Meet the new GOP front-runner
posted at 9:13 pm on January 15, 2008 by Bryan
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Two primary wins, two seconds. No one else has been as broadly competitive so far. He has the most delegates and the most money in the bank, and he’s back to campaigning in South Carolina for Saturday’s primary. He’s in a statistical tie for second there. With four primary contests and three different winners, there isn’t a solid front-funner in the GOP but there is a front-runner for now, and that’s Mitt Romney.
Am I the only one breathing a sigh of relief that the front-runner coming out of Michigan isn’t McCain or Huckabee?
Update: Here’s CNN’s rolling tally of the votes.
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Heck no!
Spirit of 1776 on January 15, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Really isnt much difference between the 3
William Amos on January 15, 2008 at 9:14 PM
No, you’re not alone.
Go Fred! But Mitt will do in a crunch.
12thman on January 15, 2008 at 9:15 PM
I could vote for a Romney/Thompson ticket, though I’d prefer it the other way ’round.
elpresidente on January 15, 2008 at 9:15 PM
My wife and I are Fred supporters but we voted for Mitt today just so Maverick wouldn’t win. Only hope that Fred can do well in S.C.
flytier on January 15, 2008 at 9:15 PM
YAY, anyone but McCain!
Nashoa on January 15, 2008 at 9:15 PM
SIGH! WHEW!
elpresidente on January 15, 2008 at 9:16 PM
William have you been reading the Huck threads? And surely you know McCain’s history.
Spirit of 1776 on January 15, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Or Huckabee or Paul…
eanax on January 15, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Like I said, McCain will fade away as he did the last two times.
Weebork on January 15, 2008 at 9:17 PM
I am really dissapointed Fred did so poorly again.
Hous Bin-Pharteen on January 15, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Yep, we dodged a bullet there…a few more are headed our way though.
AUINSC on January 15, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Hewitt’s cruising on cloud nine.
ninjapirate on January 15, 2008 at 9:18 PM
No you are not the only one BY FAR.
We all dodged a HUGE bullet today with Mitt’s win. McAmnesty and Huckleberry must be stopped.
Now its up to Fred in SC.
Lets whoop this primary up and send the John and Mikey packing.
Always Right on January 15, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Way to go, Mr. and Mrs. Flytier.
This is bouying news!
RushBaby on January 15, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Yeah I can live with that.
ronsfi on January 15, 2008 at 9:19 PM
teh MITT!
Ludwig on January 15, 2008 at 9:19 PM
In the event of a water landing, Gov Romney may act as a flotation device
Weebork on January 15, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Meet the new GOP front-runner du jour.
flipflop on January 15, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Hugh Hewitt is cracking open the victory cigars, I bet. Though to be fair, he probably does that every night for Mitt’s perpetual victory.
Wineaholic on January 15, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Hewitt: “It’s better than sex”
j/k
jp on January 15, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Is there a link that updates the tally of votes like there was for NH?
Weebork on January 15, 2008 at 9:20 PM
A Romney win trumps a McLiar or Huckasham win any day of the week.
It will do.
SimplyKimberly on January 15, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Really… I’d like to see you support that assertion. To me, and to a LOT of other people, it’s rank nonsense.
There are VAST differences between Mitt and the other two: immigration policies, tax policy, environmental policy, business experience… HUGE differences.
Tell me why I am wrong.
kiltedscotsman5 on January 15, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Romney-Thompson 2008
would beat the hell out of
Hillary-[fill in the even-greater-loser] 2008.
No McVains or Hucksters, please.
I wanted Tancredo-Hunter, but one has to work with the hand you get dealt.
profitsbeard on January 15, 2008 at 9:23 PM
I’m drinking my Scotch and smoking a cigar and breathing one hell of a sigh of relief!
Micheal on January 15, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Gladly take Mitt over Huckabee! I’m voting for Fred Saturday in SC!!!!!
SCGOPgirl on January 15, 2008 at 9:23 PM
I was in another room and didn’t hear clearly – did Huckster just ask his packed-room of supporters in SC not to fart?
TBR_Chris on January 15, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Drudge has Gov Romney leading by 10% woah!
Weebork on January 15, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Mitt’s got PASSSION, BABY!!!
Who knew?
Always Right on January 15, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Anyone watch Mitt? His hair was out of place!
