…no other candidate had any presence in the state whatsoever besides Mitt Romney:
An interview with John McCutcheon, a state consultant for Mitt Romney, made clear why he is expected to win easily.
“We have had the only organizational presence in West Virginia to speak of,” said John McCutcheon, a state consultant for Mr. Romney. “It’s all Romney all the time.”
Mr. McCutcheon, who has been working with Mr. Romney since 2006, when he had only a national political action committee. The campaign’s field director, Wendy McCuskey, was hired over the summer. In all, the campaign has three paid people in the state, along with hundreds of volunteers.
Early on, the campaign had believed West Virginia might be one of the early voting states before Feb. 5. Even after it became clear that would not happen, the campaign still poured out significant resources in the state.
Mr. McCutcheon described an ambitious county-by-county ground operation, complete with phone-banking, direct mail and radio advertisements, compared to only modest efforts made by all the other candidates.
“Any presence that has come in has been last minute and skeletal,” he said about the other campaigns.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
another state that romney could not buy
February 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Boy, does this collusion stink to high heaven. So in a nutshell, people in West Virginia don’t get a voice in this process ’cause McCain is a user. Lucky for him, Huckabee is willing to be used. Bring it on. This may be the same number of delegates that McCain is deficient to take the nomination. Then we’ll all consider this dirty pool to be a blessing in disguise.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Now that is an upset!!! Wooo hoooooo
February 5th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
“Impressive?” If this type of politics impresses anyone out there, please raise your hand. Ready for four years of this? Anyone?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
How many times has Mitt had the biggest organization in a state, only to be rejected by it?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
#5 never. Mitt has only been rejected by the MSM and the libs. The people just want a chance to vote for him, but dirty pool like we just witnessed in WV denies them their voice.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
To all of you Romney types hoping to drag out the campaign and wait for a brokered convention, this might be how one would work, perhaps with the McCain and Huckabee roles reversed. This is not “dirty politics”; everyone knew the rules going in, and the McCain campaign took advantage of them when they came in 3rd.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Romney: “Can’t buy me love…”
We love you Mike! Go win a few more and let the world know that the Presidency of the United States is not for sale!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Mitt better get used to it though. There are forces that don’t favor conservatism, and he has always battled against them at an unfair ratio. But he prevailed in Mass. Let’s keep our hopes up for the nation.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Romney’s backers are having sour grapes b/c the convention system worked against them. At the end of the 1st ballot, McCains people knew he couldn’t win so they made a tactical shift to Huckabee. No dirt, just convention politics.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
liz, this is nothing new. Romney has a ceiling in the 40’s outside of Mormonland.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I was in the rally today outside Good Morning America in Times Square and didn’t see a SINGLE Romney or McCain sign, but plenty of Huckabee ones. Plus, I got to meet to co-host.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8302026@N04/2245024426/sizes/m
February 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
You bet I’m sour grapes! But like I said, bring it on. What goes around comes around and I can pretty much guarantee McCain and Huckleberry won’t be singing Kumbaya together when this is over. McCain, if he does prevail, will kick Huckabee to the curb like Hillary shoulda done after Bill showed his true colors for the millionth time. If he doesn’t prevail, they’ll just blame each other as history illustrates.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Peter,
That is an awesome photo. Do you mind if I post it?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Enjoy for now, we will enjoy the fall of the Rinos in november.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I didn’t know Evangelicals would step foot in the capital of the capitalist world.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
The only reason Huck won WV is because of McCain’s strategy to win overall. It’s interesting how McCain must think Huck is weak. McCain knows who the real threat is…and it’s not Mike Huckabee. Thus, he concedes the state to a man who poses no threat.
This is a much bigger win for McCain than for Huckabee.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
It’s becoming clearer and clearer that the South just won’t vote for Romney, even in caucuses where Romney can out-organize the rest. Hard to see where Romney takes a stand after Super Tuesday? Virginia? Maryland? Texas? It just doesn’t add up.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Does Mormonland now include Maine, Nevada, Massachusettes and California? It’s a handy catchall but doesn’t reflect the demographics at all.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Metro (#11) too bad that Rudy couldn’t break his ceiling of 15%. That is a loser.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Falz, a ceiling refers to a 2-man race.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Some of the posers I mean posters here are intellectually dishonest. I must excuse myself because I found that is a time waster.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
The day is not over…Conservatives will see this for what it was. Collusion between two moderate Republicans against one true conservative Republican. Rush had his say for us now it’s Hannity’s turn.
