GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
A new LA Times Poll among Washington insiders shows that Romney (20%) has the lead with Giuliani (14%) in second and McCain (10%) in third. Clinton won on the Democratic side.
Among Republicans, Romney had the most backing among party insiders, with 20% support, followed by Giuliani with 14%, McCain with 10% and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia who has said he might enter the race in the fall with 8%.
In a potentially worrisome sign for McCain, just over 1 in 10 RNC members said they would not support him if he won the party’s nomination in his second attempt.
“It shows just how much resistance there is within the Republican establishment to McCain and how open the party is to candidates who either aren’t very conservative, like Giuliani, or only recently minted conservatives, like Romney,” Cook said. “McCain has worked pretty hard since 2000 to be a team player, but these numbers would suggest that there is still a problem for him.”
The poll was completed by the LA Times and polled members of the DNC and RNC national committees.
“The DNC and RNC members are not just delegates” to the national nominating conventions, said Charlie Cook, a nonpartisan campaign analyst in Washington. “They are key organizers and opinion leaders. They can help build or kill a groundswell, make a candidate’s challenge in a state easier or much harder. They matter a lot.”
March 3rd, 2007 at 3:28 am
I love “insiders” and “insider polls.”
The insider polls in 2005 were sure that George Allen would be the nominee.
The insider polls in 2006 were positive that McCain was the guy to beat.
Funny.
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:06 am
[...] post by Jason and software by Elliott [...]
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 am
Interesting info! Thanks for posting this article.
http://www.iowansforromney.com
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:35 am
Romey has no chance. A good speech at CPAC and some “insider” support means nothing in the GOP race. It’s all about the conservative base
http://political-buzz.com/?p=83
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:24 am
“Among Republicans, Romney had the most backing among party insiders”
Jason,
This is exactly why the Romney campaign is going nowhere.
Are you involved in politics?
Have you ever led a GOP political unit?
I am BPOU leader, and I can tell you that touting a majority of support from Washington insiders is not a real positive thing right now. RNC popularity with the base is at an all time low.
The last thing you want to be bragging about is endorsements from Washington insiders.
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:52 am
I knew this would get you guys all excited.
GOP Activist.
Actually I am precinct committee man here in chicago, run he largest Mitt Romney blog on the net and Illinois State director of Legacy, a grass roots political organization that focuses on fighting anti-family legislation and porn. There are over 500 members in the IL state chapter. I think I know a little bit about what’s going on, though clearly not as much as you.
Congratulations on your political activism, you are awesome.
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:56 am
Jason:
Really? That’s why your boy Mitt is polling in the single digits nationally?
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:58 am
DB,
Yes he is. Things will change, ever so slowly, don’t get too comfortable.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:03 am
“Methinks he doth protest too much.”
Romney beat Giuliani yesterday. Let the Romneyites crow. Tomorrow is another day in a long, slow slog. Rudy is still on top. John is still in a solid second place. Romney’s numbers are still in the toilet.
To use a football analogy, Giuliani who has the commanding lead played it safe with ball-control and ended up punting on the fourth down. Not particularly inspiring, but he at least didn’t turn the ball over. Romney scored and made the two-point conversion. Will it make a difference? Only time will tell. He is still way behind in points.
McCain? When called upon to play, he made excuses about not being able to make it to the stadium, and then tried to sneek in to setup one-on-ones with the cheerleaders.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:52 am
I’m surpise Rudy is as strong as he with insiders as not much offical endorsements from Congressman and Senators. Perhaps they waiting to see if he going to have a quick fall.
March 3rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
DB,
Mitt’s low polling at this point is really a weak point of argument. Romney’s numbers will improve, especially when he starts going on nation-wide tours and he’s sat side by side with the rest of the candidates in a few nationally televised debates. If using Mitt’s low polling numbers here are supposed to be a shot at the poor quality of the campaign Mitt is running, I don’t think that works–Romney is probably running the most well-oiled, relatively successful, and profitable campaigns in the entire Republican field right now.
March 3rd, 2007 at 3:40 pm
marK,
thanks for the laugh with your football analogy.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Mark: I love it! I had a visual of cheerleaders doing everything they could to get McCain to smile.
Romney looked strong this weekend! Wait until Hewitt’s book is widely published AND he starts to grant all the interviews about the book that he has been turning down. In my estimation, it is far better to be rising in the polls than the other way around. Let the “name candidates” bask in the sunlight as long as they can. They have the name recognition and they have done great things. Romney is going to take it.