Why don't repukes rally around Brownback, Huckabee, or Tancredo?

[BushOut06]

All I keep hearing from repukes is that there aren't any "true conservatives" in the GOP race. They don't really like Guliani because he's pro-choice, and has "character issues". Most repugs I know can't even stand McCain - he's their version of Lieberman. One would think that someone like Brownback or Huckabee would be a far-right repug's wet dream, yet you hardly ever hear repugs mention them. I don't know anything about Tancredo other than the fact that he's a rabid anti-immigrant, which seems like a position repugs would love.

Honestly, I was always worried about Brownback, because he does seem like the exact type of candidate that repugs would love. Whenever I've heard him talk (primarily in the GOP debates), he comes across as very articulate. Nevermind that he's a religious whackjob (Rolling Stone did an outstanding article on him awhile back). I'm just surprised that someone like him can't garner much support from the GOP. Instead, they seem to be salivating over a washed up actor. If they're expecting Fred Thompson to save their party, they're in for a very rude awakening.

But then again, I couldn't be happier watching the repugs implode!

[WI_DEM]

1. because like the democrats they really want to win and some are willing to swallow

hard and support somebody who they think has a better chance to win the general election.

[Patsy Stone]

2. After the last Republican debate

The (R) only call-in on C-SPAN consisted mostly of the 28 percenters rallying around Tancredo. This was before the immigration bill died, and they were livid. The callers all insisted he won the debate, and most, if not all, said they had (or were about to) donate to his campaign.

So, some of them jumped on his psycho bandwagon.

[BushOut06]

4. Tancredo reminds me of the stuttering lawyer from 'My Cousin Vinny'

He is a serious psycho, though. I heard him on some repug radio talk show claiming that Al Qaeda had smuggled 36 nukes into this country. This is a claim that he's made a few times. I shudder to think what he would do as president.

[n2doc]

3. Honestly I think it is because 50% have never heard of them

Just like on our side. There are a lot of lazy voters who don't take the time to find out about all of the candidates. Name rec trumps all.

[BushOut06]

6. Kinda like Kucinich

Does seem like a strange phenomena, where the "best" candidate for either party doesn't have as much recognition as the front-runners.

[Caution]

5. For the same reason Democrats won't rally around someone like Kucinich

You can't win without swaying the moderates and these guys don't appeal to the moderates. They need someone who is a complete jackboot on all of their issues but still has credibility with the center. Mccain the maverick, rudy the 9/11 hero, romney the good looking upstanding guy, bush the plain spoken man's man you can have a beer with.

You can't win an election with only 30% of the electorate and that's what each side has. the middle 40% decide the thing.

Each of these guys have vocal support in the right wing blogs and in places like free republic, just as guys like kucinich has here.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Brownback--no charisma, shot himself in the foot out of the gate

by opposing the surge. Has since proven he has no nutsack by backing away from that, but the damage is done. Huckabee--tax raiser, not fiscally conservative enough. Tancredo--one-trick pony on immigration, just a Representative (not even a Senator). Pretty easy to see why the front-runners are the front-runners, really--they all have a "schtick": Rudy--hero of 9/11, NYC cleanup man. McCain--war hero. Romney--turned Olympics around, Governor, looks like perfect cardboard cutout of a prez. Thompson--played a prez in the movies.

[stanwyck]

8. Because talk radio isn't pushing any of those guys

most Republicans don't even know their names. They're so busy panting for Thompson (with no idea why) that they don't have time.
Remember, these are people who listen to Rush and watch Fox News -- which has the lowest coverage of the Iraq war of the 24 hr. news stations. BUT does have the most Anna Nicole/Paris coverage.
We're not talking issue-oriented voters here.