Who is your first, second, and third choices (there's a reason for this diary)
By Oz Posted in 2008 — Comments (232) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I'm interested to hear where people's first, second, and third choices are.
Is this a random poll?
No it's not. Iowa's caucuses work very differently. In each caucusing location, someone who doesn't get at least 15% on the first ballot gets knocked off and then people re-vote.
As we get closer I'd like to take a look more in depth at Iowa, it's current (at that time) poll numbers, and see where the various candidates are located with regards to the 15%.
However, I'd also like to have the data I'm asking for in this blog handy to help me out.
Here's mine:
1) Fred
2) Mitt
3) McCain
Update: I guess that I'm wrong and only the Dems use the 15% threshold. Well, it's an interesting thing for me to see anyway."
My weekend vetting of Huckabee has presented even more depressing evidence that Huck’s a slick, pro-life Jimmy Carter/John Edwards soft-on-crime tax-and-spend nanny-state populist union-butt-kisser.
Thus, I’ve decided that even Ron Paul would make a better President than Mike Huckabee. A small-Govt Constitutionalist isolationist with some nutty groupies beats a nanny-state ‘compassionate’ populist beloved by the MSM.
Thompson would be #1 if he got on steriods or an energy drink, but Mitt is the current best candidate for this Pro-life, pro-family, pro-freedom, pro-GWOT, pro-capitalism conservative.
My full order of preference:
1. Mitt Romney
2. Fred Thompson
3. Duncan Hunter
4. Tom Tancredo
5. John McCain
6. Rudy Guiliani
7. Ron Paul
8. Mike Huckabee
More about Mike:
http://therealmikehuckabee.blogspot.com/
Mitt is first because I believe that he is the only candidate that doesn't have the problems that Giuliani and Huckabee have.
He's also got executive experience that Thompson lacks.
And, to the surprise of many, Mitt looks and speaks more presidentially than any other candidate.
Therefore, I put Mitt first. Thompson seems more credible than either Giuliani or Huckabee for my runner-up. Thompson doesn't have the baggage that Rudy and Huck have.
I will support the eventual GOP nominee whoever he may be.
Romney/Barbour 2008
1. Mitt
2. Johnny Mc
3. Fred
“It is not the possession of truth, but the success which attends the seeking after it, that enriches the seeker and brings happiness to him.”"-Max Planck
Fred
Mitt
Rudy
And it pains me to put McCain in that group. A couple of months ago, would probably have been Huck, but the wool has come off the eyes.
McCain
Fred
Romney
I thought only the Dem Caucus worked on the 15% threshold. Perhaps I am wrong.
is McCain
2nd is Rudy
3rd is Romney.
Noone else really gets me excited.
Romney
McCain
Thompson
Romney or Thompson as top 2. Which #1? Dunno yet.
Hunter for 3rd choice (cause none of the rest are worthy).
Fred
Rudy
Romney I have no real enthusiasm for anyone other than Fred
Rudy
McCain
Romney
"But one fourth of the population is retarded." - GWB, on South Park
Fred
Rudy
Mitt
Socialism doesn't work. It looks nice on paper, but it's been tried and it's failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.
I'm with Fred!
Rudy
Fred
Mitt
Also check out my redstate straw poll from 11/13 if you want some comparative data from ~4 weeks ago.
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Finrod's First Law of Bandwidth:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it takes the bandwidth of ten thousand.
Mitt
Fred
(distant 3rd) Rudy
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
Mitt
Fred
Rudy
__________________________________________
First State Politics
1. McCain
2. Fred
3. Rudy
MOlsen6
Proud supporter of McCain '00 and McCain '08
McCain has surpassed Fred because I think McCain could win in November, whereas Fred's listless campaign shows no sign of improving.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
1. Romney
2. Fred
3. McCain
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
1. Thompson
2. Romney
3. Hmm... Give me a minute... I don't get to say Brownback? Darn. How about Coburn? ... No? Watts? Argh. OK let's just say McCain.
WHAT!? I cant belive I just heard you say McCain for any where in your order... are you feeling ok Neil?
Considering I find Tancredo, Keyes, Paul, Hunter, Huckabee, Giuliani, and McCain all unacceptable... I just picked the least unacceptable guy of the lot, heh.
