04:00Good analysis. Mitt Romney has one additional iss...Good analysis. Mitt Romney has one additional issue - being Mormon - I don't see all that many non-Mormon Republican Christians able to get over that. As you pointed out in an earlier blog, many don't even consider Mormon Christian.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-6578101794372368112011-08-15T20:08:00.837-04:002011-08-15T20:08:00.837-04:00Bret,
You may be right. I could definitely see it...Bret,<br /><br />You may be right. I could definitely see it playing out that way.UNRRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17093711439992855042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-23641580945688290122011-08-15T15:47:36.256-04:002011-08-15T15:47:36.256-04:00I agree with your overall assessments, though I th...I agree with your overall assessments, though I think Perry's entry has ended Bachman's possibilities and helped Romney's for the general election. As you noted, Bachman and Perry supporters are likely to split, and it would take a real concerted effort from one of them exiting the race early to pool the votes necessary to beat Romney.<br /><br />But what's most interesting is that Perry will likely act as a lightning rod throughout the nomination process. No one is talking about Romney, and that is likely to remain the case. I think that is exactly what Romney wants, and needs, for the nomination. The more quiet things are in the Romney camp, the more likely they will slowly and steadily take key caucuses and primaries (again, assuming a firm split of religious-right voters).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-70867465059881902982011-08-15T14:11:56.818-04:002011-08-15T14:11:56.818-04:00I hear on the news today that Perry never lost an ...I hear on the news today that Perry never lost an election. We'll see...Andrew Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495983897864604830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-83629711002422648262011-08-15T12:29:39.339-04:002011-08-15T12:29:39.339-04:00I don't think there is any doubt that every po...I don't think there is any doubt that every possible negative Perry has is going to show up in the media. Regardless of Perry's popularity or lack-thereof in Texas, I think Texas is a lock for the GOP. If it isn't, there's no chance of beating Obama.UNRRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17093711439992855042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138570918413841323.post-6405293417170629632011-08-15T11:52:18.898-04:002011-08-15T11:52:18.898-04:00Part of the question on Perry is if the media will...Part of the question on Perry is if the media will pick up on how disliked he is in Texas. The only reason he was re-elected the past 2 elections is that the Democrats ran people who were very liberal (and had pro-gun control records).<br />There are a large number of people in Texas who will either vote third party or for Obama if Perry is nominated by the Republicans.Tim Covingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01577035817767794314noreply@blogger.com