Keep fighting people. By the way this site is a site that is heavily moderate Republican. I just realized that.
Keep fighting…FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
The Conservative movement needs to move on…
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Politics as usual. Imagine the crap McCain would pull in office. He would never win the general election though. Conservatives won’t vote for him. Don’t cry about “dirty pool” when conservatives vote for Hillary in the General election.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I wouldn’t consider Maryland to be a southern state, and I think Romney could fight in KS or Washington State, but that is about it.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Uh, what is impressive is not that Huckabee won.
What is impressive is that so many people think this is great.
Let’s face it. Huckabee is a near-complete corruption of the
Republican party. The fact that so many would eschew conservative
principles to ensure that the one conservative remaining in the
race does not win, speaks volumes on the state of our party, and
on the state of our nation.
Enjoy your short-lived victory, friends. You will live to rue the day!
God set up this country such that we will get what we deserve, and no
more. Is our country in such a pathetic state that we deserve no more
than a Huckabee, a McCain, or even a Clinton or an Obama? Is this the
very, very best our country has to offer? Romney is incredibly qualified,
but alas, it looks as though we don’t deserve him. I weep for the future
of our nation.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Yeah, if you look at the first caucus results, and then the 2nd caucus results – it is OBVIOUS what happened. McCains people went over to Huckabee. How else would you explain that McCain went from 16% to 1%. Yeah, a little fishy. So yeah – it is definitely a very sketchy behind the scenes effort collaboration to pick off Romney by the Huckabee and McCain camps.
OPEN YOUR EYES!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Don’t hold your head down Conservatives…FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
Call your friends and tell them what the moderates of the party are doing!!! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Metro:
“liz, this is nothing new. Romney has a ceiling in the 40’s outside of Mormonland.”
You might want to add Catholicland to that statement when MA results are in, and after Romney takes CA, you can add lala land there too.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
You liberal Huckabee and McCain supporters need to wake up. I never thought
I would see the day when the liberals controlled the republican party.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
#15: Romney was number 8 on the RINO list. How do you like dem’ apples?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Daveg (#18) Romney has a good chance in Texas.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
#7, I don’t think McCain can be perceived the winner in this on any level. Not only does it add another black mark to his leopard skin, he gets 0 delegates. This just illustrates for the people what they’re dealing with, present tense. Huckabee wins in that he gets delegates, but is perceived as being willfully used. Which goes to his itegrity and intellect. In that they are lacking, I mean.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Impressive? There’s nothing impressive about this. Huckabee didn’t beat Romney. Huckabee AND McCain beat Romney . . . by 5 points. Impressive, please.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Ditto #26
February 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
cwpete, MA is a given. If Mitt wins CA, it WILL be with Mormon votes — and you know it.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
What makes Huckabee’s win so impressive is that the only way he won it is because McCain voters went over to him to prevent Romney from winning it. McCain didn’t have enough votes, his people at the caucus saw it, and decided they would stop Romney. Some big win. Wow.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
heck ya! foxnews saying mccain told their delegates to go for huckabee… you gotta love it.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
For too long we’ve let the moderates move this party to the left…we need to take a stand today.
We’ve lost one battle through dirty tricks and so now we need to keep battling.
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
A win is a win, no matter how it is achieved, this is just some Romney peoples are just having sour grapes.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
let’s just see now how the MSM and all anti-Romney forces try to spin this – can’t deny now with obvious results that the only reason Pastor Mike stays in the race is to keep his lips firmly attached to McCain’s backside – because Pastor Mike WILL NOT and CANNOT win the nomination.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
“If Mitt wins CA, it WILL be with Mormon votes — and you know it.”
hahaha! How many 20 million or 30 million? That’s a lot of Mormons..
