Some interesting items from the Washington Post/ABC News Poll:
Giuliani's frontrunner status is fueled by a broad-based perception that he is the party's most electable candidate.
Nearly half of Republicans believe Giuliani is their party's best chance of winning in November 2008; that is three or four times higher than the percentage mentioning other candidates. Democrats and independents also said Giuliani would represent the Republicans' best shot at holding onto the White House.
Yep, if Rudy Giuliani somehow lost his perception of electability, he would be down there with Ron Paul faster than a New York minute. But the electability is there, it's real, and the Republicans have lost the House and Senate. Do they really want to risk losing the presidency as well? If not, go Rudy.
At 16 percent, McCain is at his lowest point of the campaign after a month in which he reported that his campaign was nearly out of money and his campaign manager, chief strategist, finance director and communications director -- among others -- announced their resignations.
It's probably worse than that, but the trend is more important than the number here. And the trend is down.
Thompson, meanwhile, continues to be competitive as an unannounced candidate. His campaign now does not plan to make his presidential bid official until after Labor Day.
Fred Thompson is waiting until the right time. Smart. Why announce when everything's going your way? Hold your fire until you see the whites of the eyes.
And Mitt Romney faces his own challenges: If elected, Romney would become the nation's first Mormon president and that makes some uneasy. Overall, 63 percent of all Americans and 63 percent of Republicans said they would be comfortable with a Mormon as president. But only about a third of each group said they would be "entirely comfortable.
"Do Americans have a bias against Mormons? Should they? I know any American in the 1800's would have been freaked out if you told them that a member of the LDS would be runnning for president in 2008. Perhaps some of that lingers. On paper Romney looks like a near perfect candidate who should be doing better than he is. Perhaps the mormonism explains it, but i'd prefer to think that the perception of electability is more to blame. Romney will not flip Massachusetts or any of the NE states over to the Republicans. He will have to fight just as hard in the other states. Compared to Rudy, he's just not as electable.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 5)
1. What language is this blog using? What was that?
skefington at 1:58PM on Jul 25th 2007
2. I think this is still anybodies race. Unfortunately, I don't see Rudy getting the nomination, he is too liberal for the conservative party. Not to mention, surprisingly enough, Mitt Romney has rocked the evangelical vote, which as we have seen in previous elections can SEVERELY sway the election.
If the primaries were today, the nominations would go to Hilary Rodham Clinton and Mitt Romney.
Kevin at 2:26PM on Jul 25th 2007
3. In an age of diversity and change, American citizens are faced with several major challenges that will influence our decision at the polls during the next presidential election, three critical issues that I believe will decide the 2008 Presidential election are;
•The War In Iraq and The War On Terror
The polls showed strong support for the war in Iraq during its early stages, one hundred and eighty six billion dollars later support is waning. Although we have not experienced a direct terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11, experts agree another attack is imminent.
•Health Care
There are seventy-seven million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 who are concerned about retirement and rising health care costs. With forty-eight million Americans (and twelve to twenty million illegal immigrants), without health insurance, we face a pending disaster with huge financial consequences.
•Illegal Immigration
The astronomical rate of twelve to twenty million illegal immigrants living in the United States has created alarming social and economic instabilities, not to mention the ability of terrorists to cross our borders unchecked with the sole objective of inflicting harm upon American citizens.
We are in a conundrum of social, economic and foreign affairs issues. We must elect a President who provides us with a proven track record of leadership and accomplishment.
The media has become biased, film makers like Michael Moore scream for the truth, clothed in partisan wool and refusing to offer counterpoints to his bias.
In a brave new world of technology, which at times can create a sensory overload, how do we define our direction?
American values are being challenged like never before. Undeniably, the way our forefathers built and governed not only worked well for America, but profoundly impacted the stability of the world around us. This encouraged Democracies that do not go to war against each other, but learn to rely upon each other for economic trade and stability.
The issues we face in 2008 are not new, and we have learned as a nation that indecision breeds the germs of complacency.
We have seen the price of hesitation with the attacks on 9/11. We can no longer afford to place our future in the misguided or the illogical dreams of those who have not proven their effectiveness as leaders.
We all want freedom. We all want equality. We all want prosperity. This is the ideology of the American dream and Democracy, an ideology which our men and women in uniform have sacrificed to protect, including my father who served in the US Air Force for twenty years of his life.
These concepts have never been nor ever will be successfully employed by a leader of reaction, but of pro-action.
The success of the American way of life requires a leader who understands the difference between ideas, implementation and success.