Romney
Thompson
McCain
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
Assigning 3 points for first, 2 for second, and 1 for third
Fred: 61
Mitt: 47.5
John: 38
Rudy: 27.5
Mike: 7
Hunter: 4
HWMNBN: 1
1. McCain
2. Romney
3. Fred
___________________________________
Two thirds of the world is covered by water,
the other third is covered by Champ Bailey.
1)McCain
2)Rudy
3)Thompson
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I am a Positivist Pastafarian for the alliteration alone.
at least that's the way it was in 2000. Even so, second choices don't come into play. It's still a useful exercise in terms of seeing what the effects could be once people start dropping out.
My top 3
1. Paul
2. Romney
3. Thompson
Anything after that and heartburn starts to kick in.
1) Mike Huckabee
2) John Mccain
3) Rudy Giuliani
Mike and Rudy in the same list? That has got to be a first.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
1) Paul
2) Thompson
3) McCain
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"The bass, the rock, the mic, the treble, I like my coffee black, just like my Metal." - MSI
Wow, I'm shocked and glad that Huckabee's support is so low. This leads me to believe that when regular Republicans and conservatives, who don't pay as much attention as us, figure out Huckabee's real position that his popularity will plummet. I just hope they figure it out BEFORE they nominate him!
1. Giuliani
2. Thompson
3. Romney
I would never vote for McCain or Huckabee in the primaries and I would have to hold my nose in the general election. Huckabee had better seem solid on his pledge not to raise taxes and to win the War on Terror, or I will see no reason to vote for him.
Fred
Rudy
Mitt
"I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way."
John Paul Jones (letter to M. Le Ray de Chaumont,16 Nov.1778)
Fred
Rudy
Mitt
And now that EPU has spoken, you can close the nominees, and the nominees now have permission to address me and try to curry favor.
Stare decisis is fo' suckas -- Feddie
Fred
McCain
Mitt
Fred is the only one I would contribute time or money to at this point.
Joanne
1. Mitt
2. Fred
3. He who shall not be named (I'd be supporting him if I thought he stood a chance to beat Rudy and if I could endure the presence of his supporters for more than 30 seconds)
(I simply cannot get excited about Huck or McCain and I have no faith at all in Rudy)
Mitt, Rudy, John
I like Fred the best but I don't see any presidential aura.
1. Romney
2. Thompson/McCain
3. Rudy
1. Fred
2. Romney
3. Rudy
They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.~Harper L
Score Update 2
Thompson: 83
Romney:68.5
McCain: 52
Giuliani: 42.5
Huckabee: 11
RP: 11
Hunter: 7
Tancredo: 2
1) Paul
2) Thompson
3) I would either not vote for pres., write-in or vote 3rd party, for the first time in my life.
(Maybe 4 years of National Socialism under a Democrat administration is just what the GOP needs to get its collective head out, and start acting like conservatives again.)
Thompson
McCain
Huckabee
Note-I can't STAND Huckabee...I just loathe him slightly less than the "other two"-they each actually tie for 3rd...and a NOTA if forced to pick between them
haystack's 12th:
Conservatives (and Presidential Candidates especially) shall offer no aid and comfort to the opposition in times of legislative conflict (and ensuing political campaigns).
Sorry, it doesn work that way. It is true the Democrat Caucus works that way, but he republican Caucus is you show up, maybe a speech or too, then a regular balloting. Democrats are the ones who require viability. You might want to do some research next time.
.
_____________________________________________________
American First, Conservative Second, Republican Third
But I'm pro-life and I vote on Super Tuesday, so I'll vote for whoever is the real alternative to Rudy at that point, even if its Huckabee.
They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
1. Thompson
2. Romney
3. Do I have to say it? Okay, I guess... McCain
1. Thompson
2. Hunter
3. McCain
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Spacemonkey
1. Romney
2. Thompson
3. McCain
If you want to try a non-scientific ranked-choice / Instant Runoff Vote straw poll, try the link below.
http://www.choiceranker.com/election.php?eid=163
Ron Paul supporters have tended to dominate it (as they have dominated most online polls), but Thompson has won it from time to time. Alos I can report results in ways that filter out particular candidates so that RedStaters can see how their 1-2-3 choices stack within selected subsets.
My top 3
1. Fred
2. Mitt
3. McCain- as he is more electable in a gen election than Rudy
1. Rudy
2. McCain
3. Fred/Romney
1. Huckabee
2. Fred!
3. McCain
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"I die the King's good servant, and God's first." Saint Thomas More.
