Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 10:18 AM Sep 2012

How a Romney Loss Would Impact the GOP [View all]

By Reid Wilson

How a Romney Loss Would Impact the GOP

Look for a sharp right turn away from the party establishment and its chosen candidate.

Today, the media and their pollsters are to blame for Mitt Romney's political troubles, according to Romney's fans. But if Romney does lose this year, blame will quickly shift to the Republican presidential nominee himself, his shortcomings, and his ability to articulate a conservative vision for the country. And the fallout from a Romney loss has the potential to reverberate through the Republican Party for a decade.

Had you told any Democratic political strategist a year ago that the unemployment rate in September 2012 would stand at 8.1 percent, he or she would have thrown up their hands in despair. President Obama, conventional wisdom held, would be headed to certain defeat.

But six weeks from Election Day, the picture is very different. Obama's approval ratings are on the rise, positive economic news hints at a recovery in the housing market and a slightly brighter jobs picture, and state-by-state polling shows Obama ahead of Republican nominee Mitt Romney in virtually every battleground state by significant margins. Even the dreaded enthusiasm gap, which showed Republican voters more likely to head to the polls than Democrats this year, is fading as more Democrats tune in.

Conservative pundits have blamed a complicit media; even pollsters are suspect. Every poll's sample composition is scrutinized for the slightest perceived irregularity. But if Romney does lose, Republicans will be forced to contemplate how their candidate blew the best opportunity to defeat an incumbent president since 1980. And while anger focuses elsewhere now, the blame will surely shift to Romney himself, and his backers within the Washington

- more -

http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/on-the-trail/how-a-romney-loss-would-impact-the-gop-20120927

Even though the polls are skewed, Republicans beg Mitt to change course
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021424272

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The republican party should look in the mirror. That is who to blame. Romney is doing southernyankeebelle Sep 2012 #1
They need an 'Obama' of their own. I don't see anyone on the horizon for them. randome Sep 2012 #2
Until the get rid of their tea party and religous right they may keep having problems. southernyankeebelle Sep 2012 #19
How about Mr. 999 ? Auntie Bush Sep 2012 #34
The republican party should look in the mirror. Flashmann Sep 2012 #4
Well the 47% will help them look at themselves. southernyankeebelle Sep 2012 #18
Yeah, Romney is a tool ProSense Sep 2012 #6
People finally have woken up and seeing that Mittens represents what all republicans think. southernyankeebelle Sep 2012 #17
Republican voters have been duped Jessy169 Sep 2012 #38
It's the Fox News Network. Listen I grew up in a dem family. We always voted our southernyankeebelle Sep 2012 #46
Mitt Romney is not the one who destroyed the Republican Party, nor can he clean it up 1-Old-Man Sep 2012 #3
AWESOME! Democrats are coming out to fight. Zalatix Sep 2012 #5
Thank you for helping lovemydog Sep 2012 #43
As long as Democrats don't take a sharp right turn, too. sadbear Sep 2012 #7
Democrats need to stay where they are now, it's a winning position. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #22
I'm holding out hope for Dr. Dean. sadbear Sep 2012 #23
I was just thinking the same thing! eom Th1onein Sep 2012 #39
Agreed. Even if he decides NOT to take another run at the White House, Volaris Sep 2012 #45
Rmoney wouldn't care either way because BumRushDaShow Sep 2012 #8
When Willard loses - and I think he will lose big hifiguy Sep 2012 #9
Excellent analysis. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #24
Quotable, all of it. Populist_Prole Sep 2012 #41
They'll react like they always do - by going further to the right kysrsoze Sep 2012 #10
If they do that they will be come as irrelevant as the Green Party in 2016 1-Old-Man Sep 2012 #11
In the long term they will become irrelevant. mick063 Sep 2012 #12
I disagree, but only in part 1-Old-Man Sep 2012 #13
We are fairly close to agreement mick063 Sep 2012 #16
Alaska has several state Republican politicians who are as you describe, Blue_In_AK Sep 2012 #44
It won't be 40% by 2016, or even 2014. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #26
There are quite a few good people who've been sucked into the RW/GOP/Xtian Vortex Mopar151 Sep 2012 #14
I know people that are lifelong republicans that are remorseful now. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #27
I don't feel sorry for them marions ghost Sep 2012 #31
Hopefully they'll start by at least just not voting. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #32
Shit like this makes me fear over confidence. This could all turn south. Bucky Sep 2012 #15
"Most of the big ad money hasn't hit the airwaves yet. " ProSense Sep 2012 #21
I completely disagree. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #29
Its their own Fault!!!!!!! mstinamotorcity2 Sep 2012 #20
I think our President is going to peel away a good and noticeable percentage of the Republican vote bluestate10 Sep 2012 #35
Maybe the GOP should out source for their candidate! L0oniX Sep 2012 #25
Does this mean we'll never see Romney again? Permanut Sep 2012 #28
k&r... spanone Sep 2012 #30
Rubio, Daniels, Ryan, Christie, Haley, etc.. those are who they will push for 2016 davidn3600 Sep 2012 #33
I guess that republicans will go with a downstream candidate, bluestate10 Sep 2012 #36
Finger pointing is one of the republicans B Calm Sep 2012 #37
You don't threaten the social safety net when most Americans Th1onein Sep 2012 #40
I have a different theory ribrepin Sep 2012 #42
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»How a Romney Loss Would I...