So, allow me to reiterate this point, "How do we as Americans define our direction"?
If we weigh the issues, process the ideas, and conclude the effectiveness and track record of each candidate’s leadership qualitative, one name stands unique and strong;
“Governor Mitt Romney”
Mitt Romney supports conservative American values. He is solutions oriented and a proven leader. Governor Romney has a proven and demonstrable track record of success in business and political leadership.
We are aware of Governor Romney's religious beliefs; this should not deter anyone from voting for Governor Romney...after all, we are a country of religious freedom. John F. Kennedy was ridiculed for his belief in Catholicism, and yet society views JFK was one of the greatest Presidents of all time. I am a Roman Catholic; I too was concerned about Governor Romney's religious beliefs. However, when you read about the Mormon faith, you understand that Mormon's believe in God, family and conservative values.
Governor Romney is opposed to abortion, except in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Like President Ronald Reagan, Henry Hyde and others before him, he has acknowledged that in the past he had this issue wrong. How can you not respect a leader who acknowledges a mistake and is willing to take corrective action?
As Governor of Massachusetts, when Governor Romney was presented with legislation on life issues, he has sided with life:
• Governor Romney vetoed legislation that would have provided for the "Morning After Pill" without a prescription.
• Governor Romney fought to promote abstinence education in the classroom.
• Governor Romney vetoed legislation that would have redefined in Massachusetts the longstanding definition of the beginning of human life from fertilization to implantation.
• Governor Romney has supported parental notification laws and opposed efforts to weaken parental involvement.
• Governor Romney supports adult stem cell research but has opposed efforts to advance embryo-destructive research in Massachusetts, and he has not supported public funding for embryo-destructive research.
Governor Romney believes America must secure its borders and at the same time, ensure that hard-working, law-abiding immigrants can become American citizens. Immigration has been an important part of our nation's success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. Governor Romney believes in reforming the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America.
Strengthening our military and winning the war against Jihadists. Governor Romney proposes increasing the size of our military by 100,000 troops. He will also dedicate at least four percent of our gross domestic product to defense. We must defend Democracy and prevent rogue regimes like Iran from securing nuclear weapons and threatening the total destruction of Israel. We cannot be held hostage as a nation because we choose to sit on the sidelines and ignore a renegade regime in Iran.
Governor Romney passed affordable health care legislation in the State of Massachusetts. Governor Romney provided health care insurance for all residents by working with insurance companies, hospitals, corporations and legislators to cut the cost of health care premiums in half. As a result, every resident of the State of Massachusetts receives affordable health coverage, and in the poorest of families, subsidized health care insurance.
Governor Romney believes that Americans should retain more of their income, not pay more taxes. Governor Romney believes the 2002 tax cuts should become permanent and not expire in 2011, potentially creating the largest tax increase in the history of the United States.
I have vetted all the top tier Presidential candidates, I believe very strongly that Mitt Romney is not only the best candidate for the future of our country, but for the legacy we will pass on to our children and generations that follow.
Rob
Rob at 2:37PM on Jul 25th 2007
4. Penn # 1 = Romney got elected as Governor of liberal Massachusetts simply by runnng as that...a liberal governor. He openly supported abortion rights..in 1994, running for the Senate, Romney stated, "i am 100% pro-choice and I will not change that stance." And he didn't until he decided to run for the presidency. How convenient when you are trying to court the Pat Robertson crowd. Romney also supported gay rights, now he doesn't.
Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up? Which is is, liberal Republican Mitt or George Bush Republican Mitt?
David S. at 3:46PM on Jul 25th 2007
5. Rudy's a media manufactured myth. So long as the media have their way, it's almost certainly going to end up being Rudy vs. Hillary, meaning either way we lose. Having lived in NYC, I'd say Rudy's about as bad as they come, but because he's a Republican it's perfectly acceptable that he broke up with his wife for his girlfriend on television, and that he married his cousin. If he were a Democrat, he'd have already quit due to "liberal," media attacks. - http://majormediabypass.com
Dr. Kenneth J. Hildebrandt at 3:48PM on Jul 25th 2007
6. Giuliani is the worst candidate in the Republican party. If he were to win the Primaries, I would consider the Democratic party to be the lesser of two evils, but my vote belongs to Ron Paul. The election for President of the United States is not a popularity contest about who can smile and wave and still give everyone warm fuzzies while taking away our liberties. The title of President of the United States of America belongs to someone who understands that America is "We the People" and protects our freedom by actually protecting the document that they swear an oath to protect. In my opinion, Ron Paul is that person and he has earned the right to carry the title of President by displaying his integrity and adhearance to the law througout his life in his years of Air Force Service, National Guard Service, promoting life as an ObGyn, voting in adhearance to the Constitution as a Congressman and holding true to the same values in his home. Those are my 2 cents.