Full list of the eight left standing:
1) Thompson
2) Romney
3) Hunter
4) Huckabee
5) Giuliani
6) McCain
7) Tancredo
8) Paul
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NARF
1. Huck
2. John
3. Fred
"I believe in grace, because I have seen it. In peace, because I have felt it. In forgiveness, because I needed it."
-George W. Bush
Fred (the true common-sense conservative federalist)
Romney (even though he flips and he flops, he still rocks on the business front)
McCain or Rudy (Anyone BUT Huckabee - I will NOT vote for Huckabee)
1. Batman
2. Batman
3. Batman
I hope you all will concede that Batman is by far the hard core conservative candidate in this race. Unflinching pursuit of the enemy. Deliverer of violent righteous justice. Hates hippies, folk music, ultra-feminists, and corruption. Believes in the death penalty for rape and probably for wearing underwear outside your pants. Absolutely willing to scare, beat, and torture the vile to save the lives of the innocent. Wants to be left the hell alone to worship when, what, and how Batman chooses. If you come into his house, he wants to use any weapon he pleases against you, including ones he invented, permits be damned. Presumably, likes and admires Israel and the Jews. Clearly opposed to the death tax. White, but not reluctant to be honest about the state of urban decline. Richer than God, and no, he's not ashamed of it.
Batman would probably be for Rudy. But I'm for him, cause unlike Rudy, Batman would drive his mistress home himself. In the freaking BATMOBILE.
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"I die the King's good servant, and God's first." Saint Thomas More.
He probably won't hurt us on that point as President. He'd probably oppose Roe just because he wants it off the plate of the federal government.
wearing a cape...no ascots either.
Not that there is anything wrong with it...
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
You *know* the first time we had a big legislative fight, he'd say "I have responsibilities," and stick us with a big Kennedy-approved tax hike.
maybe...but, a cape has to serve a purpose..like Superman..he uses the cape to fly.
to accessorize, ....not sure .
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
A cape is an accessory but it is how the cape is worn that reveals the intention of the wearer. Men have traditionally been limited in their choices of accessories, and they have to choose them wisely. Lando was assertive, stylish, a bit avant-garde but not outlandishly so, and most importantly in command of his own cape when he wore it. He was cape strong, not cape pink.
I am going to start talking about Dungeons and Dragons, the Renaissance festival, World of Warcraft, LOTR's and Hobbits, and Star Trek.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Consider the game Etrian Odyssey, which immediately joined the short list of games I want, as soon as I heard about it.
that he felt good in his cape, ...color, style, fabric, size..no matter.
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
he did use his cape for things like a parachute, for instance.
The "Third Worst Person in the World" and aiming higher.
as fashion. He would have been laughed out of the Hall of Justice
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
wring information and confessions out of criminals by flying them high above the city and then dropping them, only to catch them a few feet above the ground. That would probably be called torture today, not to mention being thrown out of court.
Superman would be arrested for that.
Maybe "The Incredibles" wasn't so incredible after all.
The "Third Worst Person in the World" and aiming higher.
It's approximately how would actually go.
And then, when crime skyrockets and the supervillans attack and no one is there to save them, they'll curse the superheoes for not being there...
"Hillary is a blonde. But what she's got is a testicle lockbox."
-Rush Limbaugh
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
otherwise Kowalski has some splain'n to do
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
I'm pretty sure DC Comics sued that guy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4167032.stm
Also, Joel Schumacher is a no-talent pansy.
Well, maybe not surprised, but I'm a little bewildered that people didn't remember that art exhibit. It was a big splash in the media when it was announced. Batman has been wholly-owned and co-opted by homosexuals at this point. My advice to anyone with a kid is *not* to let them wear a Batman costume for Halloween. It's another cultural icon that has been appropriated. A few years ago there was also a "Lincoln was gay?" movement going on.
Witness, of course, the bizarre track Frank Miller's gone on in recent years as he devolved into the old perv category.
That's okay. Batman can survive even those attacks. His cape is made of a substance even slicker than Teflon.
The Batman has NEVER, NEVER tortured anyone, even the Joker. Scared them so bad they thought they were tortured, sure. But never actual torture.
