In the GOP primary Mike Huckabee has amassed huge votes in the rural conservative and evangelical counties. John McCain has polled very strongly in the more urban areas. This was sufficient for McCain to eke out a rather narrow victory. The conservative voters are sending out a strong message to John McCain that his platform is not conservative enough. Mike Huckabee's decision to remain in the race has been vindicated. McCain must continue to mend fences with conservatives,build a more powerful campaign organization to take on either Obama or Clinton and engage in a massive fund raising effort- if he hopes to compete with either. His choice of Vice Presidential candidate will be crucial. Mike Huckabees strong performance in Virginia strengthens his claims for the Vice Presidential slot.
In the Democratic primary Obama has blitzed Hillary Clinton. This result is a dagger at the heart of the Clinton campaign. Obama's support was strong among Whites and African Americans, male and female, rich and poor, young and old. Obama has made inroads into the higher age groups, poor and women-up to now bulwarks of the Clinton campaign. It appears that John Edward's supporters have moved towards Obama. A c27% margin of defeat for Clinton may be a portent of things to come.
Showing posts with label Conservatives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conservatives. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Huckabee keeps Vice Presidential prospects alive
Mike Huckabee has won two more states in his fight to secure the Vice Presidential nomination for the GOP. He won the Kansas caucus securing 60% of the vote. Mr Huckabee also won the Louisiana primary defeating John McCain by 44% to 42%. Mr McCain won Washington state caucus by a narrow margin.
Mr Huckabee has benefited from the support of evangelicals and conservatives in the south. His campaign working on a shoestring has been a stunning success. He is determined to remain in the race even though the odds are stacked strongly against him. McCain has got c724 delegates to 196 for Huckabee.
Speculation abounds as to Huckabee’s real motives. It is probable that he covets the Vice Presidential slot or a post in a putative McCain administration.
Also Mike Huckabee is determined to remain in the race to ensure that John McCain does not ignore the conservative wing of the GOP. Support yesterday for Mike Huckabee is a stern warning to McCain that he has so far failed to mollify conservatives on issues such as tax and illegal immigration. A policy platform based on strong conservative principles is a sine qua non if McCain is to win over the recalcitrant right wing.
McCain has much work to do to shore up the GOP base. He made a good start at the Conservative Convention. He should now go further and select Mike Huckabee as his running mate.
Mr Huckabee has benefited from the support of evangelicals and conservatives in the south. His campaign working on a shoestring has been a stunning success. He is determined to remain in the race even though the odds are stacked strongly against him. McCain has got c724 delegates to 196 for Huckabee.
Speculation abounds as to Huckabee’s real motives. It is probable that he covets the Vice Presidential slot or a post in a putative McCain administration.
Also Mike Huckabee is determined to remain in the race to ensure that John McCain does not ignore the conservative wing of the GOP. Support yesterday for Mike Huckabee is a stern warning to McCain that he has so far failed to mollify conservatives on issues such as tax and illegal immigration. A policy platform based on strong conservative principles is a sine qua non if McCain is to win over the recalcitrant right wing.
McCain has much work to do to shore up the GOP base. He made a good start at the Conservative Convention. He should now go further and select Mike Huckabee as his running mate.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sir Menzies Campbell forced to resign in Lib-Dem bloodletting.
The Lib-Dems have long sought to portray themselves as somehow different and superior to the Conservatives and Labour. However when it comes to dispatching leaders they are just as cold blooded and ruthless as Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell will testify.
With the Conservative revival under David Cameron it was inevitable that the Lib-Dem vote would be squeezed. Certainly 11% in the polls bodes ill for the party in the next election. Lib Dem problems go deeper than the leadership issue. There is tension between the Left Wing and Right Wing. There is a lack of a clear cut identity. The party is usually a temporary abode for disaffected Conservative and Labour voters. Efforts to replace Charles Kennedy were clouded in controversy and farce as some leadership campaigns imploded. This was grist to the mill of party enemies who have long argued that the Lib-Dems are amateurish and out of touch with the main stream. The party has not recovered from the loss of Charles Kennedy. The ugly whispering campaign against Sir Menzies Campbell has further damaged the organisation. The reality is that he was dispatched by the men in white coats. It is nauseating to listen to the tributes paid to him by some Liberals. It smacks of hypocrisy.
The new leader will probably come from one of the following four MPs: Vincent Cable, Nick Clegg, Edward Davey and Chris Huhne. The Lib-Dems need a clear cut identity and an end to bloodletting.
With the Conservative revival under David Cameron it was inevitable that the Lib-Dem vote would be squeezed. Certainly 11% in the polls bodes ill for the party in the next election. Lib Dem problems go deeper than the leadership issue. There is tension between the Left Wing and Right Wing. There is a lack of a clear cut identity. The party is usually a temporary abode for disaffected Conservative and Labour voters. Efforts to replace Charles Kennedy were clouded in controversy and farce as some leadership campaigns imploded. This was grist to the mill of party enemies who have long argued that the Lib-Dems are amateurish and out of touch with the main stream. The party has not recovered from the loss of Charles Kennedy. The ugly whispering campaign against Sir Menzies Campbell has further damaged the organisation. The reality is that he was dispatched by the men in white coats. It is nauseating to listen to the tributes paid to him by some Liberals. It smacks of hypocrisy.
The new leader will probably come from one of the following four MPs: Vincent Cable, Nick Clegg, Edward Davey and Chris Huhne. The Lib-Dems need a clear cut identity and an end to bloodletting.
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