The South Carolina Election Commission released some stunning news on Sunday regarding the GOP Primary on Saturday. While John McCain won the primary, Election Commission records indicate that he did NOT win with a majority of registered Republicans.
Only 30% of the McCain vote came from registered Republicans. A whopping 70% of his vote came from Independents and Democrats, who are allowed to vote in S.C.'s 'open primary' system.
These particular persons will be in for a shock next Saturday if they expect to vote in the state's Democratic primary. While S.C. allows anyone to vote in either the GOP or the Democratic Primaries, a voter can only participate in ONE of the two, not both.
Thus, registered Democrats who decided to vote in the Republican primary to prevent candidates such as Thompson or Huckabee from winning will be in for a shock next Saturday if they try to vote in the Democratic Primary.
They will not be allowed to vote.
The fact that McCain won only with the support of Independents and Democrats is very telling. Most of the remainder of the state primaries are not open primaries, and thus, only Republicans will be allowed to vote in most of the remaining GOP primaries.
And this, my friends, means that John McCain may be in deep trouble.
It is entirely unclear at this point who registered Republicans actually prefer. My hunch is that their vote is split between Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee, McCain, and Thompson.
In addition, McCain faces a dire uphill struggle in Florida, where Giuliani has been quietly working on his organization and getting out the early vote and the absentee votes.
And this is why I say it is not over by a long shot. It may not even be over on Super Tuesday. I make no predictions on this, but this could be the year of a brokered GOP Convention.
So, stay tuned and stay motivated. It's not over until it's over, and the fight for the soul of the Republican Party may well go right into the national convention in the summer.
Showing posts with label South Carolina GOP primary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Carolina GOP primary. Show all posts
Monday, January 21, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
McCain Wins, Thompson Comes in 3rd in S.C.
Arizona Senator John McCain has won the South Carolina Republican Primary, narrowly defeating former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee by roughly 3 percentage points, with 92% of the vote counted.
Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson from Tennessee posted a respectable 3rd place showing, although it was not what the Senator had hoped.
Thompson campaigned hard in South Carolina in the 11 days leading up to today's primary, but apparently it was too little too late for a win. However, Thompson did surge enough to beat Mitt Romney, who came in 4th.
Rounding out the GOP candidates, Rudy Giuliani came in 5th, Ron Paul 6th, and Duncan Hunter 7th.
U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter stated following the S.C. Primary that he would be abandoning his campaign for the White House.
The question remains as to whether or not Fred Thompson will stay in the race. The candidate did not hint one way or another as he gave a vigorous speech before his supporters early in the evening. However, Thompson had put a lot on the line hoping to finish in first place in his home territory in the South.
Supporters of Thompson, including this writer, hope that he stays in the race. He is the ONLY true Reagan conservative in the 2008 Presidential campaign. It would be a devastating loss to lose his voice during this pivotal year in American politics.
But we are aware of political realities and that all-prevalent issue--money. We can only hope that Thompson has enough cash available to at least stay in the race until Super Tuesday.
Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson from Tennessee posted a respectable 3rd place showing, although it was not what the Senator had hoped.
Thompson campaigned hard in South Carolina in the 11 days leading up to today's primary, but apparently it was too little too late for a win. However, Thompson did surge enough to beat Mitt Romney, who came in 4th.
Rounding out the GOP candidates, Rudy Giuliani came in 5th, Ron Paul 6th, and Duncan Hunter 7th.
U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter stated following the S.C. Primary that he would be abandoning his campaign for the White House.
The question remains as to whether or not Fred Thompson will stay in the race. The candidate did not hint one way or another as he gave a vigorous speech before his supporters early in the evening. However, Thompson had put a lot on the line hoping to finish in first place in his home territory in the South.
Supporters of Thompson, including this writer, hope that he stays in the race. He is the ONLY true Reagan conservative in the 2008 Presidential campaign. It would be a devastating loss to lose his voice during this pivotal year in American politics.
But we are aware of political realities and that all-prevalent issue--money. We can only hope that Thompson has enough cash available to at least stay in the race until Super Tuesday.
Weather No Problem in Early S.C. Voting
With weather prognosticators predicting snow, sleet, and freezing rain in key GOP strongholds in South Carolina, GOP officials feared the worst with regard to voter turnout in today's South Carolina Republican Primary.
So far, however, the weather has not been a factor.
Although the snow began to fall in the Upstate (the Piedmont and mountainous regions) at roughly 3 PM, the morning hours were free of precipitation and the early afternoon hours saw nothing but rain.
Voter turnout so far has been moderate to brisk as this year the GOP race has stirred considerable interest among citizens.
The problem is with those who have waited to vote in the late afternoon and early evening in the Upstate. With the snow now falling and temperatures dropping, travel could become hazardous.
Polling places will be closing at 7 PM. Check back with the Liberty Sphere later this evening for complete information on the vote as the information becomes available.
So far, however, the weather has not been a factor.
Although the snow began to fall in the Upstate (the Piedmont and mountainous regions) at roughly 3 PM, the morning hours were free of precipitation and the early afternoon hours saw nothing but rain.
Voter turnout so far has been moderate to brisk as this year the GOP race has stirred considerable interest among citizens.
The problem is with those who have waited to vote in the late afternoon and early evening in the Upstate. With the snow now falling and temperatures dropping, travel could become hazardous.
Polling places will be closing at 7 PM. Check back with the Liberty Sphere later this evening for complete information on the vote as the information becomes available.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Down to the Wire: S.C. GOP Primary Poll Numbers
It's 24 hours to go and counting until the big South Carolina GOP primary on Saturday.
According to the latest statewide poll conducted by Survey USA and News Channel 7, John McCain and Mike Huckabee are in a statistical tie for first place.
Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney are tied for 2nd place in the poll.
