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The Spectacle Blog
Two new reports from Gallup have perhaps the best news for Mitt Romney of this campaign season.
For the first time, Romney’s support among Republicans nationwide has reached or exceeded 30 percent, breaking through the 25-percent “barrier” that has been a common talking point among Romney opponents and pundits.
More importantly, Gallup data released Tuesday morning show that Mitt Romney has the highest “acceptable” and lowest “unacceptable” ratings of any Republican candidate.
These numbers fly in the face of the “anybody but Romney” cheerleaders who suggest that Republicans will not support Romney should he get the nomination. (I’ve been extremely skeptical of that theory since in this cycle Republicans are — and should be — motivated primarily by beating Barack Obama.)
Other points of interest:
• Ron Paul’s “unacceptable” rating is twice his “acceptable” rating.
• Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman have no business still being in this race.
• Only one other candidate, Rick Santorum, is more acceptable than unacceptable — by 6 percent — though I expect that to change for the worse if Santorum remains a viable candidate and thus a target for Romney and Gingrich supporters.
• Romney — who critics attack for his business success, for his religion, and for being a “moderate” — has a 28 percent margin of acceptable over unacceptable.
It may be an air of inevitability, it may be a perception of electability, but you also have to give credit to Romney for (except for his poorly chosen words about liking “to be able to fire people,” which have been taken wildly out of context by Republican and Democrat opponents alike) running a disciplined, consistent, conservative campaign and primarily training his fire on Barack Obama rather than other Republicans. Whatever you may think of Romney, few would argue that he would strike the average American as the most presidential of the GOP field — and more presidential than the man currently holding the office.
Betting odds have Romney over 70 percent to win the South Carolina’s January 21st primary and 83 percent to win Florida’s primary 10 days later. (Romney is 98 percent to win New Hampshire’s primary today.) Despite all the talk about how the nominee might not be known until May, it could all be over but the shouting on January 31st.
View all comments (24) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Ross Kaminsky
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/10/romney-isnt-just-about-electab
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TJ| 1.10.12 @ 12:07PM
Agreed. In the same poll, voters also thought Romney best able to handle the economy and create jobs, which was the No. 1 issue for voters.
Everyone will forget this squabbling as soon as we have our nominee. While I wouldn't have chosen Romney either as nominee, I will get in line and support him enthusiastically for Prez in November. Removing Obama is just too important not to.
Al Adab| 1.10.12 @ 1:47PM
GOP voters rejected Romney four years ago in favor of the "more Conservative" (it is a relative matter) McCain. Given Romneys' "strong" record of support for Conservatism why would we even consider him now?
Clint| 1.10.12 @ 7:48PM
We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.
These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here Is On The East Coast.
Bruce| 1.10.12 @ 12:38PM
Romney can hid behind his Super Pacs that do the dirty work for him. He's the "most presidential" in the same way that the "Ken" doll is the perfect male model. It will come down to which is more important - independents or a motivated base. History tells us that, without the base, the Republicans lose.
RJ| 1.10.12 @ 12:54PM
Romney is a status quo type of guy. When a problem comes up, he will call a meeting and form a consensus solution. He is inoffensive.
However, as the last debate showed again when Romney was asked about birth control, he let the media set the dialogue and struggled with his answer. Newt on the other hand, redirected the discussion and scored points. Romney will get swamped by the Democratic/Mass Media machine.
Al Adab| 1.10.12 @ 1:48PM
...and we should spew the tepid, lukewarm from our mouths. Those who refuse to stand for something, stand for nothing.
RJ| 1.10.12 @ 2:49PM
Absolutely. And this time more than ever, we need a candidate who is firm in his convictions for individual freedom and opportunity.
bobmontgomery| 1.10.12 @ 12:56PM
You can't help yourself, can you Kaminsky? But one thing you're absolutely right about - with Romney, it's not just about electability, it's about ....INDIVIDUAL MANDATES.
Doug| 1.10.12 @ 1:17PM
Romney may be "acceptable" but that doesn't mean he will inspire turnout or provide coattails for down ballot candidates.
Would you rather have an enthusiastic Anybody But Obama electorate or one that will get out only if it isn't too inconvenient. Because why vote for a return of W?
teflon93| 1.10.12 @ 1:18PM
How is Romney any different than John McCain other than he isn't a war hero?
Al Adab| 1.10.12 @ 1:50PM
Easy one. Romney is to the left of McCain and therefore more acceptable to the east coast, accomodationist, establishmentarian republicans. You remember them. They are the ones we follow to defeat time after time.
teflon93| 1.10.12 @ 2:21PM
True---Romney as a Harvard MBA and son of a former governor is far more exceptable to the Frums and Kristols and Krauthammers and Lowrys than even Naval Academy grad McCain ever was.
