[jbock13]

He's not conservative Purple. He's stated plenty of times he's not until Iowa.

I don't care what he says. I care what he's done. And his record tells me he's no friend of freedom.

[Purple Haize]

What the crap is Santorum talking about? This is the worst speech EVER. How does deep economic policy fire up the masses?
And now he is bashing the guy he endorsed in 08? And who is the supposed flip flapper again?
And I think he is conservative.

[skywalker5291]

Good showing for Paul. This is a two man race. Unfortunately i think Romney wins in the long run but still voting Ron come VA primary and in the general. Also agree that Santorum is a flash in the pan even though i like him more than Romney.

[Purple Haize]

Good showing for Paul. This is a two man race. Unfortunately i think Romney wins in the long run but still voting Ron come VA primary and in the general. Also agree that Santorum is a flash in the pan even though i like him more than Romney.

You are going to write in for Paul in the general election? That's a great move

[Realist]

Most Paul supporters will be writing in Paul if he's not the nomination.

I plan to do the same.

[ALUmnus]

Most Paul supporters will be writing in Paul if he's not the nomination.

I plan to do the same.

I thought you were a "realist". No?

[jbock13]

And this Ron Paul supporter here will gladly vote for Mitt over Obama. We need Obama out. The Democratic Party is full of socialists who do not share the ideals of our founders. Sure, the Republicans suck but to say that there's no difference between Republicans and Democrats is about one of the stupidest arguments I've ever heard.

And one of you Paul supporters will make that argument right below me.

[Realist]

Not going to vote for someone just because they are a "lesser evil" than someone else. Honestly, any other Republican than Paul will basically be another Bush/Obama clone with one or two differences.

I also think the nation needs a viable third/fourth parties rather than the mess we have now.

I will vote for who I think should be President, not for who I am told can beat Obama, especially if that person will be pretty much the same president as Obama.

[jbock13]

And that's totally an illogical argument. Romney is not Obama.

[bradyfan]

That's honestly the closest election that I think I've ever seen. 8 votes? Wow. Really impressed with Santorum, kind of has the Huckabee feel to him. Romney and Paul definitely are the forces to be reckoned with right now but as to who has a better shot at beating Obama, I have no idea. Honestly, if Paul wins, I think alot of Republicans will simply not vote or will go independent. If he loses, I imagine that he runs as an independent, and he definitely has the support to take a large portion of Republican votes with him. I really don't like any of these candidates so far, other than Mitt was a governor so he has better knowledge of how a government budget works. Outside of that, I really don't support anyone right now.

What surprised me most about this primary, was that Larry Sabato picked Gingrich to win. That guy is normally spot on but that was pretty stupid prediction.

[jbock13]

Ron Paul will not run third party. Mark my words.

[From the class of 09]

Ron Paul will not run third party. Mark my words.

Are you more or less confident of this than you were of our head FB coach not being Turner?

[Purple Haize]

Not going to vote for someone just because they are a "lesser evil" than someone else. Honestly, any other Republican than Paul will basically be another Bush/Obama clone with one or two differences.

I also think the nation needs a viable third/fourth parties rather than the mess we have now.

I will vote for who I think should be President, not for who I am told can beat Obama, especially if that person will be pretty much the same president as Obama.

Sometimes in life it is about picking the least bad option. And that seems to be the scenario you are looking at now. You think Paul is the best option. Fine. By if he doesn't win you are going to have to decide what the least bad option is. The 1 or 2 things you think are different between Obama and Romney is a good place to start. For starters, Romney has pledged repeatedly to repeal Obamacare. IF he does not do it, he will be a failed president. If Obama stays in, he certainly isn't going to repeal it. So do you think that is a big enough difference? The simple question at that point is do you want 4 more years of Obama or not. If not, and you write in a candidate, you are hurting yourself.

[RubberMallet]

Ron Paul will not run third party. Mark my words.

if he didn't the first time, i don't think he will this time.

my vote here in illinois and in this county is pretty much a throw away vote so i would have no problem voting for ron paul (did 3 years ago as a write in) but this year may be different....hopefully.

[Sly Fox]

I'm still trying to figure out how Dick Durbin ever got elected anything above dog catcher. I remember him as my congressman when I was in high school and he could barely put together sentences on the campaign trail. But he knew how to work the farmers.

[LUconn]

What party would Paul run? Does he have the money to run as an (I)? Because he's not a member of the Libertarian party, which you would have to be to get their nomination. I think they pick their nominee in May so he'd have to switch before then. Which he won't.

[jbock13]

Ron Paul will not run third party. Mark my words.

Are you more or less confident of this than you were of our head FB coach not being Turner?

Admittedly I know much more about politics than football apparently

[RubberMallet]

I'm still trying to figure out how Dick Durbin ever got elected anything above dog catcher. I remember him as my congressman when I was in high school and he could barely put together sentences on the campaign trail. But he knew how to work the farmers.

seriously this state is full of so many nitwits its infuriating. i vote for 2 democrats during our local elections, because the republicans that run against them are so completely moronic it makes my head hurt.

our farmers are easily dupable into supporting chicago politics.

[bradyfan]

I could be wrong but generally when you have a candidate like Paul, they tend to see their max potential early. I would doubt that many Gingrich supporters throw their support to Paul, once Gingrich is out. Same thing with Bachman, Perry and to a lesser extent Romney. The point being that Santorum or Romney will pick up many of the hangover votes from the other campaigns. I really think once we get down to a 2 person race, someone will pass Paul. While Paul has a strong base, just as many people hate him as they do like him. If Paul doesn't take one of the next two states, I think he's done.

[jbock13]

Romney and Paul are stuck at 20%. They aren't going up or down.

That leaves 60% of the "flavor of the month crowd". That's who to watch. Don't be surprised if Santorum is at 50% in national polls. But he will fall like the rest of them, not because he's terrible, but because the anti-Romney crowd will fall in love with someone else again. Like they always do.

Gingrich is done for. The anti-Romney crowd isn't coming back to him.

Bachmann pulling out helps give a small boost to Santorum's anti-Romney crowd.

[bradyfan]

But realize that the anti-Romney crowd isn't near as strong as the anti-Paul crow...

[jbock13]

But realize that the anti-Romney crowd isn't near as strong as the anti-Paul crow...

They're actually about the same in those terms. Those 60% hate Romney. Then about 90% of those 60% hate Paul, which is why they keep flip-flopping candidates.

[Purple Haize]

JB. I think CJ is right on this. There are more people who won't vote for Paul then won't vote for Romney. I think Romney will start to see an uptick as the heard thins. Also you will see more substantive answers and solution from his campaign that many will find very conservative. Too me, I'm not one who thinks Romney is too liberal. I think as his ideas get out there more people will see that too. Heck, dumping Obamacare should at least help his bona fidees. Sure he had state insurance in MASS but he says, and I believe him, that it is not a Federal responsibility. I like his experience, I like his optimism and I like his plans. I held out hope for Newt and Cain but seeing how they shook out, I'm pulling for Romney. ( with Paul Ryan or Bobby Jindal as his veep!)

[jbock13]

and you would say that because you're in the tank for Mitt.

It is what it is Haize. I'll move a bit to say that the same percentage of people who hate Paul, hate Mitt. They may not be the same individual people, but they're the same number.

[Purple Haize]

and you would say that because you're in the tank for Mitt.

It is what it is Haize. I'll move a bit to say that the same percentage of people who hate Paul, hate Mitt. They may not be the same individual people, but they're the same number.

I'm in the tank for him now yes.
I would say people have stronger negative feelings about Paul. People have uneasy feelings about Romney.
(and no one likes Huntsman)!