And yes, one of my favorite set of lines from the Miller miniseries is:
From this position there are seven working defenses. Three disarm with minimal contact. Three kill instantly. The other one ... HURTS!
[leg kicks, bones break, big bones, thug screams]
1. Fred
2. McCain/Mitt (tie)
I don't like any of the three, but Fred seems the closest to me (even if he is running a lackluster '96 Dole-like campaign).
I want to like Huck, but his history (on economics) doesn't seem to square with his advocacy of the FairTax (which I favor). I also have a problem with the recent issues surrounding setting prisoners free to commit more crimes.
Rudy claims he would appoint strict constructionists to the courts, but he also claims that such a judge can affirm Roe on Stare Decisis. His views on gay "rights", gun laws, and abortion in general rule him out for me.
Paul was obviously flying the UFO Kucinich saw, possibly making him an alien and thus not fit for office.
Tancredo is a one issue candidate, and has no chance.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" - Defoe
Fred
McCain (Can't believe I'd ever say that)
Mitt
Fred
Mitt
McCain
www.fred08.com
Redneck Hippie
Fred / Tommy Franks
Rudy "
Huck "
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
I have looked at iterations of the Iowa process and there is no 15% threshhold. You seem to be imputing the Democrat's rules to our side. Democrats vote and anybody voting for someone who receives less than 15% of the vote can cast a second choice ballot. Democrats apportion their delegates on Jan. 3rd based on vote totals.
Republicans have no similar system. The caucusers cast a preference ballot that has no relation to the delegates that will eventually be selected. There is no mechanism to translate exact results on Jan. 3rd into National Convention Delegates. The actual delegates are selected several months from now at the state convention - the delegates to which are selected at the district conventions, which are populated from the county conventions, which are populated from the precinct meetings on Jan. 3rd.
The persons selected by the GOP state convention are not bound in any way by the vote on Jan. 3rd. I believe that the state convention delegates will know the presidential preferences of those seeking to be named to the national convention, but that is a factor only to the extent the folks choose to make it.
Thus, our "second choices" are irrelevant.
Same as it ever was, basically:
Mitt Romney, the Romster, the Rominator
Fred Thompson, the Thommyknocker
McCain, a.k.a. Ezekiel 25:17
(if McCain is number 3, otherwise Giuliani)
1. Paul
2. McCain
3. Huckabee
I feel these three are the most likely to actually be elected in 11/08 although I would grant that Ron Paul is a real long shot.
1. MITT
2. RUDY
3. MCCAIN
4. FRED
McCain
Fred
Rudy
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Donate to the Rs in Close Senate Races through Slatecard
1. Mitt
2. Fred
3. Undecided -- too many problems for now with the others -- McCain on free speech (or his elevation of incumbent protection over it), Rudy on social issues; Huck on judges (see Mahler's current thread on Lawrence v. Texas), finance, and defense; Tancredo on being a one note symphony (and a bit off tune on his one note); Paul on sanity (or his lack of it). I suppose I would need to look at Duncan Hunter more -- he comes across as a bit protectionist, a stance I find troubling.
1) Fred
2) Mitt
3) McCain or Rudy (both a distant 3rd)
For a long while now I have been advocating a Fred/Mitt ticket, in that order. Because I prefer Fred over Mitt? A bit perhaps, but mostly because that gives a good shot at 16 years of solid conservatism. And greatly alleviates most of my Supreme Court Worries.
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"I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
1. Giuliani
2. Romney
3. McCain
4. Thompson
I would rate Thompson first in terms of who's political opinions are closest to mine, but that doesn't do much good if the guy who agrees with me is an incompetent politician. Heck the guy who's positions exactly agree with mine is yours truly, but I'd vote against myself as an even worse politician.
1. John McCain
2. Mitt Romney
3. Rudy Giuliani
There is a big drop off after these three. No one else seems ready for the major leagues. Huckabee's charisma would make him an excellent spokesperson for social conservative values as a senator where he can pick up the experience needed in foreign affairs before I would ever vote for him in a primary. For me, the President is first and foremost the Commander-In-Chief of the most powerful military the world has ever seen, and I cannot imagine Huckabee succeeding that role. I would hold my nose but not abandon the party if he is the nominee.
