Race Called … Mitt Romney Wins New Hampshire Primary, Ron Paul Second and Huntsman Third … Obama Gets Only 82% Running Unopposed

FOX News has called the New Hampshire primary, Texas Congressman second and Huntsman third. Not surprising, Romney has won the NH primary; however, even though Romney will win by double digits, if he does not capture 40% of the vote it would be difficult to get too excited.

Mitt Romney

It comes as no surprise that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire primary. Romney has now won Iowa and New Hampshire. He now looks to the South Carolina primary to see if he can go thee for three. With US Senator Kelly Ayotte, Congressman Charlie Bass and former Senator Judd Gregg behind him, Romney could not lose.

Romney battled not only his rivals but also high expectations as the ballots were counted, particularly since his pursuers had virtually conceded New Hampshire and were already pointing to the South Carolina primary on Jan. 21 as the place to block his rise.

Seeking to undercut Romney’s victory, Gingrich and others sere suggesting that anything below 40 percent or so would indicate weakness by the nomination front-runner.

UPDATE I: With all due respect to the Politico, Rick Santorum did not crash back to Earth, NH has become far too liberal for any Conservative to run there.  However, what I do agree with the Politico is why Santorum wasted any of his time, money and resources in a state where he had no chance. C’mon man … what was Santorum thinking? New Hampshire picked Ron Paul second and Huntsman third. Huntsman? Look for Santorum to do much better in South Carolina. Watch the VIDEO below of the breakdown of who voted for Huntsman … 51% of people who voted for Huntsman said they were satisfied with Barack Obama as President. HUH?  Maybe Huntsman thought he was running in the Democrat primary this evening. This is what happens when a state allows anyone to vote in a primary, not just those registered of the party affiliation.

UPDATE I: Wow, Obama only gets 82% of the vote in NH primary running unopposed. Hardly a ringing endorsement for Barack Obama. Nearly 6000 people came out and voted for a write-in candidate against Obama. Thanks for the link Jim!

UPDATE II: Romney off to South Carolina for the political primary trifecta. Could it all be over if Romney wins SC?

2012 Iowa Republican Caucus: Its a Three Way Race Between Romney, Santorum and Paul (Update: Ron Paul Finishes Third)

The 2012 Iowa Caucus as been a nip and tuck, too close to call horse race all night long. Its been back and forth between the three lead horses, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. What will come of this, is Iowa really going to make Ron Paul the winner? Really?

See real time poll results at Fox News.

Presently with 87% of the vote in at 9:50 PM CST … Santorum 25%, Romney 25% and Paul 22%. It is rather interesting that Paul’s negative and nasty ads may have cost him voted in the waning moments leading into today’s caucus vote. Paul may have savaged Gingrich; however, he might have done harm to himself as well.

Continued updates can be found at The Other McCain … Santorum having a hell of a showing tonight, Beating even surge projections. Talk about peaking just at the right time. Will Santorum be able to sustain the momentum and the slings and arrows that will follow not that he is a top tier candidate?

UPDATE I: Fox News predicts that Ron Paul finishes third. WOW, what happened to all the Paulies in Iowa? Third? Sorry folks but this is a major failure and set back for the Paul campaign.

UPDATE II: So far predicted finishes … 3rd Ron Paul, 4th Newt Gingrich, 5th Perry, 6th Michele Bachmann and 7th Huntsman. It is still up in the air as to who is #1 and #2, Romney or Santorum.

UPDATE III: At 10:44  PM CST with 95% of votes counted: Santorum 29,017 – Romney 28,908

UPDATE IV: 11:23 PM CST – Romney 29,625 – Santorum 25,584

Americans see President Obama as the Farthest Candidate from Them Ideologically Including All Republicans

Barack Obama … the most out of touch candidate for American ideology …

According to a recent Gallup poll should cause yet more concern for President Barack Obama for the 2012 elections. Americans see Obama as the farthest candidate from them ideologically than any of the GOP primary candidates. Should this really come as a surprise as Barack Obama is the most liberal and polarizing President ever elected. Although many Americans are not not sure of some of the Republican candidates, they have had three years to figure out exactly what Obama’s ideology is. 57% consider Obama vet liberal/liberal, while 15% polled were smoking crack stating that Obama was very conservative/conservative. If Obama has not yet convinced America that he is not “very liberal” at this point, it is a lost cause. America knows exactly what Barack Obama is and stands for, there is no fooling the public like 2008.

