So Volatile Anyone Could Win!

The republican race for President in 2008 is becoming very exciting. Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel was on MTP today and did a very fine job and certainly distinguished himself as a viable and likeable candidate for the republican nomination. Hagel certainly has the background and experience to be President.

Today’s Washington Post has an article by former Clinton special counsel Lanny Davis proposing an odd nomination scenario. He’s talking about McCain-Clinton ’08, Obama-Hagel, and whole bunch of “provocative possibilities”.

I would doubt that any of these different combinations would ever come into being. The stakes are too high, but also, after analyzing the situation I think voters would wonder who was really in charge?

A likely combination which would be unique would be a Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich team. Gingrich is enough of a theorist that he’d think as Vice President he’d have a good chance of becoming President someday.

What would you say to President Gingirch?

The polls are starting to come out now about the 2008 election. I must say that I am not too surprised by what they say about the republican party and its direction.

One of the polls I saw was from ARG. They had produced results from the first 4 states which will have either primaries or caucuses. Polling results and the actual election results can vary depending on if the election is a primary type election or an Iowa caucus. I’ll bet that there will be some significant differences between actual caucus states, i.e. Nevada and Iowa. So hang on it could be a real roller coaster ride to the nomination.

My sense is a real outsider could make it this election. It might be the year of a Mitt Romney or Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. There’s even talk of former Virginia Governor and US Senator George Allen running. This race is totally wide open.

Here’s what ARG says so far:

Iowa: Giuliani is first, McCain is second and Gingrich is third.

Nevada: Giuliani is first, McCain is second and Gingrich is third again.

South Carolina: McCain is first in this conservative state, Giuliani is now second and Gingrich third.

Finally, the all important New Hampshire has, McCain, Giuliani and Gingrich.

What this all tells me is there’s room for others to make a move. A more conservative candidate could push McCain and Gingrich aside, while a more moderate and flashier candidate could sweep away Giuliani. Nobody has a lock on this nomination. It will be exciting!