My preferences are:
1. McCain
2. Romney
3. Huckabee
4. Anybody but Rudy
1. FRED!!!
(big gaping chasim between first and the rest)
2. Rudy (just barely because of foriegn policy and economic experience - he knows how to govern and give counter punches to the media)
3. Huckabee (on a personal level I believe many of the things huck says which Christians should do and identify with a number of things he says. still, show me the beef on policy substance).
would be a very close 4.
2,3 and 4 are very tight. Only fred has distinguished him self to my self. Then again, I am an admitted policy wonk.
(1) Thompson
(2) Romney
(3) Giuliani
Fred Thompson is my first choice for president. He is consistently conservative on economic issues (and I am primarily an economic conservative). He voted for the 2001 Bush tax cuts. He did do some "maverick" things while a US Senator. But he's still more of a reliable, consistent, traditional Republican than the others.
Mitt Romney is my second choice. He kept spending under control in Massachusetts, despite having to work with one of the most Left-wing legislatures in the country. He did veto an in-state tuition for illegal aliens plan. Doing that in the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts shows he's not a bleeding heart liberal on that issue like McCain and Huckabee.
Rudy Giuliani is my third choice. He did an excellent job of taking a major city, which some believed was "ungovernable" into a city that has economic opportunity and is reasonably safe. He seems to be very much in favor of the free enterprise system and supported many tax cuts as mayor.
The big problem I have with McCain and Huckabee is taxes. McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. Huckabee raised just about every tax that existed in Arkansas.
(1) Fred
(2) Mitt with the correct VP
(3) Rudy Holding my nose
1) Romney
2) McCain
3) Giuliani
I started out Giuliani-Romney-McCain. But the more I learn about Giuliani, the less interested I am in supporting him. The more I learn about and hear from Romney and McCain, the more I like them.
1- Fred Thompson
2 - John McCain
3 - Rudy Giuliani
The top two are actually the only two Republicans that have been vetted and consistent enough to withstand the Media/Clinton onslaught in the general. I trust that Thompson would stick to his guns best, while John McCain would fight on the key issues.
Rudy I like, but think that there are just too many skeletons and they would cause enough Republicans to stay at home to lose in a close general election.
As for the rest - Romney and Huckabee would both cave too easily on unpopular measures and appear weak. I just keep running the Kennedy spanking of Romney in 1994 in the debates over and over again in my head and I can't bear to watch that with either Hillary or Obama on the other side. I respect Romney a lot for his accomplishments and intelligence. Could be one of the best Treasury Secretaries we might ever have in the Administration of the top 3.
Huckabee... I just don't trust him. I say that as a devote believe who values the Life and Christian living issues just below National Security. Maybe it is something in the water in Hope, Arkansas. I'm hoping he looses all of this hot air driving him up as fast as he's gained it so we can get back to electing a President.
So... I'm hoping that the "Fred Fire" is about to start with the extended camp out in Iowa.
I hope that many here and elsewhere we can forgive the disappointment of Fred's launch. I feel your pain, but he's going to end up being the best bet...
1. Huckabee
2. Duncan Hunter (no chance, but 2nd best of the bunch)
3. Fred
McCain is below Romney on my list for presidential favorites, but McCain will be an outstanding general election VP pick for Huckabee to shore up perceived foreign policy weakness and to have an extremely strong likable ticket for the general election with great independent voter and crossover voter appeal.
Huckabee/McCain could not lose, would be landslide bringing many congressional coattails.
1) FRED!
2) Mitt
3) McCain
I would vote for Huckabee in the general election, but I am concerned about his lack of focus on foreign affairs and his nanny-state leanings.
I wouldn't walk across the street to spit on Guiliani. He's Hillary in a dress.
Huckabee/McCain. I mean we would be asking ourselves come October: "Why isnt this ticket reversed?" and "Why didn't we have a stronger border candidate in either of the spots?"
I say the above as a McCain supporter, though I honestly don't know how much the border issue will matter in the general.
1. Fred
2. Rudy
3. Mitt
4. McCain
I'm not if a 72 year old Vice President would be the best thing ever, Alben Barkley in 1948 notwithstanding.
1) FDT
2) Rudy
3)
4)
5) McCain
"If this ain't a mess, it'll do until one shows up." -Sheriff Bell, No Country For Old Men
1. Fred is definite first choice
2. Mitt would be allowable
3. McCain is still a war hero
I also like Hunter and Tancredo, and I think either would be great VP's
to consider Fred :)
"I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way."
