So there have been lots of '08 diaries and polls breaking down our guys. I certainly have no problem with it (Lord knows the other side is doing it). However, what the other side is also doing is sizing up
our candidates. I remember I was roaming around freeperville and apparently they heard Mark Warner was thinking about, sort of, kind of, maybe running and they jumped on him like hyenas on a carcass. We need to do the same; that is look at their candidates and develop talking points about them and get to know them.
More below the fold....
So I put together a list of candidates, especially some lesser known ones. Hopefully, we can all pitch in, to understand their strengths/weaknesses and maybe help defeat some of these guys in the future. I think this is just as important as picking our candidates.
Some of the better known guys:
John McCain: right wingers hate him, dont know about him getting the nod. He really twists in the wind. Sometimes critical of Bush, but also said he "leads with moral clarity." Age will be a factor to(he'll be 3 years old than Reagan, when he ran, should he try and get the nod).
Rudy Giuliani: too moderate, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, has done nothing but shill for Bush, and wasnt a great mayor before 9/11. Plus, his affair could be an issue with right-wingers.
Bill Frist: Senator "dont cry on my shouder I might get AIDS" has been a loyal Bush supporter, but an awful majority leader. So we have a leadership attack there. He is young looking, but comes off, IMO, as stiff and creepy.
Rick Santorum : Oh, God, so much to say. The whole issue of taxpayer money going to pay for tutors for his kids, his residency problems, "Man on Dog", hopefully his support of Bush SS enronization plan so we can use it against him...
Some of the lesser known guys:
Mitt Romney: saw this article on him. He is certainly in an odd position. He needs to act moderate to keep his job in '06, but that could destroy his national ambitions. He looks good in a suit. I guess that's pretty much it, for pluses. His position on abortion is "personally pro-life, but is pro-choice as governor." And he called John Kerry wishy-washy? Have a feeling James Dobson wont like that position. Also, AG Tom Reilly leads 45-41 in a recent poll. So a good position to knock him out of office.
Mark Sanford: Governor of SC. Dont know anything about this guy. He won with 53% in '02. Any chance he could be defeated in '06? The dkospedia mentions his stunt of bringing in pigs to the state legislature to illustrate "pork barrel spending." So he does seem prone to stupid stunts.
Mike Huckabee: Gov. of AR, he is also pro-life, but respects pro-choice as the law. Again, dont know if James Dobson will like that. He also believes in convenant marriages. Dont know about charisma, etc.
Bill Owens: Gov. of CO. He wont run again in 06(maybe term limited). According to the freepers, he has all kinds of problems. He's in the middle of a divorce with accusations of an affair and an illegimate child. He apparently passed some law that kills gunshows in the state. So problems with the right wing there. Plus, in his time in CO, the state has slipped to swing state status. Yes, there are other factors involved, but nevertheless.
Tim Pawlenty: Gov. of MN. The '06 senate race has been the biggest story here the last few days, naturally, with Dayton's announcement. AG Mike Hatch is apparently his opponent and a good guy. I read recently he is trying to reduce hospital bills for the uninsured. Pawlenty's approvals are okay, from what I've seen, but it would great if we could defeat him. He always has this smug look on his face.
Bob Ehlrich: Gov. of MD. Well, we all know of his aide resigning. This guy strikes me as a jerk. He started rambling on about respect at his SOTS, yet he didnt even give seats to Mayor O'Malley and Doug Duncan. Hmm, I wonder why? :) Not very respectful. Bob, do unto others,...well, you should know. :). I saw a poll that had O'Malley beating him by 7, when they pushed leaners. Another poll showed a dead heat with lots of undecideds.
George Pataki: Gov. of NY. His approvals are AWFUL. The latest one had him in the 30s I believe. Spitzer's approval is around 60. The AG is obviously in a good position. From my days in CT, I know Pataki is boring as hell and probably to moderate for a Republican nod.
George Allen: Sen. from Va. Many hope that uber popular Gov. Mark Warner will knock him out in '06. Apparently in Dec., Warner raised $2 million dollars for his PAC on his 50th birthday. His term ends in a year. So he's got something cooking for the future. My fear is this; Warner v. Allen '06 will be a reflection of Bill Weld v. John Kerry '96. A popular governor hangs in the race, only to lose in the end. The CW seems to be if Sen. John Warner leaves in '08, Gov. Warner walks into the Senate. And there is presidential talk. But, anyways, assuming Allen runs or is on the ticket or Warner runs next year, what can we use against him?
So throw out thoughts on these guys.