With Romney out, will Idaho GOP feel a McCain pain? (UPDATED, 10:45 a.m.)
Arizona Sen. John McCain has emerged as the GOP's presidential nominee — and, for some Idaho Republicans, their worst-case scenario.
This morning, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — the candidate of choice among many Idaho Republicans — suspended his campaign.
Romney had secured some high-profile endorsements from Idaho Republicans such as Lt. Gov. Jim Risch and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, and his $600,806 in Idaho campaign contributions include money from State Schools Superintendent Tom Luna; Frank VanderSloot, CEO of Idaho Falls-based Melaleuca; and a host of current and former legislators.
But it isn't just that Idaho Republicans have threw their support behind Romney. There is a strong animus about McCain, especially in conservative corners.
Here's a pointed snippet from conservative activist and blogger Bryan Fischer, executive director of the Idaho Values Alliance: "The letters 'GOP' may soon come to stand for 'Goodbye, Old Party.' ... Moderate and liberal Republicans (which should, by definition, be oxymorons) are responsible for McCain’s success thus far in the primary season."
And a snippet from Idaho conservative blogger Clayton Cramer. In a form of equal-opportunity angst, Cramer on Wednesday decried the “miserable set of choices” awaiting Idaho Republicans — although their May 27 primary is now irrelevant. “I'm concerned also that McCain has so many skeletons in his closet (such as the Keating 6 scandal) that the leftist news media, once he is the Republican nominee, will use to hammer McCain into defeat.”
I don’t think it’s too difficult to boil down Idaho Republicans’ problem with McCain. The maverick and moderate streak — which served McCain so well in Tuesday’s delegate-rich states — really rankles Idaho conservatives. His record of criticizing the current administration plays poorly in a state that gave President Bush a 68.4 percent majority in 2004.
Will Idaho Republicans rally behind McCain? It depends. If the Democrats nominate New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, I’m going to start moonlighting as a clothespin salesman so I can peddle my wares to Idaho Republicans who would hold their nose and vote McCain. The Idaho GOP’s contempt for another Clinton nomination may be rivaled only by Idaho Democrats’ qualms about running with Clinton on the ticket.
If Sen. Barack Obama gets the Democratic nomination, then things get interesting. No, I don’t think Idaho conservatives will cross over to vote for Obama. To the contrary, I think some of these conservatives — not the party regulars, but the rank-and-file conservatives — may be so turned off by their choices that they sit out the election. This, in turn, could hurt some Idaho Republican candidates.
We’ve seen plenty of surprises already this presidential election year. Is it possible that, come November, Idaho Democrats will be enthusiastic about their presidential nominee while Idaho Republicans will be, at best, ambivalent? Perhaps. And that probably wouldn’t affect the race for the White House, but it just might influence a few other races around the state.
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isn't blogging wonderful?
Lets you make changes in ongoing stories based on new information. :)
mccain has my respect
but not my vote
okay
have at it then
sometimes
it is especially great for those who no one else wants to listen to, those who need to get a life
MY MY MY!
Don't date yourself and file charges!
spades and clubs
KR, you might as well call it what it is-
the Mormon republicans are behind Romney, and now the question is will they even show up at the poll when they can't vote for their man.
Let's keep in mind they are faithful...even at the polls.
Your concern is so direct on the republican mormons though, it's moot for the nonLDS republicans, so if you weren't afraid to make an article using the word Mormon, your point might be a little bit more clear.
**********
I would vote for Obama before I voted for Romney, even if the Church paid me.
At least an Obama/McCain contest will be intersting.
Does that mean you are for...
Obama or just like to watch a fight?
I love a good fight
but Obama is too young
I love a good fight, its as American as anything
watch.
McCain will do just fine...
John McCain will do just fine with Idaho Republicans. Sure he might be a little off on a couple of issues but overall he is much better to lead this country than either Hillary, Obama or Oprah.
Kevin please keep in mind that Bryan Fisher represents a group of 15 to 20 malcontents. Mr. Fisher barely raised enough money to keep his website going. 99.9% of all Republicans RUN AWAY from Bryan whenever they see him on the street or at the capitol building. Its you in the media that give that wingnuts like him WAY too much credit...if he deserves any credit at all.
Already you have seen Lt. Governor Risch announce his support for McCain. Sure there are a lot of Idahoans of the Mormon faith, Republican and Democrat, disappointed that one of their faith will not be the leader of the free world. Those same people also realize that if they want a good government its better to vote GOP on election day. Not having Romney on the general election ballot in Idaho might give a couple D's a chance to win but no more than usual. Its comes down to quality candidates. With the D's running the same old retreads (LaRacco, Minnick and Grant) doesn't look like they are rolling out the cream on the crop.
McCain and the republicans
simply do not have the numbers of voters that the Democrats can muster so you may as well vote fotr your favorite Democrat THeres going to be a very long line this year at the polls and when the democrats win it the Republican voting inspectors will be tossed out and then we can statr having fair elections for a change.
whats wrong with Oprah?
I think you must hate women
I love it when she wears skirts and shows some bosom
LAWD she is so damn pretty.
Bryan Fischer Isn't Really A "Blogger"
There's no doubt that Fischer is a "conservative activist" but I think it's quite a stretch to call him a "blogger". To me, a blogger has to have some sort of give-and-take with their audience. Even Clayton Cramer, who doesn't allow comments for some reason, will mention it if he gets an E-mail telling him he's wrong about something. You can call Fischer a "website operator", but I think "blogger" is going a little far.
whatever
obviously way far to the (Nazi ) right for me
McCain
Is ok. We could of done much better with Hunter but the media was scared he might of made to much sense. He is a true conservative. And there are not to many of them left out there.
and none of the conservatives are needed any longer
It is definitely time for a change
Exactly...
What Adolph, Juan, Idi and Jim Jones were thinking.
We know they were supastars babe.
Not their first choice
The elites of the Idaho Republican Party are probably a little bummed that their $600,000 investment in the Romney campaign is a loser. This write-off comes on the heels of the loss of Larry Craig's influence and clout with his arrest and guilty plea last summer. So the big shots have hit a rough patch. I just hope they did not hang on to their Micron stock too long.
Larry Craig had bathroom issues
and he pleaded guilty and you can't tell me that he was just trying to use toilet paper off the floor. I think he is the reason we need bathroom cops.
He was educated , he knew the score , he pleaded guilty and his boyfriends are telling it like it is