John Paul Jones (letter to M. Le Ray de Chaumont,16 Nov.1778)
My quick look over appears that most would choose eith Fred or Mitt as their number 1. I think I only saw one having Huck as their first choice. 24 days till the starting line, it's gonna be fun.
Check this out!
http://fredfile.fred08.com/youngprofessionals
Also, it's not polite to yell - and "all caps" is yelling - especially when it's deliberately misleading. (called "Bait and Switch").
1)Fred Thompson
2)Rudy Giuliani - hope we get Congress back if I have to vote for him!
3)John McCain - Same goes for the this RINO!
Romney, no chance!
Huckabee, a joke!
1. McCain
2. Giuliani
3. Clinton
Basically, I want a sensible Goldwater republican, but realistically I'd probably vote for a moderate democrat before I'd go for a religious-right type. I might like Romney, but something about him gives me the creeps. I could say the same about Clinton, except I feel like I know what we're getting there.
Clinton as #3 because something about Romney "gives you the creeps." Where's Fred?
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
1. Tancredo
2. Hunter
3. Thompson
Very close behind Thompson would be Gov. Romney.
I won't consider voting for any other GOP presidential candidate during the primary season.
"The defense of our nation begins with the defense of our borders." - Rep. Tom Tancredo
1. Romney
2. Guiliani
3. Thompson
Thanks for playing:
4. Hunter
5. McCain
6. Huckabee
7. Tancredo
8. Paul, just because he hasn't dropped out on his own yet.
1. McCain
2. Fred
3. Can I still vote Newt?
"The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions."
Hunter#2
Mitt#3
Rudy's da man
Hunter has no shot but ya gotta love him
Mitt... despite his perceived negatives he comes across as competence personified.
Well done is better than well said. —Benjamin Franklin
Fred
Giuliani
Obama (he is clueless and will be controlled by the establishment. Republican Reps will rally against him as they would Clinton but he has too little experience or skill to counter them (unlike Clinton). He will do less damage than McCain and Huckabee. Last thing we need is either an open borders, treat the terrorists better than we do non-violent criminals or a big government SoCon.)
"Hillary is a blonde. But what she's got is a testicle lockbox."
-Rush Limbaugh
Your third point is why I would pull the lever for hussein before huck. McCain is just barely better than huck, but I don't want to see amnesty.
1. Duncan Hunter
Duncan Hunter is my first choice because I think he is the only candidate who has a consistent and established record as being right on all the traditional republican issues. I believe that Duncan Hunter is the only candidate that can attack the Democratic nominee on issues that matter to conservatives and not be vulnerable to a counter attack. In a general election this quality would put the conservative base solidly in his corner allowing him to step out and paint a new picture of the Republican Party as party with new ideas for a brighter future. Only a historically reliable conservative can paint a new picture of the party designed to attract independents without making conservatives nervous.
2. Mike Huckabee
Governor Huckabee is my second choice because he is the most likable candidate and I believe the best debater and campaigner.
3. Mitt Romney is my third choice because he talks like a lesser than all the rest of the evils.
Keith Johnson
Complete order (including democrats thanks to Huckabee):
1. Mitt Romney (he's my 4th cousin)
2. Rudy Guiliani
3. Fred Thompson
4. Duncan Hunter
5. John McCain
6. Barack Obama (he's my 5th cousin)
7. Tom Tancredo
8. Bill Richarson
9. Ron Paul
10. Hillary Clinton
11. Biden
12. Dodd
13. Mike Huckabee
Fred
Guiliani
Mitt
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
Fred Thompson
Duncan Hunter
That guy who plays Rudy Giuliani on t.v.
Extremism has no place in our party and was rejected in '06. Times call for someone who can unify the party and the country, and that person is Rudy Giuliani. A real heroic, honest leader. I have no second or third choices.
"Unify the party" and "Rudy Giuliani" should not be used in the same sentence...same goes for "Mike Huckabee". Talk about two divisive candidates.
The Unofficial RedState FAQ
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. ” - Martin Luther
1)Fred
2)Mitt
3)Hunter
If it goes any farther down than these 3, any living, breathing Republican will have to do.
Fred: 216.5
Mitt 152.5
John 118
Rudy 96
Mike 33
Hunter 24
RP 17
Tancredo: 5
For compiling this.
