The American Spectator

Proud Mormon| 6.15.11 @ 5:38PM

Romney wins Florida and California, South Carolina won't matter.

Al Adab| 6.15.11 @ 7:15PM

And California casts its' electoral votes for whom?

Mike| 6.15.11 @ 7:48PM

Ah, but what about Huntsman?

Jackboot| 6.16.11 @ 7:18AM

Huntsman IMHO is a non-starter. I just can't see an Obama appointee running against his boss.

LarryK| 6.16.11 @ 8:58AM

Enough of the RINO's!!!!

Steven Ertelt| 6.15.11 @ 5:39PM

A mainstream conservative with executive experience like Governor Tim Pawlenty would do well with South Carolina voters. He's conservative on both economic and social issues and a win, place or show in Iowa would boost his chances in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Ci2Eye| 6.15.11 @ 5:45PM

Absolutely stupid. There is no substance to this.

It starts off with "all Republican standard bearers have won the South Carolina". The South Carolina? Didn't you mean simply "South Carolina"? Did you proof read at all?

Then the author proceeds into utter nothingness outlining a list of candidates that are not running that could potentially beat Romney in one state if they were to elect to run and that is supposedly the proof of "Why Romney won't be nominated". How intellectually lazy.

I wouldn't argue that Romney has an easy path to victory and South Carolina certianly will be a hurdle but not because Paul Ryan and Jim DeMint and Jeb Bush MIGHT run.

C Bowen| 6.15.11 @ 6:02PM

South Carolina Republican primary voters in 2008, according to exit polls, indicated restricting immigration was a top issue--so they voted for...hold for it...McCain. (makes no sense)

South Carolina Republicans are not particularly informed and will vote for the frontrunner they are told to vote for.

Mike| 6.15.11 @ 7:51PM

Rather harsh assessment of South Carolinians. But I will grant the premise about the entire state. Remember Greene?

JmsA| 6.16.11 @ 2:57AM

It makes sense if one takes into account South Carolina's rather large retired military population.

WJ| 6.16.11 @ 12:13PM

"South Carolina Republicans are not particularly informed and will vote for the frontrunner they are told to vote for."

Bingo. Proven by the perpetual re-election of Lyndsay Graham.

Loadmaster| 6.15.11 @ 6:29PM

Al Gore gave Mitt the kiss of death today. No GOP voter will ever give a vote to a candidate who was blessed by Al. Mitt is done.

Mike| 6.15.11 @ 8:03PM

As I see the scorekeeping, Mitt is done (Romneycare), Pawlenty is done (too wimpy to stand against Obamneycare), Huntsman is done before he begins (worked for Obama), Newt is done (told the truth about Ryan's Medicare proposal). Left standing: Bachmann, Cain, Santorum and Paul.

In the wings with little chance: Guiliani (pro-choice
unless he flips), Christie (on Chesser's list, but could go to re education camp).

Guess the darling of the day is Rick Perry.

wodiej| 6.16.11 @ 5:51AM

Gov. Sarah Palin

Mike| 6.16.11 @ 10:18AM

Ah Sarah Palin. Will she take on Michelle Bachmann or remain content to make money? With Bachmann in the race, Palin may well be so eclipsed that she needs to announce her candidacy in order to recapture the spotlight.

WJ| 6.16.11 @ 12:15PM

Not a chance. However, if there was a chance of Palin getting the nomination then you have a lock on four more years of Obama.

Lori| 6.15.11 @ 6:33PM

You suspect his support is soft? What kind of half-wit analysis is that?

I think your should have said what you mean, " I hope his support is soft" to which I would reply, "Don't count on it".

Handy| 6.15.11 @ 6:49PM

Never mind. Mitt is so soft, he isn't even fluff.