Falling far behind in the low single digits are Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul, and Duncan Hunter.
The weather may be a factor in Saturday's primary. For the 2nd time in 3 days a system is expected to move into the state bringing a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
McCain has polled well among senior adults in South Carolina. But they are also the most likely to stay home in the event of inclement weather.
The big news, however, is that 50% of likely GOP voters in the primary say they still have not made up their minds on a candidate. This means that in actuality the race is up for grabs, particularly among the top four--McCain, Huckabee, Thompson, and Romney.
Thompson has the momentum and has been surging fast, but the question is does he have enough time for his surge to take him to the top and surpass McCain by Saturday.
In addition, when the undecided GOP voters decide on a candidate, how many of them will break in favor of Thompson? My hunch is that a significant number will do so, but it is uncertain as to whether or not it will be enough for him to win.
Thus, this thing is going down to the wire, folks. Don't count anyone a shoo-in and don't count anyone out.
According to the latest statewide poll conducted by Survey USA and News Channel 7, John McCain and Mike Huckabee are in a statistical tie for first place.
Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney are tied for 2nd place in the poll.
Falling far behind in the low single digits are Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul, and Duncan Hunter.
The weather may be a factor in Saturday's primary. For the 2nd time in 3 days a system is expected to move into the state bringing a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
McCain has polled well among senior adults in South Carolina. But they are also the most likely to stay home in the event of inclement weather.
The big news, however, is that 50% of likely GOP voters in the primary say they still have not made up their minds on a candidate. This means that in actuality the race is up for grabs, particularly among the top four--McCain, Huckabee, Thompson, and Romney.
Thompson has the momentum and has been surging fast, but the question is does he have enough time for his surge to take him to the top and surpass McCain by Saturday.
In addition, when the undecided GOP voters decide on a candidate, how many of them will break in favor of Thompson? My hunch is that a significant number will do so, but it is uncertain as to whether or not it will be enough for him to win.
Thus, this thing is going down to the wire, folks. Don't count anyone a shoo-in and don't count anyone out.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Second Amendment News Roundup for 1/17/08
Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:
Snow Flakes in Hell points to two polls that show Fred Thompson surging ahead in South Carolina:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=2450
John Lott reports that Fred Thompson was the very first GOP candidate to blast the Bush Administration for its support of the D.C. gun ban in the Heller case:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/01/thompson-first-to-come-out-against-bush.html
The Buckeye Firearms Association has an analysis of the Democratic candidates' stance on gun control, and of course, the news isn't good:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article4141.html
From the NRA: Georgia Senate to vote on right-to-carry legislation (the vote is today!):
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3364
Eugene Volokh says that apparently Preacher Huckabee hasn't been paying attention to his Bible:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_01_13-2008_01_19.shtml#1200550536
Liberals love to portray conservatives as 'intolerant.' ROFL! Michelle Malkin has the statistical proof that it is actually the Liberals who are most intolerant, and downright dangerous!:
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/01/17/the-statistical-proof-of-liberal-intolerance/
This is no real surprise, but still....Nicki reports that the ACLU has summarily rejected the Second Amendment as an individual right....so much for our 'liberties,' eh?:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2008/01/aclu-strikes-again.html
Nicki also has a complete run-down on why the Huckster is no conservative:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2008/01/is-huckabee-conservative.html
Looks like Tam was all geared up for a big snowfall in Knoxville last night, but all they got was rain. On the other side of the mountains, in the foothills of South Carolina, we got about 3-4 inches of snow. It was real purdy too:
http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2008/01/wet-firecracker.html
Squeaky posts some serious, in-depth religious and philosophical questions that are well-worth the time to read:
http://www.squeakywheelseeksgrease.com/blog/2008/01/16/religious-convictions/
Mike McCarville reports on campaign dirty tricks in the days leading up to the GOP primary this Saturday, and Romney and Huckabee are right in the middle of it:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/01/dirty-tricks-allegations-fly-in-sc-gop.html
Armed and Safe alerts us to a new initiative to 'stem the flow of illegal guns into Mexico,' which of course, is Mexican code for 'we want the U.S. to pass more gun control':
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2008/01/maximum-mike-and-project-gunrunner.html
Cap'n Bob and the Damsel blog on well-balanced pistols, including not only the Warthog, but the S & W 908 and the Glock 26 and 30 models:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2008/01/17/well-balanced-pistols/
The ATF is at it again. Red's reports that the JBTs now claim that any individual who sells a gun must be federally licensed as a gun dealer (although it is legal for individuals to sell guns):
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2008/01/atf-to-individual-gun-sellers-get.html
Say Uncle has a link to an excellent explanation as to why the popular vote is bad for a Constitutional Republic such as ours (in case you are still wondering, I am all for keeping the Electoral College):
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/01/17/democracy/
Snow Flakes in Hell points to two polls that show Fred Thompson surging ahead in South Carolina:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=2450
John Lott reports that Fred Thompson was the very first GOP candidate to blast the Bush Administration for its support of the D.C. gun ban in the Heller case:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/01/thompson-first-to-come-out-against-bush.html
The Buckeye Firearms Association has an analysis of the Democratic candidates' stance on gun control, and of course, the news isn't good:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article4141.html
From the NRA: Georgia Senate to vote on right-to-carry legislation (the vote is today!):
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3364
Eugene Volokh says that apparently Preacher Huckabee hasn't been paying attention to his Bible:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_01_13-2008_01_19.shtml#1200550536
Liberals love to portray conservatives as 'intolerant.' ROFL! Michelle Malkin has the statistical proof that it is actually the Liberals who are most intolerant, and downright dangerous!:
