Courtesy of The Shot comes this story on someone else who is saying Sam is finished. This time, though, it’s one of Sam’s top supporters in South Carolina:
If you are a South Carolina politico, you know that Hal Stevenson is a guy you want on your team. He, and perhaps State Senator Kevin Bryant, are about the only good things Senator Sam Brownback has going for him in South Carolina. That’s why we were very shocked to see Stevenson tell Lee Bandy that Brownback “can’t go on much longer.”
Ouch! That hurts coming from one of your top supporters…especially one the caliber of Stevenson.
Ames produced two casualties in 1999 (Alexander and Quayle), and it produced two more casualties in 2007 – only one of them doesn’t know it yet.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
That’s OK. Sam came out today and announced he was for a trade war with China. If he were actually the president and said this, it would have caused the stock market to spasm so much it would have made the last month look positively peaceful by comparison. He has turned into a laughingstock.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
[...] post by MattC and software by Elliott [...]
August 16th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I don’t think there is much question that Sam is done. He bet the house on winning Ames or placing second, hoping to boost both his fundraising and profile. Unfortunately, he came in a distant third, behind Huckabee. He is out of cash, and is doing terribly in the polls, only leading in his home state.
I think the question now becomes “who gets his endorsement?” I see three potential recipiants: Huckabee, Romney, and Thompson. Of these, I think, unfortunately, Huckabee is the most likely to get it. Romney would problably be second most likely, with Thompson being the least likely.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
He even said it will coast Americans jobs but is worth it.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
ACT Blog: “I don’t think there is much question that Sam is done. He bet the house on winning Ames or placing second, hoping to boost both his fundraising and profile. Unfortunately, he came in a distant third, behind Huckabee. He is out of cash, and is doing terribly in the polls, only leading in his home state.”
Not to mention the fact that he has been super busy burning as many bridges as he can. I honestly think he is done.
New Power Rankings:
Rudy
Romney
Thompson
…Nobody… The distance between the first three and the rest of the field is huge.
McCain
Huckabee
Brownback
Everyone else
August 16th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Brownback wants to knock off Romney.
He’ll endorse Huckabee if he wants to do that.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Sheesh…
Some of you are dilusional. First of all, you guys are sure into pressuring people to drop out. Let them fade out on their own course. When the well runs dry, they’ll get out. They don’t need you, me, or anyone else to run them out. I’m sure Brownback can see the writing on the wall. I know
Brownback endorsing Romney? Are you certifiably insane, ACT? If anything, Romney and Brownback don’t eactly have a “friendly” relationship on this campaign. In fact, from the way things have played, Romney’d be the last one he’d endorse. I’m not under the illusion that he’ll come running to FDT, but come on… Romney his 2nd pick? Do you sit around and think these things up? Heck, Brownback’s “official” blog has a part dedicated to Mittflips.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Can you find a more reasonable second pick? I think it is a distant second, but, short of endorsing a candidate who is doing nearly as bad as he is, there are really only three logical choices: Huckabee, Romney, and Thompson. I think Huckabee is going to get it. But, if he does not, I think B-back is going to support Romney – I don’t see him endorsing a candidate who actively worked for a pro-abortion group.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
What is Brownback’s objective in staying in? If he believes he’s a shot at VP then the candidate most likely to pick him is Rudy (geographical balance, staunch conservative to solidify the Christian vote). So apart from his antipathy to Romney, that would rule out voting for him.
If he just genuinely wants to support his causes, then he’ll probably wait and possibly endorse Huckabee. If he did that would be very valuable to Huck. Huck has everything a politician needs (resume, charm) except organisation. Brownback offering Huckabee his organisation would be a massive boost, and could well change the game in Iowa.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
1. Who would want it at this point?
2. I really don’t care what Brownback does. If he endorses Huck, it’s most likely, and more power to him. He obviously won’t endorse either Rudy, Thompson, or Romney, so let’s give it up. It’s not going to happen, but if you want to play dirty, I find it unlikely that he’d endorse someone who invested in stem cell research as well, and also criticized Ted Kennedy in 1994 for having set up a “blind trust” while forgetting that he had one as well.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
JayPe,
You just don’t offer someone your organization. We are talking about real people. They may not want to work for your choice.
Plus, how is the recepient of said largess supposed to pay for those new people when he couldn’t pay for his own organization?
August 16th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
1) Who would want it? A candidate who is having problems convincing Southern Evangelicals to support him.
2) I’m willing to give it up, and admit that it is unlikely.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Tommy, #10. We finally agree on something.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Huckabee has been playing nice. Brownback and his people have been playing dirty. I really don’t think Huckabee wants to be burdened with people of that reputation.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
marK (#11) I know you can’t offer someone your organisation, but you can talk to your supporters and encourage them to work for Huckabee – particularly if you have no cash and Huck is starting to get into some cash as a result of Ames (we don’t know that for sure yet, of course).
Huckabee has supporters, but not operators. If Brownback suggested to his operators that they work for Huck, at least some of them would switch, surely?
August 16th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
marK (#14) good point. Huckabee can’t start running a negative campaign, and B-back operators might do that.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Too bad for Brownback … Fred will certainly benefit from it, though!!!
August 16th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Geez and I thought McCain was over. I dont see how he can endorse anybody. He has directly attacked all of them, including “governers in general”.