"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." - Bill Shankly
McCain
Rudy
and Romney, I guess, if I need a third.
I will vote for ANY Republican (except Ron Paul) over ANY Democrat.
Mitt
Rudy
Fred
Jeff Fuller
http://iowansforromney.blogspot.com/
See my disclaimer of Romney Support at my blogsite line above (essentially I'm an unpaid grassroots supporter/blogger).
Seriously... how do you end up with those two candidates as the only acceptable choices. I really want to know.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
Because those two are the only candidates who can beat rats in my humble opinion. McCain may, but he's too old, and he's crazy...
Romney and Thompson are unelectable based on all polling data available...
Don't want to waste on second tier either.
That's two newbies today who've call Democrats "rats". I haven't seen that term before today. The other was huckabeefan and Jeff sent him off - for serious foul play, presumably.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Thompson
McCain
Huckabee
But since Thompson has Brownback disease, and McCain hasn't quite made a comeback yet to quash Giuliani, I would have to say that if I were voting today:
Huckabee
McCain
Romney
yeah! Finally I found a Huckfan!!
Why this site is so hostile towards Huckabee? Is it because he is winning and beating their candidates...
Huck is unpopular here because this is a conservative site. Huck shows no sign of understanding conservative principles with reference to taxes, spending, the role of government, defense, foreign policy, immigration, or judges. What sort of brain spasm would a true conservative have to suffer to ignore all of these issues?
1) Fred
2) Paul
3) Huck
Could switch #3 to Mitt. All the flip flops are still too much.
1)Fred
2)
3)
4)Mitt
5)McCain
6)Rudy
Anyone else, thanks for playing, but seriously, seek help.
1) Huckabee
2) McCain
3) Thompson
4) Hunter
5) Romney
6) Paul
7) Keyes
8) Giuliani
9) Cox
10) Democrats
11) Sentient beings
12) Non-sentient beings
13) Tancredo
switch. I hope you keep Governor Huckabee on top! I don't agree with what he said in 1992. However, I can take a frameword that says, "every single human life has innate value," and "I never forget that I serve the American people, they don't serve me."
Just thought I would encourage you:)
"We all miss the mark!" Mike Huckabee
I am not sure about the others right now. I'll probably do some research on the candidates sometime so this cold all change.
1. HUCK
2. MCCAIN (Close second)
3. RUDY
My dream would be: Huck president, McCain VP, and Rudy as the AG or Homeland Security.
1. Mitt
2. Hunter
3. McCain
The Principal Chair
http://principalchair.blogspot.com
Overall Votes(% in parentheses):
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | |
| Giuliani | 14(10.45) | 25(18.66) | 24(17.91) |
| Huckabee | 11(8.21) | 2(1.49) | 11(8.21) |
| Hunter | 2(1.49) | 9(6.72) | 4(2.99) |
| McCain | 16(11.94) | 25(18.66) | 39(29.10) |
| Paul | 5(3.73) | 1(0.75) | 2(1.49) |
| Romney | 32(23.88) | 34(25.37) | 28(20.90) |
| Tancredo | 1(0.75) | 1(0.75) | 0(0.00) |
| Thompson | 53(39.55) | 35(26.12) | 17(12.69) |
| Other/Undecided | 0(0.00) | 2(1.49) | 9(6.72) |
Receiving Votes: John Bolton, Newt Gingrich, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama
Power Poll(1st-3 pts, 2nd-2 pts, 3rd-1 pt/Ranking in parentheses):
| Giuliani | 116(4) |
| Huckabee | 48(5) |
| Hunter | 28(6) |
| McCain | 137(3) |
| Paul | 19(7) |
| Romney | 192(2) |
| Tancredo | 5(9) |
| Thompson | 246(1) |
| Other/Undecided | 13(8) |
Analysis:
Obviously, Fred Thompson has a good deal of support on Redstate. He not only garned the most votes for first, but also second place (although only by one in 2nd). Out of 134 people participating, he was on the ballots of 105. There is a good deal of internet support for him.
Mitt Romney is another candidate that is quite strong. If Thompson comes out of the equation, Mitt more than doubles up on the competition.
There is quite a big gap between the two top candidates in terms of the power poll. Mitt and Fred account for 54.48% of the total points in the power polls. It seems that the clamor is for a Thompson/Romney ticket (although, biased pollster that I am, I prefer Romney/Thompson).