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/01/17/the-statistical-proof-of-liberal-intolerance/
This is no real surprise, but still....Nicki reports that the ACLU has summarily rejected the Second Amendment as an individual right....so much for our 'liberties,' eh?:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2008/01/aclu-strikes-again.html
Nicki also has a complete run-down on why the Huckster is no conservative:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2008/01/is-huckabee-conservative.html
Looks like Tam was all geared up for a big snowfall in Knoxville last night, but all they got was rain. On the other side of the mountains, in the foothills of South Carolina, we got about 3-4 inches of snow. It was real purdy too:
http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2008/01/wet-firecracker.html
Squeaky posts some serious, in-depth religious and philosophical questions that are well-worth the time to read:
http://www.squeakywheelseeksgrease.com/blog/2008/01/16/religious-convictions/
Mike McCarville reports on campaign dirty tricks in the days leading up to the GOP primary this Saturday, and Romney and Huckabee are right in the middle of it:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/01/dirty-tricks-allegations-fly-in-sc-gop.html
Armed and Safe alerts us to a new initiative to 'stem the flow of illegal guns into Mexico,' which of course, is Mexican code for 'we want the U.S. to pass more gun control':
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2008/01/maximum-mike-and-project-gunrunner.html
Cap'n Bob and the Damsel blog on well-balanced pistols, including not only the Warthog, but the S & W 908 and the Glock 26 and 30 models:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2008/01/17/well-balanced-pistols/
The ATF is at it again. Red's reports that the JBTs now claim that any individual who sells a gun must be federally licensed as a gun dealer (although it is legal for individuals to sell guns):
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2008/01/atf-to-individual-gun-sellers-get.html
Say Uncle has a link to an excellent explanation as to why the popular vote is bad for a Constitutional Republic such as ours (in case you are still wondering, I am all for keeping the Electoral College):
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/01/17/democracy/
Thompson Contrasts His Record with McCain's
Seeking to make a final case for the fact that he is the one consistent conservative in the GOP race in South Carolina, Fred Thompson contrasted his record with that of John McCain in several campaign stops in the state over the past two days.
Thompson has already shown that Mike Huckabee is no Reagan conservative when one looks at his entire record. Now he has set his sights on the supposed 'front-runner,' John McCain, although no GOP candidate thus far can actually lay claim to that title.
Two major national polls show that McCain is ahead in South Carolina. But Thompson has been surging fast. And as Thompson's fortune rises, Huckabee's plummets.
While McCain is certainly good enough to vote for against the likes of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or John Edwards, his record is certainly far from being 'conservative.'
Yes, he has supported every tax cut since the Reagan Administration. And yes, he is strong on national defense, U.S. foreign policy, and the War on Terror. He also has a stellar record on abortion.
However, McCain's stance on other issues is highly problematic. Despite a fairly favorable rating by the NRA, McCain has actually voted AGAINST some key pro-Second Amendment legislation in his long political career.
His involvement in the environmentalist movement is also troublesome. He has totally bought into the political rhetoric of the radical tree-huggers that global warming is caused by human activity rather than naturally occurring forces.
McCain also made no friends among conservatives when he spearheaded so-called 'campaign finance reform' and proceeded to limit free speech in the process.
And his stance on illegal aliens has been disastrous. Despite his recent rhetoric about 'making the borders secure,' he still refuses to deal with sanctuary cities, tuition breaks for illegals, and forcing illegals in get in line with the rest who wish to come here LEGALLY.
One CANNOT adequately deal with the problem of the illegal assault on America unless these specific issues are addressed, which McCain refuses to do.
One by one, Thompson showed how his views have differed drastically from McCain's on these critical issues concerning our nation.
Thompson wants to end federal funds to sanctuary cities that harbor illegal aliens against federal law. He is opposed to tuition breaks for illegals. He is also opposed to any form of amnesty, including a separate 'path to citizenship.' There is already a path to citizenship for illegals, i.e., get in line and go through the LEGAL process like ALL trustworthy human beings would do.
In addition, Fred stands for a totally unfettered Second Amendment, just as the Founders specified and is against D.C.'s gun control laws in D.C. vs. Heller at the Supreme Court. He has a 100% pro-life rating from the national Right to Life group. He has also been endorsed by South Carolinians for Life--a state pro-life group.
Thompson believes that the 'global warming' bandwagon is largely a hoax that has been debunked and discredited by at least 400 scientists--a list which is growing by the day. And he doesn't mind telling you what he thinks about the 'Big Brother' nanny state that tries to tell us what to eat, what to do, what to buy, what to drive, and all of the other symptoms of those who have a Hitler/Stalin/Messianic complex.
In short, the candidate has done his homework. Thompson can demonstrate on the record how his votes have differed with McCain's.
Thus, we South Carolinians who cherish our liberty, unrestricted First Amendment and Second Amendment rights, the right to live our lives in freedom without the nanny state dictating to us our lifestyle habits, the simple and basic premise that any honorable person in another country who wishes to live here should be expected to do so LEGALLY, MUST support Fred Thompson in this coming Saturday's GOP primary.
A vote for John McCain is like a vote for Senator Lindsey Graham. The both of them are responsible for the hideous amnesty legislation they tried to push through Congress which would have made the illegal alien problem worse.
The outcry from the average citizens across the country resoundingly condemned McCain, Graham, Ted Kennedy, and President Bush for attempting to dump this piece of garbage on the American public.
We can do better. MUCH better.
And Fred Thompson is the logical choice.
Thompson has already shown that Mike Huckabee is no Reagan conservative when one looks at his entire record. Now he has set his sights on the supposed 'front-runner,' John McCain, although no GOP candidate thus far can actually lay claim to that title.
Two major national polls show that McCain is ahead in South Carolina. But Thompson has been surging fast. And as Thompson's fortune rises, Huckabee's plummets.
While McCain is certainly good enough to vote for against the likes of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or John Edwards, his record is certainly far from being 'conservative.'
