None of the Above Winning GOP Race
Rarely does TAM cover polls. The parsing of numbers and digging through the wording of questions bores me to tears. Too many others do poll stories so you’re not missing out. But sometimes a poll comes out that has to be looked at. The latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll is one such beast. It found that the current front-runner in the Republican Presidential race is “None of the Above.” 23% can’t decide who they want while Rudy Giuliani has 21% support.
I’d like to say this is due to it being only 16 months before the election. Only political junkies like me should be paying attention to the horse race. However, only 13% of Democrats are undecided.
What’s going on with the Republicans is all the front runners have their faults: Giuliani is pro-abortion; Romney is a recent conservative convert; Thompson is an unknown; McCain hung himself on immigration.
None of the lower-level candidates have made any move upwards. With some clever debate quips I thought Mike Huckabee could have made a move. That hasn’t happened. The only non-top-tier candidate generating any buzz is Rep. Ron Paul and that’s only because his fanboys are nuts.
Such an open race means the MSM will focus more on the Republicans. That will be more true if Sen. Clinton continues leading Sen. Obama. The media will go where the action is. Whether the added coverage helps the Republican nominee break through depends on any candidate emanating some inspiration. It hasn’t happened yet, but there’s plenty of time. Don’t fret GOP.
“AP Poll: GOP Pick is ‘None of the Above’” [via memeorandum]
I disagree with your analysis, Sean.
Giuliani has many more negatives than just the abortion thing. There are certain quarters where that could give him a little bump.
Romney carries all the weight of Massachussetts. We’ve been there and done that. We’re all tired of giving them a freakin’ chance.
Fred Thompson was an undistinguished one-term senator. His best days are long behind him and under the microscope they don’t look quite as good as they once did. Being an unknown was probably helpful to the Fredster.
McCain sunk himself by moving to the right and courting the pro-war fringe. If he’d stayed in one place the country was moving towards him. He just didn’t have the courage of his convictions or he swallowed some major bad advice.
Brownback and Huckabee aren’t electable nationally.
as an aside:
I wonder what would happen if we got Ron Paul and Ralph Nader in the same room. Would we get that perfect storm of nutbar/antinutbar that would wipe out civilization as we know it? Would it look like Ice 9 taking over the world?