And nobody wants his endorsement, he is poison.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Well i never thought i would be saying this but i to believe that Sen.Brownback must end his presidential campaign. It really hurts to say that b/c i’m a big supporter of Sen.Brownback and what he has done for my Pro-Life values He stands up for life at all stages and should be commended for that. But unfortunately he came in 3rd and lost to Huckabee who is now getting all the media attention and has reported over 1,000 new campaign donors in the 48 hours after his 2nd place finish in Iowa. But i can let all of you know that Sen.Brownback will be taking a vacation with his family this weekend and is said to be “considering withdrawing from the race”. I believe that he will sometime next week or sometime shortly after that, and will more than likely be endorsing Mike Huckabee to unite Social Conservatives. B/c he knows that if he stays in the race, he will only divide the Socon vote among he and Huckabee and if they can unite then they will be very powerful. Mike Huckabee is a great man and i am going to look forward to supporting either him or Fred Thompson for president, although i’m leaning very heavily towards Huckabee and if Sen.Brownback does endorse him then i will most likely follow suit. Sen.Brownback is a great man who shares my values and my beliefs and thats why i’ve supported him, but he simply just cant go on in my opinion, and its important that if the Socons have a voice in this election then we must be united behing one candidate, and that seems to be Mike Huckabee.
Bryan
August 16th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Right now, I can’t think of any other Republican candidate that I’d like to see exit the race more than Sam Brownback.
It has been the negative tone of his campaign and many of his supporters that has compelled me to this opinion. I agree, he should be gone. But he does not know that yet and probably won’t till after the NH primaries.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I would very much welcome Sam and his supporters to the Huckabee campaign…speaking of which if any of Sam’s supporters are interested in guest blogging…leave a comment on my blog…
August 16th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Huckabee has gotten over 1000 new contributors? Good for him. I would love to see him in the top tier. We need the best of the best if we are going to defeat the Democrats in 2008.
I agree with you, Bryan, that Brownback needs to leave. He has poisoned the GOP water so badly that that is about all he has left to do.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Bryan, I do feel with you. We do not have too many candidates who are strong social conservative like Sam in this race. I like him for that. I hope this won’t be the last we see of you. I do appreciate your insights, when they do not involve attacks on others.
Good luck with finding the next person you believe is best for the job.
August 17th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Well said Bryan.
Funnilly enough I thought SB did pretty well in the debates.
August 17th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Brownback would not endorse the Huckster. He’s been on the offensive towards Huckabee for a while, attacking his conservative bone fides. To drop out and endorse the man you’d been attacking would be very John Edwardsy of him.
I don’t think Brownback will endorse anyone IF he drops out — then again, I don’t think he’s going to leave the race just yet. He may not have the funds anymore, but he’s got the drive. He wants to be President, even if Iowa’s shown that others don’t necessarily want him…
August 17th, 2007 at 9:14 am
I pray that Sam stays in the race for a while, I think he is the best candidate we have get used to saying President Brownback.
August 17th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Brownback needs to drop out. Same goes for Hunter. Huckabee just took the prize they wanted: visibility for the VP job, and a remote shot at the Presidential nomination. Thats out of reach for Brownback and Hunter now. Get out and clear the field.
McCain? He needs to stop too, but just like a zombie, he’ll keep shuffling along until he runs out of brains.
Paul? Never was, never will be. Should drop but is too self-deluded to recognize that he should do so.
And last, but ceratainly not least: my Congressman, Tom Tancredo need to drop out and come home. He is in danger of losing his seat here if he doesn’t get his butt back home and start talking to us (and cut the crap about bombing Mecca, and the useless posturing). There are already moves afoot to put in a primary challenge against him of a very politically connected conservative, since we are in the minority losing his seniority does not hurt us so much if we were to replace him this time.
But yeah, Brownback needs to get out of the way.
Don’t go away angry. Just… just go away. You’ve been told.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 pm
What are you people,talking about? Brownback drop out? Just after he finished third in the Ames Straw Poll? He didn’t have He He didn’t have 1,000 people from a spedial interest group (Fair Tax) bussed in with flyers saying Huckabee “ggod” and Brownback “not good” because of the Fair tax v. Flat Tax debate. Huckabee’s spin meisters are good operatives but give me a break. The attacks and all of the above come from people who are afraid of Brwonback becasue he and his views have the most in common with the traditinal grass roots Republicans in the key primary states, and opnmce he cathes fire ther is no stoipping him. Sam has the best foreign policy experience of the social conservatives. He has plans for solving all the major problems – border security, war on Terrorists/Middle East, reducing the size of government and taxes soxial security. Everyone else just keeps ssaying we have problems and they can fix them – when they are elected.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 pm
What are you people,talking about? Brownback drop out? Just after he finished third in the Ames Straw Poll? He didn’t have He He didn’t have 1,000 people from a spedial interest group (Fair Tax) bussed in with flyers saying Huckabee “ggod” and Brownback “not good” because of the Fair tax v. Flat Tax debate. Huckabee’s spin meisters are good operatives but give me a break. The attacks and all of the above come from people who are afraid of Brwonback becasue he and his views have the most in common with the traditinal grass roots Republicans in the key primary states, and opnmce he cathes fire ther is no stoipping him. Sam has the best foreign policy experience of the social conservatives. He has plans for solving all the major problems – border security, war on Terrorists/Middle East, reducing the size of government and taxes soxial security. Everyone else just keeps ssaying we have problems and they can fix them – when they are elected.