Yes, he has supported every tax cut since the Reagan Administration. And yes, he is strong on national defense, U.S. foreign policy, and the War on Terror. He also has a stellar record on abortion.
However, McCain's stance on other issues is highly problematic. Despite a fairly favorable rating by the NRA, McCain has actually voted AGAINST some key pro-Second Amendment legislation in his long political career.
His involvement in the environmentalist movement is also troublesome. He has totally bought into the political rhetoric of the radical tree-huggers that global warming is caused by human activity rather than naturally occurring forces.
McCain also made no friends among conservatives when he spearheaded so-called 'campaign finance reform' and proceeded to limit free speech in the process.
And his stance on illegal aliens has been disastrous. Despite his recent rhetoric about 'making the borders secure,' he still refuses to deal with sanctuary cities, tuition breaks for illegals, and forcing illegals in get in line with the rest who wish to come here LEGALLY.
One CANNOT adequately deal with the problem of the illegal assault on America unless these specific issues are addressed, which McCain refuses to do.
One by one, Thompson showed how his views have differed drastically from McCain's on these critical issues concerning our nation.
Thompson wants to end federal funds to sanctuary cities that harbor illegal aliens against federal law. He is opposed to tuition breaks for illegals. He is also opposed to any form of amnesty, including a separate 'path to citizenship.' There is already a path to citizenship for illegals, i.e., get in line and go through the LEGAL process like ALL trustworthy human beings would do.
In addition, Fred stands for a totally unfettered Second Amendment, just as the Founders specified and is against D.C.'s gun control laws in D.C. vs. Heller at the Supreme Court. He has a 100% pro-life rating from the national Right to Life group. He has also been endorsed by South Carolinians for Life--a state pro-life group.
Thompson believes that the 'global warming' bandwagon is largely a hoax that has been debunked and discredited by at least 400 scientists--a list which is growing by the day. And he doesn't mind telling you what he thinks about the 'Big Brother' nanny state that tries to tell us what to eat, what to do, what to buy, what to drive, and all of the other symptoms of those who have a Hitler/Stalin/Messianic complex.
In short, the candidate has done his homework. Thompson can demonstrate on the record how his votes have differed with McCain's.
Thus, we South Carolinians who cherish our liberty, unrestricted First Amendment and Second Amendment rights, the right to live our lives in freedom without the nanny state dictating to us our lifestyle habits, the simple and basic premise that any honorable person in another country who wishes to live here should be expected to do so LEGALLY, MUST support Fred Thompson in this coming Saturday's GOP primary.
A vote for John McCain is like a vote for Senator Lindsey Graham. The both of them are responsible for the hideous amnesty legislation they tried to push through Congress which would have made the illegal alien problem worse.
The outcry from the average citizens across the country resoundingly condemned McCain, Graham, Ted Kennedy, and President Bush for attempting to dump this piece of garbage on the American public.
We can do better. MUCH better.
And Fred Thompson is the logical choice.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Michigan Behind; On to South Carolina
As most of you know by now, Mitt Romney was able to win his home state of Michigan Tuesday night in the state's GOP Presidential primary, beating John McCain by roughly 8 percentage points.
Mike Huckabee came in a distant third, followed by Ron Paul and Fred Thompson.
Doing what he had to do in order to stay in the Republican race, Romney focused on traditional blue collar workers--'Reagan Democrats,' as they once were called--in order to contrast his views with McCain's insistence that those manufacturing jobs were never coming back to Michigan.
McCain also suffered from the fact that far fewer Independents and Democrats voted in the GOP primary this time, when compared to his Michigan win in 2000. Michigan allows so-called 'open primaries,' meaning that in today's case the voting was open to voters other than Republicans.
Thus, Romney had a clear edge among the more traditional Republicans in the state.
Now it's on to South Carolina for a key primary on Saturday. Polls indicate that John McCain has surged to the top in the state, pushing Huckabee into 2nd place.
The good news, however, is that Fred Thompson has experienced a super-surge in the last few days with his poll numbers rising by 9 percentage points.
Initially the former Tennessee Senator had experienced a 4-point bump in the polls following his impressive showing in the S.C. GOP debate last week.
With Tuesday's poll numbers showing a 9 point jump since the last poll was taken, Thompson has experienced roughly a 12 to 13 point jump since the debate.
Thompson has also begun running a series of new television ads in the state which show that his credentials as a consistent conservative far outshine the convoluted neo-con, RINO, and faux-conservative records of candidates such as Huckabee, Romney, and McCain.
As Fred quipped Tuesday evening, 'I was a conservative before the others started talking the talk. In fact, not only did I talk the talk but I walked the walk.'
This is a chance for South Carolina to make a difference by really putting their hearts into their votes. Thompson is the one candidate who most closely shares the values of S.C. Republicans and the citizens in general.
Mike Huckabee came in a distant third, followed by Ron Paul and Fred Thompson.
Doing what he had to do in order to stay in the Republican race, Romney focused on traditional blue collar workers--'Reagan Democrats,' as they once were called--in order to contrast his views with McCain's insistence that those manufacturing jobs were never coming back to Michigan.
McCain also suffered from the fact that far fewer Independents and Democrats voted in the GOP primary this time, when compared to his Michigan win in 2000. Michigan allows so-called 'open primaries,' meaning that in today's case the voting was open to voters other than Republicans.
Thus, Romney had a clear edge among the more traditional Republicans in the state.
Now it's on to South Carolina for a key primary on Saturday. Polls indicate that John McCain has surged to the top in the state, pushing Huckabee into 2nd place.
The good news, however, is that Fred Thompson has experienced a super-surge in the last few days with his poll numbers rising by 9 percentage points.
Initially the former Tennessee Senator had experienced a 4-point bump in the polls following his impressive showing in the S.C. GOP debate last week.
