Santorum Surge?

[bluehenbillk]

Didn't see a 3 for 3 coming last night.

More of a vote against Romney or for Santorum?

Either way, not looking that great for the GOP vs Obama in November....

[Gil Dobie]

My county went for Paul. Sanitorium did much more advertising than Romney in Minnesota.

[kalm]

Nice thread title.

[Ibanez]

He is still far behind in the Delegate count, 106-22. Last night will definelty bring him in more money. If he gets the nomination, I think Obama has his 2nd term in the bag.

[Wedgebuster]

Obama already has it in the bag. Republicans are finding that swallowing Romney is like breach birthing a porcupine.

[ASUG8]

Didn't see a 3 for 3 coming last night.

More of a vote against Romney or for Santorum?

Either way, not looking that great for the GOP vs Obama in November....

Agreed...didn't see that coming. GOP is fubared in November with Santorum. It is interesting that based on stereotypes you would have expected a bible thumper like Santorum to have done better in the South vs. Midwest.

[GannonFan]

I don't think there's any doubt now that, barring some disaster economically, that Obama is a lock for re-election. It was always an uphill climb for the GOP to unseat an incumbent (as it is for any Presidential incumbent) and now that the GOP has no viable candidate (Santorum would lose PA in a landslide - he'd be Mondale-like, and Romney only a little better) the focus is really on the Congressional elections. Can the GOP hold onto and increase their control of the House and can the Democrats hold onto control of the Senate? Will enough Dems come out in an election where the President is assured of victory, as it seems likely, and will the GOP, angry about having no shot at the White House, turn that fury towards the Congressional races. Independents are likely not to be as influential this time around and it may really be an issue of the partisans on either side determining things. But the Presidential race appears to be all but wrapped up now.

[GannonFan]

Didn't see a 3 for 3 coming last night.

More of a vote against Romney or for Santorum?

Either way, not looking that great for the GOP vs Obama in November....

Agreed...didn't see that coming. GOP is fubared in November with Santorum. It is interesting that based on stereotypes you would have expected a bible thumper like Santorum to have done better in the South vs. Midwest.

Well, he is still a Catholic - the South tends to like their bible thumpers to be of the Protestant bent.

[ASUG8]

I don't think there's any doubt now that, barring some disaster economically, that Obama is a lock for re-election. It was always an uphill climb for the GOP to unseat an incumbent (as it is for any Presidential incumbent) and now that the GOP has no viable candidate (Santorum would lose PA in a landslide - he'd be Mondale-like, and Romney only a little better) the focus is really on the Congressional elections. Can the GOP hold onto and increase their control of the House and can the Democrats hold onto control of the Senate? Will enough Dems come out in an election where the President is assured of victory, as it seems likely, and will the GOP, angry about having no shot at the White House, turn that fury towards the Congressional races. Independents are likely not to be as influential this time around and it may really be an issue of the partisans on either side determining things. But the Presidential race appears to be all but wrapped up now.

...and that's a sad testament to what's available to pass vetting in the GOP. Obama has very little to hang his hat on as far as accomplishments, yet the GOP is so fragmented that they can't get behind anyone enough to make a change in November. I see a lot of Republicans sitting this one out, and the independents don't really need to show up either for Obama to win.

I never thought I'd say it, but I'd vote Hillary over Obama if she decided to run. He's been that bad.

[ASUG8]

Agreed...didn't see that coming. GOP is fubared in November with Santorum. It is interesting that based on stereotypes you would have expected a bible thumper like Santorum to have done better in the South vs. Midwest.

Well, he is still a Catholic - the South tends to like their bible thumpers to be of the Protestant bent.

True, but the South most people think of is hardly what it used to be. With the migration of retirees from the Northeast and elsewhere it's a much more diverse group. My office here is about 60% native southerners, the balance from all over the place.

[Rob Iola]

It's February, a long way from the general in November. Obama should win regardless of his opponent, but a lot can happen to the economy in the interim.

Romney's strengths in the primary are his war chest and his battle scars/experience, but he's being strategic in his spending. Arch-conservatives keep scrambling to find an alternative, but none has any staying power - Romney will win in the end due to "electability" and mainstream support. The tea party extremism doesn't have the punch it did 2 years ago.

Romney can win the general in a change election, but if there's reasonable stability then it's Obama by a comfortable margin. If Ron Paul mounts a 3rd party challenge then Obama wins regardless. Rand Paul would take a political hit, but honestly I don't think his dad would let that consideration stop him.

[dbackjon]

Romney got Rick Roll'd

[BDKJMU]

He is still far behind in the Delegate count, 106-22. Last night will definelty bring him in more money. If he gets the nomination, I think Obama has his 2nd term in the bag.

Wrong.Current delegate count is:
Romney 107
Santorum: 45
Gingrich: 32
Paul: 9
Huntsman: 2
http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/delegates" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Santorum winning Missouri was pretty meaningless- Missouri was tripped of their delegates for moving their primary up.
Similar happened with FL- was stripped of 1/2 of their delegates for moving their primary up.