Nicole at 3:49PM on Jul 25th 2007
7. Between Romney and Giulliani, my vote goes for the latter. As Rob-in a previous comment said, mormons believe in God, and conservative values...well yeah, they want everyone to believe those are their stands but Mormonism is a cult-a very deceitful one, at that. I refuse to vote for Romney, as I do not want a cult member as a leader of my country! And Rob, if yyou really look into Mormonism-not from a Mormon's point of view but go to a christian bookstore and get a book on the truths and lies of mormonism, you will see what I am talking about. this country is already in bad enough shape-we do not need a cult leader to lead it!!!!
christine at 4:06PM on Jul 25th 2007
8. So the democrats are breaking the party strength by infighting and this journalist thinks that he can appeal to the 1800's for moral support against a president for his religion? I think we may be living in Rome. By the way, wasn't that the era of Polk and Buchanan (our worst presidents) and didn't those same highly moral people have a legalized extermination order on the 'Mormons' - driving them out of two states and murdering the last Mormon presidential candidate? The religious issues should be dropped and we should deal with the abilities of the candidates not their private lives.
kellviolin1 at 4:14PM on Jul 25th 2007
9. I,M VOTONG FOR ROB(#4) WOW, HE SHOULD BE ROMNEYS CAMPAIGN MGR. I MAY SWITCH MY VOTE.
ed at 4:21PM on Jul 25th 2007
10. Is Mitt's religion the only thing the Democrats can come up with? Yikes, let's persecute a moral person who is running for President of the greatest country ever! The real issues are what the candidates can and are willing to do for our country as we are not in a very stable position right now. Hillary and menopause can start a third world war, I can see it, she has an attitude! I am sick of hearing her and Osama, I mean Obama, fight over stupid stuff. I have read what all the candidates state as their objectives and I just can't justify ruling out a candidate because he is Mormon and so what if he used to think that certain things were okay, a long time ago, and has now had a change of heart. I think we all wise up as we grow older and realize that we need to take a stand, at some point, for your true beliefs and values. He has made the right decision to apologize, make a stand and go on with life. At least he has been honest and hard working through his time as governor and that cannot be said for many others. I sure hope no one ever has to dig up something I said in my 20's or 30's that contradict what I believe today and try to use that against me, that's just plain stupid.
J.I.M. at 4:36PM on Jul 25th 2007
11. I'm a Mormon and a Democrat. I'd consider voting for a moderate Republican, but I'm a little nervous with Mitt's run to the right. Yet, he's a pretty impressive guy and has good credentials. But . . . To paraphrase JFK, I'll vote Democratic, but pray for Mitt. :)
Lloyd Weber at 5:00PM on Jul 25th 2007
12.
I soo agree with (Rob). You just can't trust anyone in politics anymore and it seems that Gov. Romney is the only convincing one right know.
bet at 5:19PM on Jul 25th 2007
13. DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW THAT MORMONS BELIEVE THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE BLACK BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN CURSED BY GOD...AND THE BLACK RACE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL GOD LIFT'S THE CURSE FROM THEM...WELL, MITT, WANNA COMMENT ON THIS....A FORMER MORMON
MICHELE ROPPLE at 5:34PM on Jul 25th 2007
14. Rudy Giuliani when Mayor of NY was responsible for putting the 911/Command Center in 7WTC, where it was destroyed. This against advice of counterterrorism experts. Sadly, the former Mayor is less than swift when it comes to counterterrorism.
ed shaughnessy at 5:39PM on Jul 25th 2007
15. Actually, the Mormon Church takes no stand on "Why" black people are black or chinese are chinese or yada yada. Maybe there are those so called "no it alls" who say that they think that is why and like any rumor... well you know. The Mormon Church embraces every culture, every people, every tongue and nation. There is no racial issues with the church except for those who make it that. I absolutely know this for a fact and am sorry that everyone who "Used" to be a Mormon has to pick some reason to quit. I used to crunch ice and now I have to get two crowns, it's Taco Bell's fault because they sold me the ice in my drink. I really think there are better things to blog about than what Mormon's believe about different races. The Church covers the world, teaches Charity, which is the pure love of Christ and have no aspirations of shunning anyone culture.
John W. at 5:44PM on Jul 25th 2007