Redstate

The caucus and primary voters will decide the nominee, not establishment Republican governors and other politicians.

However, those of us who prefer somebody other than McCain will have to join forces for one McCain alternative before the nominating season begins. I think it will be Romney or Allen, but we won't have any effect if we split out support between the two of them (or more candidates).

I'm a loyal conservative Republican, but I'd have to vote for Warner, Richardson or Bayh in a presidential election against McCain. McCain must NOT control the nuclear trigger. And he would raise taxes as much or more than the three Democrats listed above. (Richardson has cut taxes in New Mexico.)

There's a brief, but informative, take on the referenced McCain endorsement at www.evangelicalsformitt.com.

"anti-Romney hyperbole?"

What is with the Mitt Romney cult worship Stevens?  Nowhere did I "write mitt off".  I made simple political observation.    

What is silly is your infantile reaction to a simple comment.  If you disagree try and string a couple sentences together to refute the comment.  Otherwise, it is YOU who looks silly.

is mainly questioned about abortion.  His "safe and legal" comment along with espousing pro-choice views over a long period of time is getting a lot of scrutiny.  I don't think the GOV choose McCain because Romney "isn't conservative."

I think like a lot of party bigwigs, he sees that McCain is an easy win and sufficiently conservative.  I think RedStaters see a limited view on McCain in general.  He still has a lot of support from many Republicans, just not ones here.  It doesn't surprise me that people are jumping on his train early.  There is a cabinet to fill after all.

I voted for Bush in the 2000 primary largely to "stop McCain" because I didn't agree with him on campaign finance "reform" and Bush promised to veto it.  Also McCain seemed too willing to intervene in the affairs of other nations including committing ground troops while Bush promised to focus on domestic affairs.  

Other than that, the two candidates were pretty much identical on the issues except that Bush focused more on tax cuts while McCain focused more on entitlement reform.

Six years later, I've changed my mind about foreign policy, campaign finance "reform" is a done deal and most of the likely candidates either supported it or voted for it, and McCain and Romney are the only likely candidates with a track record of trying to reign in spending.

There are going to be three priorities in the 2008 election when it comes to select our presidential nominee:

1)    Commander-in-chief: we will in all likelihood still be at war two years from now and for the foreseeable future.

2)    Entitlement Reform: the first of the baby boom generation will begin retiring in the next presidential administration.

3)    Judicial Appointments: we will probably see at least two new justices appointed by the Supreme Court by the next president along with numerous circuit and appellate court nominees

Bottom line: McCain is by far the most hawkish of the likely candidates and he has the credibility to continue to successfully wage the war.  He's got the best track record of any of the names we've heard about on entitlements (the largest spending issue) and as a pork buster.  He's voted for all of Bush's judicial nominees and while being socially conservative, he isn't seen as being beholden to the lunatic fringe (look at how many people think he's a "moderate" because of his tone while having a solid voting record) which will make it harder to filibuster his Supreme Court nominees.

It is how you see it, I don't doubt that. Most people see the things they want to see.  

But Is McCain a hard core conservative? This is the question people ask about Romney when they claim he could not be elected by Utah.

I am not trying to classify how conservative he is or isn't I am just saying McCain's conservative credentials are debated just as hotly as Romney's. I think most people consider him a moderate republican. I am not faulting him for it. I don't think most of the electorate would want to be concsidered hard core conservatives. And if McCain won the primaries I would email his campaign asking to help.

So my point is that he doesn't necessary fit the bill of the undeniable conservative (since this is a hottly debated topic) that people claim Romney is not when they argue Utah would never elect Romney. Therefore the argument of Utah never being able to elect Romney is cut down a notch or two.

I remember reading something from Cato in the WSJ a little while ago, and a quick google search found this.  Its an article about a study, couldn't find any results immediately concerning it, that says that smaller government is more easily achieved when you pay for the government you have and lead with decreased spending, instead of "Starving the Beast".

McCain has the strongest pro-life record of the frontrunners, including Romney.  He also has the longest anti-pork and strongest small government creds.  So it depends on what issues the Gov. cares about.

This is very surprising.  This Utah governor is coming out a bit early for McCain.  It hurts Mitt, but more important it shows the real momentum behind McCain.  Even though the base is hostile to McCain the Republican Establishment is lining up behind him.

The thing is Mitt can't afford too many setbacks since he is already coming from behind as it is and the latest gallup poll shows him actually behind Frist.    

