The 2012 Florida Primary

[Excel]

the returns are coming in fast, romney with an enormous lead; im assuming its the absentee ballots

 

[hippie_hunter]

CNN has projected Mitt Romney to win Florida.

 

[Excel]

romney wins....huge

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Romney wins.

 

[Excel]

newts place is EMPTY

 

[Pink Ranger]

newts place is EMPTY

Anybody here from Florida? Get down there now. There's a buffet table that's barely been touched.

 

[Quetzal]

What a dominating victory. Leave Newt 4 Dead again?

Interesting strategy have the wife open up for Romney. The numbers for women is astounding. Around 50% for Romney and only HALF of that for Gingrich. Completely logical ploy here.

 

[Excel]

mrs romney was clearly excited, haha

 

[hippie_hunter]

Mitt's victory speech is turning out to be pretty good.

 

[Excel]

it was ok speech, good ending

 

[hippie_hunter]

it was ok speech, good ending

Mitt is certainly no charismatic Barack Obama (the Barack Obama of 2008 is a very high bar to reach), but his speech did everything that he needed to do. He's managed to present himself as an alternative to Barack Obama, he's reaching out to Republicans in future contests, and he actually has some passion within him now (he can thank Newt Gingrich for that).

 

[enterthemadness]

But will Romney be a better President than Obama? Not by much IMHO.

 

[Excel]

Mitt is certainly no charismatic Barack Obama (the Barack Obama of 2008 is a very high bar to reach), but his speech did everything that he needed to do. He's managed to present himself as an alternative to Barack Obama, he's reaching out to Republicans in future contests, and he actually has some passion within him now (he can thank Newt Gingrich for that).

His "remember an america" bit was very good; it is not hard to be charismatic with the right material

 

[SentinelMind]

Newt Gingrich is sounding pretty crazy right now.

 

[Excel]

Newt Gingrich is sounding pretty crazy right now.

embarrassing himself


whaaaaat is he doing

 

[DACrowe]

He's going to drag this out for at least six more weeks and in the meantime there will be plenty of attack ads. As long as they keep bloodying themselves, I'll be happy.

 

[Marvolo]

Why does he want to waste money and time when he isn't getting the ticket? Seems rather pointless.

 

[Quetzal]

Honestly I expect Santorum to drop out in a week or two. But Gingrich is a different kind of beast, who knows he may be crazy enough to compete for several more months. Paul will hopefully compete for an additional while too.

 

[hippie_hunter]

He's going to drag this out for at least six more weeks and in the meantime there will be plenty of attack ads. As long as they keep bloodying themselves, I'll be happy.

Gingrich's attack ads came off as rather sad and pathetic. Negativity works, but not the kind of negativity that Gingrich tried to bring in Florida. The negative ads failed to hurt Romney in Florida, and unless he changes strategy, they aren't going to hurt him in the upcoming weeks.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Honestly I expect Santorum to drop out in a week or two. But Gingrich is a different kind of beast, who knows he may be crazy enough to compete for several more months. Paul will hopefully compete for an additional while too.

Santorum has some more potential in the caucus states coming up in February. It would make sense for him to stay in until the end of the month and see if he can gain some traction.

 

[DACrowe]

Gingrich's attack ads came off as rather sad and pathetic. Negativity works, but not the kind of negativity that Gingrich tried to bring in Florida. The negative ads failed to hurt Romney in Florida, and unless he changes strategy, they aren't going to hurt him in the upcoming weeks.

I'm looking at this as someone who wants a weakened candidate in the general. Romney will win, but for the last month all Floridians, swing voters, saw was Romeny and Gingrich saying, "No, you're the *******!" Sure, Romney won convincing them Gingrich is the more unlikable person, but he comes off weaker in that state than he did one month ago. And the longer it goes, the weaker Gingrich will make him. Gingrich is petty and mean. He's angry that Mitt Romney can outspend him 4-to-1 with character assassination ads. He's going to stay in as long as he possibly can to return the favor.

Meanwhile, Obama, in comparison, looks more presidential with each passing week.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'm looking at this as someone who wants a weakened candidate in the general.

But you're looking at this through an incredibly biased viewpoint. Your desire for a weakened Romney just isn't reflecting the reality of tonight. Romney was extremely weakened by South Carolina, but he made a huge comeback tonight.

Romney will win, but for the last month all Floridians, swing voters, saw was Romeny and Gingrich saying, "No, you're the *******!" Sure, Romney won convincing them Gingrich is the more unlikable person, but he comes off weaker in that state than he did one month ago. And the longer it goes, the weaker Gingrich will make him. Gingrich is petty and mean. He's angry that Mitt Romney can outspend him 4-to-1 with character assassination ads. He's going to stay in as long as he possibly can to return the favor.

He'll certainly stay in as long as he can, but he's failing to weaken Romney. The only person that Gingrich is weakening with his showing in Florida is Gingrich because he comes off as a bitter crybaby. His attack ads were pathetic. Desperate negativity doesn't work.

CNN is reporting that the Obama camp really isn't happy with the Florida results. Romney had a very strong showing among Florida's Latinos (where they increased their voting share from 10% to 14% and Romney won 54% of them despite Gingrich's attacks). With Romney's great showing in Florida and Obama's poor approval ratings in the state, the Obama camp considers Obama to be the underdog in Florida.

Meanwhile, Obama, in comparison, looks more presidential with each passing week.

He only looks Presidential because he's not bogged down with primary politics. McCain looked more Presidential in 2008 when Obama and Hillary were dragging it out.

 

[Excel]

But you're looking at this through an incredibly biased viewpoint. Your desire for a weakened Romney just isn't reflecting the reality of tonight. Romney was extremely weakened by South Carolina, but he made a huge comeback tonight.

He'll certainly stay in as long as he can, but he's failing to weaken Romney. The only person that Gingrich is weakening with his showing in Florida is Gingrich because he comes off as a bitter crybaby. His attack ads were pathetic. Desperate negativity doesn't work.

CNN is reporting that the Obama camp really isn't happy with the Florida results. Romney had a very strong showing among Florida's Latinos (where they increased their voting share from 10% to 14% and Romney won 54% of them despite Gingrich's attacks). With Romney's great showing in Florida and Obama's poor approval ratings in the state, the Obama camp considers Obama to be the underdog in Florida.

Romney is clearly becoming a stronger candidate as a result of this. I see no way around that, the last thing he will be is weakened.

He only looks Presidential because he's not bogged down with primary politics. McCain looked more Presidential in 2008 when Obama and Hillary were dragging it out.

Well...McCain may have looked presidential, buuuut nobody was really watching him.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Romney is clearly becoming a stronger candidate as a result of this. I see no way around that, the last thing he will be is weakened.

Gingrich has taught Romney to be a far stronger candidate. He has developed a passion that he previously lacked. He was able to develop a much better defense for his taxes and Bain. He started to make inroads with the Tea Party and evangelicals. He had a great performance with Latinos and women.

You're exactly right that the last thing that has happened to Romney in Florida was that he was weakened.

Well...McCain may have looked presidential, buuuut nobody was really watching him.

Yeah, pretty much

 

[Excel]

Romneys biggest problem is that he is frankly too perfect in comparison yo newt; it is a true contrast of characters and careers. Romney SHOULD be handling Gingrich, but he was frankly playing too nice early on. Bill Clintons moto in campaigns was that "it isnt whether or not you can take a punch, its whether or not you can throw one". Romney as finallly started throwing heavy punches, so it should be no surprise that he is winning.

Gingrich deserves credit for getting the public over the few skeletons romney really has.