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 3 of 5)
31. Ed # 27,Yeah I've heard Mormon leaders spoke at their General Conferences and they never speak evil of their fellowmen including Evangelicals.As a matter of fact they support fully the many good works other churches are doing for people of the world.To my estimation of the Mormon church and their attitude they are champion of love thy neighbour as thyself as the Holy Bible teaches us.I totally disagree with you and your view about the Mormons or anybodys thoughts.If you think you're lost you need help maybe change your religion if you're not learning any better.
Pen at 12:13PM on Jul 26th 2007
32. David S#4 at 3.46pm,Are you one of the idiots that doesn't really research Mitt Romneys true answer about why he change now? Look my 7 year old understand his explanation perfectly well than you,how old are you? Mitt Romney speak the truth and the very reason he changes his position is to defend the side of life for the unborn fetus.Every candidate changes position one way or another as they come to understand the real situation.If you are a candidate that don't know how to change if situation changes you end up in the bottom and low in the polls.
Pen at 12:38PM on Jul 26th 2007
33. Pen #32 - obviously you are blinded by your adoration of Romney to see the real man. The truth about this man is he supported abortion rights 100% as Governor of Mass. Look it up if you don't believe me. Look, I get it...he was a Republican trying to win in liberal Massachusetts. Maybe he had no choice...whatever. But his reasoning for turning against abortion rights does not wash (something about stem cells or some such nonsense). He turned aginst them to win voters like YOU, Ed. Some folks would call that PANDERING..like I said, all politicians do it, that does not make them genuine..
Romney is an empty suit..a phoney..
By the way Ed, I am an adult. I question why you are teaching your 7-year-old the complicated issue of abortion. What else do you do, make him march outside of abortion clinics with pictures of dead fetuses?
David S. at 1:05PM on Jul 26th 2007
34. David S#33 at 1:05pm
Why would any individual try to change the existing law of the State that abortion is legal despite your own personal view.You can work through the legislature with assembly members and if they don't agree with you the law stay as it is.
Pen at 3:30AM on Jul 27th 2007
35. I am not sure I get what you are talking about, Penn.. Roe v. Wade guarantees an abortion in the first trimester in all 50 states. Some states have set their own restrictions, which I have no problem with. But they cannot completely outlaw it without a reversal of Roe v. Wade.
South Dakota tried last year to outlaw abortion..put it on the ballot and it failed. In a conservative state, no less.
The issue with overturning Roe v. Wade is that conservative states would be quick to outlaw it..therefore leaving only liberal states to keep it legal. I have no inclination..as do most Americans..to drive women back to the days of back alley butchers and coat hangers.
David S. at 1:46PM on Jul 26th 2007
36. What exactly is it conservatives are conserving?
W will be handed his eviction order and his hat Nov 3, 2008 and I have the strangest feeling he will be kicking and screaming.
rn at 2:46PM on Jul 26th 2007
37. this election is going to be like the last few, Red State, Blue State with the winner coming from whomever wins 2 of the 3 swing states of Florida, Ohio & PA.
The only thing that changes that scenario is if Giuliani gets the Republican Nomination because suddenly NJ, CT, NY and even California will be in play for the Republicans. And if it becomes a Giulani Liberman ticket the Dems are facing as big a landslide loss as they had in '72 with McGovern or '84 with Mondale.
Why do you think the only Republican that the Left Wing lunatics on this list are attacking is Giuliani?
If he's so bad they should be trying to help him get the nomination so it could be an easy win for Shrillary. But their not, because he is the one candidate they fear the most.
Joe at 9:54PM on Jul 26th 2007
38. >
Not that abortion is a major issue for me. But the whole problem many Conservatives have with the issue is that there isn't a specific law which grants the right to an abortion, but it was a loose interpretation of a law by a liberal court that granted that right. The feel that the legislatures should make law not the courts.
Joe at 10:52PM on Jul 26th 2007
39. Pen. I've also heard the leaders speak at General Conference, and I agree with what you said. But were not talking about what Hinckley, Monson, Faust or the any of the 12 says about other religions, we're talking about what Evangelicals say about us. It isn't my view of the LDS Church - my church - it is the view of others. I have debated Evangelicals and Catholics about the restored gospel and they think we are a cult; they think we are Satanic; they think we are evil.
Ed at 11:18PM on Jul 26th 2007
40. Ed #38,My apology brother,I misunderstood your comments.Keep up the good fight for the TRUTH.
Pen at 5:48PM on Jul 27th 2007
41. Pen. You also...now more than ever.
Ed at 9:33AM on Jul 27th 2007
42. Which candidate is for Constitutional Government?
For Lower Taxes?
For a Free Market?
For Sound Money Policies?
For Honesty in Government?
Not Hi$$ery, not Julie-Anni nor any of the other
so called 'front runners'
Dr. Ron Paul is the only one worthy to be President
of our REPUBLIC.
MaximillianIV at 10:27AM on Jul 27th 2007
43. I am sorry Rudy Giuliani does not look presidential at all. He does not have that aura of a statesman. Please let us look for another candidate.
Pastori M. Balele at 1:22PM on Jul 28th 2007
44. No one believes in National Polls only an effort of some Pollster to promote some candidate and not all of them.They make it look like thats the view of all American but totally false.There are so many Polls with different results good thing I'm not a fool to believe them.The fact that the Primary is conduct State by State doesn't proove any of the Polls so far.About the candidates and who will victorious,the one candidate will surely grabb it is Mitt Romney.
Realities at 4:31AM on Jul 28th 2007
45. Here is a funny video for all you Rudy supporters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znEC2tm8zzc
Enjoy!
John at 11:40AM on Jul 28th 2007