Networks Call SC For Newt As Polls Close

Just a reminder about ground games: in Virginia the only two choices are Romney and Paul.

Yeah you're right.  that'll teach me to multi-task while listening to the analysis

now the context of the rest of the discussion makes sense - in that the establishment folks see newt as unelectable and why they'll tweak if he wins florida.  the interesting thing was because of the debates, most of the SC voters saw newt as the one most likely to beat Obama. 

I don't think that would prevent premature pooh-poohing.

Thanks for your insight.  I was thinking it would be better to have Newt as the nominee, but as Mr. Day opined, 'be careful what you wish for' and referenced how everyone thought Reagan would be a cinch to crush - and we all know how that turned out.  (Note:  Michael Reagan was on CNN tonight and he appears to be giving the Reagan blessing/endorsement to Newt!  Alluded to Newt being in the footsteps of his father (paraphrasing).)

Bobby Jindal. 

Mitt knows the main stream press (the supposed liberals) will be shocked, just shocked to find out Mitt is a capitalist who made money. Unlike Gingrich, who lent his name & government connections to Fannie Mae lobbying in typical cronyist fashion.

As the press will run with the best spin machine, Newt will have that cycle wrapped up, just like he won his little adultery rounds. Who cares if he's a serial scumbag if he can blame it on liberal media - and the liberal media will bend over backwards to show it's not liberal.

What Romney has done well is play rope-a-dope. Until yesterday, not releasing taxes has been a smart move. He just needs to find a way to get the issue settled - barely, not completely - and get it off the main page. Because after S.C., he's in for a likely win in Florida where he's put in a lot of time and money (and Gingrich can't get organized quickly - hasn't gone on the air yet), and then it's on to wins in:

• Feb 4 – Nevada caucus
• Feb 7 – Colorado caucus, Minnesota caucus, Missouri primary
• Feb 11 – Maine caucus
• Feb 28 – Arizona primary, Michigan primary
• March 3 – Washington caucus

So whatever Romney's religion problem, it's not big enough to handicap out his nomination.

It's not that exactly. It's that finally, Cayman Capitalism itself (my new term!) is kind of on trial in the minds of voters. For 30 years since Reagan, everybody has been expected to not only be made poorer by the "Greed is Good" set, but actually cheer about it and vote for it or be labeled UnAmerican. 

I've had many conversations with middle-class Republicans who said things like "well, of course Joe Zillionaire would put his money in offshore accounts--it's survival of the fittest!" etc, etc. Anything vaguely populist was a no-no, even if it would be in their interest.

Now that the Tea Party (a failed astroturf/populist effort ) is kind of done, and that people are finally cluing in that Cayman Capitalism might not be in their interests, I'm thinking that between now and the election, some more of the 99% will start seriously looking for a populist who will (gasp!) genuinely represent their interests in government.

Again, just my opinion--but Party Democrats have been avoiding the idea that they ought to be populists for all they're worth. They're essentially leaving votes on the table.

It would be a little weird for Mitt or some other Republican to do a sudden about-face and go all "represent the people," but stranger things have happened. Newt has already done it to some extent with his attack on Romney.

Anyway, my point is that the longer the Democrats stay lukewarm on populism, the more likely they'll miss it.