What should further trouble Obama is that Independents consider Obama the farthest away from their ideology as well.  As for Republicans, enough said. However, just how out of touch are Democrats with the main stream of society? They think Barack Obama is spot on with their ideology.

This is coupled with other polling data showing Obama loses a hypothetical match up with Mitt Romney 45% to 39%.

UPDATE I: Barack Obama’s job approval rating back down to 41% approval – 50% disapproval as per Gallup!

Newt Gingrich Compares Failure to make VA ballot Similar to, ah … Pearl Harbor

I thought Newt Gingrich was a noted historian? He might want to rethink his analogy of failing to make the Virginia ballot being a lot like Pearl Harbor.

Over the weekend we learned that several GOP Presidential candidates failed to make the Virginia primary ballot as they did not attain the proper amount of signatures of registered voters required to get their names on the ballot for the March 6 primary. Among the GOP hopefuls were Newt Gingrich and Texas Governor Rick Perry failed to qualify for Virginia’s Republican primary.

Upon learning that he failed to meet the primary qualifications, Newt Gingrich likened his failure to make the ballot to Pearl Harbor.  HUH? Sorry, did I miss something? Newt might be considered a noted historian but I am a history major myself with a concentration in US History and US Military history. Also, my senior thesis was on American-Japanese relations post 1900.  Dear Mr. Gingrich, I fail to see the comparison, even if you are referencing the set-back of the attack on Pearl Harbor rather than the sneak attack and death of so many military personnel.

Forgive me Newt if I do not believe that you and any other GOP Presidential candidate failing to make the Virginia primary ballot is not considered a date that will live in infamy. You might have wanted to use a more appropriate comparison.

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich stepped into controversy Christmas weekend as he compared his exclusion from the Virginia primary ballot to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

“Newt and I agreed that the analogy is December 1941: We have experienced an unexpected setback, but we will re-group and re-focus with increased determination, commitment and positive action,” Campaign Director Michael Krull wrote on Gingrich’s official Facebook page on Saturday.

Offering what appeared to be an FDR-inspired rallying cry, Krull continued: “Throughout the next months there will be ups and downs; there will be successes and failures; there will be easy victories and difficult days — but in the end, we will stand victorious.”

Gingrich stated that the process to get on the VA ballot was a failed system. That may be the case Newt, but you knew in advance what the system was and what the requirements were and failed to meet those standards. HELL, most of the present US Government process is a failed system and “WE THE PEOPLE” have to abide by the guidelines, process and laws. What it generally shows me is that Gingrich’s does not have the apparatus in place for his campaign. After all, following Newt’s failure to get on the ballot he stated that he would run as a “write in” candidate only to learn that Virgina state law does not allow for such in a primary vote.

Hot Air has suggested some other better comparisons that Newt could have used that would have been much better than Pearl Harbor. They suggest that Dieppe and Gallipoli  as a “unexpected setback.”  Agreed! One might even use Gen. George Washington’s retreat through NJ and across the Delaware after setbacks against British commander, General Sir William Howe in the battles to take NYC. One could also have used Union general Oliver Otis Howard setbacks during the Civil Wat at at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, only to recovery and be much more effective from lessons learned in the Western Theater at the Battles for Chattanooga and Atlanta. Or the numerous Allied setbacks during WW II like in Burma, the Battle of Coral Sea, and the numerous initial setbacks in the Pacific Theater.