With Tuesday's poll numbers showing a 9 point jump since the last poll was taken, Thompson has experienced roughly a 12 to 13 point jump since the debate.
Thompson has also begun running a series of new television ads in the state which show that his credentials as a consistent conservative far outshine the convoluted neo-con, RINO, and faux-conservative records of candidates such as Huckabee, Romney, and McCain.
As Fred quipped Tuesday evening, 'I was a conservative before the others started talking the talk. In fact, not only did I talk the talk but I walked the walk.'
This is a chance for South Carolina to make a difference by really putting their hearts into their votes. Thompson is the one candidate who most closely shares the values of S.C. Republicans and the citizens in general.
Friday, January 11, 2008
FRED HITS GRAND SLAM IN S.C. DEBATE
Republican Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson hit a grand slam during Thursday night's GOP debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. An animated, assertive Thompson came out swinging, and apparently it paid off handsomely.
Fox News, which co-sponsored the debate, put together a focus group made up of highly likely GOP primary voters to watch the forum together by television in Charleston, SC.
Before the debate, only 3 of the roughly 30 citizens who made up the focus group stated that they supported Fred Thompson. After the debate, the overwhelming majority stated that Thompson won the debate and that they liked what they saw.
When asked who was the biggest loser in the forum, almost every single one said, 'Ron Paul.'
Small focus groups made up of Republican voters are much more reliable in their assessments than the unscientific and asinine polls that are taken immediately following the debates, polls which are open to persons who may not be Republican and who will not be voting in the primary.
Thus, no matter what Fox's poll or anyone else's poll may say, the people who count--those most likely to vote in the GOP primary on Jan. 19--are the only ones who matter.
And these are the very ones that Fred Thompson won over on Thursday evening.
One of the reasons cited by the focus group as a factor in giving Thompson such a favorable rating in the debate was the manner in which he went after Mike Huckabee's record as Governor of Arkansas.
In our view, such a thing was long overdue. Huckabee has essentially misrepresented himself around the country in many various ways, including his background--claiming he 'has a theological degree.' We have already totally discredited that claim right here on the Liberty Sphere.
But beyond that, Huckabee has a penchant for glossing over the bare facts that he raised taxes, increased the size and scope of government, and supported giving tuition breaks to illegal aliens.
Thompson outlined each of these aspects of the Huckabee record, making it clear that although the former Baptist preacher can turn on the charm and make people think he walks on water, he actually has a very public record from his days as Governor of Arkansas that anyone can research for themselves if they are interested in the truth.
And that record shows that Huckabee is no Ronald Reagan conservative except for abortion and gun rights. Outside of those two issues, Huckabee is a big government Republican who will raise taxes and increase the size of government at the drop of a hat if he thinks it is 'necessary to improve lives.'
That philosophy is called 'liberalism.'
But it took Fred Thompson to bring the ugly truth about Huckabee to the national stage, since nobody else was willing to do so.
The South Carolina Republican Primary is still 9 days away, and it is still way too early to tell who will win. But if the skeptical GOP focus group is any indication, Fred hit a grand slam on Thursday night that may well propel him to the top of the heap on Jan. 19.
It's about time.
Fox News, which co-sponsored the debate, put together a focus group made up of highly likely GOP primary voters to watch the forum together by television in Charleston, SC.
Before the debate, only 3 of the roughly 30 citizens who made up the focus group stated that they supported Fred Thompson. After the debate, the overwhelming majority stated that Thompson won the debate and that they liked what they saw.
When asked who was the biggest loser in the forum, almost every single one said, 'Ron Paul.'
Small focus groups made up of Republican voters are much more reliable in their assessments than the unscientific and asinine polls that are taken immediately following the debates, polls which are open to persons who may not be Republican and who will not be voting in the primary.
Thus, no matter what Fox's poll or anyone else's poll may say, the people who count--those most likely to vote in the GOP primary on Jan. 19--are the only ones who matter.
And these are the very ones that Fred Thompson won over on Thursday evening.
One of the reasons cited by the focus group as a factor in giving Thompson such a favorable rating in the debate was the manner in which he went after Mike Huckabee's record as Governor of Arkansas.
In our view, such a thing was long overdue. Huckabee has essentially misrepresented himself around the country in many various ways, including his background--claiming he 'has a theological degree.' We have already totally discredited that claim right here on the Liberty Sphere.
But beyond that, Huckabee has a penchant for glossing over the bare facts that he raised taxes, increased the size and scope of government, and supported giving tuition breaks to illegal aliens.
Thompson outlined each of these aspects of the Huckabee record, making it clear that although the former Baptist preacher can turn on the charm and make people think he walks on water, he actually has a very public record from his days as Governor of Arkansas that anyone can research for themselves if they are interested in the truth.
And that record shows that Huckabee is no Ronald Reagan conservative except for abortion and gun rights. Outside of those two issues, Huckabee is a big government Republican who will raise taxes and increase the size of government at the drop of a hat if he thinks it is 'necessary to improve lives.'
That philosophy is called 'liberalism.'
But it took Fred Thompson to bring the ugly truth about Huckabee to the national stage, since nobody else was willing to do so.
The South Carolina Republican Primary is still 9 days away, and it is still way too early to tell who will win. But if the skeptical GOP focus group is any indication, Fred hit a grand slam on Thursday night that may well propel him to the top of the heap on Jan. 19.
It's about time.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
RICHARDSON OUT; ROMNEY PULLS ADS
Big news is coming out of the world of politics today as one of the Democratic candidates has withdrawn from the race and a Republican has pulled his ads in two key states.
The Associated Press is reporting that Democratic Presidential hopeful Bill Richardson is pulling out of the race for his Party's Presidential nomination.