February 5th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
west coast polls should still be open after the media calls hundreds of east coast delegates for mccain. that’ll be a good boost for the Jmac.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Ceiling is the higher someone can go and Rudy couldn’t go any higher than that. Loser.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
“this is just some Romney peoples are just having sour grapes.”
huh? Nice one Jonathan.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
As long as the delegates don’t go to McCain, that is all I care at this point.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
falsehood:
“#15: Romney was number 8 on the RINO list. How do you like dem’ apples?”
..and which RINO list was that? One put together by RINOs? With a name like “truth” that must certainly mean you speak it.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
WV-A state that Huckabee couldn’t win ON HIS OWN!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
#45, sorry I butchered that sentence real bad.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
HHEEH liz cheney says “we’re in a two person race”… she almost said it with a straight face… obviously she’s a bitter MDS sufferer. she’s just bitter McCain has embarrassed Cheney too much on foreign policy over the years.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hannity is now calling WV what it is – a COLUSION AND A SHAM
February 5th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Great- a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain. McCain’s supporters have it figured out now…
February 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
“COLUSION AND A SHAM”
Isn’t that what Gore called Florida?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
The McCain camp and Huckster have joined forces to beat Romney. McCain voters voted for the Huck.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
All you Huckabee supporters are helping nominate a man who did not support a Constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, voted for embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings, opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, has little regard for freedom of speech, organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters in judicial hearings, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Hannity is now calling WV what it is – a COLUSION AND A SHAM
Wrong. It was…wait for it…a brokered convention!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
How do the concessions work on super tuesday. Does a candidate have to call everytime and concede if its close. Or do they wait until Wednesday and congratulate the candidate with the most delegates?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
53 sampo – if you are to ignorant to see the difference then I wont even try to explain it to you.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
But before Huckabee’s surprising turnaround in the second round, McCain
delegates told FOX News they had been instructed by the campaign to throw
their support to Huckabee.
McCain delegate John Vuolo said former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer
approached him and other McCain supporters at the convention and told
them he had spoken to McCain, and that the best thing to do was to
support Huckabee in the hope that Huckabee could beat Romney in this
winner-take-all state.
That account could add fuel to Romney’s claim that Huckabee is only
undercutting his support base, and that a vote for Huckabee is a vote for
McCain.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Two person three-headed race. McCain and Huckabee attached at the hip, for now that is until McCain sheds him like the space shuttle sheds empty fuel tanks. Romney goes it alone, and full strength, it embodies the American spirit as I see it! #26 said it best.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
uh oh! pack your bags r408ers. Kevin O is taking us on a guilt trip(55).
February 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Jim Neighbors can’t see past himself that’s all…
If he were a true conservative he would see the writing on the wall. He’s not and doesn’t care.
Keep your heads up conservatives and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
No sour grapes here. The huckster won by using the caucus rules to his advantage. This is how a caucus works and it doesn’t do our candidate any good for any of his supporters to sit here and cry about collusion and unfair tactics. You know that Romney people were trying to sway McCain and Paul voters our way.
Let’s try to maintain some dignity tonight. If things don’t work out the way we want then the last thing you should be doing is moping and crying. Find a congressional or Senate or local campaign to work on and move from there.
This is not yet over – so all crying does is tell everybody else that you think it is over. Be strong. Accept the results and do whatever you can to insure Gov Romney wins TX, OH, and all the other post Super Duper Pooper Scooper states.
Stop crying and get rid of the martyr complex
February 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
A vote for Huckabee is a vote for Huckabee.
If a vote for Huckabee was a vote for McCain the news would be reporting:
“McCain wins WV”
Quit the sour grapes guys.
We’re all going to win and lose some primaries today.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
““COLUSION AND A SHAMâ€
Isn’t that what Gore called Florida?”
No, I’m afraid that is what is becoming of Reagan’s coalition.