He also looks like he hasn’t slept in a week…
doubleplusundead on January 15, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Finally, a somewhat true conservative.
CliffHanger on January 15, 2008 at 9:26 PM
I am seeing the first Rudy ad here in Florida. Oh god; it’s our turn. Dammit!
lorien1973 on January 15, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Similar questions:
- Am I the only one who thinks Lindsey Lohan is a skank?
- Am I the only one who thinks Rush Limbaugh is a conservative?
- Am I the only one who likes to watch football on Sundays?
- Am I the only one who thinks Ron Paul isn’t wound too tight?
thirteen28 on January 15, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Me too. Then we`d get to go through this all over again, since Thompson would be too old to run if they went 2 terms.
ThePrez on January 15, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Mitt came out 2 minutes after McCain started his speech, stepping all over McCain’s coverage. Nice.
Dudley Smith on January 15, 2008 at 9:26 PM
the Mitt signs that are shapped like a Baseball Mitt are a nice touch. Creative, kinda like the “W” stickers.
notice how he mentions “George Herbert Walker Bush” and Reagan and not the current Bush.
jp on January 15, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Will you post the speech Bryan? I missed it while watching the D debate…
Spirit of 1776 on January 15, 2008 at 9:27 PM
You know who this helps?
Mitt Romney.
Good Lt on January 15, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Is anyone really sorry about McAmnesty after he blamed his stomping on Romney’s “favored son” status.
BKennedy on January 15, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Brilliant move to come out at the same time as McShamnesty.
therightwinger on January 15, 2008 at 9:28 PM
You know who Mitt Romney’s win in Michigan helps?
Ron Paul.
Wait, what?
doubleplusundead on January 15, 2008 at 9:28 PM
I was watching that snoozer too, but one way or another we should have Mitt’s speech eventually.
Bryan on January 15, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Here’s hoping for a Fred win in SC this week. That’ll really give the pundits a gigantic twist in their collective knickers!
Tennman on January 15, 2008 at 9:30 PM
My kid came up with a pretty good one tonight: McCain’t.
Buy Danish on January 15, 2008 at 9:30 PM
You’re lucky. I’ve been seeing ads for a while now.
amerpundit on January 15, 2008 at 9:30 PM
You know who Mitt Romney’s win in Michigan helps?
Amurica
Micheal on January 15, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Thank you, sir. (Yeah, it certainly has been so far)
Spirit of 1776 on January 15, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Mitt just said something along these lines:
Optimism has beaten Washington pessimism.
Get used to hearing it. It’s Reaganesque and promises a change to business as usual within the Beltway. It’s powerful.
DrW on January 15, 2008 at 9:31 PM
How about the start of that Huck speech, Bryan? I swear, if I heard it right, it could be Dean Scream 2008.
TBR_Chris on January 15, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Similar questions…
thirteen28 on January 15,2008 at 9:26PM.
Thirteen28:On all five questions you are normal as
apple pie.
canopfor on January 15, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Heck no Bryan. My sigh may last all night and into tomorrow.
Griz on January 15, 2008 at 9:33 PM
second look at hillsborough county!
lorien1973 on January 15, 2008 at 9:34 PM
http://libertarianrepublican.blogspot.com/2008/01/daily-kos-discovers-white-supremacist.html
they found Neo-Nazi’s working in Paul’s Mich. campaign team and Paul has a pic with him.
and apparently another major Publication is coming out with another Paul story tonight/tommorrow, per Dondero(his former aide). No doubt he was contacted by them.
jp on January 15, 2008 at 9:34 PM
A couple of things that killed it for McCain were the comments about going back to community college because auto jobs aren’t coming back and he couldn’t wait for them to hook up the pipe to the great lakes and send the water down to Arizona. Thems is fightin words in Michigan!
flytier on January 15, 2008 at 9:34 PM
And I had predicted a Romney win by 5%. Mitt!
Onager on January 15, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Congrats Mitt.
Huckabee cannot win. Bush won in 2000 with Florida putting him over the top. In 2004 Ohio did the trick. The Republicans cannot win without both Florida and Ohio. They also must hold onto all the other states they won in 2000 and 2004 to win.