Teflon93| 6.15.11 @ 6:52PM

Well, let's take a look at the 2012 primary schedule and see how those states voted in 2008:
1. Iowa (Obama)
2. New Hampshire (Obama)
3. Nevada (Obama)
3. South Carolina (McCain)
4. Florida (Obama)
5. Alabama (McCain)
5. Arkansas (McCain)
5. California (Obama)
5. Connecticut (Obama)
5. Delaware (Obama)
5. Georgia (McCain)
5. Illinois (Obama)
5. Missouri (McCain)
5. Montana (McCain)
5. New Jersey (Obama)
5. New York (Obama)
5. Oklahoma (McCain)
5. Tennessee (McCain)
5. Utah (McCain)
6. Louisiana (McCain)
7. Maryland (Obama)
8. Hawaii (Obama)
8. Wisconsin (Obama)
9. Arizona (McCain)
9. Michigan (Obama)
10. Minnesota (Obama)
10. Massachusetts (Obama)
10. Ohio (Obama)
10. Rhode Island (Obama)
10. Texas (McCain)
10. Vermont (Obama)
10.. Virginia (Obama)
11. Mississippi (McCain)
12. Colorado (Obama)
12. Illinois (Obama)
13. Pennsylvania (Obama)
14. Indiana (Obama)
14. North Carolina (Obama)
14. West Virginia (McCain)
15. Nebraska (McCain)
15. Oregon (Obama)
16. Arkansas (McCain)
16. Idaho (McCain)
16. Kentucky (McCain)
17. Montana (McCain)
17. New Mexico (Obama)
17. South Dakota (McCain)

Most nominees drop out after Super Tuesday. By then, we will have seen primaries/caucuses in 11 blue states and 9 red states. The rest of the schedule is heavily front-loaded with blue states, meaning the GOP nominee will be picked before the bulk of the conservatives are polled. Moreover, the big blue states come early in the season: New York and California in particular. The author homes in on South Carolina because it's the biggest red state to hit in the first half of the primary season. A conservative nominee will find it their only refuge in hostile territory with large numbers of RINOs and plenty of Democrats voting in open primary states.

You can see why the narrative is going to favor RINO Romney unless we conservatives stop it dead.

Al Adab| 6.15.11 @ 7:14PM

So why does the GOP allow states which will never cast an electoral vote for the Republican to have such a voice in choosing the candidate. Do we really want NY, NJ, CA, IL to pick our standard bearer?

Teflon93| 6.15.11 @ 7:36PM

This has been the ongoing mystery to me, AA---the short answer, I suppose, is "Yes". It comes down to the party leadership being disproportionately made up of Northeast and Beltway libs.

What I would like to see is a Republican primary schedule in proportion to the votes a state casts for the GOP nominee in the prior election cycle. Thus if Texas votes most overwhelmingly for the GOP presidential nominee, Texas' primary would be first.

elliesue| 6.16.11 @ 12:40AM

Because there are actually Republicans in these states. Just because the majority vote getter gets the electoral votes in the general, we still have a Republican primary and Republicans in these states still have a say. We are a nation of individual states.

Teflon93| 6.16.11 @ 8:30AM

You don't seem to understand that Blue states have fewer ardent conservatives in the Republican Party ranks. Or don't want to admit the obvious. Whichever.

wodiej| 6.16.11 @ 5:53AM

exactly...that is part of the problem. By the time the primary gets to most states, the nominee is selected. let's all vote the same day so all americans have an equal say. caucuses and different votiing days is unconstitutional.

Jackboot| 6.16.11 @ 7:23AM

That front loading of blue states really ends up sticking it to us for sure. I too, have to disagree with Mr. Goldstein as well. The right-leaning voters in SC, as in all other states will pretty much pull for who the darling of the moment is. We should NEVER underestimate the herd mentality, especially in primaries.

Conservative Bob| 6.15.11 @ 7:49PM

We are a very long way from seeing who is and who is not going to be a player in next year’s primaries. It is still too many game changers on the brink of getting into the race. The field has hardly had time to announce let alone settle in.
Take a deep breath let the pot warm a bit before you proclaim who is going to finish on top…

wodiej| 6.16.11 @ 5:53AM

good grief, AMEN to THAT.