Ruling Class is as Ruling Class does.
ml| 1.10.12 @ 2:41PM
We are screwed. If Romney does get the noimnee, the GOP will lose the White House. Romney can't do the debate too well and can't beat Obama. It is the Democrats and Mainstream Medias wanted Romney to run because they know he can't beat Obama. I am conservative and I will stay at home on Election Day. The GOP need to do some clean house and we need a strong leadership for the conservatives. We need to get rid of the RINO's.
somnolence| 1.10.12 @ 2:46PM
Well, I for one, won't stay home. I would vote for Sadie Mae Glutz or Elmer Fudd in order to get Obama out of the White House. I'm taking a gamble on Romney, sure, but Obama has forfeited any further duration in the White House.
Pete| 1.10.12 @ 2:57PM
I attack Romney for his liberalism. He went along with Cap and Trade and Global Warming, socialized medicine, pro-abortion laws etc.
But worse than the liberalism is the GOP establishment shoving Romney down out throats. They see the power Obama has accumulated and want it for itself.
Oldefarte| 1.10.12 @ 3:07PM
Finally, someone who has the common sense to GET IT. Romney may or may not be the best Republican candidate to defeat Obama, but the fact is that he does know how to FIRE PEOPLE, and that is essentially what is needed as a solution to or government's defecit/debt debacle. If soneone of the Republican variety doesn not know how [and have the political guts to] do this essential activity, then this country is headed for the bottom of the financial/economic toilet within the next five years!!!!!!!!!
John Navratil| 1.10.12 @ 3:36PM
Oldefarte,
Firing someone who doesn't perform for you is one thing, firing a government agency which gives you your power is another. I'll vote for Romney in the general, but not before.
Oldefarte| 1.10.12 @ 4:58PM
JN: If someone [preferably the Republican president] doesn't find the political guts to "....firing a government agency which gives you your power..." then this country's government will follow Europe, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal etc down the economic/financial toilet due to governmental defecit/debt. The government agency does NOT give the president/congressional politician his power....the back home residential constituents DO PROVIDE HIS POWER [and politicians should be made to understand this fact]. Governmental agencies do not elect presidents, taxpayer-voters do. That's like stating that private industry company CEO's should owe their allegiance to their company departments and their employees for their power, when it is instead the company stockholders who own the company that porvide the ultimate power that a CEO holds. Within government, any politician owes their employment power to the residential constituents that elected that politician in the first place, not to what was gained/inherited from his job's position!!!!!!!!!
Lesser Weevil| 1.10.12 @ 5:00PM
"in this cycle Republicans are -- and should be -- motivated primarily by beating Barack Obama."
Not really. Republicans (well, conservatives anyway) should be motivated primarily by the need to stop the growth of government before it kills us and to reawaken the spirit of liberty in a country that seems to be sliding into despotism. Mitt, to put it mildly, is not the ideal candidate to undertake these tasks. Yeah, I will put on my well-worn GOP clothespin and cast a futile vote for him against BHO. But is he the guy to reframe the debate and undo the mischief of Dear Leader (and his predecessor, for that matter)? Not hardly.
KateS| 1.10.12 @ 6:44PM
Are you kidding? If we wait another 4 years to get rid of Obama, the Republic will be gone. Conservatives will be handing the despot Obama the election if they keep up this nonsense. I'm disgusted with the tea party and writers like Quin Hillyer who are out here bashing Romney EVERY day. Don't worry, you'll be getting what you deserve in November...a big Obama win.
Lesser Weevil| 1.10.12 @ 10:19PM
Hey, Kate, I said I'd vote for Mitt, though I don't have high hopes for him. My point was that conservatives like me are tired of being told to shut up and vote for the Republican, no matter how underwhelming he may be. If putting Republicans in office was sufficient, we wouldn't be in this mess today.
kf451| 1.10.12 @ 6:41PM
I sincerely hope that the not-Romneys are able to take Romney down once and for all. We need to take our party back from the Rinos and the establishment.
KateS| 1.10.12 @ 6:47PM
Are you the leader of the RNC? I think they rather like Romney. Every one of the candidates is an establishment guy, especially Gingrich and Santorum. Paul is a kook...
BTW, the not-Romneys are largely Obama supporters. The joke may be on you.
kf451| 1.11.12 @ 9:18AM
Your post makes no sense at all.