Who do the Rupublicans REALLY Want to Face in the General Election?

[Bullet1987]

Is the new argument from opposing supporters of Barack Obama that the only reason Republicans (at least some) like Obama is that they want to run against him really valid? It seems the Clinton supporters have torn a page from Obama and Edwards supporters books. Because that's what we used to say about Clinton.

Who do the Rethugs REALLY want to face? Right now, I'd say anybody but Obama. If Barack comes out of New Hampshire with a strong lead like Iowa, due to Independents...that is NOT something any Republican will want to run against. The Rethugs don't want to run against someone with broad crossover appeal and charisma. That's the makings of a landslide. Obama can turn red states purple and purple states blue...if he can translate his early success into a national fever. So the idea that the Rethugs WANT to run against him simply because he's less experienced is laughable at best. Even Mike Huckabee had to give Obama his props in the debate yesterday and said if the Republicans didn't take Obama's success and Change message seriously, it would be fatal for them in the GE(paraphrasing).

Hillary Clinton is totally different. Why do you think Republicans go out of their way to bash her whenever they bring up Democrats? Because THAT'S who they want to face! Republicans love attacking the Clintons, and they know their base would rally around the GOP candidate if she is the nominee. She's not a threat to take away Indie votes, she's the least liked top tier Dem candidate amoung Independents. She sure as hell won't get any crossover Rethug votes either. I'd say about a good 1/3 of Democrats don't even like her. Clinton is still the candidate the Republicans want to face. Though, I think some are coming around to the idea that they may not get that chance...especially after Iowa. And definently if Obama wins New Hampshire.

Obama is likely their worse-case scenario.

[Yael]

1. The record Caucus goer turnout in Iowa should answer that.

What was it, like 3:1?

[Kahuna]

6. Ding ding ding ding ding ding!!!!!

:thumbsup:

[The Night Owl]

23. We had record Democratic turnout on election day in 2004 and we still lost. {EOM}

[annie1]

2. They want to face Obama b/c then there is 0% chance that Hillary wins.

[styersc]

3. They Want to Face Barak Hussein Obama.

Not because of his middle name, or youthful drug use, and not because of his race of absence of experience, but because they are betting that the country, with troops under fire over seas, will not turn the reigns over to a child president.

[Capn Sunshine]

19. Dude, ....he's 46

Hardly a child but I know that spoils your meme.
BTW Kennedy was what, 37?

[styersc]

20. No Kennedy was not 37 when he ran for the presidency.

JFK was 43 when he announced and 44 when he took office. WHen he was 37 he had finished his second term in COngress after having served as a naval officer in World War II and being wounded in the Pacific Theater. JFK announced in his second Senate term with an established resume' and list of accomplishments.

I love Obama but he would do himself and this nation a favor by seasoning before he takes the head post. HIs potential is far more attractive then his charisma and ability to enthuse.

I wish he would wait until he had the wisdom of an older man to unleash the talents that are obvious.

[mtnsnake]

4. Truthfully, I don't think they want to face either one of Clinton or Obama

I don't think they would've liked going against Biden either.

[Muttocracy]

8. #1 reason I wanted Biden

Best debater, knows the GOP's strengths and weaknesses, talks issues instead of platitudes. I saw a surprising # of posts on blogs (take that for whatever its unscientific worth) saying, I'm a Repub, but I'd cross over to vote for Biden over any of these GOP candidates. My heart is perhaps more with Kucinich sometimes, but my brain was definitely with Biden. He would have done the best at working with GOP House/Senate or slim majority. Everyone seems to be assuming we'll have a Dem. congress for the next 8 years, which I would not assume.

I'm afraid David Brooks was right that come November Dems will be wishing they had gone w/ Biden or Dodd. Who knows what could happen in the next 10 months - anyone assuming this is a safe election for Dems should remember 2000.

Now I don't know who to support.

[mtnsnake]

11. Biden's a good man

Now I don't know who to support

Don't mess with the rest, just go with the best.....Hillary :evilgrin:

(Like you, my heart is with Kucinich, too.)