McCain / Hillary is no choice, that is a ticket.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
To all of us Rombots,
WV is NOT dirty politics. It’s garden variety, every day politics. It’s what I cut my teeth on. Liz, don’t kid yourself, while people will see this as “politics as usual”, these 18 delegates are firmly (at least for now) in the McCain column, as are the Iowa delegates that the Huckster has and any further delegates he wins. While I agree that all the folks who voted & caucused in those states have just lost their say, that’s the way the game is played.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Here is the deal Romney backers. Your man did not get the 50% needed to win the delegates on the first ballot at the convention. So, it would continue to go on until someone got over half. McCain and Paul backers knew their man wouldn’t get the nod so they made a tactical shift, simple as that.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I’m over the sour grapes now, some of you are the voice of reason. I’m still thinking this comes back to bite McCain in the hiney. I’ll try not to relish that too much when and if it happens.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Kevin O:
“All you Huckabee supporters are helping nominate a man who did not support a Constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, voted for embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings, opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, has little regard for freedom of speech, organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters in judicial hearings, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language.”
It does not matter, a person such a McCain who as done what you’ve described must be better than any Mormon in the eyes of many Huckabee supporters. I can’t rationalize it any other way. Can you?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
A Huckabee win here is impressive? It’s pathetic. He didn’t ‘win’. He was given the win. McCain GAVE him votes. The first round says it all…Romney had 41% of the vote. This was not an indication of Huck’s strength. It’s a sign of his weakness. What’s really ‘impressive’ is how well Romney does in spite of being double-teamed.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I saw this in response to Mitt’s loss in West Virginia
Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President Campaign Manager Beth Myers issued the following statement regarding the outcome of West Virginia’s Republican Party convention:
“Unfortunately, this is what Senator McCain’s inside Washington ways look like: he cut a backroom deal with the tax-and-spend candidate he thought could best stop Governor Romney’s campaign of conservative change.
“Governor Romney had enough respect for the Republican voters of West Virginia to make an appeal to them about the future of the party based on issues. This is why he led on today’s first ballot. Sadly, Senator McCain cut a Washington backroom deal in a way that once again underscores his legacy of working against Republicans who are interested in championing conservative policies and rebuilding the party.”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
But still, OK I’m over the sour grapes like I said, but who out there honestly admires Huckster and McCain for their impromptu strategy here? Was it noble? Was it clever? OR JUST DESPERATE and driven by their common revulsion of Romney? I admire Romney for being hated by all the right people.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Huckabee has just turned into a McCain kiss-ass. He is obvioulsy looking for a VP or cabinet spot. He is an icon of southern religous bigotry and willing to sell his soul to McCain to keep Romney out of the running. What a pudknocker!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I posted this quote late last night, so I don’t think many people saw it. I’m re-posting it here because it’s worth thinking about.
Would you consider Barry Goldwater, the architect of modern conservatism, to be a liberal? Remember that there would be no Reagan without Goldwater. Well, here’s what Senator Goldwater had to say about the GOP these days:
In 1996, meeting with GOP nominee Bob Dole who was under attack by the hard right for not being “conservative enough”, Goldwater told him “We are the new liberals in the Republican party. Can you imagine that?”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
McCainiacs, and Huckasuckers need to get a life. Romney was ahead in the first round of voting, and then McCain backers knew they were out they threw all their support behind Huckster…Yep, Mitt is horrible candidate, he can’t beat McCain and Huckster’s man love.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
[...] Dewey Defeats Truman! An interview with John McCutcheon, a state consultant for Mitt Romney, made clear why he is [...]
February 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
#71, They aren’t pissed or anything. I think they were counting on a win in WV and are mad they got out-smarted.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Wow, Romney’s got sour grapes too.
That won’t help him.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Lotta haters out there. And a few on this thread incidentally. Shoot, maybe I’m one. I’m going to have a moment of private self-reflection if you’ll excuse me again. .. .
February 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Good, I hope MSM picks up on the Romney response.