Richardson has struggled to reach double-digit support in the polls, and his showing in the primaries and caucuses so far has been dismal.
We feel that Richardson is making the right decision. We have not attempted to hide our dislike for Richardson, who, with the exception of his views on gun rights, is a big government Socialist like Hillary and Obama.
The other big news comes out of South Carolina as the Mitt Romney campaign announced that it is pulling its ads immediately from both South Carolina and Florida. The significance of this news cannot be over-emphasized.
Romney has managed only one win and two second-place finishes so far. Increasingly it appears that he will not do well in South Carolina, where John McCain, Mike Huckabee, and Fred Thompson are expected to duke it out for the top spots in the primary vote.
In Florida Romney faces a rather large Giuliani voter-base. Mike Huckabee is also expected to do well in the Florida primary.
Thus, the Romney campaign has decided to focus its efforts on Michigan, where the candidate has a good chance of winning. Romney's father, George Romney, was Governor of Michigan in the 60s. The elder Romney even briefly challenged Richard Nixon for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1968.
It is clear, however, that Romney is facing a major problem beneath the surface and beneath all of the headlines. In spite of the megabucks of his own money Romney has spent, he has very little to show for it so far, and the signs indicate it will only get worse.
Giuliani will do well on Super Tuesday. John McCain will do much better than expected. So will Mike Huckabee. And, depending on what happens in South Carolina, Thompson may become a major player on Super Tuesday as well.
In short, Romney is gradually being overshadowed by other candidates.
The fact that he has pulled his ads out of South Carolina and Florida is a clear indication that he has conceded those states as losses.
The Associated Press is reporting that Democratic Presidential hopeful Bill Richardson is pulling out of the race for his Party's Presidential nomination.
Richardson has struggled to reach double-digit support in the polls, and his showing in the primaries and caucuses so far has been dismal.
We feel that Richardson is making the right decision. We have not attempted to hide our dislike for Richardson, who, with the exception of his views on gun rights, is a big government Socialist like Hillary and Obama.
The other big news comes out of South Carolina as the Mitt Romney campaign announced that it is pulling its ads immediately from both South Carolina and Florida. The significance of this news cannot be over-emphasized.
Romney has managed only one win and two second-place finishes so far. Increasingly it appears that he will not do well in South Carolina, where John McCain, Mike Huckabee, and Fred Thompson are expected to duke it out for the top spots in the primary vote.
In Florida Romney faces a rather large Giuliani voter-base. Mike Huckabee is also expected to do well in the Florida primary.
Thus, the Romney campaign has decided to focus its efforts on Michigan, where the candidate has a good chance of winning. Romney's father, George Romney, was Governor of Michigan in the 60s. The elder Romney even briefly challenged Richard Nixon for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1968.
It is clear, however, that Romney is facing a major problem beneath the surface and beneath all of the headlines. In spite of the megabucks of his own money Romney has spent, he has very little to show for it so far, and the signs indicate it will only get worse.
Giuliani will do well on Super Tuesday. John McCain will do much better than expected. So will Mike Huckabee. And, depending on what happens in South Carolina, Thompson may become a major player on Super Tuesday as well.
In short, Romney is gradually being overshadowed by other candidates.
The fact that he has pulled his ads out of South Carolina and Florida is a clear indication that he has conceded those states as losses.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Thompson Launches 11-Day S.C. Campaign Blitz
Skipping the New Hampshire primary where he received very little support, GOP Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson is launching an 11-day campaign blitz by bus in South Carolina leading up to the Republican primary on Jan. 19.
The former U.S. Senator from Tennessee did much better than expected in Iowa and Wyoming, picking up 3 delegates to the GOP Convention in the summer, but the candidate had trouble connecting in New Hampshire.
South Carolina, however, represents a ray of hope for Thompson. He has polled well in the state, and his visits to the Palmetto State have been very well-received.
Thompson hopes that his 11-day blitz will shore up his support and gain new supporters just prior to the South Carolina primary.
Mike Huckabee, however, has been a problem for Thompson ever since the former Arkansas Governor began his surge in popularity. South Carolina is home to a significant number of conservative evangelical Christian voters who are smitten by Huckabee's status as a Baptist minister and his views on abortion and so-called 'family values.'
A closer look at Huckabee would reveal that the candidate is no conservative at all except for his views on the social issues that resonate with conservative Christians. As Governor, Huckabee consistently promoted higher taxes, bigger government, more government spending, and a shocking callousness to the desire of the American people to stem the tide of the flow of illegal aliens into the country.
He also exhibits an alarming lack of knowledge on foreign policy issues.
Thompson hopes to cash in on these glaring weaknesses of the Huckabee bandwagon. It is to be hoped, for the sake of the nation and South Carolina both, that conservative Christians in the Palmetto State are smart enough to understand that a smiling personality and a pro-life stance are not the only credentials necessary to being President.
After all, Fred Thompson has a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Campaign.
Huckabee is not the only one whose values mirror those of conservative Christians. With Thompson not only do we get someone who is pro-life and pro-family, but we get a staunch defender of gun rights, small government, lower taxes, and a strong U.S. defence and foreign policy to boot.
In short, Thompson is the total package. Huckabee is a big government wolf in sheep's clothing.
The former U.S. Senator from Tennessee did much better than expected in Iowa and Wyoming, picking up 3 delegates to the GOP Convention in the summer, but the candidate had trouble connecting in New Hampshire.
South Carolina, however, represents a ray of hope for Thompson. He has polled well in the state, and his visits to the Palmetto State have been very well-received.
Thompson hopes that his 11-day blitz will shore up his support and gain new supporters just prior to the South Carolina primary.
Mike Huckabee, however, has been a problem for Thompson ever since the former Arkansas Governor began his surge in popularity. South Carolina is home to a significant number of conservative evangelical Christian voters who are smitten by Huckabee's status as a Baptist minister and his views on abortion and so-called 'family values.'
