Three Contests, Three Different Winners…What Does It Mean?
The last Republican primary in South Carolina gave us the third winner in as many primaries. Rick Santorum in Iowa, Mitt Romney in New Hampshire, and Newt Gingrich in South Carolina. Now the pundits are in a quandary about what it all means. Governor Rick Perry dropped out of the race and gave his support to Newt Gingrich just before the South Carolina primary. Think about it. When he entered the race he held a huge lead since he was a successful Texas governor for over ten years but then he faltered in the debates and the electorate lost confidence in him. He initially held that lead because the electorate considered him a conservative. Michelle Bachmann, a strong conservative, won the initial straw poll in Iowa and after the vote in Iowa, she dropped out since she did so poorly. Herman Cain led in the polls when he showed how conservative he was but then several women came forth and accused him of unspecified sexual harassment. He tried to defend himself, but it was like fighting ghosts. He finally decided to drop out of the race and nothing has been heard about these women since. Gee, I wonder why? Mitt Romney has had difficulty getting over 30% in polls, but he won the New Hampshire primary with ease and the Republican establishment continues to root for him to be the candidate.
Rick Santorum won the Iowa primary when most people thought that he had little chance, but placed a distant third in South Carolina. Congressman Ron Paul continues to have a following, but it is doubtful that he can possibly be the candidate. The Florida primary is next in line and only registered republicans can vote. Now we shall see what the base thinks. Unlike the prior states, Florida is a large state and covers two time zones and 67 counties.
Polls have been all over the area about who should be the Republican candidate. Voters remain confused and noncommittal until the last moment. I believe part of that is because a large percentage of people surveyed are not conservatives. When Donald Trump showed signs of running, his approval numbers soared because he presented an agenda opposite of President Obama’s. When any of the current candidates go on the attack against the policies of the current administration, the audience roars its approval. Recent polls report that there are twice as many people who consider themselves conservative as those who consider themselves liberal. The country continues to hurt and the majority believes that we are on the wrong track. That is why the responses are so positive when one of our candidates proposes a conservative agenda. We are a right of center nation and the current administration is leading from left of center. When a candidate offers conservatism as an agenda, the audiences respond. That should be no secret.
Col. Don Myers
USMC (ret.)
the GOP dropped the ball when they let Gary Johnson go. Since he left there hasn’t been a single Republican contender to speak a word of sense that can be translated directly to the real change we need. RP has come pretty close but will never win over women and will never be quite as widely applicable as Johnson. All Johnson asked for was to be in the polls that determine debate participants, the GOP should have ensured he had the same chance to shine or fail as everyone else. Maybe they feel threatened, and they should. Can’t wait to find out which candidates are behind the media block on Johnson, especially now that his chances are better than all of them.
Why are we going along (again) with who the MSM decides the candidates should be? I don’t understand the TEA Party going for either Gingrich or Romney. They both espouse Progressive, liberal Democratic views and haven’t said a thing about how they are any different from the government we have now.
Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are the only candidates the MSM are ignoring and we should be giving our support. Then the final decision should be based on who we think follow what they are saying they believe and will put our country back on the road to recovery by lowering our debt and drilling for oil and natural gas.
I can’t wait till Ron Paul wins, and every one of you people that said he couldn’t have to eat your words. He’s the only viable Republican in my book, cause he’s the only one standing up there that doesn’t read like a politician. If one of the other members get’s picked for the primary I’ll vote independent or for Obama. Romney and Gingrich would sell out to the highest bidder in a heart beat. Dr.Paul for 2012
If you vote for Obama than you are selling out… You are actually comfortable with the road he is taking us down.
republican or libertarian??
Adam, you seriously think voting for Obama again would be better than Gingrich or Romney? I agree that Dr. Paul is the candidate who will have the best policies to straighten out the country, but Obama will finish us off if he gets another term. It may be too late already.
RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2012!
I would back Dr. Paul for Treasury Secretary…watch for the sleeper…Rick Santorum!