Romney leads, Paul rises in N.H. poll

[harvey007]

Newt Gingrich’s surge has slowed and Ron Paul has gained momentum, but Mitt Romney remains the clear front-runner in New Hampshire with a little more than two weeks until the nation’s first primary, according to a new Boston Globe poll.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/12/25/romney_leads_paul_rises_in_nh_poll/

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. All I want for Christmas is Ron Paul on the presidential ballot next November

[LAGC]

2. That would be awesome.

Would love to see some serious debate about the so-called War on Drugs, and a time-table for leaving Afghanistan.

Of course, Obama would probably smoke him in the general, unless the economy really tanked between now and then.

[cottage10]

4. Yep, that is why I want to see Ron Paul do well in the primaries

We need a good discussion in this country about the military spending and all the money we are spending on these idiotic wars (including the war on drugs). I think that is the main attraction of Ron Paul especially among young people. A good GOP debate where Romney has to justify his war-mongering might just start to turn a few GOP minds against war and military spending, at least that is my hope.

[Mass]

7. The idea Ron Paul could be president is frightening in its own right.

So, hopefully he will not get the nomination.

[Gore1FL]

12. Which one of the options isn't fireghtening? n/t

[Kennah]

16. Every member of the Insane GOP Clown Posse is frightening ...

... but at least for me there is a fear that Ron Paul could seduce some on the left to support Paul over Obama.

The ideal would be Mittens as the nominee and Paul launching a Third Party Candidacy.

[Mass]

18. None, but Paul is the only one who has supporters among progressives.

Though I am not sure I would call progressives people who believe that Ron Paul is acceptable by any standard.

[RoccoR5955]

17. Incorrect.

Obama would definitely smoke him in the general EVEN IF the economy really tanked between now and then, should the man with two first names get on the ballot!

[liberalmike27]

3. I would love that too

Probably not for the sarcastic reasons of the poster above. While I get that Ron Paul has many of the same positions that ALL of the other republicans have, I also know he at least will vocalize some of the issues that democrats have abandoned, anti-drug war, anti-unjust warring, anti-huge-military industrial complex.

I'll still vote for Obama, with no other liberal choices. But as a just-in-case, I'd love to see a republican trying to cut wars. As far as slashing social programs, even if he was to get elected, he couldn't do that. Personally I'm seeing another Obama landslide, and close to 60 in the Senate again, even though only ten republicans are running. Of course, as they did in 2010, Democrats can run to lose again, insuring us of another 2 years at least, of gridlock.

[karynnj]

9. Have you bothered to look at which Senate seats are up?

These are, for the most part, the Senators who won election in 2006, when the Democrats really did win everything that they had a chance to win. There are not 7 Republican seats in jeopardy - and that assumes we lose none of our most at risk seats - including ND, where Conrad is retiring. In fact, the two Republican seats where we have a chance are ones that resulted from Senators leaving - MA and NV.

Paul win not win either the nomination or the Presidency. He showed the same level of arrogance in dismissing questions on the newsletters he had his name on as Cain showed on charges by women. He was unlikely before that, but that alone should have been disqualifying if he had ever been a viable candidate. (I don't care how often his son prays to Aqua Buddha to make this happen - it won't.)

[Bucky]

14. Ron Paul won't win once Republicans start listening to his foreign policy stands

"Get out of foreign wars" is a crowd pleaser. His "get out of NATO and the UN" talking points just make him look loony.

[Populist_Prole]

10. I see your point. This could work out better than we thought.

Probably not for the sarcastic reasons of the poster above. While I get that Ron Paul has many of the same positions that ALL of the other republicans have, I also know he at least will vocalize some of the issues that democrats have abandoned, anti-drug war, anti-unjust warring, anti-huge-military industrial complex

In this manner in these issues he will have helped push the national dialogue to the left.

[sarcasmo]

5. If Paul wins the first 3 or 4 primaries

The clown car is gonna explode.

[Deep13]

6. Seriously?

Well, gee, I was a little skeptical about Ron Paul, but now that I know he's an overt racist I think I'll give him a chance. WTF?

[nevergiveup]

8. Mind boggling, isn't it?

[Ter]

11. I don't think he's overt

He voted in favor of the MLK holiday. I do believe that he was very foolish for not checking those newsletters before they went out. Some don't believe it's possible, but I do. Sadly, many people put their name on something to profit but don't check the product they're marketing.

[rocktivity]

13. Hands up who DIDN'T see this coming

The GOP Presidential Clown Car Tour is going exactly as planned. It started out "fair and balanced," complete with a woman and a minority competing. It was "openly competitive," with four different candidates holding the lead. And it winds down with Romney left standing, who coincidentally is also the GOP's choice.




rocktivity

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. I hope he runs as a third party candidate.

S-p-l-i-t the right down the middle.

Beautiful.

[coalition_unwilling]

19. Romney is a 'favorite son' in New Hampshire, so his front-runner

status means very little, when you look at his polling behind Paul in Iowa (where neither is favorite son) and in the south, where Romney's Mormon faith will cost him hugely among fundamentalist, evangelical and charismatic kooks.

What is significant is that Paul is emerging as the 'not-Mitt' candidate, replacing Newt in that role. Stands to reason, as Newt's ground game is all but non-existent in the early states, whereas Paul has been organizing at the ground level for at least the past 6 months.

FWIW, Paul would work to overturn Roe v. Wade. That's a show-stopper for anyone calling him- or herself a 'progressive,' imho. That said, I respect politicians who demonstrate tactical and strategic competence, even when I vehemently disagree with their positions. In that regard, and that regard alone, Paul has earned my respect.