The 2012 Republican Primary thread, early edition

[woot]

Also interesting: Santorum coming in 5th.

Order appears to be:

Romney (37%)
Paul (25%)
Huntsman (17%)
Gingrich (11%)
Santorum (10%)
Perry (1%)

Pardon the Hack. That's probably the order I would put them in if I were listing preference, other than possibly putting Paul first just because I think that'd make for a fun general and I think a lot of his basic principles are worth wider consideration even if I wish they were presented by somebody younger and less kooky.

[All-American]

Just saw that with 10% reporting, Mitt's at 36, Paul's at 25, and Huntsman is in 3rd with 16. It seems that NH Republicans have a lot more sense than most.

"Republicans" do. They went to him to the tune of 45%. Independents were half of the voters; Huntsman in particular did much better there.

[calicoug]

Also interesting: Santorum coming in 5th.

Order appears to be:

Romney (37%)
Paul (25%)
Huntsman (17%)
Gingrich (11%)
Santorum (10%)
Perry (1%)

The news tonight isn't that Mitt won. That was expected. It's that the race was called the moment the polls closed. Mitt's nightmare was having the race be dragged out for several hours after the polls closed making him look weak and giving strength to the argument that he can't get broad support. His win in NH makes it very tough for anyone to combat him. SC is the true firewall for non-Mitt supporters.

[Uncle Ted]

Pardon the Hack. That's probably the order I would put them in if I were listing preference, other than possibly putting Paul first just because I think that'd make for a fun general and I think a lot of his basic principles are worth wider consideration even if I wish they were presented by somebody younger and less kooky.

Ron Paul V2.0...

[Pelado]

One wonders if he realizes that.

He'll have another "Oops" moment after the SC results come in.

[woot]

Ron Paul V2.0...

That's who I had in mind.

I don't necessarily agree with a lot of Paul's ideas, but I would much prefer to see America divided between the "social safety net" party and the "government stay out" party, as opposed to the current "social safety net" party and the "kill brown people and legislate morality" party.

It'd also be nice for the democrats to actually legislate according to their party's platform, but that's a different discussion.

[CardiacCoug]

Ron Paul got a daughter-in-law's name wrong I think. Early dementia.

It will be interesting to see how Romney will try to capture Paul's support. Romney does great with older voters and will do really well with older voters in the general election, but Ron Paul can help him get some of the young voters that right now are mostly in Obama's camp.

[byu71]

I am watching an approval meter on Paul's speech from South Carolina on CNN. I heard Romney on the radio. Was there such a tracking meter and how was Romney accepted in SC.

[CardiacCoug]

I am watching an approval meter on Paul's speech from South Carolina on CNN. I heard Romney on the radio. Was there such a tracking meter and how was Romney accepted in SC.

Yeah they did the same thing with Romney and his meter spent most of the time way up -- maybe generally a little bit higher than Paul's meter.

[Portland Ute]

Ron Paul got a daughter-in-law's name wrong I think. Early dementia.

It will be interesting to see how Romney will try to capture Paul's support. Romney does great with older voters and will do really well with older voters in the general election, but Ron Paul can help him get some of the young voters that right now are mostly in Obama's camp.

Having not followed this primary campaign closely, is it possible or likely that a Romney/Paul ticket could emerge?

[CardiacCoug]

Having not followed this primary campaign closely, is it possible or likely that a Romney/Paul ticket could emerge?

I don't think so, but it's kind of interesting that Paul has attacked everybody but Romney. And he has said some nice things about Romney: about Romney being presidential, etc.

No way do I see Romney picking Paul for VP though. Too much baggage and too much weirdness. It will be Christie or Rubio.

Funny that Paul's South Carolina meter goes way down when he starts talking about foreign policy, bringing troops home, etc.

[LA Ute]

I don't think so, but it's kind of interesting that Paul has attacked everybody but Romney. And he has said some nice things about Romney: about Romney being presidential, etc.

No way do I see Romney picking Paul for VP though. Too much baggage and too much weirdness. It will be Christie or Rubio.

Funny that Paul's South Carolina meter goes way down when he starts talking about foreign policy, bringing troops home, etc.

I wonder if Ron Paul isn't thinking about his son Rand when he pulls punches on Romney.

[Surfah]

Ron Paul isn't running for president. He just wants to push his message. This is a college lecture. Also, the giant and midget standing beside him are very distracting.

[Portland Ute]

In the small amount if time I have spent listening to the candidates, I *like* Ron Paul the most.

He is very sincere. He says what he believes. He continually talks about his ideas. Says very little about Obama. Talks about ideas and concepts.

This speech is no different. It wasn't a rah-rah fest. He took it as an opportunity to talk about his ideas. It was a rather "meaty" post-results speech.

Contrast to Mitt. Mitt was all about cheerleading and taking jabs at Obama. It was pretty superficial.

I like Paul, but I wouldn't vote for him in a primary. I think he'd have zero chance in a general election.

I like the idea of a Romney presidency, I suppose, but everytime I watch him, I get annoyed. I genuinely want to like him. But I don't. Don't hate him either.

Instead, I feel that way about Paul. I like his honesty, his staying on message. He just seems authentic.

[CardiacCoug]

Ron Paul isn't running for president. He just wants to push his message. This is a college lecture. Also, the giant and midget standing beside him are very distracting.

Agreed. Honestly I'm not sure he would take the Presidency if it was given to him -- he would rather give it to somebody else who will advance the Libertarian agenda.