elliesue| 6.15.11 @ 7:54PM

Wow - If I had known how anti-Mitt Romney The American Specator is, I surely would not have sent a $50.00 donation to support your website. I am a conservative, tea party activist and I don't understand the Mitt bashing. I find that people call him a flip flopper on abortion but never follow up on his conversion story or how he used his veto pen to stop stem cell research and that Ronald Reagan also was once pro-choice. I also believe that he is a very fine human being who did a tremendous job turning around the Olympics. He is also for a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage. This does not sound like a moderate RINO and I will vote for him. I'm very sorry I sent this donation. Until I see some Romney truth on this website, I will never send another donation. I suggest folks go to www.whyromney.com and read the rebuttals to the lies before you take the word of all these so called conservatives who expect "purity". If you're really conservative you will stop reading these holier than thou editorials until you read up on Romney for yourselves. And now, I plan to write a $100 check to the Romney campaign and I will vote for him in the primary.
elliesue

rightasrain| 6.15.11 @ 8:32PM

Romneycare and AGW---'nuff said.

Teflon93| 6.15.11 @ 8:34PM

Why hello, RomneyBot.

wodiej| 6.16.11 @ 5:55AM

Romney can't decide what he believes in. End of story.

Jackboot| 6.16.11 @ 7:28AM

Well he IS wearing blue jeans on the stump now. That convinces me he's a man-of-the-people *rolling eyes*. Ellie your money was very well spent. We need all the anti-GOP establishment sites we can get. I'm sorry, but I read this site every day and have yet to see what I would term as "bashing" of Romney. Let's focus on what's important right now, finding a candidate that can take on Obama and not get 'swamp fever' on inauguration day. We need leaders now, not pretty boys selected for us by the establishment.

Mike Giles| 6.15.11 @ 8:04PM

Why do I get the feeling the the "usual suspects" are telling us - note, not asking us whether he should be - but telling us that Romney is the presumptive nominee? It's as if they want to get him nominated before you have a chance to think about it.

Teflon93| 6.15.11 @ 8:41PM

That's precisely the plan. Romney's running a "My Turn" campaign with "electability" as a major theme. This is because the GOP primary schedule heavily favors RINOs like Romney.

If you think about it, though, an anti-Obama election requires a candidate who is opposed to Obama in significant ways. RomneyCare, global warming, and the role of government (BIG) does not differentiate Romney from Obama. Indeed, the major differences are that Romney is white and Mormon. I'm not sure those will be construed as advantages in 2012.

teliason| 6.16.11 @ 2:41AM

If you haven't noticed the economy is the biggest difference this time around and that's all Romney needs to beat Obama.

Teflon93| 6.16.11 @ 8:31AM

If you haven't noticed RomneyCare is bankrupting Massachusetts and Romney has endorsed the global warming hoax which is a surefire economy killer, economies producing carbon as they do.

elliesue| 6.15.11 @ 9:10PM

Why do I get the feeling the commenters on these conservative websites are really Obama supporters trying to influence Republican voters - "seminar" commenters?? You people repeat the same old stuff over and over again. If you can't tell the difference between socialist Obama and capitalist Romney - then you're definitely not conservative.

Teflon93| 6.15.11 @ 9:15PM

Aside from "capitalist" Romney's socialized health insurance scheme, right?

elliesue| 6.15.11 @ 9:32PM

Like I said, same old same old sound bites. Go find out that back when Romney was governor, it was considered conservative to expect people to take responsibility for there own health care. People were gaming the system by choosing the emergency room instead of paying for health care. There is much more at the website www.whyromney.com. Go read up and then comment, otherwise go back to your own liberal democrat webpages. I'm outta here.

buckeyeman| 6.16.11 @ 7:31AM

At this rate I hope you stay "outta here". Romney was my choice last go around and I hated the skullduggery McCain and Huckabee pulled on him. Romney's a decent guy will strong family values but I don't want ANYONE telling me I have to buy health insurance and I don't care a whit that "Romneycare" was at the state level and not federal. Do you seriously believe that the same people "gaming" the system by not paying for their healthcare have now stopped in Mass.? Do you really believe that they have stopped using the ER as their private clinic?

Romney's newest blunder was on AGW. The AGW fraud is and always was a transparent facade for international wealth re-distribution (socialism). Is Romney a socialist? OF COURSE NOT!! But why would he support such a nonsensical notion? I don't know but it sure worries me.

