I hadn't checked the GOP Straw Poll numbers for awhile now until today. To say there are any surprises, is a bit of an overstatement. I am not surprised, although I suspect that many in the lamestream media are shocked to see their fair-haired boy in negative numbers. Yes, that paragon chameleon back stabber, John McCain, is trailing with a negative of -34.7%, falling far behind George Alan with a +33.8%, Rudy Giulliani with a +21.4%, Mitt Romney with a +11.2% and even Newt Gingrich with a +0.5%. McCain even lags Mike Huckabee at -10.8%, Sam Brownbeck at -11.3%, and Tom Tancredo at -18.8%. The only three on the poll who poll worse than McCain are Chuck Hagel at -51.5%, George Pataki at -50% and Bill Frist at -36.6%.
I don't see any way for McCain to improve his numbers much with the Republican base, most of whom don't trust him and many of whom actively dislike him.
Of course, this is only a straw poll, definitely not scientific and with no safe guard against ballot stuffing, but even so, there is so much discrepancy between McCain and the front runners among those taking the poll ... those who are most vocal and politically active most likely ... that it does seem as though the die is set.
If you would like to take the poll, click HERE
Senators McCain and Hagel both have a lot of the Republican base angry with them over various issues. McCain on a number of stances he has taken and Hagel on his criticism of the war in Iraq. I think that both would make good candidates, but it will be difficult for either of them to win back enough of the base to win a primary election.
Posted by: Charlie | 28 March 2006 at 09:24 PM