Huckabee has so offended the LDS people with his slander that he has lost the LDS vote. There are 176,000 LDS people in Florida and 56,000 in Ohio. (Not all are voting age.) The states of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona have enough LDS people to determine the results in those states. As it now stands, I don’t know a single LDS person who is willing to vote for Huckabee. We would gladly support an evengalical Christian who was at least respectful of us. Huckabee is not it.
The Rock
The Rock on January 15, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Great analysis Bryan….I think it’s time for people to consider delegate count, not primary count
Reaganliveson on January 15, 2008 at 9:35 PM
The only thing that Maverick could have said that was worse would be to say he was an Avalanche fan.
Go Wings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
flytier on January 15, 2008 at 9:36 PM
A win for Romney is a win for America! We should all seek to defeat Huckabee and McCain.
davenp35 on January 15, 2008 at 9:36 PM
“Undecided” got more votes than Duncan Hunter, the only REAL conservative in the race. Unbelievable. Thanks, Media, your ploy to ensure us a choice between a far left Demosocialist and a RINO is working perfectly.
Tony737 on January 15, 2008 at 9:36 PM
This is a good example of McCain not exercising mouth management…
eanax on January 15, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Nope. I wish Fox had aired McCain’s speech. I never get tired of the stiff waving arms and gritted teeth. I bet Thanksgiving dinner at his house is a hoot. Probably scares the shit out of the family when he attacks the turkey with a carving knife.
Now, if only Huck will get creamed in South Carolina, the stars will begin to align.
BacaDog on January 15, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Right. Not exactly an inspiring message and a big goof on McCain’s part.
CliffHanger on January 15, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Didn’t you mean the opposite? MASSA-CHEW-SITS IN PLAY!
Micheal on January 15, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Further more, with look for a Reagan style win in the
fall – a fresh voice that has listened.
Onager on January 15, 2008 at 9:38 PM
I’m still remembering his reference to opponents of shamnesty as “loud folks”. Gonna take quite a few more losses to get a twinge of sorrow from me.Even then,….it might be impossible.
a capella on January 15, 2008 at 9:38 PM
I meant with Mitt of course.
Onager on January 15, 2008 at 9:38 PM
He won his home state and an uncontested caucus in the middle of nowhere. Whoopee!
someone on January 15, 2008 at 9:39 PM
I’ve moved past counting delegates and primarys…
I’m counting electoral votes :smoke:
Micheal on January 15, 2008 at 9:39 PM
Michigan is retarded anyways. Why do you think they’re so miserable?
Answer: They’re too stupid to move to a better state!
Sir Andrew on January 15, 2008 at 9:40 PM
I could vote for Mitt. I’d much rather have Fred but if I had to settle, I could settle for Mitt.
MarkoMancuso on January 15, 2008 at 9:41 PM
So conservatism and competence aside, Who here thinks Mitt is electable in the General election?
jp on January 15, 2008 at 9:41 PM
Easy there Andy…
Micheal on January 15, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Is there really such a thing or is senility kicking in for Mccain?
Resolute on January 15, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Oops. Didn’t mean to put it in strong.
MarkoMancuso on January 15, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Michigan’s the third primary, should provide significant momentum, and for a while it looked like McCain could win, coming off of his New Hampshire win in NH.
amerpundit on January 15, 2008 at 9:43 PM
I will preface my answer by saying I am a Mitt supporter, but I honestly think he’s actually the most electable candidate on the Republican side. My profession is actually political psychology and I have spent a lot of time looking at what it takes to win an election.
davenp35 on January 15, 2008 at 9:43 PM
I think he’s been vetted, and so most Republicans will grow to accept his checkered past. I think he’ll do great if he stays on message and gives more speeches like that Mormonism speech.
Micheal on January 15, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Mitt’s a loser in the general. Rudy/Fred or Rudy/McCain or McCain/Fred or Fred/McCain are the best tickets.
lorien1973 on January 15, 2008 at 9:44 PM
I’m just teasing…
Sir Andrew on January 15, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Any combination of those two is AWESOME!
I live in NC and I’ve been seeing them at least once a day on FOX news. I’m also seeing them up here in PA. Both are post-Super Tuesday states. Do watch a lot of TV? I’d imagine Rudy has been pounding Florida pretty hard for a while.
malan89 on January 15, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Analysis couldnt be more correct
Drunk Report on January 15, 2008 at 9:45 PM
How can somebody so optimistic about Iraq be such a pessimist about his own country?