A closer look at Huckabee would reveal that the candidate is no conservative at all except for his views on the social issues that resonate with conservative Christians. As Governor, Huckabee consistently promoted higher taxes, bigger government, more government spending, and a shocking callousness to the desire of the American people to stem the tide of the flow of illegal aliens into the country.
He also exhibits an alarming lack of knowledge on foreign policy issues.
Thompson hopes to cash in on these glaring weaknesses of the Huckabee bandwagon. It is to be hoped, for the sake of the nation and South Carolina both, that conservative Christians in the Palmetto State are smart enough to understand that a smiling personality and a pro-life stance are not the only credentials necessary to being President.
After all, Fred Thompson has a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Campaign.
Huckabee is not the only one whose values mirror those of conservative Christians. With Thompson not only do we get someone who is pro-life and pro-family, but we get a staunch defender of gun rights, small government, lower taxes, and a strong U.S. defence and foreign policy to boot.
In short, Thompson is the total package. Huckabee is a big government wolf in sheep's clothing.
Friday, December 14, 2007
South Carolina Suddenly Up for Grabs?
A brand new poll indicates that the race for the GOP nomination in South Carolina--a key early pivotal state--is up for grabs.
Bear in mind, however, that the poll was conducted by the Clinton News Network (CNN) which has a vested interest in playing up Huckabee due to the fact that he is the ONLY GOP contender that Hillary can beat.
The CNN poll shows that Huckabee has suddenly skyrocketed into first place by 7 points over second-place contender Fred Thompson
Here are the results of the poll:
Huckabee 24%
Thompson 17%
Giuliani 16%
Romney 16%
McCain 13%
Paul 11%
This polling data, however, is very different from an in-state poll that shows Thompson up by 2 percentage points, but with Huckabee moving up fast.
Our most trusted and experienced poll watchers inform us that these particular poll numbers can be safely disregarded at this point in the campaign, especially the nationwide polls.
In addition, the state-by-state poll numbers are highly misleading and volatile, pointing to the vast uncertainty that still exists among a large portion of the electorate.
Suppose, for example, that we take at face value that the CNN poll listed above is accurate. Our sources tell us that with 5 candidates polling between 10 and 20 percentage points, any of them could win. In addition, the fact that Huckabee is showing a 7 point lead when just a few days ago he polled sixth in the field of candidates is highly suspect.
With three weeks to go until the Iowa caucuses and four weeks to go until the South Carolina primary, widely variant and volatile polls such as these can change in a hurry.
The bottom line is that Thompson is still very much in this ball game and Huckabee is not necessarily the front runner.
Bear in mind, however, that the poll was conducted by the Clinton News Network (CNN) which has a vested interest in playing up Huckabee due to the fact that he is the ONLY GOP contender that Hillary can beat.
The CNN poll shows that Huckabee has suddenly skyrocketed into first place by 7 points over second-place contender Fred Thompson
Here are the results of the poll:
Huckabee 24%
Thompson 17%
Giuliani 16%
Romney 16%
McCain 13%
Paul 11%
This polling data, however, is very different from an in-state poll that shows Thompson up by 2 percentage points, but with Huckabee moving up fast.
Our most trusted and experienced poll watchers inform us that these particular poll numbers can be safely disregarded at this point in the campaign, especially the nationwide polls.
In addition, the state-by-state poll numbers are highly misleading and volatile, pointing to the vast uncertainty that still exists among a large portion of the electorate.
Suppose, for example, that we take at face value that the CNN poll listed above is accurate. Our sources tell us that with 5 candidates polling between 10 and 20 percentage points, any of them could win. In addition, the fact that Huckabee is showing a 7 point lead when just a few days ago he polled sixth in the field of candidates is highly suspect.
With three weeks to go until the Iowa caucuses and four weeks to go until the South Carolina primary, widely variant and volatile polls such as these can change in a hurry.
The bottom line is that Thompson is still very much in this ball game and Huckabee is not necessarily the front runner.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Thompson Scores a Big Hit in S.C. Visit
Shown below: Fred and Jeri Thompson
GOP Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson campaigned in South Carolina this week in a series of stops in crucial Republican strongholds. The candidate visited the Greenville-Spartanburg-Greer area, Anderson, Pickens, and Lexington.
During the campaign swing Mr. Thompson granted interviews with local network television affiliates, such as WSPA-TV channel 7 in Spartanburg, the area's only CBS-affiliate. He also spoke with reporters and citizens at the famous Wade's Restaurant in Spartanburg, where Thompson castigated the government's attempt to tell people what to eat, while he munched down on Wade's delicious fried chicken.
Thompson was a big hit in Greer, where he stopped in at a local gun shop, the Blue Ridge Shooting Sports store. The candidate tested out some shotguns and stated that of late he has been more into shotguns than anything else.
As Thompson tested out some beauties, he stated, 'It's great to be in a place where people believe in the Constitution and ALL of its amendments.'
One local resident stated that she is a big fan of Thompson not only due to his stance on guns but because he has had a consistent record on immigration and abortion.
The candidate also got some good news that the latest polls show that the statistical dead-heat between Thompson, Giuliani, and Romney is holding firm.
However, one little-known but highly important state-wide poll shows that Thompson has pulled out into a two-point lead over Giuliani and Romney. That particular poll also indicates an erosion of support for both Giuliani and Romney in the state, which has worked to Thompson's benefit.
Another beneficiary has been Mike Huckabee, who nonetheless still lags behind the three front-runners.
In his prepared remarks Mr. Thompson stated that he expects good news from the Supreme Court on D.C. vs. Heller and that Democrats have backed themselves into a corner for attempting to portray the Second Amendment as a collective right only.
'I think now they see that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right,' he said.
