2008

I'll tell you right now, the GOP nominee for President in 2008 will be George Allen, because there is no way in hell the GOP base is going to support John McCain.

Comments

[Ken]

I agree that McCain doesn't have a snowball's chance in Mexico City, but I'm putting my money on Mitt Romney.

[Gullyborg]

Romney will come in 2nd to Allen. His big problem will be that he won't be in any office at the time, which may free him up for campaigning, but takes his away his ability to "make" news through his office. Had Romney run for re-election as Governor this year, he'd be the front runner. He is gambling here, and it will backfire on him.

What Romney REALLY should have done was run for the Senate against Ted Kennedy. If he lost, he'd be in the same place next January anyway (unemployed). But if he won, and he could win that race, he could then immediately run for President as the Golden Boy Who Beat The Swimmer.

People like candidates who are sitting in office. If you give them money, and they lose, they are still holding an office. When you give thousands or even millions to a campaign, you want to know that, as a hedge, your money will still buy you influence with someone. If you hold office, you still offer an open door to a big donor. If you are out of office, you are more of a gamble.

Big money will NOT flock to Romney. He may be rich in his own right, but personal money doesn't work in politics as well as donations, because big donations put forth an image to the public that you draw in support. Spending your own money makes you look like you are trying to buy the election.

Allen will draw the big donations because he will be the establishment Senator with a leadership position who will be able to help out donors even if he loses.

By the way, with Bill Frist retiring after this term, who will be the next Majority Leader?

I'm betting on George Allen... I think the conservative base within the party infrastructure is going to rally around him as the best alternative to John McCain, and so they will want to elevate him into a position of greater leadership now, in order to raise his national profile.

[Coyote]

I don't say this as a Romney supporter (I am still weighing all the candidates now) but I must disagree with your assesment of his chances because he is out of office.

Remember the greatest President in the history of the 20th century? Ronald Reagan?

He was a long time out of office and ran as the everyman against the consumate insiders.

Allen and McCain are both senators. The Senate is a bad place to find a Presidential candidate. They are used to making deals to get things done. And deal making is not in vogue right now.

There is another, right now rather obscure, governor out there. His name is Mark Sanford. If he does get in look out. He could be the guy.

http://www.petitiononline.com/msan2008/petition.html

If he gets in he will be my guy. As for now I just can't get excited about any of them. Allen needs a personality infusion. His political positions may be good but he really needs some spice to him.

Well... enough presidential stuff for now.

[torridjoe]

I wouldn't doubt that Allen is a pretty good speculative choice for '08--assuming the Falwellites aren't buying McCain's hardcore pander recently.

If I had to guess right now, I would lay money on Allen vs Mark Warner. Wouldn't that be something--an all-Virginia presidential election?

[JustaDog]

With all due respect to Senater McCain I do believe he suffered some mental damage when he was a POW. He often doesn't remember the party he chose to represent and his actions are often hap-hazard.

[-keith in Silicon Valley]

I don't like McCain much, with due respect for his service and sacrifice I just don't believe he's helping the Nation that much (or his political party) as a politician.

[Gullyborg]

It is true that Reagan was out of office when he was elected President. But Reagan was such an astoundingly awesome man that he was able to break many conventional rules.

Having recently made a spirited charge against a sitting President for his own party nomination, for example. Usually that is political suicide.

As for the notion of an Allen v. Warner race, that is something I have been thinking about for some time. I am not convinced that Hillary is the unstoppable juggernaut the press (and her clan) would have us believe. She has more baggage than she has charisma. A good old fashioned Southern Gent will be a better candidate for the dems, as no dem can be elected President without winning at least one Southern state.

John Edwards could very well come out of nowhere to be the nominee. As could Mark Warner, or Phil Bredesen. Maybe even Wesley Clarke (although I think he is a Clinton stooge).

Hillary might up and decide the best thing for her is to just stay in the Senate, which she could take over and rule with an iron fist.

[Scott]

The Manchurian Candidate.
I think that about says it.

[Tammy and Anthony Brotton]

Hello I am not sure who were going to support for president next year .I know we will not get behind John mccain I didn't like how he ran agains't president Bush in the past being a strong bush supporter and a strong ronald reagan supporter as we like both we can not endorse John mccain,
Mitt Romney I 'm still trying to get to know his votes in Legilature like how we he stand for marriage as one man and one woman how will he be against special interest
I am not going to support Rudy Gullini George Allen I do not know well enough yet his vote in the legislature this one is going to wait for more information about the candidates first before we select one for next years presidency I listen to concerned women for America and Dr Tim Lahaye first before I make up my mind and or Dr Billy Graham.before I make up my mind on a candidate.

[Tammy and Anthony Brotton]

Hello I am still thinking on Mitt Romney But I need to know his views on certain issues first like is he agains't abortion and is he agains't special interest.
Gods blessings

[Heartless Libertarian]

Of course, if(when) McCain does run, and gets rejected in the primaries (again), he's going to be even more bitter than he is now.

Which means, if he's still in the Senate, he's going to be an even bigger media whore PITA.

[Gullyborg]

Hopefully, the loss in the Presidential primary will be McCain's swan song, and he will disappear from politics the way Bob Dole did after losing the election in 1996.

McCain is old and feeble (yet another reason not to support him for such a strenuous job), and probably won't have many good years left in him, regardless of what happens in 2008. I expect he is in his last Senate term right now, and will leave public life if he fails to get elected President.

I hope, at least.