GOP Hopefuls Court Florida Faithful

Candidates Try To Win Over 4,000 Grassroots Activists In Key Primary State

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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Four thousand Florida Republican activists -- from college students clutching homemade signs supporting their favorite candidate to rank-and-file party members trying to make up their minds -- descended on an Orlando resort Saturday for “Presidency IV,” a fundraiser and conference that will culminate in a Fox News-sponsored Republican debate Sunday night.

Thanks to the timing of its late January primary, Florida is likely to be a key state in deciding the Republican nominee. “I think she is going to decide it,” said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in an interview at Presidency IV. “Florida is a microcosm of this country. I think Jan. 29th we will know who the next nominee for president will be.”

Perhaps that’s why all four frontrunners for the Republican nomination -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson -- paid the state party $100,000 for the chance to speak to the party faithful at a candidates rally on Saturday afternoon. (It is a state party fundraiser, after all.)

A loose and energetic Giuliani spent much of his speech aggressively attacking Hillary Clinton, “Hillarycare,” and the Democrats, who, he said, could turn America into “a country of overspending, overtaxing, over-regulating, and oversuing.” The crowd of grassroots activists responded enthusiastically to Giuliani, particularly when he discussed national security issues.

“In security of the United States, he’s one of the people who would do well,” said Odaria Kira, a Republican from Saint Augustine. But she said she had to weigh Giuliani’s security credentials against his position on social issues. “It’s that abortion issue and the gay marriage issue,” she said. She is considering Giuliani and Romney, she said, with Thompson on “the back of the burner.”

McCain, a more subdued speaker than the former New York mayor, got a somewhat cooler -- though still supportive -- reception from the crowd. He spent the opening section of his speech attacking “out of control spending” and vowing to “veto every single pork barrel bill that comes across my desk.” He also spoke about his early and unwavering defense of the Iraq war and the importance of not allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

“I used to be a big McCain fan back in 2000, but since then I’ve seen him sort of shift his positions and pander to the Christian Coalition wing of our party, which, to be honest, I wasn’t very happy with,” said Chris Gangler, who had come to Presidency IV with his father in search of a candidate to support.

McCain, like Giuliani, largely avoided hot-button social issues, though not entirely. Perhaps the most striking moment of his speech came when he attacked an amendment from Clinton and Sen. Chuck Schumer for “$1 million for a Woodstock concert museum.”

“Now, I wasn’t there at the time -- I happened to be in prison -- but is that a cultural event you’d like to remember?” asked McCain angrily. “I don’t think so. I don’t think so. No one, no one who frivolously spends your tax dollars in that fashion is qualified to be president of the United States.”

Romney and Thompson, unlike their rivals, put the spotlight squarely on their families. Both walked onstage with their wives; Romney gave the microphone to his wife Ann for brief comments and mentioned the fact that his son Tagg was in attendance. His wife mentioned their ten grandchildren and joked about her husband.

The former Massachusetts governor, who is making a push for the support of cultural conservatives, returned again and again to the importance of strong values. “One way I know we strengthen families is making sure our kids know, before they have babies, they should get married,” he said to applause.

Thompson’s speech was brief and short on specifics, and it seemed to disappoint the assembled crowd. Before the actor and former senator came out, however, a short film about Thompson garnered applause for its references to conservative heroes Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater. (None of the candidates mentioned Pres. George W. Bush.)

“Thompson has turned me off,” said Wayne Gangler. “I don’t think he’s energetic enough. He’s just too lackadaisical for me. I want somebody with energy.”

[gunownerdan]

"A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side." Aristotle(384 B.C. %u2013 322 B.C.)

[sftodd]

Really no need to court the faithful when you control the courts. Why are Republicans worried about Florida? There''s no risk of an honest and fair election taking place there.

[savetheus2]

***** Stop The War & Corporate Corruption *****

Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul?

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

** Ron Paul Won The GOP Debate Lastnight!

Who Owns The Media: http://www.mediaowners.com

RESTORE YOUR LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

He Will:

** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
** Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
** Restore America''s Work Force & Values
** Restore America''s Freedom!

GET UP AND GET ACTIVE TODAY!!!
Paul Is America''s Last Hope!

Join The ReVoLuTiOn In Your City Stand Up America:
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[liberalme]

I agree antonio, there is no one remotely intelligent in the republican race.
I have not heard of any solutions on anything, just blasting one another and defending their beliefs--who cares?
We NEED someone who has US, this country at the forefront of his campaign.
None of these guys are worth anyones votes.