Mr. Thompson also stated that the federal government will have little impact on the school dropout rate, because the issue is local, familial, and social.
On immigration the candidate said that illegal immigration can be controlled by securing the border, requiring employers to check for status, and cutting off federal funds for sanctuary cities.
Thompson wrapped up his visit to South Carolina late Wednesday. Early reports indicate that this campaign swing was successful in helping the candidate pick up more support among the GOP faithful.
GOP Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson campaigned in South Carolina this week in a series of stops in crucial Republican strongholds. The candidate visited the Greenville-Spartanburg-Greer area, Anderson, Pickens, and Lexington.
During the campaign swing Mr. Thompson granted interviews with local network television affiliates, such as WSPA-TV channel 7 in Spartanburg, the area's only CBS-affiliate. He also spoke with reporters and citizens at the famous Wade's Restaurant in Spartanburg, where Thompson castigated the government's attempt to tell people what to eat, while he munched down on Wade's delicious fried chicken.
Thompson was a big hit in Greer, where he stopped in at a local gun shop, the Blue Ridge Shooting Sports store. The candidate tested out some shotguns and stated that of late he has been more into shotguns than anything else.
As Thompson tested out some beauties, he stated, 'It's great to be in a place where people believe in the Constitution and ALL of its amendments.'
One local resident stated that she is a big fan of Thompson not only due to his stance on guns but because he has had a consistent record on immigration and abortion.
The candidate also got some good news that the latest polls show that the statistical dead-heat between Thompson, Giuliani, and Romney is holding firm.
However, one little-known but highly important state-wide poll shows that Thompson has pulled out into a two-point lead over Giuliani and Romney. That particular poll also indicates an erosion of support for both Giuliani and Romney in the state, which has worked to Thompson's benefit.
Another beneficiary has been Mike Huckabee, who nonetheless still lags behind the three front-runners.
In his prepared remarks Mr. Thompson stated that he expects good news from the Supreme Court on D.C. vs. Heller and that Democrats have backed themselves into a corner for attempting to portray the Second Amendment as a collective right only.
'I think now they see that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right,' he said.
Mr. Thompson also stated that the federal government will have little impact on the school dropout rate, because the issue is local, familial, and social.
On immigration the candidate said that illegal immigration can be controlled by securing the border, requiring employers to check for status, and cutting off federal funds for sanctuary cities.
Thompson wrapped up his visit to South Carolina late Wednesday. Early reports indicate that this campaign swing was successful in helping the candidate pick up more support among the GOP faithful.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Fred Thompson Joins the Political Big Leagues
Fred Thompson joined the political big leagues by appearing side-by-side with his GOP rivals in the Oct. 9 debate in Dearborn, Michigan. Apart from a rusty start after being tossed the very first question by Chris Matthews, the candidate settled down fairly quickly and actually began to appear comfortable discussing the issues.
This was Thompson's very first foray into the national spotlight within the context of a major political debate. As a U.S. Senator his campaigns were regional. As an actor his TV appearances were scripted. A major political debate, however, featuring all of your Party's heavy-weights and a live audience to boot, is in a league of its own that makes Senatorial campaigns and acting roles seem like small potatoes.
Yet Thompson showed that not only was he ready to play in the big leagues but that he could hold his own with such standouts as Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney. He was serious, steady, humorous at times, and most of all he provided details to proposals to save Medicare and Social Security.
Beyond that, he told the truth in plain language.
Americans have an affinity for candidates who can connect with them, speak their language, and yet inspire confidence. Fred Thompson is able to pull that off magnificently as opposed to one of his opponents in the other Party, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
How can a candidate who has a long history of corruption and a tendency to cover past untruths with more untruths inspire any confidence at all?
This, in essence, is Hillary's main problem, and it is a problem that will haunt her for the rest of her life whether she wins the Presidency or not.
Thompson has already pulled into 2nd place behind Mitt Romney in Iowa, the first caucus state, in spite of the fact that he has spent nowhere near the megabucks Romney has unleashed on the state.
In fact, a case could be made that were it not for the megabucks Romney has spent attempting to buy votes in Iowa, and that with mostly his own personal funds, Thompson would probably be in first place in the state. Thompson is also ahead in another early key primary state, South Carolina.
Thus, it's a whole new ballgame. And Fred was right. The race was starting to get rather boring without him.
This was Thompson's very first foray into the national spotlight within the context of a major political debate. As a U.S. Senator his campaigns were regional. As an actor his TV appearances were scripted. A major political debate, however, featuring all of your Party's heavy-weights and a live audience to boot, is in a league of its own that makes Senatorial campaigns and acting roles seem like small potatoes.
Yet Thompson showed that not only was he ready to play in the big leagues but that he could hold his own with such standouts as Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney. He was serious, steady, humorous at times, and most of all he provided details to proposals to save Medicare and Social Security.
Beyond that, he told the truth in plain language.
Americans have an affinity for candidates who can connect with them, speak their language, and yet inspire confidence. Fred Thompson is able to pull that off magnificently as opposed to one of his opponents in the other Party, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
How can a candidate who has a long history of corruption and a tendency to cover past untruths with more untruths inspire any confidence at all?
This, in essence, is Hillary's main problem, and it is a problem that will haunt her for the rest of her life whether she wins the Presidency or not.
Thompson has already pulled into 2nd place behind Mitt Romney in Iowa, the first caucus state, in spite of the fact that he has spent nowhere near the megabucks Romney has unleashed on the state.
In fact, a case could be made that were it not for the megabucks Romney has spent attempting to buy votes in Iowa, and that with mostly his own personal funds, Thompson would probably be in first place in the state. Thompson is also ahead in another early key primary state, South Carolina.
Thus, it's a whole new ballgame. And Fred was right. The race was starting to get rather boring without him.
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