TheBigOldDog on January 15, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Am I the only one breathing a sigh of relief that the front-runner coming out of Michigan isn’t McCain or Huckabee?
You’re probably joined in that sentiment by thousands of GOP voters who can’t figure out or won’t accept that Mitt Romney isn’t much of an upgrade from either of those two clowns.
Centerfire on January 15, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Michigan is retarded anyways. Why do you think they’re so miserable?
Answer: They’re too stupid to move to a better state!
Sir Andrew on January 15, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Lived in S.C. and Tenn. Keep moving back to Michigan. Not everyone lives in Detroit ya know.
flytier on January 15, 2008 at 9:47 PM
To me, I like Romney, Giuliani, and Fred for different reasons, but If I had to choose, it would be:
#1 Romney
#2 Fred
#3 Giuliani
As for McCain or Huckabee, I think that McCain is wrong about nearly everything except for Iraq. (Talk is cheap, and his actions speak far better than his trite words.)
And I think Huckabee is a scam. He’s religious. w00t.
Except for the fact that he is religious, he appears to be a bloomberg-esque inde-mocrat/RINO. (Not to mention that Huckabee’s antics just piss me off.)
Like that whole:
“I’m going to take the high road and not release this attack ad… but before I don’t release it, how about I play the video for all you reporters and cameramen.”
I mean COME ON. To any one who spends time in a courtroom or amongst politicians, his antics are crude and shallow. The pity of it is that so many people won’t realise what he is doing.
He reminds me of a certain type of person I abhor… a Fogal.
The kind of person who wears their religion on their sleeve, but carries a tainted faith that is easily abandoned when expedient. Oh, they might even believe that their faith is strong, but when the time comes to do what is right or what is easy, they’ll choose easy EVERY single time.
Wow… how’d this post turn into a Huckabee rant? (I guess I REALLY don’t like him. Probably because I know people like him at my church and they $*@)! me off every other week… )
Ayway, WHOOOOO GO MITT!
Jones Zemkophill on January 15, 2008 at 9:47 PM
I’m watching american idol now. Rudy’s ad was on it. Was the first one I’ve seen, and I watch a lot of TV.
lorien1973 on January 15, 2008 at 9:47 PM
*raises hand*
RushBaby on January 15, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Huckabee just said to his people if you find someone in S.C. that is not going to vote for him on Sat. let the air out of there tires .I dare one of you huskters to show up at my house and try to let the air out of my tires.Way to go huck you jerk!!!
thmcbb on January 15, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Yes!!! This is great news. The beginning of the end for Huckster/McCan’t, and the end of the beginning of Romney, the most qualified and best candidate for president.
Dr B on January 15, 2008 at 9:47 PM
the mormonism thing worries me, based on my experience where I grew up(NC) and how people view the religion. I think alot of people would stay at home or, especially in the current anti-GOP environmnet, vote 3rd party protest vote.
jp on January 15, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Well at least,I see Fred is on half the ticket
so far,the other half is in play!
canopfor on January 15, 2008 at 9:48 PM
My positioning exactly!
davenp35 on January 15, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Is there really such a thing or is senility kicking in for Mccain?
Resolute on January 15, 2008 at 9:42 PM
It’s been talked about and legislation had been introduced in the state house to protect the great lakes from water transfer. We like what we got and don’t want to lose it to help water golf courses in the desert.
BTW Sir Andrew, have you ever been to Michigan?
flytier on January 15, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Me too. I was hoping for a good Fred showing somewhere along the line, but it looks like it won’t happen. Now, I think he’ll be a good choice for VP if he’d take it.
On the one hand, it’s a good thing it is still a wide open race. For one thing, there’s noone to focus on for the Dem attack machine. Also, it gives everyone time to hone a message for the long haul.
Whoever wins, though, is gonna get creamed if they can’t mobilize the black and hispanic vote. Call me a crass panderer, but a solid black conservative like Michael Steele as VP would go a long way towards bringing the African-American vote to the GOP.
Anyway, hope Fred does well in SC, just to shake up McShamnesty. Otherwise, Go Mitt.
BacaDog on January 15, 2008 at 9:49 PM
That’s old school Democrat machine party politics right there. The more Huck talks the more he sounds like an old school Democrat.
TheBigOldDog on January 15, 2008 at 9:51 PM
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