Huck is being used like a dirty prostitute…sad thing is that prostitutes know that they are being used, Huck actually thinks people like him!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
55- Those weren’t my words. They are the words of James Dobson. I probably should have mentioned that when I made my previous post.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
It’s sad to think that McCain used to be my #2 guy behind Romney until I started reading blogs and watching the news.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Ouch! You mean to tell me Romney had PAID STAFFERS in West Va and he still couldn’t pull it off?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
“Huck is being used like a dirty prostitute”
He don’t care, in fact he probably loves it. Their real goal is to stop the Mormon from winning.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
The good news here is Mitt won with the conservative vote the first time by a LONG WAYS. This and his big win in Main is a good indication that he will do well in places where the first vote counts.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Lots of Mittbots needing hugs at this hour…
February 5th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
This says more about WV than it says about Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney
February 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Sampo, if you give me a hug now I’ll give you a hug in November when the Republicans lose.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
“Lots of Mittbots needing hugs at this hour…”
We are going to need a lot more than hugs when considering the current direction of this Republican party.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
OK I searched my heart and I’m definitely not a hater like, say, #84 is. What I despise is the hypocritical stuff from the pious Huckabee and “patriot” John McCain. Can’t respect that. That doesn’t represent the America I know. By the way, where were the Mormon haters when Harry Reid was running for office? They’ve got it all twisted and backwards. Let the conservative, competent Mormons slip through the bigotry, try to hold down the wimpy liberal ones, will yas?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
#86 – seriously. You’d think they’d catch on by now that they have no inalienable right to GOP/conservative support. Trash-talking another candidate’s supporters – like the way Mitt Romney himself did to Huckabee supporters – ain’t going to get it done.
Why not simply say he respects every voters choice, and will work hard to earn their vote? Can’t he see that saying “a vote for huckabee is a vote for McCain” is obnoxious and insulting?
For a highly educated man, Mitt Romney’s the one looking very stupid.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
#87 might have a point. Is he referring to those inbred jokes and stuff?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Give me a break! It’s tough for Romney to win because its 3 on 1. McCain Guiliani and Huck are all working togeter. And we call this Democracy.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I dispise Huck and McCain more everyday!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
#55 – Way to plagerize from Dobson. You may want to use quotes next time. Geez…
The original post just is another example of Romney having no ability to inspire the party. He spent a year and millions here in Iowa and he lost. Same in NH. It appears the same in WV to a lessor extend per the above original post. He has the personal money to keep the boat afloat but he has never had the wind to make if move. He is not the only one. None of the candidates really inspired the party. Fred fizzled. Rudy was a non-starter to much of the base. Huckabee never had wide appeal. In the absence of a truly inspiration candidate in the mode Reagan, the party appears ready to choose McCain. Someone obviously prepared to be president. Someone exactly right on Iraq. Someone who can win. Someone who was pro-life before he wanted to run for president. He’s not perfect but he is the best this party put forward in a field of un-inspiring candidates.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
A win is a win. Stop moaning, Mittbots.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
The Romney campaign’s official complaint letter. Boo freakin’ hoo.
http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/WV_2.5
February 5th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
““a vote for huckabee is a vote for McCain†is obnoxious and insulting?”
It can’t be obnoxious and insulting if it is true. McCain earns votes and widens his delegate lead by Huckabee victories.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
#95, I have to agree, particularly with the fracture field. Instead of McCain dividing and conquering, the field was divided and McCain conquered. Proves the adage “I’d rather be lucky than good.”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
93 – well said!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
All I know is the NY Times threw their support behind McCain and almost
all of the liberal MSM loves him – that should tell us all we need to know
about McCain.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
The Republican Party IS BEING HIJACKED BY LIBERALS!!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
97, best read you’re gonna find at mittromney.com
February 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
#98 – People should vote for who they think should be president, whether or not they have a prayer of getting elected. It’s not much more complicated than that.
By making this construct, it’s Team Romney who looks shifty.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
You know what, if McCain supporters want to vote for Huck or if Huck supporters want to vote for McCain or if Satan supporters want to vote for Hillary that’s just fine by me. Huck won W.V. fair and square. I’m to the point where I really don’t care anymore.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
All you McCainiacs have closed your eyes to the crooked politics that are going on! Really, you need to rethink who you have become in supporting a dirty politician!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Kevin, why would Satan’s supporters go for “me-too” version of their candidate?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
What did he say David? 91? Are you going to give new Romney supporters the same kind of “respect” that we deserve for actually figuring out that he’s the real conservative and switching to him?