We just got done with eight years of catastrophic results from a Republican president with fuzzy thinking. I believe Romney is vastly better on many fronts than GWB but our country is in crisis. We can't afford another soft conservative.

"...go back to your own liberal democrat webpages."

What????? Criticizing Romney's lapses of conservative thinking or actions means someone is a liberal troll????? I sure hope all Romney supporters are not this insulting or insane.

Teflon93| 6.16.11 @ 8:35AM

The only novelty is in Romney's ever-changing positions and the ridiculous explanations the RomneyBots offer for them.

Romney implemented RomneyCare and continues to defend it. RomneyCare is worsening and making more costly healthcare provision in the Bay State by every measure. It also requires every Bay Stater to purchase health insurance under penalty of law, a gross violation of individual freedom and a massive expansion of government power.

When your government controls your access to your doctor, it controls YOU. Conservatives know this, Romney---and his RomneyBots---do not.

This is because they are statist liberals of the Rockefeller Republican strain.

wodiej| 6.16.11 @ 6:00AM

your feeling is correct. there are armies of them and if you have a Palin thread, then they double up because they can't keep up w the positive comments otherwise. LOL...that's the only transparency the Obama administration has ever shown.

Jackboot| 6.16.11 @ 7:31AM

Oh puuuhhhleeeez. Now you're calling us 5th columnists. So you're telling us not to engage in what differentiates us from the left, that is honest debate? Calling us stupid is a hallmark of the left too. Perhaps you're the mole and seeking cover by intimating the rest of us are.

All Hail the RomneyBot.

Clint| 6.15.11 @ 9:21PM

CNN Poll May 2011:
RonPaul, the congressman from Texas, who also ran as a libertarian candidate for president in 1988 and who is well liked by many in the tea party movement, trails the president by only seven points (52 to 45 percent) in a hypothetical general election showdown. Huckabee trails by eight points, with Romney down 11 points to Obama. The poll indicates the president leading Gingrich by 17 points, Palin by 19, and Trump by 22 points. "

wodiej| 6.16.11 @ 5:58AM

Polls don't mean squat but RP's age does. He is TOO OLD.

Clint| 6.16.11 @ 7:18AM

Tea party activists are divided roughly into two camps, according to a POLITICO/TargetPoint poll:
Palin, who topped the list with 15 percent, speaks for the 43 percent of those polled expressing the distinctly conservative view that government does too much, while also saying that it needs to promote traditional values.

Paul’s thinking is reflected by an almost identical 42 percent who said government does too much but should not try to promote any particular set of values — the hallmarks of libertarians. He came in second to Palin with 12 percent.
When asked to choose from a list of candidates for president in 2012, Palin and Paul also finished one-two — with Palin at 15 percent and Paul at 14 percent.

wodiej| 6.16.11 @ 5:57AM

Bottom line is, if people really see the seriousness about what is going on and get off their lazy butts and be proactive for 2012, we can not only get a real conservative for President in 12 but take back the Senate and hang onto the House. But we are going to have to fight for it. We are going to need to search our souls for some righteous anger and do something about it or things wont' change.

Teflon93| 6.16.11 @ 8:37AM

This is another argument against running a RINO in 2012. The only way we're going to undo some of Obama's agenda is by taking all those Democrat Senate seats. The only way we do that is with very strong conservative turnout. You won't get that with a RINO atop the GOP ticket---and you won't get that filibuster-proof GOP Senate majority either.

bert| 6.16.11 @ 8:23AM

Polls , Polls , Polls by Dem party operations like PPP, CNN, NBC- WSJ ( sadly gone left) are meaningless since these are polls created by the Dems to sway voters not read them ! Who would believe a CNN or PPP or NBC poll ?
These people HATE the GOP.
The Tea Party voters will never vote for
Obama- Romneycare or Global Warming elite.
All these Dem party polls are intended to tell Gop voters to GIVE UP and ITS INEVITABLE or STAY HOME ITS OVER same old scam the Soros Media does every election cycle !
Don't FALL OR IT !
A plactic left wing Momon does not sell well in SC or anywhere else !
WE are screwed if this disaster does WIN.