But I think it does show that Mormon's don't just follow blindly LDS candidates.

Also it it kind of roughs up the theory that Romney can't win in Utah because he's too liberal (which I am not impyling he is liberal or a rhino!) If that was the case than why would a governor who won by decent margin support McCain? McCain isn't exactly the most conservative guy in the group.

Now it would be bad though if Huntsman had decided to stay out because no one was conservative enough for the average Utahn or if he decided to join on with Keyes, then it could be a problem.

Except maybe the Gov of Utah just isn't too bright.

Actually, mitt and frist are tied. Don't blame me Neil, blame the pollsters.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/blog/2006/07/election_2008_republicans.htm
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2006 Jun 1-4 Republican registered voters  All Republican

Rudy Giuliani  29

John McCain 24

Newt Gingrich 8

Mitt Romney 6

Bill Frist 6

George Allen 5

Sam Brownback 2

Mike Huckabee 2

George Pataki 1

Other 3 3

None 4 4

All/any 1 1

No opinion 9 10

Your anti-Romney hyperbole is just silly, and it's compounded by the fact that it's JULY 2006, and you're already writing to write the guy off.

Do you have any evidence that McCain does poorly in the West.  He seems to be the frontrunner in every Western state I've seen polls for.  He has some issues in the South, but his anti-pork message seems to play well in the West... not to mention it's his home turf.

Mccain can beat Romne in Utah.  Even if he has the governor's endorsement, i still think romney will with utah b/c of his handling of the salt lake stuff and his mormonism

Seriously, what's the big deal about Huntsman supporting McCain? It is not a "huge blow" and it WILL negate the argument that Mormons will blindly line up behind Romney just because he's LDS.

Romney will win Utah hands down. It won't even be close (and yes, I've seen the "cold-call" polls where McCain is beating Romney--by the slimmest margin of any state I might add. Most "everyday folks" in Utah still don't realize that Romney's a serious contender). Huntsman's political influence outside of Utah is not great.

Huntsman Jr. won't even be able to direct his billionaire dad's fortune to McCain since he's pretty excited about Romney.

This alliance with McCain is about an understandable "self-interest" on Huntsman's part. McCain's absolutely a top-tier candidate (who I could never support in a primary with the current alternatives)and he has a great chance of becoming POTUS. Notice how in the article Huntsman is posturing in the immigration/foreign policy areas. Huntsman is a former ambassador to Singapore and is fluent in Chinese. He is somewhat of a foreign policy expert on China and Southeast Asia, the next huge forefront of competition to our world dominance. I wouldn't be surprised if Huntsman's been promised a cabinet position by McCain for signing on board.

Well couldn't Romney promise the same kind of thing to Huntsman? People need to remember Romney will be reticent to fill up his cabinet with Mormons. Sec. of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt (former Utah Gov. and a Mormon) is VERY tight with Romney. I see him playing a high ranking cabinet spot if Romney wins so there won't be much room for another Mormon Utah Governor. It's a calculated political risk by Huntsman.

Am I just spinning? Maybe. I would like to have Huntsman Jr. in Romney's camp assuring the locking up of the Huntsman fortune. Also, being endorsed by a governor is always nice. However, this is just a "speed bump" on Romney's road. It is not a "huge blow" and should not be seen as Huntsman rejecting Romney's policies, stances, and candidacy.

Just my 2 cents . . .

One major hurdle for McCain in 2008 was going to be all the southern and western state primaries that were moved up to the beginning of February. If he's mending fences with folks from these states, and getting endorsements along the way, this doesn't bode well for those of us who would rather not (to put it lightly) see McCain in the general election.

Of course, it's still early and one endorsement this far out from one governor does not a victory portend. It sure seems like McCain is making all the right moves lately, though.

Brought up on another blog is that Romney is probably not looking to fill up his ranks with Mormons. I think the last thing he wants is to be the mormon administration.

Knowing this I think you could extrapulate that Huntsman recognizes this and has decided to put his efforts in an area where he has potential for career advancement. You know self-interest. The backbone of our Capitilist society.

I don't see opposing the President's tax cuts as being very strong small government credibility, myself.

Of course he's coming from behind. His name ID is a fraction of what McCain and Giuliani's are. But, in the same poll, 40% of respondents say McCain is unacceptable as a GOP nominee.

I'd much rather have to introduce myself to people than have to change the minds of 40% of the GOP electorate.

I have 100% confidence that as soon as all of the candidates open their mouths and make their case, Romney will shoot to the top.