Conservatives Divided on '08 Candidate

Chadman

Realist
Forum Member
Apr 2, 2000
7,501
42
48
SW Missouri
We discussed the Demo outlook for '08 last week, here is an article on the Republican outlook:


Conservatives Divided on '08 Candidate
by Robert B. Bluey
Posted Feb 13, 2006

For the second straight year, conservatives failed to identify a frontrunner for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, according to a poll taken at this year?s Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

However, Sen. George Allen (R.-Va.) went from a middle-of-the-road presidential candidate one year ago to the favorite among conservatives in the 2006 straw poll, conducted by Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates.

The unscientific poll of CPAC attendees gave Allen 22% -- double the 11% he received in last year?s straw poll. Although conservatives remain divided, Allen?s plurality cements his status as one the leading Republicans.

Finishing second was Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.) with 20%. One year ago, McCain tied Allen at 11%. McCain?s strong showing came as somewhat of a surprise given his role as a maverick unafraid of bucking his party. McCain has also rankled conservatives for his support of a campaign-finance law strongly opposed by those on the right.

The biggest losers in the 2006 straw poll were two moderates: former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who dropped from first place last year (with 19%) to third this year (with 12%); and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who went from second last year (with 18%) to fourth (with 10%).

Here are the results:

Thinking ahead to the 2008 presidential election, who do you think will be the next Republican nominee for President?

George Allen: 22%
John McCain: 20%
Rudy Giuliani: 12%
Condoleezza Rice: 10%
Bill Frist: 6%
Tom Tancredo: 5%
Mitt Romney: 5%
Newt Gingrich: 5%
Rick Santorum: 3%
George Pataki: 3%
Undecided: 4%

*All others tested received 1% or less

When conservatives were polled about Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D.-N.Y.) maintained her status as the frontrunner among CPAC attendees. With 62% of the vote, Clinton was the clear leader in the straw poll.

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner was the only other Democrat to hit double digits. Warner is considered the moderate alternative to the liberal Clinton. However, he faces an uphill battle against the well-known former first lady.

Somewhat surprisingly, Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.), the 2004 Democrat nominee, pulled in just 2% among CPAC attendees.

Here are the results:

Of the following whom do you believe Democrats will nominate for President in 2008?

Hillary Clinton: 62%
Mark Warner: 10%
John Edwards: 7%
Bill Richardson: 4%
Wesley Clark: 3%
Russ Feingold: 2%
Evan Bayh: 2%
John Kerry: 2%
Tom Vilsack: 1%
Other: 1%
Undecided: 4%

More than 1,200 CPAC attendees participated. An overwhelming number of college students swayed the results of the poll. According to a breakdown by age, those 18-25 made up 81% of respondents.

Mr. Bluey is editor of Human Events Online.
 

dawgball

Registered User
Forum Member
Feb 12, 2000
10,652
39
48
51
I'm surprised since 81% of the people polled were college students that Rudy did not get a higher representation.

I would like to vote for McCain in the coming election.
 

Chadman

Realist
Forum Member
Apr 2, 2000
7,501
42
48
SW Missouri
I confess, I have not done any "learnin' " about George Allen to date. Can anyone give me the Cliff Claven notes on him? Is he dynamic? Outspoken? Connected? Why is he the leading candidate?

Also, whomever weighed in on Rick Santorum being the next President should have their head examined, IMO.
 

DOGS THAT BARK

Registered User
Forum Member
Jul 13, 1999
19,518
217
63
Bowling Green Ky
I'm with Dawg on McCain--and believe it or not I'd prefer Lieberman over most the others. Somehow he has been one of few from either side that has struck me as sincere and looking out for interests other than his own.
Whether ill conceived or not I have always had premonitions of those that write books to capitalize on issues--especially dissing others.
-- on non political front--Just read where Lacy Petersons mothers book is #1 in non fiction this week--so now we have mother and mistress capitalizing on murder.
 

Mjolnir

Registered User
Forum Member
May 15, 2003
3,747
11
0
S. CAL.
dont know enough about most of them. guiliani,mccain, and rice would be leading the pack for me.
 

Heyward

Registered User
Forum Member
May 12, 2002
771
3
18
54
NC
DOGS THAT BARK said:
I'm with Dawg on McCain--and believe it or not I'd prefer Lieberman over most the others. Somehow he has been one of few from either side that has struck me as sincere and looking out for interests other than his own.

I'm not going to agree Dogs very often, but right now I think I'd vote for McCain. He's a Republican, so I would probably disagree with him on a lot of issues, but I always get the impression that he takes positions on issues because he thinks it's right, not because of party politics or special interests, and that's rare in Washington these days, on both sides of the aisle. If the Republicans run McCain against Hilary, they're going to take a lot of moderate votes away from the Dems, including mine.
 

djv

Registered User
Forum Member
Nov 4, 2000
13,817
17
0
I like Mc Cain also. But I did back in 2000 shows what I know. When push comes to shove. The moderate McCain might not even get the nod from his party. The real Conservatives on the right seem to be in control. John would be good for our country. That's not always good enough for the parties machines.
 

smurphy

cartographer
Forum Member
Jul 31, 2004
19,914
140
63
17
L.A.
It's amazing, so many of us like McCain. Yeah - I'd probably also vote for him out of these choices. I wish he'd be a little more independent, but given that he's a congressman there's not much room for that. As a president, I think he'd be moderate and a uniter.

I like Richardson, Clark, and even Hillary on the left. Still don't know anything about Warner but I guess the guy on the rise.
 

Chadman

Realist
Forum Member
Apr 2, 2000
7,501
42
48
SW Missouri
I have said for a long time that every time I watch McCain, I really like him. Right or wrong, I base a lot of my opinion on watching someone in a more relaxed environment dealing with questions and communicating - say, like on Letterman or Leno. He seems very affable and comfortable, he watches the person talking to him, measures what they say, and usually responds on point with a real answer.

I also think Hillary does well in that forum, but I think her brain is always on guard and in gear - and the answers are more stoic and measured.

Hillary vs. McCain would be great fun, I think. And I think it would motivate voters, if that is possible.
 
Bet on MyBookie
Top