[BDKJMU]

I don't think there's any doubt now that, barring some disaster economically, that Obama is a lock for re-election. It was always an uphill climb for the GOP to unseat an incumbent (as it is for any Presidential incumbent) and now that the GOP has no viable candidate (Santorum would lose PA in a landslide - he'd be Mondale-like, and Romney only a little better) the focus is really on the Congressional elections. Can the GOP hold onto and increase their control of the House and can the Democrats hold onto control of the Senate? Will enough Dems come out in an election where the President is assured of victory, as it seems likely, and will the GOP, angry about having no shot at the White House, turn that fury towards the Congressional races. Independents are likely not to be as influential this time around and it may really be an issue of the partisans on either side determining things. But the Presidential race appears to be all but wrapped up now.

Yeah, a president with an approval rating in the 40s who is in a tie with Romney (who is going to win the Rep nomination) in the lastest USA Today/Gallup head to head (both swing state and nationally) has it all wrapped up and is a lock for reelection
http://www.gallup.com/poll/152240/Romne ... rails.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kalm]

I don't think there's any doubt now that, barring some disaster economically, that Obama is a lock for re-election. It was always an uphill climb for the GOP to unseat an incumbent (as it is for any Presidential incumbent) and now that the GOP has no viable candidate (Santorum would lose PA in a landslide - he'd be Mondale-like, and Romney only a little better) the focus is really on the Congressional elections. Can the GOP hold onto and increase their control of the House and can the Democrats hold onto control of the Senate? Will enough Dems come out in an election where the President is assured of victory, as it seems likely, and will the GOP, angry about having no shot at the White House, turn that fury towards the Congressional races. Independents are likely not to be as influential this time around and it may really be an issue of the partisans on either side determining things. But the Presidential race appears to be all but wrapped up now.

Yeah, a president with an approval rating in the 40s who is in a tie with Romney (who is going to win the Rep nomination) in the lastest USA Today/Gallup head to head (both swing state and nationally) has it all wrapped up and is a lock for reelection
http://www.gallup.com/poll/152240/Romne ... rails.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gingrich's numbers were impressive too before Mitt unleashed the dogs. The same will happen to some extent once Obama starts spending his dough.

[SuperHornet]

BDK...Missouri didn't "move their primary up." Their state law has apparently placed the primary in Feb for years, but the GOP National Committee decided that they were God and tried to force it into March. The way I heard it, Missouri decided to hold TWO primaries. Dumb move in terms of cost, IMO.

Jon:

The thread title reminds me of the World Bowl Champion Sacramento Surge, which featured Bill Goldberg.

[MSUDuo]

BDK...Missouri didn't "move their primary up." Their state law has apparently placed the primary in Feb for years, but the GOP National Committee decided that they were God and tried to force it into March. The way I heard it, Missouri decided to hold TWO primaries. Dumb move in terms of cost, IMO.

Jon:

The thread title reminds me of the World Bowl Champion Sacramento Surge, which featured Bill Goldberg.

Yeah, I read somewhere that it cost $8 million to hold a meaningless primary. Couldn't believe it

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[Ivytalk]

Just sent $500 to Santorum in the name of D1B.

[AZGrizFan]

I don't think there's any doubt now that, barring some disaster economically, that Obama is a lock for re-election. It was always an uphill climb for the GOP to unseat an incumbent (as it is for any Presidential incumbent) and now that the GOP has no viable candidate (Santorum would lose PA in a landslide - he'd be Mondale-like, and Romney only a little better).

The only candidate who really had a prayer is Gingrich. And he's too Neo-con for the hard core repubs....Obama would really have to shit himself now to not get reelected.

[D1B]

Obama already has it in the bag. Republicans are finding that swallowing Romney is like breach birthing a porcupine.

[AZGrizFan]

Obama already has it in the bag. Republicans are finding that swallowing Romney is like breach birthing a porcupine.

That WAS a good line.

[D1B]

I don't think there's any doubt now that, barring some disaster economically, that Obama is a lock for re-election. It was always an uphill climb for the GOP to unseat an incumbent (as it is for any Presidential incumbent) and now that the GOP has no viable candidate (Santorum would lose PA in a landslide - he'd be Mondale-like, and Romney only a little better).

The only candidate who really had a prayer is Gingrich. And he's too Neo-con for the hard core repubs....Obama would really have to shit himself now to not get reelected.

Dereas steeeil room onna bus fo Mistah Z!

[AZGrizFan]

The only candidate who really had a prayer is Gingrich. And he's too Neo-con for the hard core repubs....Obama would really have to shit himself now to not get reelected.

Dereas steeeil room onna bus fo Mistah Z!

Uh....nope.

[mainejeff]

Go Rick!

[BDKJMU]

I don't think there's any doubt now that, barring some disaster economically, that Obama is a lock for re-election. It was always an uphill climb for the GOP to unseat an incumbent (as it is for any Presidential incumbent) and now that the GOP has no viable candidate (Santorum would lose PA in a landslide - he'd be Mondale-like, and Romney only a little better).

The only candidate who really had a prayer is Gingrich. And he's too Neo-con for the hard core repubs....Obama would really have to **** himself now to not get reelected.

Obama would have to buck to historical trends to get elected:
-No president in the modern era has gotten re elected with unemployment above 7.6% I think it was. Last one was FDR.
-No president in the modern era has gotten re elected with an approval rating below 50% at the beginning of March of the election year. According to Gallup's most recent daily tracking poll, Obama's current approval rating is even at 47 percent.
http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer. ... ard/364946" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;