Chris Cillizza: In GOP race, how much electability matters may depend on ‘beatability’ of Obama

[alp227]

The question now is whether the deep distaste for President Obama among Republicans — from the major donors to the grass-roots activists — will make voters follow their heads, not their hearts.

It’s a dynamic that played out seven years ago when Democrats were choosing someone to end the much-maligned tenure of President George W. Bush.

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean spoke to the passion of Democrats and looked like a surefire nominee as the calendar turned to 2004. But when it came time to choose, Dean was passed over for Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), a far-less-beloved candidate within the party base but someone with the résumé— most notably his time in Vietnam — that seemed to match up best with Bush’s. (In the New Hampshire primary, 33 percent of voters said nominating someone who could beat Bush was of paramount importance, and 56 percent of that bloc chose Kerry.)

Fast-forward to today, when an incumbent widely reviled by the party out of power is seeking a second term and the electability question is again a subject of fierce debate.

Polling seems to suggest that electability is taking a back seat to ideology. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll that concluded early this month, 73 percent of Republican respondents said it was more important to them to support a candidate they agreed with on the issues, while just 20 percent said a candidate’s chances of winning mattered most.

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-gop-race-how-much-electability-matters-may-depend-on-beatability-of-obama/2011/10/23/gIQAxsSNAM_story.html

[frazzled]

1. Wow, there's a big mistake in that article

Dean was passed over for Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), a far-less-beloved candidate within the party base but someone with the résumé— most notably his time in Vietnam — that seemed to match up best with Bush’s.

Is Cillizza really saying that George Bush's military creds (which were nothing) were the equivalent of Kerry's dangerous, heroic overseas stint in Vietnam? Oy vey.

I agree that Kerry was chosen as someone who looked experienced and who had foreign-policy and military credentials. (And also that he was not well-beloved: I even knew party higher-ups in Massachusetts who said if they could get away with it, they would have endorsed another candidate.) But Jesus H. Pifco, is the myth of George W. Bush still this warped?

[FrenchieCat]

2. What did you expect from Chris Cillizza? The guy's a Kiss GOP ass douche and a hack!

:shrug:

[Demeter]

3. Kerry was imposed upon us grassroots from outside the party

and Dean was sabotaged by the MSM. And when Kerry got a good look at his Masters, the ones who picked him, forced Lieberman upon him as running mate, and financed his campaign, Kerry abandoned politics forever. So did Dean, after he got a good look at the Masters of the Universe.

Obama, however, seems real comfortable with them. Bows to their every whim. I guess he likes blowing people up with Predator Drones.

[rpannier]

4. If the best chance at beating Obama was really the criterion

they'd be rallying around Huntsman.
He's their best shot.
Romney is way too flawed and makes too many stupid mistakes.
The inner circle of the Republikkans rallied around Romney early on and refuse to admit he's a loser
The base of their party is looking for "Crazy in a Can" to head their ticket