Needless to say, poor choice of words Newt. You might want to better next time, like having the organization in place in a state to abide by the process so that you don’t compare the next set back to September 11, 2001.

NBC News-Marist Polls Has Gingrich Up Big in South Carolina & Florida Over Romney …

According to the latest NBC News-Marist Polls, Newt Gingrich is continuing his momentum and is up big in South Carolina and Florida. Newt leads in SC 38% to 22% and Gingrich leads in Florida over Romney 39% to 26%.  Given the polling samples, I would dare say that Democrats or those leaning are voting for Gingrich, the candidate they believe cannot beat Obama. Sorry, something just seems not right with the sampling for states like South Carolina and Florida.

According to new NBC News-Marist polls, the former House speaker has now opened up commanding leads in South Carolina and Florida — two states that historically have played important roles in deciding the eventual Republican nominee.

Fueled by the support from conservatives and the Tea Party, Gingrich is ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by nearly 20 points in South Carolina.  The winner of that state’s primary has gone on to capture each GOP nomination since 1980.

In South Carolina, which holds its presidential contest on Jan. 21, Gingrich gets the support of 42 percent of likely primary voters, including those leaning toward a particular candidate. That’s a 35-point jump since October’s NBC-Marist poll of the Palmetto State contest.

Full South Carolins Poll can be read HERE. As for the polling data, not sure how one can poll more Democrat leading individuals in a state like SC that votes Republicans and is for subject matter that pertains to a GOP primary.

The full Florida poll can be read HERE.  Once again this polling data is based upon 44% Democrat, 33% Republican and 22% Independents.

As stated at Outside the Beltway, Gingrich obviously has the momentum as seen by the RCP average polling. However, how long will it last and is the bias MSM just waiting for a Newt victory before they begin their Pro-Obama reporting and bring out the political knives to carve up Gingrich’s past.

Newt Gingrich Up Big in Latest Gallup Poll … 15% Lead over Romney

In the latest Gallup Poll, Newt Gingrich 37% … Mitt Romney 22% … Ron Paul 8%.

The momentum continues for Newt Gingrich and his run for the GOP Presidential nomination.  Since early November 2011, Gingrich has gained 24% in the polls while Romney has stayed even. It would appear that most of Herman Cain’s support has gone to Newt. Mean while as stated at Hot Air, “Newt continues to crush Romney among tea partiers and seniors.”

Gingrich Does Better Among Conservative Republicans and Tea Party Supporters

Gingrich’s lead is especially large among conservative Republicans and those who describe themselves as supporters of the Tea Party movement, with more than twice the level of support of any other candidate. Romney ties Gingrich among Republicans who are not Tea Party supporters, and the race is close among moderate/liberal Republicans.

Across the board, Newt Gingrich is surging in the polls. Most importantly in Iowa where a new NY Times/CBS poll has Newt ahead of Romney by 14% …  31% to 17%. As it stands now, Gingrich could win Iowa, place second in NH and win South Carolina. All this as Romney looks on one month before the GOP primary/caucus season begins and wonder what hit him and his candidacy.

by Brian in a Blue State

Gingrich Leads in Iowa Caucus over Paul & Romney … 25%, 18%, 16%

Newt Gingrich in the lead in Iowa over GOP primary presidential candidates in a Des Moines Register poll of likely GOP caucusgoers:

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich has carved out a clear lead in what’s become a three-candidate race in Iowa, according to The Des Moines Register’s new Iowa Poll.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul has risen into second place, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has slid to third with just over a month before the Iowa caucuses kick off voting in the presidential nominating process.

Gingrich has support from 25 percent of likely Republican caucusgoers, Paul is at 18 percent and Romney at 16 percent.

Look for Herman Cain’s 8% to now move to other candidates now that Cain has has left the race. More from Hot Air, including the forcast that most of Cain’s support  will break for Newt and push his support up to 30%.

