GOP Power Rankings 11/22/11...
Romney still the guy to beat, field reshuffling every few weeks...
It's less than a year until we go to the polls and vote for the next President of the Unites States. Heading into the debates former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was considered the front runner by most pundits. Today, after about a dozen GOP debates, I say Romney is still the prohibitive favorite to secure his party's nomination next Summer. Others in the Republican field have had their moments in the spotlight. Michelle Bachmann winning the Iowa straw poll last August. Rick Perry declaring at the same time and garnering much attention when he did so. Herman Cain riding his charm and his 9-9-9 economic plan to early success earlier this Fall. Others have not had their "moment" yet. Rick Santorum and John Huntsman have avoided large glaring gaffs, but have not gained any serious traction as of yet. The two oldest GOP hopefuls, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul have each taken their own paths to where they stand today. Paul, with support a foot wide but a mile deep has held fast to his ideals. Gingrich, with his rather inauspicious first few months in the campaign, battled regrettable utterances on Meet The Press about the Ryan Budget Plan, saw his staff quit on him and had to fend off a mostly bullshit thing about his Tiffany's account. Both are interesting men and terribly flawed candidates.
Romney find himself atop this issue of the power rankings for a few reasons. First, he's the best debater of the bunch except for possibly Gingrich. Secondly, with one exception, he's emerged from every debate without a scratch. He's prepared, he's relaxed and he's avoided any significant blunders. Bachmann quickly proved she couldn't sustain her success in Iowa. Perry has had terrible debates and has accordingly, paid a high price in the GOP polls. Herman Cain was flying high until his competitors and outside think-tanks shot his 9-9-9 economic plan full of holes and he was accused of having sexually harassed several former employees/associates from his National Restaurant Association days. The Cain train has slowed a tad, and its unsure if he can reverse the trend before irreversible damage is done to his campaign. Of the other, Gingrich is rising, but the rest of the bunch seem mired in the lower ranges of the field right now.
This weeks Power Rankings:
1. Mitt Romney-The front-runner...
2. Newt Gingrich-Let's call him Lazarus, ok?
3. Ron Paul-Perhaps the most principled name on this list...
4. Herman Cain-Welcome to the big leagues, Mr. Cain...
5. John Huntsman-Has moments of high appeal, but then...fizzles...
6. Rick Perry-Hasn't come close to living up to his billing...
7. Rick Santorum-Targeting the far Right of the Conservative electorate, small upside...
8. Michelle Bachmann-Seems utterly outclassed by the rest of the field on most issues...
NOTE: We're taking a different approach with our rankings at this time. From a healthy early lead, Romney is so far ahead on the cumulative score its pointless to continue that. From now on, I'll simply rank the candidates how I see them at this time. Giving the most credence toward elect-ability, but also factoring in other more fluid attributes like current issues/events, finances, etc.
It's Romney's to lose IF and only if he can convince either the Evangelical Christian wing of the Party that he's not a member of a cult, or the Party poobahs to give up a 30 year relationship with the Evangelical Christian wing of the Party and give him the nomination.
ReplyDeleteIf either of those things happens, there is no way Huntsman will get within a warm piss of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The #2 on the ticket will be someone with very deep ties to the James Dodson and any hard right Christian Conservative group. Think Sam Brownback.
Rick Santorum is Catholic, which isn't quite as evil as Mormons to FRC types, but they're a good second.
Gingrich has the political cred, but he's been married 3 times and converted to Catholicism. He's toxic to the family values crowd.
Huntsman is the most electable in a general election, but a) he's Mormon, b) he believes in science, and c) he worked for Obama, so he get's to play voice of reason in this loonie bin.
Cain is....Cain. He's unelectable in a general election, given his gaffes.
Ron Paul is the grumpy old man. He stands on his principles, but some of his principles are out of the 1920's. Use pre-FEMA responses? Like the casks of whiskey after the Galveston hurricane?
Rick Perry has dropped the ball on three things. 1)His poor debate performances show he can't handle pressure well b)the "Texas Miracle" meme has been fairly well trashed, so he can't really play it, and c)....umm...urrr......I forget.
Michele Bachman has been reduced to comedy relief, or more precisely, her place as comedy relief has been made clear.
If I had a comment of the week award to hand out, you'd get it, Manny...
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