Looks like the next GOP "flavor of the day" has some 'splainin' to do...

[LandLocked66c]

I agree, Huntsman will be the "John Edwards" that swoops in soon.

I also think that Christie will be coming into the fold soon too...

[Rick486]

I believe that what will happen is whomever wins the GOP primary will provide the means to evict Obama, which is the primary objective. Even my Dem/progressive/lefty friends mostly just shake their heads and mutter things like "...well, it didn't work out the way we had hoped.......or he really isn't who we thought he was..." when they talk about Obama. I expect them to stay home in droves rather than vote for Obama again. What the GOP needs is someone who doesn't have glaring issues like Paul/Newt (God forbid), etc. So far Romney hasn't shown glaring issues which would disqualify him. So far. I believe there is a mountain of public dislike for Obama out there that will manifest itself at the polls so long as the GOP serves up a reasonable alternative. And the GOP wings will come together and show up in droves to support their candidate.

[Dirtboy]

Huntsman might actually get a turn on the Republican "Not-Romney" Carousel

I really like Huntsman but he's got a big problem; charisma, he just doesn't seem to have it, or enough of it to come across the tube. It's kinda what Romney lacks too, but Mitt's been at this (running for pres) for years and has the organization in place. It's the reason, IMHO, why people will hold their nose and vote for him, he doesn't spark any excitement. Newt and Ron Paul both have that elusive quality, it means a lot; not everything but a lot.


DB

[LandLocked66c]

Originally Posted by Rick486

I believe there is a mountain of public dislike for Obama out there that will manifest itself at the polls so long as the GOP serves up a reasonable alternative. And the GOP wings will come together and show up in droves to support their candidate.

I agree and disagree at the same time. Yes there is some dislike, but look at Foxnews right now. They aren't running anti-Obama stories, which they should be doing. Rather they are running out of context sound bites on most of the Repubs that are battling it out. Doesn't make sense, unless they are waiting until Obamo gets out on the election trail.

Now, the current dislike, from Dems anyway, will be abated when Obamo gets on the podium and starts romancing the teleprompter... They fall for it everytime.

There will be another 4 years of Obamo!

[Tempest]

Christie has already weighed in to support Romney in a big way. It's way too late for any newcomers to enter the race. What we see is what we get. I agree with the sentiment that it's difficult to believe that in a country of 300 million people this is the best field ( including Obama) that we can come up with.

At this point, heading to South Carolina, I wonder who will garner the " Not Romney" votes. With Perry, Gingrich and Santorum capturing a combined 21 % of the vote in New Hampshire, will the south carolinians narrow their focus to unseat Romney from his frontrunner perch. That would leave either Paul or Huntsman as the two remaining alternatives that seem to have the ability to do that.

Charisma is what got Obama elected the 1st time, now he has a record. While Romney appears to have the charisma factor, it doesn't seem to sway people looking for more.
( 60% of the votes were cast against him)

The exit polls in New Hampshire seem to indicate that people cast their votes against Obama, more than FOR Romney; because, they saw him as the candidate most likely to defeat Obama.

It will also be interesting to see how Romney's super-pacs now begin to attack Paul and Huntsman.

It seems like this is a major opportunity for Huntsman to gain some momentum.
Paul has proven that he is someone to be reckoned with.

[danjarch]

Originally Posted by LandLocked66c

I agree and disagree at the same time. Yes there is some dislike, but look at Foxnews right now. They aren't running anti-Obama stories, which they should be doing. Rather they are running out of context sound bites on most of the Repubs that are battling it out. Doesn't make sense, unless they are waiting until Obamo gets out on the election trail.

Now, the current dislike, from Dems anyway, will be abated when Obamo gets on the podium and starts romancing the teleprompter... They fall for it everytime.

There will be another 4 years of Obamo!

You mean Fox is reporting on and discussing the news. That's why they're the number one cable news channel.

Beyond that, if Romney gets the nomination, it will cost the GOP. First it might cost them the election. If that's all it costs, the GOP will be lucky. Contrary to popular belief, and something apparently Fox has figured out as well, the average grass root GOP member doesn't always back wall street.

That's the first of Romney's problems. Like most on the right, I'm a firm believer in capitalism. I can even explain and defend the systems need for pawn brokers, payday lenders, and even corporate raiders. But that doesn't mean I want a pawn broker for mayor or a corporate raider for president.

Which leads to Romney's second problem. Your not going to find a more open minded audience then those that are watching the GOP primary. The fact that he's been so silent about what he did at Bain speaks louder then words. Other then vague claims, he's been strangely quiet about what he did at Bain that would apply to being president.

This is Romney's Achilles heal. If he can't convince more Reps to back him, it isn't like we grass rooters are going to be able to convince independents. And that matters. As the election gets closer, if guys like me aren't talking him up on forums, bars, or other hang outs, then he's not going to do well.

Which leads to Romney's third problem. You can call it the "Joe the Plumber" problem. Rather then confront the accusations of being a corporate raider head on, he and his camp have tried to slaughter the messenger. This is one of the things that Obama's camp did to often. And it has cost them.

Which leads to how much it could cost the GOP if Romney get both the nomination and wins the election. By all past accounts, he wasn't a well loved governor. He hasn't inspired the GOP either. If he wins then big losses should be expected in the mid terms and Romney will probably face a primary challenge. The GOP will have won the battle but lost the war.

And that if the GOP doesn't fracture with a third party challenge before the coming election.

[LandLocked66c]

Romney is McCain all over again. No chance of winning... The GOP is doing this on purpose. The Obamo doctrine isn't finished yet so he needs 4 more years to finish up.