Shocking Minnesota Poll - Commanding lead for Newt Gingrich

[sea oat]

Whoa!

I'm beginning to regret that I took your question seriously.


I have no idea what goes through the minds of Newt supporters. I didn't vote for him when I had a chance. I was simply explaining a few things to you which are factual. The fact that you don't like those facts doesn't change things.

I'm supposing that you are for Romney. I'm OK with that. There are lots of other liberals here who have been beating the Romney drum as well ... a fact which sets off all sorts of alarm bells regarding Romney.


Gingrich may, in fact, be part of the very problem he criticizes. That's certainly Santorum's claim.





OK. I merely offered you my opinion that Gingrich and Ron Paul have exhibited a pattern of supporting each other in the debates.


So ... are you attempting to understand your enemy?

Or does Gingrich simply scare you so badly that you feel compelled to bash him here?

I'm absolutely not a Romney supporter. And, yes, I do feel compelled to "bash" Gingrich, if "bashing" means explaining why I find the man to be the most offensive person up there to toss the keys of the presidency to.

Lord grant me peace if it's ever a Pelosi vs. Gingrich election. I'll pack my bags for certain.

 

[NightHawkeye]

I'm absolutely not a Romney supporter.

I'm with you, LOL.

And, yes, I do feel compelled to "bash" Gingrich, if "bashing" means explaining why I find the man to be the most offensive person up there to toss the keys of the presidency to.

Lots of people seem to agree with you, sea oat.

Lord grant me peace if it's ever a Pelosi vs. Gingrich election. I'll pack my bags for certain.

... and serenity to accept the things that I cannot change. Here's hoping that Pelosi doesn't get her party's nod.

 

[Maren]

It looks like we finally got another Minnesota poll, and as I had suspected, Newt is no longer in first. Actually, this poll was good news for Santorum, as it shows him with a 2 point lead over Romney (29% Santorum to 27% Romney, which makes it a virtual tie when you factor the margin of error). Additionally, they released a Colorado poll where Santorum is running second to Romney (40% Romney to 26% Santorum).

It will be interesting to see if Newt can survive February, as he appears to have lost the title of "anti-Romney" to Santorum.

 

[NightHawkeye]

It looks like we finally got another Minnesota poll, and as I had suspected, Newt is no longer in first. Actually, this poll was good news for Santorum, as it shows him with a 2 point lead over Romney (29% Santorum to 27% Romney, which makes it a virtual tie when you factor the margin of error). Additionally, they released a Colorado poll where Santorum is running second to Romney (40% Romney to 26% Santorum).

It will be interesting to see if Newt can survive February, as he appears to have lost the title of "anti-Romney" to Santorum.

If Santorum takes the lead from Romney, then Newt will have successfully done his job.

Romney looks shakier and shakier as this drags on ...
The New York Times is already attacking Romney because of "Wall Street" backing: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/u...rts-show-super-pac-donors.html?pagewanted=all

Close to 60 corporations and wealthy individuals gave checks of $100,000 or more to a “super PAC” supporting Mitt Romney in the months leading up to the Iowa caucuses, according to documents released on Tuesday, underwriting a $17 million blitz of advertising that has swamped his Republican rivals in the early primary states.
​

So much for the claim of all those small donations, Maren. And that's just last year's totals before the Iowa caucuses ... who knows how much more has rolled in this year for Mitt Romney ... to help him roll his opponents.

 

[Maren]

If Santorum takes the lead from Romney, then Newt will have successfully done his job.

Romney looks shakier and shakier as this drags on ...
The New York Times is already attacking Romney because of "Wall Street" backing: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/u...rts-show-super-pac-donors.html?pagewanted=all

Close to 60 corporations and wealthy individuals gave checks of $100,000 or more to a “super PAC” supporting Mitt Romney in the months leading up to the Iowa caucuses, according to documents released on Tuesday, underwriting a $17 million blitz of advertising that has swamped his Republican rivals in the early primary states.
​

So much for the claim of all those small donations, Maren. And that's just last year's totals before the Iowa caucuses ... who knows how much more has rolled in this year for Mitt Romney ... to help him roll his opponents.

Who claimed that the SuperPAC only received small donations? I know I never did. And interesting that your "populist" candidate's SuperPAC is largely funded by 1 person that has donated $10 million, as compared to Romney's SuperPAC that is funded by about 60 different people/groups.

What I did claim is that the Romney campaign has collected close to $60 million, with no donations greater than $2500.

 

[NightHawkeye]

What I did claim is that the Romney campaign has collected close to $60 million, with no donations greater than $2500.

Reference?

 

[Maren]

Reference?

Reference for what? That the Romney campaign has raised almost $60 million? You can find that info here (campaign had raised $57.1 million, SuperPAC had raised $30.2 million as of Feb 1). If you want a reference that the largest donation is $2500 then you can reference either Federal Law or the financial statements filed by the Romney campaign.

 

[NightHawkeye]

Reference for what? That the Romney campaign has raised almost $60 million? You can find that info here (campaign had raised $57.1 million, SuperPAC had raised $30.2 million as of Feb 1). If you want a reference that the largest donation is $2500 then you can reference either Federal Law or the financial statements filed by the Romney campaign.