Welcome to the forum, btw.

[Muttocracy]

17. well, I guess it's Edwards vs. Obama

I really can't stand HRC. I'll be damned if I want the first woman president to be one who got there based on her rotten marriage. Is she Hillary Rodham Clinton or Hillary Clinton or what these days? Guess it depends on how she and Bill are getting along. And which tour (likability, change, hope, "experience", pick a president (stole that from Biden), etc.) I'm in (upstate) NY and really don't like being "represented" by someone who moved here just as a stepping stone to go back to DC. Beyond some pork in some places, I bet some of it to defense industry, she's done little for NY. And her 2nd term has been spent campaigning.

And I think the GOP would LOVE to rip her up.

Of course, my vote is worthless because (a) most voters are too stupid for someone like Biden who doesn't talk in sound bites (b) his complexity, experience, and lack of money do not interest the big media - oh, except to come in on their shows as an expert on Pakistan, then ignore him in the horserace discussion - so Biden is gone and (c) I'm in New York and the race will be over by then, or I'll be swamped by HRC political connections.

Oh dear, I still have some issues about this to work out. Sorry for venting.

Don't feel safe with Obama or Edwards against McCain or Romney.

[Muttocracy]

18. thanks for welcome

There are other new Biden refugees around I think (used to post on that blog all the time). Looking for guidance here - knew he was a longshot but I had "hope" for him, and also didn't expect to have to change alliance so fast.

[Muttocracy]

10. Also, Clinton would rev up GOP

Meant to add, I think GOP would love to take on Hillary. Clinton-haters would come out in droves against her, moreso than FOR any of their candidates. This, on top of many other things, makes me not want HRC.

[Nailzberg]

14. Hillary, Obama, and Edwards all scare the shit out of them

I think some of their better candidates sat this one out, because they can tell which way the wind is blowing. And it would be easier to run in 2012 if they don't have getting creamed in 2008 on their record.

[Bullet1987]

22. Clinton is the fight they want...

[billybob537]

5. Never under estimate the pukes ability to

appeal to hate and bigotry.
The entire southern strategy was based on hate. For years bigotry has been thier best trick.

[StrafeLeft]

7. Obama, cuz he's black

Red Staters wont be voting colored, period.

Only a handful of swing states matter. lets see the big ones:
Florida, goes to Osama Obama, yeah ok
Penn, dont think so
Ohio, maybe, but doubtful

[Sparkly]

12. "Osama Obama?"

Are you in the wrong place?

[Carrieyazel]

15. Florida goes to Obama?? No way. He can't win Ohio either.

We're fooling ourselves if we think these conservative-leaning swing states are voting for Obama.
Yes, I know Dems kicked Repuke ass in Ohio last year, but that was with Ohio Dems calculated to appeal to the Ohio general electorate.

No Democratic senator has ever won Ohio in a Prez election in the modern era.
Only Governor/Pres. Clinton and President Johnson.

Maybe if the Pukes put up a tired loser like Thompson, but that's not happening.

[Kucinich4America]

21. Colored?

Geezus, I'll bet where you live, they still have separate bathrooms, right?

I have a feeling your "pizza" will be delivered in 30 minutes or less.

[chascarrillo]

9. None of the above

All of the top four have them running scared.

[Carrieyazel]

13. Either Hillary or Obama. They'd take either one. And we're about to save the Repukes' asses.

Their party is crumbling, but the White House is all they have left to latch on to. We nominate someone who can't win in the general, we've granted their wishes.

[Honeycombe8]

16. Bottom line: It doesn't matter what the Repubs want. Even if they think...

one or the other would be easier to run against, they could be wrong.

It's best not to choose a candidate according to what you think the opposition wants. Best to choose the one you think is best, has the right stuff, has the fewest points that the masses would find objectionable, has a great campaign staff, has the money, etc., etc.

I think that right now, they're more worried about beating ANY Dem. candidate because of the mood of the country, rather than any one specific candidate. (But I could be wrong.)