What surprised me (not really) was that there were as many people who put a Democrat (one 3rd place Clinton, one 3rd place Obama) on their ballot as Tancredo (one 1st, one 2nd). In fact, there were more people with undecided spots than people who support Tancredo. Look at the power poll numbers above, and people seem to prefer an empty vacuum over Tom Tancredo.
Vos can't ledo astrum si vos intentio pro clouds
Formerly known as ShowMeConservatism. For more common sense conservatism, visit the Show Me Conservatism blog.
I wonder how representative this would be of the Iowa Caucuses. If Fred supporters would end up supporting Mitt vs. Huckabee if it came down to those two candidates in additional rounds of balloting, and it could help Mitt significantly narrow the gap with Huckabee in Iowa.
The "Third Worst Person in the World" and aiming higher.
1. Fred (conservatives need someone who has solutions and principles)...too much weight placed on process...not enough on policy...not much baggage like the rest...why cant we pick someone with relatively clean history...get away from Clinton politics...I'm tired of the same old nonsense...we need no nonsense kind of man...we need someone who has vision...Fred the only talking about solutions to entitlements...only one talking about Russia and China building up military capacity...so many important issues out there...we need to stop with the BS...leave that to democrats
2. Rudy/Mitt/John
Last Huckabee...he scares me...I say this as an Evangelical...something shady about him...everyday some new ethical lapses come to light...this man makes GWB look really conservative...wake up people before it's too late...we need to move beyond GWB to someone better not worse
1. Fred
2. Mitt
.
.
.
.
3. Oh, man. Does somebody have to go here? Crap. I guess I'll go with McCain Hunter.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
GOP cant win if no distinctions are made between GWB and GOP nominee for 2008...this is what makes Huckabee the worst choice...I hope people understand this point...we will be handing presidency to HRC...I now understand the criticism leveled at social conservatives...the rise of Huckabee very telling...we are abandoning principles of market economy, free trade, and rule of law...these ideas are so fundamental to our nation's success...why are we abandoning concepts that work...I dont get it
1. Giuliani
2. Romney
3. Thompson
I suppose McCain would come next. If Huckabee, Hunter, or Tancredo were the candidate I would expect a strong Bloomberg candidacy based on free trade, tax cuts, and federalism. I would probably endorse that candidacy.
Quentin Langley
Editor of http://www.quentinlangley.net
International Editor of
1.) Fred Thompson
2.) Duncan Hunter
3.) John McCain
1. McCain
2. Fred
3. Flying Spaghetti Monster
with the statement that I still have yet to make my decision. There is quite the internal struggle between the pragmatic side and the ideological side. I suspect that is what the primary is for though, for the ideological side to come out, then to pragmatically support the nominee in the General (provided that nominee is not RP).
Given the disclaimer above.
Ideological:
1. Fred
2. ????
3. Hunter
Pragmatic:
1. Fred (I still think he could win a general election against Hillary. I trust with RNC input his campaign would be much stronger, and when the general public sees him more I think they will see him as a viable alternative to Hillary. Plus he should carry most Red States, if not all sans Ohio, and he could pick up small blue state)
2. McCain - the electability factor
3. Romney - great business man
4. Rudi - I used to think he was the most electable by far...but that has been shot down. He'd get crucified in a general election by the Clinton machine.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
-- John Adams
1. Huckabee
2. Hunter
3. Tancredo
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Eliminate the IRS and all payroll taxes! http://www.fairtax.org
1. Romney........no one from the private sector with this much talent has ever sought the office of POTUS. Most folks give money to fix AIDs in Africa when they have reaped more rewards than they know what to do with, and they are not willing to subject themselves and their families to 4 to 8 years of media-induced unpleasantness just for the good of OUR country.
2. Thompson......not bad, but healthwise could he go 8 years?
3. Hunter.....also not bad, but little name recognition outside of California
1. Mitt
2. Rudy
3. McCain (I'm not happy about rating him so high, but at this point I have to like him a lot better than Fred and Huck, let alone the guys who should drop out and the Democrats)
Jason M. Vass
1. McCain
2. Hunter
3. Fred
4. Rudy
5. Tancredo
6. Paul
7. Romney (No matter how hard I try I cant get behind him)
8. Huckabee
1. FRED!
2. Hunter
3. Mitt
OL