John Hawkins of Right Wing News, the perennial sunny optimist, posted the results of the annual right-of-center bloggers’ poll regarding the 2008 GOP nomination. The poll asked conservative bloggers whom they would most like to see as the GOP nominee, and to also identify who they’d least like to win the nod. At least one of the results was a bit surprising.
The results of the poll can be found here. And here is the ranking of the candidates if you take the difference of their most desired and least desired votes:
Newt Gingrich +52 / -13.5 = 38.5
Duncan Hunter +35.5 / -3.5 = 32
Mitt Romney 43 / -11.5 = 31.5
Rudy Giuliani +45 / -17 = 28
Tommy Thompson 15.5 / -9 = 6.5
Mike Huckabee +14 / -12 = 2
Tom Tancredo 31.5 / -30 = 1.5
Jim Gilmore +5.5 / -5.5 = 0
John Cox +4 / -4.5 = -.5
Sam Brownback +20 / -21 = -1
Ron Paul 8.5 / -10.5 = -2
John McCain +19 / -60.5 = -41.5
George Pataki 1 / -49 = -48
Chuck Hagel +1 / -64 = -63
At least one of these results sticks out like a sore thumb. Duncan Hunter, a seemingly lower-tier candidate for the GOP nomination, finds himself sandwiched between the big boys. He places second only to Newt, edging out Romney and Giuliani and beating everyone else by a mile. Query: is this the beginning of Hunter-mania?
Truth be told, guys like Hunter don’t win the GOP presidential nomination. A Hunter nomination is almost unthinkable; it would be Goldwater redux. That doesn’t mean, though, that Hunter couldn’t prove a spoiler in Iowa by coming in second or third and claiming the “conservative” mantle, only to lack the support to place in New Hampshire or beyond. In so doing, Hunter would probably knock all of the candidates not named Rudy or McCain out of the race, thus setting up that two-man race for the subsequent primaries. It’s difficult to imagine a guy like Hunter going the distance though given the presence of two heavyweights in the presidential field of a party that likes heirs apparent.
Still, don’t underestimate the “they all suck” mentality of conservatives as we head into 2008. The desire to protest-vote may be stronger than we all realize.
January 27th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
McCain just lost more ground in the race to win the hearts of right-wing bloggers…
http://political-buzz.com/?p=13
January 27th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
[...] post by DaveG and software by Elliott [...]
January 27th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Rudy isn’t doing too bad among Conservatives in this poll either, which is pretty significant. He has higher positives than everyone but Gingrich and lower negatives than Brownback. Among Conservatives! Hmmmmmmm. . .Giuliani/Hunter ’08?
January 27th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
As far as Hunter’s numbers are concerned, I think his higher score is due mainly to the fact that he got so few least favorite votes. Why? Because the bloggers know he doesn’t stand a chance. Just as Dave G said, a Hunter nomination is unthinkable. He is, in my opinion a death-trap for the GOP’s chances of retaining the White House.
January 27th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
A death trap, but what a way to go.
January 27th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Wow. Fascinating stuff.
The one candidate of yours who has real centrist appeal, and is in the mainstream of America on the major issue of the day, is in dead last, by a very long shot.
Right below the other moderate who is with the American people on the war issue (at least the surge issue).
What does this say about the distance between the right-blogosphere and the American people?
January 27th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Tano,
The one candidate of yours who has real centrist appeal, and is in the mainstream of America on the major issue of the day, is in dead last, by a very long shot.
I can say the same thing about Joe Lieberman on your side of the aisle.
January 27th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Great point LJ!
January 27th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
LJ,
Nah, Joe is not in the mainstream of America on the war issue.
In fact, he is more to the right than a third of the GOP presidential field.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Of all the candidates, I think Hunter and Rudy would be the best presidents. Hunter is a solid conservative on all issues and is a war hawk. But he has a very earnest demeanor and puts a good face on social conservatism. I love the guy.
January 28th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Maybe one of ya’ll could put together a bigger profile of Duncan Hunter. From what I know, he is a bit of a paleo-con, but I doubt he fits squarely into any one category.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I’ve been proudly displaying my “Duncan Hunter for President” magnet on my truck since December.
Again, see how it is a magnet, though, because even though he’s my choice, I know his chances are slim to none.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
These “front runners” have little chance of appealing to the conservative base, despite all the spin.
Their big money cannot erase all of their liberal votes and positions.