Figure it out moderates!!! You’re fighting for moderate Republicans!!!
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!! Keep your heads up conservatives…the movement has to keep moving. The day is not done…FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I recognize that in the heat of battle, there’s going to be a lot of contentiousness on this point. Per the fact that Mitt didn’t win a majority on the first go-around – thought this by AMC might be of interest:
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/02/west_virginia_the_antimitt_all.html
February 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
So a liberal in disguise helped the anti-mormon boy get a fake win.
Glad to learn that West Virginia is unable to speak for themselves.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
redbmsky, ok (rethinking…) (rethinking more)… (rethinking more yet still)
Guess what? I still support McCain.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Paul and Huckabee supporters made a deal where Paul supporters threw their weight behind Huckabee to help increase the odds of a brokered convention, and Huckabee has promised Paul 3 delegates out of this.
http://www.wsaz.com/political/misc/15267036.html
February 5th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Why?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Intrade has McCain winning California at 65 to Mitt’s 34.3.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Big S hits the nail on the head in #56: WV is what a brokered convention would look like: All the non-Romney delegates would reject him and go with ANYBODY else, even if they had to drag in Newt or Condi.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
#109,
That blog only mentions that Paul was knocked out, both Paul & McCain were knocked out. It underplays the fact that most McCain’s support went to Huckabee giving him the victory there.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
sampo #111,
To quote a line from Mulholland Drive:
“No. You’re not thinkin’. You’re too busy bein’ a smart aleck to be thinkin’.”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
LOL! Aren’t those two of Jesus’s brothers?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
#26 – Your words mirror my sentiments exactly. The “Republicans” and “conservatives” of today are woefully uneducated and uninformed and obviously going for all fluff and no substance.
I think we are in for a redux of the Jimmy Carter years, whoever wins (if not Romney) and with much greater consequences.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Or they could be supporting Gov. Huckabee. Just a thought.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Mulholland Drive? My most confusing dreams of my life don’t hold a candle to the confusion I had when I watched that movie. Maybe that isn’t the best way to seek logic.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
sampo #121,
Lol, David Lynch is effin’ crazy.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
“LOL! Aren’t those two of Jesus’s brothers?”
MarkG, You almost distort the LDS faith as good as Huckabee..
February 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
All I know is this, McCain needs Romney supporters in November just like Romney would need McCain supporters in November. With the animosity that there seems to be between the two, Hello President Hillary Rodham Clinton 2008.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
But then Romney might win the nomination. Eeeewwwww.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Thanks you Civic for helping prove my point.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
KevinO, surely you have seen many of us argue why Hillary in the White House is preferable to McCain.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Right you are Kevin O #124:
The McCain apostasies against mainstream Republicanism have gone on too long. I don’t see how this rift could ever be completely mended – even if it does mean another Clinton presidency.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
127. Metro, I’m sure a lot of McCain supporters feel the same. They would probably rather see Hillary in the White House than Romney.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Yes, the “liberal in disguise” — Mr. “Lemme call my lawyers,” “Who let the dawgz out” Romney — who enacted HillaryCare in MA helped Huckabee win. But the win was real, unlike the hapless, hopeless con artist extraordinaire, candidate Romney.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I don’t think there is enough time between now and November for Romney or McCain to mend fences.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Thank you MarkG for helping prove my point.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
You mccainiacs/hucksters fail to understand us economic conservatives. Better to have a voice for economic conservatism loose than risk a guaranteed economic liberal win. If you have two economic liberals running against each other then it’ll destroy economic conservatism for a generation.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I’m sure some of the McCain/Huckabee people would have supported Romney as the GOP nominee if he hadn’t used negative(comparison) ads against their candidates in Iowa and New Hampshire. I would have supported McCain as the GOP nominee in November if he hadn’t pulled the dirty trick he did against Romney in Florida.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I will not vote for McCain…ever….he is a dishonest lying OLD jerk. Can’t win a battle unless he has a gang.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
You won this things by dirty politics, and you’re going to rub our face in it?
