Newt Pulls Ahead of Rudy

[jcscuba]

I believe Newt is a genius and will vote for him if he receives the nomination. That being said, he is such a polarizing figure that I think he would have a difficult time winning the election. Therefore I'm still with Rudy until Newt might actually be the candidate. What are your thoughts? Can Newt win?

Dear [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This No Hillary For President Forum Link. Voter,

An online survey by [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This No Hillary For President Forum Link. of 29,000 Republican Primary voters showed surprisingly strong support for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- who hasn't even entered the race -- and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Gingrich topped the survey with 41% of the vote followed by Giuliani with 33%. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ran a distant third with 12% and former front runner Senator John McCain lagged in fourth place with only 7%.

Commenting on the [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This No Hillary For President Forum Link. poll, CEO Eileen McGann said, "This survey shows the strong support for Gingrich getting into the race among Republican base voters and demonstrates how little progress McCain has made in appealing to the core of the GOP."

The online survey was conducted on February 27, 2007.

Poll Results:

JOHN MCCAIN = 7% (1,900)

RUDY GIULIANI = 33% (9,707)

MITT ROMNEY = 12% (3,514)

CHUCK HEGEL = 1% (373)

NEWT GINGRICH = 41% (11,802)

SAM BROWNBACK = 3% (816)

MIKE HUCKABEE = 3% (901)

[Herb Schaffler]

I think Rudy Giuliani would do better in the general election than Gingrich. He would attract more Democrats and independents. Gingrich is too polarizing like you say, jscuba. Democrats hate him for what he did in helping the GOP take Congress in 1994.

[nohil-billy]

I don't believe that Newt is polarizing at all. When I see him on news shows he comes across as calm, knowledgeable, extremely intelligent, in total command of the subject he's speaking on, and (dare I say it) articulate. He was demonized by the Clintonistas at a time when our country was at peace and social issues dominated the political landscape. Things have changed. I think the conservative base, the Reagan democrats, and the security moms are his for the taking. Newt will sit back, save his money and watch the polls. If Rudy or Mitt look as if they can win, Newt will back off. If McCain should pull a shocker, or Rudy/Mitt pull a Howard Dean, Newt will jump in.

One thing for certain, I wouldn't want to debate the man. He could make Kerry look like "W"

[Herb Schaffler]

What I meant by polarizing is how much Democrats hate him and how much the media hates him. He will be so demonized that he won't have a chance to win. The public will buy into all that demonization. I believe Giuliani has the best chance of getting elected. We need to keep that in mind as Podhoretz said in "Can She Be Stopped". Although there are other candidates that we may prefer(my candidate is Ron Paul), Giuliani would certainly be a better choice than the witch. Let's back him if he stands the best chance of defeating her.

[nohil-billy]

Herb, as I stated earlier, the political landscape has changed. Security, the war, and illegal immigration are the main concerns today. I can't think of a more polarizing figuure today than "W" but he won a second term by dominating the security issue alone. As I see it, Newt is on the side of the majority on all three issues. If Newt should choose to run he would control the base and would be more likely to get the right type of crossover votes needed to win the general election. The man has 41% of his party's vote and is the only one on the list who hasn't declared his candidacy.

Should Rudy be able to maintain his commanding lead through the early primaries, I too will vote for him and I don't believe that Newt would enter the fray and take the chance of splitting the party and letting McCain sneak in. But should Rudy falter and Mitt show no promise, Newt will step in and win.

This is not 1996 and the media will not be able to demonize Newt on the issues that are near and dear to the hearts of the majority. Especially when compared to the stance of the Dem wannabe's.