Romney or Santorum: Which will be easier for Obama to defeat?

[Charlemagne]

I dont think he will have that big of a problem with either. But here is what I think the situation will be...

Romney: Will be able to get some of the independents and moderates. But the republican base and evangelicals will be upset. They, as a protest, might sit out or run a Tea Party candidate.


Santorum: The republican base and evangelicals love this guy. They'll show up (and donate their time & money) in force. However, the over-the-top social issues will probably turn off some moderates and independents.

I cant decide which candidate will make a bigger fissure within the Republicans.

[onehandle]

1. Little Ricky is the one we want.

Landslide. Major.

[spanone]

2. both, simultaneously

[think]

3. +1

[Summer Hathaway]

4. With one arm tied behind his back

and having to debate them using sign language only.

[SunsetDreams]

10. !

"With one arm tied behind his back and having to debate them using sign language only."

While playing Chess!

[Summer Hathaway]

15. And you know

what kind of chess ...!

[treestar]

5. I think you've nailed it.

Very tough question to answer. I think we could prefer Mittens - since the Republican base and evangelicals won't be excited - whereas if they are, they stir up more. It is said the elections are won in the middle, though. Thus Ricky would be preferred, since the middle won't like him as much.

[tabbycat31]

6. I would not mind them on the same ticket come to think about it.

Mr Strap a dog to the car meet Mr. Man on Dog.

Campaign song-- "Who let the dogs out"

[Summer Hathaway]

16. ...

[SaintPete]

27. Man on dog...

and dog on man!

[Vicar In A Tutu]

7. They are both exceedingly weak candidates, though...

...I actually think that Romney might be the easier to pick off. When you meld Romneycare with his unfailing inconsistency and breathtakingly ersatz persona, you have a perfect storm for a comprehensive defeat. His numbers mano-a-mano with Obama may look more impressive than those attained by other candidates at this point, but that is merely due to him looking vaguely 'presidential' and having received more column inches than your average Republican.

[orpupilofnature57]

8. The president should come out with a

paddle with the rubber ball attached to the rubber band ,and say What.Either will be a piece of cake.

[maximusveritas]

9. Romney -

Say what you will about Santorum, but at least you know that he believes what he says. You can't trust Romney no matter what your political beliefs are. I do hope Santorum keeps it interesting, but I'm hoping Romney wins in the end.

[Charlemagne]

11. good point

Romeny is the politician's politician

[LTR]

21. Scatorum is a fraud!

He just makes shit up as he goes along. He's all shock and awe.

I'll dare to say Romney has more guts than any of them. Can't be easy being a moderate Republican in this day and age. That takes some serious balls!

[maximusveritas]

26. Romney a moderate Republican? haha, maybe 8 years ago, but not now.

If you've paid any attention to anything he's said, it's clear that he's running as a conservative. You won't hear himself call himself a moderate on anything. On what issue is he currently a moderate? I can't name a single one.

[bowens43]

13. without a doubt santorum would easier.

[joshcryer]

14. I want Romney so he pushes Obama to the left.

Romney can pretend to be on Obama's side on a lot of issues (even if he's not really, the rhetoric is similar). To distinguish himself Obama will have to move to the left.

With Santorum Obama can just go it as he has been and things will be fine.

Either way I don't see Obama losing, though Santorum would be easier to defeat if only because it doesn't change things up much for Obama.

[Charlemagne]

19. Think he will be pushed to the left?

Definitely a possibility. I assumed Obama would stay center and force Mitt to then go to the extreme right, thus making Mitt seem (even more) crazy.

[tnvoter]

17. maybe we'll get both!!

Romney at the top of the ticket, and Santorum at the bottom. I'm gleeful at the prospect!

[LTR]

18. Santorum would be very easy to beat!

Let's be real -- the guy's friggin nuts! Will get no moderate or independent support.

Magic Underwear, on the other hand, can attract those people. The lunatic fringe will fall in line and vote AGAINST Obama.

[Charlemagne]

20. The only concern I have with Santorums

candidacy is that it could serve to validate the opinions of the crazy people. Like, his views are normal and mainstream and we need to include them in our regular political discourse.

If he gets the nomination, the insanity gets regulated as normalcy....

But yeah, the dude will totally go down hard.

[downwardly_mobile]

22. Romney. -- I wouldn't have said that pre-Iowa, but I do now.

Ignore right-left issues on this one. Think personality and background.

I watched Santorum's post-Iowa speech, and Romney's right afterwards. Santorum at least sounds like he believes what he says. He is able to show feeling. Romney just can't pull it off at all.

Some folks say that Romney's woodenness is a problem he shares with Gore of '00 and Kerry of '04, but that's not fair to Gore and Kerry at all. They were a little wooden; Romney is 100% wood. Romney comes across as pleasant enough, but he really does seem robotic. So he's a nice robot. America is not going to elect a nice robot.

Also, Santorum really does have working class/middle class credentials. He's also a white ethnic (Italian), which I think would be a huge help. Think about it -- recently, there has been talk and attempts to elect the first woman, and a success in electing the first African-American President. People are already starting to speculate about electing our first Latino sometime. But the white ethnics are long overdue. Sure, there was Kennedy, a Catholic Irishman, but the Kennedys were so rich and well-connected that they now seem like honorary WASPs.

Up here in the Northeast, there really aren't any whites left except for white ethnics. From what I hear, that's just about true even in New Hampshire right now - the old protestant Yankee doesn't really exist anymore. I know white ethnics are thick on the ground all over the midwest too. It may be their turn for a President.

[maximusveritas]

25. Exactly, most voters care more about character/personality than issues

Romney comes across as not just robotic, but fake and calculating. Santorum comes across as passionate and sincere, even if he's sincere about all the wrong things.

[JackRiddler]

23. Not sure why you would even ask. Santorum, but he will not get

the nomination. He's just the latest Cain.

[JI7]

24. i think we underestimate Santorum

for the uninformed voters who vote on how they feel at the moment and not the issues i can see them voting santorum because he seems like a nice guy who cares and will help people.

[tabbycat31]

28. many uninformed voters turn to Google