GOP Presidential Hopeful Newt Gingrich on a Poll Roll … Leads Romney in FLA Big & National Poll: Gingrich 45% Obama 43%

Call him the come back kid … Newt Gingrich is on a political poll roll and the momentum is on his side …

It was not too long ago that Newt Gingrich found himself floundering in the polls, low on campaign donations as his GOP presidential primary candidacy was on life support. That was then and this is now. The Newtster is now on a roll, has the wind in his sails and has skyrocketed to the top of the GOP primary polls.

According to a recent Rasmussen poll, Gingrich has closed the gap in New Hampshire to front running Mitt Romney.  Newt is now in second place in the Granite state and trails by only 10%. A close second place finish in NH would be an huge win for Gingrich as a slap in the face to former neighboring state Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Gingrich leads in Iowa: Gingrich 32%, Romney 19%, Cain 13%. Also Gingrich is up big in Florida and ahead in South Carolina.

In a hypothetical match up between Newt and Barack Obama, for the first time, Gringrich leads Obama 45% to 43%. It was not that long ago that Newt trailed Obama by double digits.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Gingrich attracting 45% of the vote while President Obama earns support from 43%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Last week,  Gingrich trailed the president by six. Two weeks ago,  he was down by twelve.

The question remains whether Newt Gingrich is the newest flavor of the month and the latest to take the mantle of the not-Romney candidate or will he have the staying power to challenge Mitt Romney and win the GOP nomination?

NH’s Union County Leader Newspaper Disses Romney … Endorses Newt Gingrich for President

Newt Gingrich get endorsement from the Union Leader.

Mitt Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts, has an overwhelming 41% to 14% lead over GOP Presidential hopeful Gingrich in the polls leading up to the New Hampshire primaries. New Hampshire’s popular and influential newspaper, the Union Leader, has endorsed Newt Gingrich for President. Whether such endorsements have as much political influence as they used to is yet to be seen. However, what cannot be denied is the continued momentum of the former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.

The Union Leader

This newspaper endorses Newt Gingrich in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

America is at a crucial crossroads. It is not going to be enough to merely replace Barack Obama next year. We are in critical need of the innovative, forward-looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing.

He did so with the Contract with America. He did it in bringing in the first Republican House in 40 years and by forging balanced budgets and even a surplus despite the political challenge of dealing with a Democratic President. A lot of candidates say they’re going to improve Washington. Newt Gingrich has actually done that, and in this race he offers the best shot of doing it again.

Newt Gingrich is by no means the perfect candidate. But Republican primary voters too often make the mistake of preferring an unattainable ideal to the best candidate who is actually running. In this incredibly important election, that candidate is Newt Gingrich. He has the experience, the leadership qualities and the vision to lead this country in these trying times. He is worthy of your support on January 10.

It is hard to imagine that Gingrich could defeat Romney in the Granite state as Romney still has political endorsements from NH politicians including former Gov. John Sununu, former US Sen. Judd Gregg, and US Sen. Kelly Ayotte. However, a strong second place showing for Gingrich could go a long way.

Mike Huckabee Wins York County Republican Party Convention 2012 Presidental Straw Poll in South Carolina

Another straw poll …

Mike Huckabee has won a 2012 presidential straw poll conducted at the York County Republican Party Convention in South Carolina on Saturday. Interestingly enough, Huckabee has not yet declared his candacy, nor has he really shown any indication that he is looking to run. Huckabee won with 23% of the 152 ballots cast. Other notables were former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who came in second with 11% and Minnesota US Rep. Michele Bachmann who finished third with 10% of the vote.

The informal vote was the first of many upcoming straw polls taking place this month at grassroots GOP gatherings across South Carolina, one of the four crucial early voting states in the presidential nominating process.

Huckabee’s win Saturday occurred at the York County Republican Party convention. The former Arkansas governor won York County in the state’s 2008 presidential primary despite losing the overall contest to Sen. John McCain. York encompasses parts of the Charlotte, North Carolina suburbs and is one of the most populous counties in South Carolina.

Michelle Bachmann in third … is she the Sarah Palin of 2012?