Sandy| 6.16.11 @ 9:00AM

I wish people would stop throwing names out there of possible candidates like DeMint, Ryan, Christie and Jeb Bush. They have all said repeatedly that they were not running except Jeb Bush, and he would be laughed out of the race. No one will vote for a Bush just 4 years after BDS.

It appears that Rick Perry will jump in, and that's great. I think that will keep Palin out. She said she wouldn't run if there was a good conservative in the race, and her and Perry are close. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't endorse him. I agree with Rush that if Perry gets in, it's a whole new day, and a major game changer. I can definitely see Perry knocking Romney out, and going to the top quickly.

Yes I agree Romney's support is very soft. A generic candidate gets the same numbers in polling as him.

elliesue| 6.16.11 @ 4:08PM

Check out the Rick Perry MANDATE:
GOOGLE IT: Perry mandate vaccine
Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order making Texas the first state to mandate vaccinations for young girls against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. I don't even live in his state and I heard about this years ago. He was forced to rescind it. Conservatives are starting to sound like the libs - don't study anything, don't read up - just march together in lockstep. We're going to lose this next election if people don't do their own research. We need to spend less time throwing out sound bites and more time educating ourselves. And by the way, I'll vote for anyone over BHO

Derek Leaberry| 6.16.11 @ 12:49PM

Just play a commercial with Romney bragging in 1994 of being more "pro-gay" than Ted Kennedy. Or Romney being for abortion. Romney needs to be bled white and made into a political carcass.

solo| 6.16.11 @ 1:11PM

Well, Elli.....knock yourself out! You should vote for the candidate you feel the best about.

I, for one among many, it appears, will NEVER cast my vote for this Rockefeller republican. He's an establishment stooge who will sell us into bondage just a little slower than Obama will....and all for the sake of his own political power.

Ignore the campaign website hype and ignore his rhetoric. Examine his record and only his record.

That's where the truth lays.

elliesue| 6.16.11 @ 3:35PM

It's not a campaign website - www.romneycare.com. If you cared to educate yourself about his record as you state that we must you would have found that out.

elliesue| 6.16.11 @ 3:38PM

oops - typing too fast. www.whyromney.com

Patrick| 6.16.11 @ 1:58PM

I think this is a pretty simplistic view of SC's real political importance, which is in fact negligible. Romney has the best chance of winning the general - by far in fact. If he can pass through the crazy filter and get the GOP nomination he will be the next President and a darn good one, especially compared with the completely inept incumbent.

PattyMor| 6.16.11 @ 2:24PM

Romney basically got endorsed by AlGore. To me that's the kiss of death. Besides that he has the millstone of Romneycare hanging around his proverbial neck and his flipflop on abortion. Romney is to typical Rat Nominee. Good looking, can raise a lot of money, more big gov'ment solutions and next in line. Good grief, we can do better, much better.

elliesue| 6.16.11 @ 3:16PM

Did it ever occur to you that Al Gore doesn't want Romney to be the nominee? Why do you think big O keeps telling us he took his healthcare plan from Romney. Nothing new here same old sound bites.

EruditeEarlobe| 6.16.11 @ 2:59PM

Another Romney and Mormon-bashing article. Nice try!! Pawlenty and Daniels are even more liberal. I think the pols--except for Huckster Huckabee--that Romney did a good job considering the ultra-blue state of Massachusetts. Even Reagan changed his mind on abortion and on being liberal. Aaron, you sound like a liberal paid to cause trouble for Mitt by bringing up the classic Mormon vs. evangelical wedge issues. Say it ain't so!

Nobody special| 6.16.11 @ 4:23PM

Mormon-bashing article? Nice try!! That wasn't even mentioned in the article. Romney is a statist, and nothing will change that, nor will anything change the fact that I will write in Barry Soetoro rather than cast a vote for Romney.

Ross Kaminsky| 6.16.11 @ 5:43PM

I did make the case that Romney's odds improved after the debate...but I also point out that he was still, in betting odds, only 1/3 likely to be the nominee!

David C| 6.19.11 @ 11:16PM

Wow, this was a very disappointing article, Aaron.

I clicked on the link thinking I was going to get some serious analysis. Instead I get some guessing about what South Carolina's Republicans are going to do.

Why'd you even bother? :(