This was a drubbing. [Henry Payne]

Yes, Romney has superior organization. Yes, he outspent McCain 2-1. Yes, he’s a native son. Yes, weather likely played a factor (how about the irony of global warming-panicked McCain losing voters because of cold, snowy weather?).

But Michigan plays to all McCain’s strengths. He won it over a Romney-esque Bush in 2000 because the state has a large independent vote, plenty of Reagan Democrats ready to cross over, and a primary where only the Republican vote mattered.

Yet, McCain stepped all over himself with a careless, “straight-talking” strategy of telling Michiganians their jobs weren’t coming back. And then he stubbornly stuck to the line despite its obvious damage.

The comment came across as callous and out-of-touch, independents stayed home, and Romney rode it all the way to a nine-point shellacking. Even Huckabee, who had been playing tag team with McCain against Romney, couldn’t resist jabbing at McCain’s defeatism.

Once again, the question is whether McCain likes the sound of his own voice more than winning.

01/16 01:05 AM

Sounds Like Victory [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

Winning sounds good.

Listening to Romney people this morning – on the phone, over e-mail, on the radio (Vin Weber just now on Bennett’s radio show), they sound like people I haven’t talked to, frankly, in months. They sound reenergized and determined. (Have you ever seen the governor himself that revved up?)

They also have that lucky-to-be-here and in-love-with-America tone I heard in Jeri Thompson’s voice on Mark Levin’s show last night, too.

I have no real point here, other than they’re encouraging sounds from the Right. That and maybe we have encouraging days to come in this primary season.

01/16 06:53 AM

Did Romney family nostalgia play a role?

NO!

 

Not among those voters old enough to remember George Romney. McCain won voters over 65 by 39-38%.

Mich. GOP Congratulates Wrong Candidate

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Republican Party mistakenly sent out a news release Tuesday night congratulating John McCain for winning the state's GOP primary.

It quickly issued a second statement praising Mitt Romney for his win.

"Heading into tonight, this race was too close to call, so we prepared a release for either scenario," state GOP spokesman Bill Nowling said. "We simply pushed the wrong button."

The Associated Press named Romney the GOP winner when polls closed in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula at 9 p.m. EST.

The first GOP release went out just minutes later and stated, "In a close-fought victory, Senator John McCain succeeded again (in) the Michigan Republican primary, winning over a traditionally unpredictable voter base in Michigan."

from karl

This maybe old news and if it is I apologize, but I've never heard any of this regarding Mike Huckabee's ethic issues in Arkansas and if it is true the DNC will eat him alive.

The article is by Ms. Kimberly Strassel, written 21 Dec 07, a member of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board.  Here are some highlights:

In Arkansas, Mr. Huckabee was investigated by the state ethics committee at least 14 times. Most of the complaints centered on what appears to be a serial disregard for government rules about gifts and outside financial compensation. He reported $112,000 worth of gifts in one year alone, nearly double his $67,000 salary.
Five of the 14 investigations resulted in admonishments: Two for failing to report gifts (one was later overturned), the other three for some $80,000 that Mr. Huckabee and his wife received but failed to initially report. One of these admonishments involved a $23,500 payment to Mr. Huckabee from an opaque organization called Action America that he helped found in 1994 while lieutenant governor, and that was designed to coordinate his speeches and supplement his income.
Mr. Huckabee caused an uproar when he used a $60,000 account intended to maintain the governor's mansion for personal expenses, including restaurant meals, dry cleaning and boat supplies. He also faced a lawsuit over his assertion that $70,000 worth of furniture donated to the mansion was his to keep. Sprinkled among all this are complaints about the misuse of state planes and campaign funds, mistakes on financial disclosure forms, and fights over documents related to ethics investigations.
OH and check this out!
Here's an interesting statistic: Since the beginning of 2007, the Democratic National Committee has released 102 direct attacks on Mitt Romney. Rudy Giuliani has warranted 78; John McCain 68; Fred Thompson 21. Mike Huckabee? Four. The most recent of these landed back in March. GOP voters may not have examined Mr. Huckabee's record, but the left has--and they love what they see.

Again, if this is old new my apologies, but this is the first I've heard of it.

The link is below

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/mike_huckabee_little_rock_ethi.html

Karl

NV vs SC

From Jeff:

Most of us are/were pretty peeved about how downplayed the WY victory was.  But I can see how it was easy to ignore them as the least populous state and due to the odd caucus system they used (mostly party insiders and/or major activists)  However, their 12 delegates were as many as NH awarded. 

But Nevada should count, however we're already seeing how downplayed it is in the national media coverage.

They're covering it for the Dems, but relatively ignoring it for the GOP.  Figures, since most think Romney will win it and win it big.  But it's the same day as the SC primary and that is monopolizing the media's coverage.

But is SC inherently more important than NV for this nomination?

OK, so we know that in recent history, no GOP candidate has won the nomination without winning SC.  But this year is very different with at least three candidates still with very credible claims to taking it all, and two others who are still considered "top-teir" candidates.  Usually, someone has established themselves after IA and NH and races into SC with the mighty momentum.  Or, the race has been winnowed down to two people and SC has been the final elimination round for one of them.

But lets look at them objectively.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Results_of_the_2008_Republican_presidential_primaries#Overview_of_results

Both on Jan 19th

NV:  34 delegates up for grabs
SC:  24 delegates up for grabs

NV:  Important swing state/purple state (i.e. we need someone who can show strong in such a state for the general election)
SC:  Solid Red state . . . whoever the nominee is will win SC and most of the south.

NV:  First western/mountain state on the docket (and much of that region are swing states)
SC:  1st southern state primary . . . and the south is pretty much locked up for the GOP.

from BG

U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona:

Why have you allowed the mass invasion of illegal immigration through your southern state since you pledged your oath of  office in the late 1980's?

Each and every year since the late 1980's as U.S. Senator  and "Sheriff" of Arizona, you have promised to protect and defend our U.S. boarder's from the foreign invasion of other nations.

Sen. John McCain: You have failed miserably as a national U.S. Senator and Republican leader.

Why is the real top Sheriff of Arizona, Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, supporting and voting for Mitt Romney?

AMERICA - WAKE UP!