February 5th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I think everyone will calm down after a bit. Especially when most in the party consider the alternative once we get away from this most contentious but hopefully short two man race. Why is it so contentious right now? Because Mitt and his supporters, unable to inspire a large part of the party, has to freak out conservatives about a McCain nomination in order to compete going forward. They portray McCain as akin to Hillary and most people know that McCain may be off the reservation on a few issues like immigration and CFR, but is truly a conservative on all the other important issues like Iraq, taxes, spending, judges, etc… This push to portray McCain as something he is clearly is not only reinforces the view that Romney would do anything to win this nomination. He’ll change his views. He’ll attack Republicans. He’ll risk fracturing the party for his gain. And, this is exactly what makes Mitt so distasteful to so many in the party and why the estabishment has turned against him. He just seems like the typical polished pol that will say anything, change any view, or do anything to get elected.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
what is impressive is that Huckabee won the state without any of his own votes. Good luck in the fall. Victory is assured if the Dems give their votes away
February 5th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Kevin O, apparently, you missed the argument. There is no parallel on the other side.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
i personally wouldn’t call hucks win in west virginia that impressive given that it took collusion of mccain’s guys to give him a slim marigin of victory where romney got nearly 50 percent without any such collusion but merely on the strength of his support.
what is impressive about that??
February 5th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
We need a different Republican to win in a hurry before the DOW sinks any more. Oh, crap it’s too late.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
John Galt – A win is a win and Mike got the front page win, but still you are correct. Mike did not win West Virginia. John won West Virginia. Mike didn’t have a prayer winning without Johns delegates bailing and voting for Mike. That is not an impressive win for Mike. Nothing has changed that Mike cannot win on his own without the non-evangelical vote.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
In round one McCAin polled 15%. In round two McCain polled 12%. It appears to me that someone was voting for McCain thinking he could win, when in reality, Hucakbee was their choice. In round two they voted their conscience, for the true conservative. This is but the beginning as the truth of liberal Romney hits the air. What is that smell? Oh ya, a maniacal CEO who wants to be the world Kizer. Bye Romney!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
In round two John only had 12 votes. Not 12%.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
RGeorgeDunn –
In WV 1st round:
Mitt 464
Mike 375
John 176
In WV 2nd round
Mitt 521
Mike 567
John 12
It is pretty obvious.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Why do people keep saying this is “dirty pool?” This is the way a caucus works and the persons involved were “the people of WV.” I’m not a supporter of McCain or Huck, but Romney has not run a good campaign from a tactical standpoint. Running as a Washington outsider is fine, but he still needs support from party regulars. You can’t just buy elections and you certainly can’t buy a caucus. If Mitt’s campaign goes down in flames he’ll have only himself to blame.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Goldwater Conservative (#146) – The Rombots don’t seem to care about why their guy hasn’t done better. His is supposedly the 2nd coming of Reagon but large swaths of the party dislike him. Romney was/is a flawed candidate. I live in Iowa and I can attest to that. He camped out here for over a year. He ran commercials LONG before anyone else did. You couldn’t get through a radio show without a Romney ad. He had paid organization in all 99 Iowa counties. Despite all of that he lost. And, the Rombots don’t want to talk about that. They want you to focus on McCain…”he would destroy the party”…”he is no better then Hillary”….”I’ll sit out the general”…etc, etc, etc.. They just want to focus on McCain and stopping him because their guy is flawed and has shown NO ability to inspire anyone but a small minority of Republicans. Some of them are probably sincere in their desire to derail McCain. A lot of them just want their guy to win and the best way to do that is do take down McCain. They’d be doing the same to Rudy or Huckabee if they stood in the way. And what the Rombots are not talking about also is what happens if he does come form behind to win. Will his scorched earth policy make McCainiacs or Huckabee supporters sit out in November? Maybe. Will all those “moderates’ that the Rombots seem to disdain really going to vote Romney in the general? Not likely.