Republicans still shopping for a presidential nominee

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

No dramatic gaffe or sudden change in direction explains how Rep. Michele Bachmann fell out of favor with Republican voters — almost as quickly as she won them over when she joined the presidential race in June.

What does explain Bachmann’s precipitous rise and fall is the fact that Republicans, despite their urgent desire to defeat President Obama next year, still aren’t sure exactly what they want in his replacement.

“Voters want someone who is right on the issues, they want a fighter, and they want someone who can beat Obama,” said Republican pollster Jon Lerner. “When you look at the candidates who have had a lot of motion in their poll numbers, first Donald Trump, then Herman Cain, then Michele Bachmann (Minn.), what do they all have in common? They were all perceived as conservatives and fighters, which led to their rise, but there was uncertainty about whether they were winners, which contributed to their fall.”

Buffeted by those competing impulses voters have spent much of the year toying with one candidate after the next, only to decide they’re still looking. This uncertainty has been both a boon and a bane to different candidacies and different times, but it is especially tricky for the front-runners.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-still-shopping-for-a-presidential-nominee/2011/09/09/gIQAj1RxKK_singlePage.html

[RKP5637]

1. I understand a conservative point of view, I don't agree, but I can see

the other side, but to date these candidates have been for the most part a bunch of loons IMO.

[Beartracks]

2. Gotta be hard when deep down, they have to know...

... that conservative policy is the cause of the problems that need fixing. But they feel an obligation to vote on the smokescreen issues and the social warfare stuff. What a dilemma for these people.

=================================

[SpiralHawk]

3. You nailed it, Bear...but

it is highly unlikely that the Republicons will admit the truth of this to themselves, when their whole THING is built upon denial of truth and reality.

Sad how the Republicon party has degenerated...

[RKP5637]

6. Going back decades and decades my dad was a very tough FDR politician, politics

was 7x24 in our household, always running for this office or that one and winning. He had republican friends, they used to broker deals together, also had some minister friends, although he was not religious.

You are so correct, "how the Republican party has degenerated..." I think of that often, there were differences, but there was also often a strong middle ground, but all of that is gone today, and IMO the Republican party has severely degenerated, a totally different beast today. The R's have gotten in bed with the loons.

[SoapBox]

4. Still shopping??? ROFL

...good luck with that GOPBaggers...good luck.

Just be sure that it's someone with LOTS of crazy going on! That would be great at the debates.

[southernyankeebelle]

5. Bachman never had a chance. She bought the votes in Iowa. No

one will vote for the crazy train. Romney and Huntsman and Roemer are the only grownups but they don't have a chance in health. I kind of like Roemer but he won't win.

[No Elephants]

8. And the media pretended that her win showed her to be a serious candidate.

Heard Dick Gregory say that. among others.

And they expect NBC News and Meet the Press to remain respected?

Then again, I didn't respect them under sellout Russert, either.

[Brother Buzz]

7. Just how many Stalking Horses will the public endure...

Before Jeb comes riding in on his white horse and saves the day? Timing is everything.

The cynic, I am. :shrug:

[quaker bill]

9. JEB won't run against Obama

Not because he is concerned about Obama, but because he does not want to be the shadow "W". It would be like hitting on you brother's ex girl friends. He will wait until 2016.

[Hart2008]

10. And if we Dems are smart, we are still shopping too!

Especially with Obama's sinking poll numbers.

As of today, he losses to either Perry or Romney, and both of these guys are idiots.

http://pollingreport.com/wh12gen.htm