Hi,
This is a wonderfully blunt and I think truthful assessment of the Republican slate of candidates, and it's in The State newspaper of Columbia, SC, the capitol of our once very red state, predicting low turn-out in today's primary, and that was before the snow hit!
"But the main reason turnout might be lower than expected could be of greatest concern to Republicans everywhere: what many are calling a lackluster slate of candidates," the State reports.
"There’s nobody out there who is wild for their candidate. In (1980), people would have walked through broken glass in their bare feet to vote (for Ronald Reagan). This might go the convention," said Neal Thigpen, a Republican analyst at Francis Marion University in Florence.
Full story at: http://www.thestate.com/...
"I don’t think there’s a chance, even with all these candidates, of matching the 2000 turnout," said Thigpen.
"I don’t think ... this one has generated the excitement that Bush-McCain did. Just judging between the two years, in terms of content, this (campaign) could have been put on by the League of Women voters." (Ouch!)
"In 2008, with an open field of candidates and no front-runner, Thigpen, who teaches political science and has long been active in S.C. Republican politics, said GOP voters have been left to choose the "least unacceptable" candidate.
"None of these guys can suit the whole range of groups or subgroups that are out there," he said. "There’s nobody in there. They all want to say they’re the next Ronald Reagan, but none of them are the fusion candidate."
Thigpen predicts low turnout, under 400,000, will benefit Huckabee, a high turnout, McCain.
And now, we have the snow.
Snow falling across much of upstate South Carolina, the most conservative part of the state. It started around noon and is expected to continue through the night with temperatures falling into the 20s, which is really, really cold for us.
Huckabee's robo-calling operation is still going strong. Called me again this morning, third time in five days, this time to tell me what a great guy Huckabee is and to get out and vote for him.
First time was a push-poll. Second time was to tell me how bad his opponents are.
My answering machine recorded the second call. ""Mike Huckabee can be trusted to always protect life.
"John McCain supports controversial scientific experimentation on unborn babies. John McCain sacrificed many pro-life judges by teaming with his liberal senator friends.
"Mitt Romney says he believes abortion should be legal. Mitt Romney opposes human life amendments. Mitt Romney has switched his position on abortion five times in the past fifteen years.
"A vote for Mike Huckabee tomorrow is a vote for life and much more. Visit trusthuckabee.com Paid for by Common Sense Issues and not authorized by or coordinated with any candidate or campaign committee. 719-306-2546."
719 is a Colorado number, but my caller ID shows the call coming from Herndon, Virginia.