Michele Bachmann Shares Lead in Iowa with Mitt Romney
Posted: June 26, 2011 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, Republican politics, Republican presidential politics, U.S. Politics | Tags: 2012 presidential election, Des Moines Register, evangelical Christians, GOP presidential candidates, Iowa Caucuses, Michele Bachman, Mitt Romney, Mormonism, Tim Pawlenty 9 Comments
You’ve probably heard the news that Michele Bachmann is in a statistical dead heat with Mitt Romney in the Iowa Register’s GOP presidential poll.
The Des Moines Register’s poll is the first measure of likely GOP caucus-goers.
So far, Mitt Romney is leading the pack with 23 percent. But Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is just one point behind him with 22 percent.
Hermain Cain finished a distant third with 10 percent. Then its former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, both with 7 percent.
Minnesota’s former Governor Tim Pawlenty, who’s focused so much of his campaigning in Iowa, finished sixth with 6 percent.
Rick Santorum finished with 4 percent and Jon Huntsman is the top choice for 2 percent of the potential caucusgoers.
Nate Silver argues that Pawlenty still has a chance:
…the horse race numbers need to be interpreted cautiously. Instead, I’d pay just as much attention to the impression that voters have of each candidate.
You have to dig down to find those numbers, but they are much better for Mr. Pawlenty: some 58 pecent of voters view him favorably, versus 13 percent unfavorably. The figures for Mr. Romney, by contrast, are 52 percent favorable but 38 percent unfavorable.
Put simply, there is considerable upside in Mr. Pawlenty’s numbers — and some downside for Mr. Romney, who is effectively competing for the votes of perhaps only 50 or 60 percent of the voters in the state because of his relatively moderate positions.
Unfortunately, Pawlenty’s real problem is that he booooorrrrring. Besides, he’s a right-wing “Christian” too.
So basically, unless Sarah Palin jumps into the race, Romney and Bachmann are the only viable candidates for the Republican nomination. I think Bachmann will beat Romney in the Iowa Caucuses for three reasons:
1) Bachmann’s far right evangelical “Christianity” trumps Romney’s Mormonism.
2) Bachmann is a compulsively hard worker and true believer; Romney doesn’t know the meaning of hard work, and he has no moral values or ideology.
3) Michele Bachmann was born in Iowa.
The good news is that Bachmann probably can’t beat Romney in New Hampshire, but you never know.
In an interview today Bachmann explained that
her bid to unseat President Barack Obama shouldn’t be viewed as “anything personal” against the Democrat but says he’s “just wrong” on his policies for America….
[T]he Minnesota congresswoman also said she doesn’t foresee problems moving from frequent naysayer to the country’s proposer-in-chief. She says voters can expect her to propose an economic agenda that includes cuts to corporate taxes and phase-outs of taxes on inheritances and investment earnings.Bachmann’s nothing-personal message departs from her 2008 comments questioning whether Obama had “anti-American” views. She has said she wishes she framed her criticism differently.
Well, that’s darn sporting of her. I guess Obama can breathe a sigh of relief now.
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Big crowd turns out for Bachmann’s “welcome home party.”
BB did you see this from Pat Johnson over at TW? I PROPOSE A “DRINKING GAME” « The Widdershins
I am genuinely frightened that Michele Bachmann may indeed be the next president.
I have no doubt she’ll blow all the other Tea-Party and fellow traveler candidates out of the water. As freaky as she is, she’s more compelling than any of them, and by all accounts she has a much stronger work ethic. For either Romney or Huntsman to get the nomination, they would have to be able to successfully blow off losses in both Iowa and South Carolina–something no GOP nominee for President has managed. South Carolinian GOP voters aren’t going to vote for a Mormon, and they’re probably inclined to support Bachmann regardless.
If the economy is still crap in November 2012–and all indications are that it will be–Obama is likely toast. I think he and his people are hoping for a scenario like the one that reelected Jennifer Granholm governor here in Michigan. The thinking would be that the GOP nominee is so repulsive that people will reelect him by default no matter how lackluster he is. However, Granholm had the wind of widespread anti-GOP sentiment at her back in 2006. I’m not sure Obama can count on that.
Me too. I’m terrified of her. And wait till I finish my post on her religious beliefs. Then you’ll really be scared.
Oh wow, that you have even more crazy stuff on her makes her becoming president even more frightening.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be all that shocked if Bachmann won New Hampshire.
My condolences. Bachmann to my intuition is the worst case scenario and definitely not because she’s female – but because she’s controlled by males with very nasty ambitions.
One thing among many that one could not say about Hillary Clinton (although many tried) – she was not controled by anyone – not even her campaign staff. Bachman – a different kettle of whatever. I don’t think she has a chance, but she could become a very important (meaning her handlers) part of the final decision. Bless you all and I hope that you will rise above this.
This is the kind of stuff that does not make sense, at least logically to me.
Bachmann Supports New York’s Right To Enact Marriage Equality Law | ThinkProgress
And why? because of all the states rights stuff she goes on about.
Then there is this, George Will Jon Huntsman | Obama Huntsman 2012 | ABC Video | Mediaite
Huhn, Understand politics like Reagan? Are people that stupid? REagan had handlers from the time he became popular as an actor. Ronald REagan was an actor. Ronald Reagan was suffering from Alzheimers from most of his occupation in the Presidential chair – especially after he was shot. What is so difficule to understand. Ronald REagan never ran the country – his handlers did.