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Feb. 2, 2008 For all intents and purposes, Republicans can count out Mitt “The Stormin’ Mormon” Romney and anoint John “The Rifleman” McCain as their party’s nominee for President. It looks more and more like McCain’s bandwagon might break an axle due to the sudden influx of those jumping on board. As I predicted more than a year ago, McCain would be formidable and the ascension of Rudy Giuliani was a case of the GOPs premature emasculation of the Arizona Senator. (Democrats Must Contend With John “The Rifleman” McCain,/ http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/june/article266.html) I did not see Fred Thompson, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter or Mike Huckabee joining this race, but once they did, it was easy to see that they would wind up also-rans. Only Thompson had wide name recognition and by many accounts, he got in the race too late and failed to present a clear message to voters. I was certain that conservatives would slit each others throats if and when Newt Gingrich and Condoleezza Rice entered the fray. I’m sure the Democrats were grateful that neither of these “big guns” hit primary trail. Moreover, the Dems are probably salivating at the prospect of Huckabee being McCain’s running mate. The Arkansas Governor has shown that he doesn’t like to do his homework, and appears to be one Gerald Ford “Russia doesn’t dominate Eastern Europe”-type gaffe from handing the general election to the Dems. Furthermore. His hardline stance on homosexuality and gay marriage will alienate a large constituency. Huckabee has proven he might wuilt under the heat when he fidgeted and stammered his way through an questions on these subjects during an interview with KPIX’s H\ank Plante. The Democrats, however, have serious problems of their own. On her way to what was perceived as her imminent coronation, Hillary Clinton beat back expected challengers Bill Richardson (whose impressive credentials failed to resonate with voters), Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards and Joe Biden. No one saw Barack Obama on the horizon, and after his impressive win in Iowa, they still thought he lacked the fire and doggedness to fight the Clinton political machine. Furthermore, with Bill seemingly sticking his foot in his mouth every five minutes, he will have to take a less visible role if his wife makes it to the general election. Democrats seem to be acknowledging Hillary’s being unelectable. She has a high disapproval rating among both her fellow Democrats and women. Republicans have successfully portrayed her as far too liberal, an advocate of higher taxes, and her husband Bill as part of a potential two-headed monster. Bill comes with his own set of baggage. Knowing how dirty the fall campaign will be, I can already hear Hillary stammering for an answer if and when she’s asked, “Senator, how can we be sure that you can focus on running the country if your husband is again sexually involved with a White House intern?” Another factor that might make Hill’s climb a perilous one, is if she comes off as bashing Obama. Her “slumlord” diatribe did not play well in the black community, as she came off much like the irate missus of a plantation scolding a belligerent underling. There could be a backlash from such a perception that could push the party’s more conservative blacks to cast their lot with McCain. (Trust me, blacks are more conservative than one might think). Conservative columnist Thomas Sowell writes, “…if Republicans can get just a fourth or a fifth of the black vote nationwide, that can shift the balance of power decisively in their favor.” (Republicans and Blacks, /realclearpolitics.com, January 31, 2006). Another stark reality is that even with Richardson’s presence, the Hispanic vote is not a given. McCain also has a good deal of credibility with that segment of the population. It is important to note that during the 2004 general election, Democrat nominee John Kerry won the second highest total of popular votes in history—and still lost. / If Hillary is the party’s nominee, The Hispanic vote and black vote will have to turn out en force. Hence, some of the Democrats top guns (Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, California Rep. George Miller, et al.) have begun lining up behind Barack, who may be politically “green,” but comes with less baggage than the duo known as “Billary.” ------------ About the author: Timothy N. Stelly is a poet, novelist and screenwriter living in Northern California. His first book of poetry, Stories From The Black Side of the Rainbow, will be released this summer. He is currently editing the final draft of his urban apocalyptic sci-fi novel, Human Trial. website: http://stellbreadO@tripod.com Email: stellbread@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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