Since your Romney reference is short on Romney information, I'll offer a more comprehensive reference on the Romney campaign finances, Maren: Election 2012: Fundraising Year-End Totals Reveal Obama Record, GOP Disparity, Rich Super PACs

While Romney is lapping his primary opponents in fundraising, a closer look at his numbers raises one major worry for a candidate facing a long primary slog against Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum. Romney has not connected with small donors, receiving less than 10 percent of his contributions from donors giving less than $200. Those small donations tend to signal the level of support for a candidate within a party's grassroots base.

Instead, Romney has relied heavily on donors giving the maximum amount. More than 60 percent of his 2011 total comes from supporters who have given $2,500 or more. To compete in a general election against the Obama fundraising machine, he will need to expand his fundraising base.

By contrast, Romney's opponents are underfunded but aided largely by small-dollar donors. Gingrich announced a take of $9 million in the fourth quarter, three times the amount he had raised in the second and third quarters combined. More than half of his fourth-quarter money came from small donors. Santorum reported a mere $900,000 raised in the fourth quarter. But his campaign declared that it has received more than $4 million since his Iowa caucus victory was made official. Paul's fundraising marches along with the candidate bringing in $13 million, for his best quarter yet.
​

Interesting breakdown ... and revealing ...

 

[Maren]

Since your Romney reference is short on Romney information, I'll offer a more comprehensive reference on the Romney campaign finances, Maren: Election 2012: Fundraising Year-End Totals Reveal Obama Record, GOP Disparity, Rich Super PACs

While Romney is lapping his primary opponents in fundraising, a closer look at his numbers raises one major worry for a candidate facing a long primary slog against Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum. Romney has not connected with small donors, receiving less than 10 percent of his contributions from donors giving less than $200. Those small donations tend to signal the level of support for a candidate within a party's grassroots base.

Instead, Romney has relied heavily on donors giving the maximum amount. More than 60 percent of his 2011 total comes from supporters who have given $2,500 or more. To compete in a general election against the Obama fundraising machine, he will need to expand his fundraising base.

By contrast, Romney's opponents are underfunded but aided largely by small-dollar donors. Gingrich announced a take of $9 million in the fourth quarter, three times the amount he had raised in the second and third quarters combined. More than half of his fourth-quarter money came from small donors. Santorum reported a mere $900,000 raised in the fourth quarter. But his campaign declared that it has received more than $4 million since his Iowa caucus victory was made official. Paul's fundraising marches along with the candidate bringing in $13 million, for his best quarter yet.
​

Interesting breakdown ... and revealing ...

But how is this news? I thought everyone was saying that Romney's problem is that he doesn't yet have the support of the party as a whole, which is all the article is saying. And, considering they are comparing with Obama, who already is the party's candidate and still only gets 42% from small donors, it sounds far more like spin than an actual criticism. If Romney goes into September with the small percentage of small donors he is currently getting, then it becomes a concern.

The fact is, for a primary Romney is doing fine. In the last quarter of last year (the last period, from what I recall, that campaign information was released), Romney received more in donations than Gingrich has received in the entire time he's been fundraising to become president -- in fact Romney received almost double in three months than what Gingrich has received total.

There is no indication that Romney is having problems fundraising this year, that he is continuing to bring in more money. By contrast, there is some evidence that his Republican challengers are struggling with money issues, despite their ability to get mostly small donors. Again, as we head toward summer, expect Romney (if he continues winning primaries) to start bringing in a higher percentage of small donations as the base starts to support the expected nominee.

 

[NightHawkeye]

But how is this news?

Beats me. You keep bringing the subject up though, Maren. Evidently it's important to you.

There is no indication that Romney is having problems fundraising this year, that he is continuing to bring in more money.

LOL ... that's an understatement ...

 

[Dairy]

Bit surprised to read the news, but saw this morning that in Minnesota Rick Santorum has taken the lead in the GOP race.

"Santorum’s got game"

Michelle Malkin » Santorum’s got game

 

[NightHawkeye]

Bit surprised to read the news, but saw this morning that in Minnesota Rick Santorum has taken the lead in the GOP race.

"Santorum’s got game"

Michelle Malkin » Santorum’s got game

Dang Minnesotans ... first, Jesse Ventura, then Michele Bachmann ... now this ...

Funny that the mainstream media is avoiding this news like the plague. Can't imagine why, LOL. Doesn't fit in with the Romney drumbeat, I suppose. Bummer ...

 

[Maren]

Beats me. You keep bringing the subject up though, Maren. Evidently it's important to you.


LOL ... that's an understatement ...

Actually, I don't bring it up. Instead, you thought you'd make some kind of point here after I merely pointed out there was a new Minnesota poll (and Colorado poll) out. Not sure why you think it is so important but I guess you don't know what your point was, either.

 

[NightHawkeye]

Actually, I don't bring it up. Instead, you thought you'd make some kind of point here after I merely pointed out there was a new Minnesota poll (and Colorado poll) out. Not sure why you think it is so important but I guess you don't know what your point was, either.

Hmm ... seems to be like a lot of discussion around here ... er, healthy debate ...

Can you spell B-L-A-M-E G-A-M-E?