[antoniof123]

Proof that the Republican Party is in trouble. None of the sharp, articulate Republicans; Lindsey Graham, Olympia Snowe, John Cornyn to name a few, are running in 2008.
Nobody with a political future wants to risk that future to face the anger generated by the actions of George Bush And Company.

Posted by glossypan at 10:08 AM : Oct 21, 2007

I would say more than trouble they should be very afraid. I mean just think of all the power they have given the next Democrat President.

[bec67]

These jerks would become a goat, if barnyard animals could vote. DISGUSTING! If these so called "value voters" can''t see through this, they are not to bright!

[starleo146]

Does the media know Democrats are running--Bob Shaifer a republican has been pushing Mc Cain and He might be giving up, he had Mitt Romney on today. All the shows I believe missed a democrat.

[sftodd]

A loose and energetic Giuliani spent much of his speech aggressively attacking Hillary Clinton, %u201CHillarycare,%u201D and the Democrats, who, he said, could turn America into %u201Ca country of overspending, overtaxing, over-regulating, and oversuing.%u201D

Why is it that Jesus hates welfare for kids, but loves corporate welfare? I don''t get it. Do these hypocrites have any idea how dependent Halliburton and Bechtel are on the government teet? We''ll be paying for Halliburton''s no bid Iraq contract for generations to come, but I guess that''s okay so long as we don''t give any handouts to these good for nothing kids!

[glossypan]

Sorry to double post.
I give a source for stats when I post.
The figures from the FRC Values Voters Summit are from the CBN (Christian Broadcast Network) blog 10 20 2007.

The thumpers are already fired up about being taken for a ride by the Mitt campaign.

[condumism]

VALUES VOTERS choose the two faced Mitt Romney over Neocon Huckleberry. What are Mitts positions today on the issues? Is it Flip, or is it Flop?

[glossypan]

chucktruck2 said..."Great news Mitt won The Value Voters Suummit straw poll in the room and in the room on line."
I do not know what "the room" is but here are the results from the FRC Values Voters Summit registered attendees:

Mike Huckabee 488 votes 51%
Mitt Romney 99 votes 10%
Fred Thompson 77 votes 8%
Tom Tancredo 65 votes 7%

Mitt Romney and Ron Paul used their bags of money and internet connections to skew the straw polls again.I do not care for any of the Republican candidates but it is clear that Huckabee is the FRC favorite.

[j-whitman]

Think about it & restore America''s honor --
------ Affter 7 years of lying to America & the World,, This GOP & Godzilla Bush topped it all off with SCHIP,, Every reason they used to deny it to America''s children was flatly a straight up LIE

[j-whitman]

Hillary is looking better all the time --- Keep it up you hypocritical lying republicans, the more you spin your lies even Freddy Kruger & Charley Manson look good

[ubrew12]

"Now, I wasn%u2019t there [Woodstock] at the time -- I happened to be in prison -- but is that a cultural event you%u2019d like to remember?" asked McCain angrily. "I don''t think so. I don%u2019t think so. No one, no one who frivolously spends your tax dollars in that fashion is qualified to be president of the United States."

That''s an incredibly divisive thing to say just to get elected. I like John McCain as an American, but there''s no reason for that kind of divisiveness. Woodstock, like it or not, is part of our cultural heritage. Placing it out of memory guarantee''s a future with its worst excesses in place. McCain must be no student of history (like GW). Or he''s shilling for votes. I think hopefully the latter.

BTW. The reason McCain was in jail is also worth remembering... and not fondly. Hope no liberal asks us to forget the Vietnam War.

[chucktruck2]

Great news Mitt won The Value Voters Suummit straw poll in the room and in the room on line ... Rudy only got 1% Some one awake up Fred he lost too....

[mh4cbs1]

Yes you mindless ignorant Republican FOOLS. Go ahead and vote for these SICK War Criminals.

FACT: 100,000 DEAD CIVILIANS that the Cheney/Bush Needless War Based on LIES has caused.

FACT: 3,800 DEAD TROOPS is how you "support the troops"

FACT: $500 BILLION Wasted on WAR

FACT: Cheney/Bush have killed 100 TIMES the number of innocent civillians that Osama has killed.

FACT: We were DELIBERATELY LIED into this War of Agression. Cheney/Bush lied about WMDs and Al Qaeda links to Saddam.

FACT: YOUR tax dollars fund the $1,200/day US Blackwater civilian-killing terrorist mercenaries.

[finewoven]

Democrats, who, he said, could turn America into %u201Ca country of overspending, overtaxing, over-regulating, and oversuing.%u201D

Sometimes I get in impression that the GOP and evangelicals want a biased nation, more war, wealth at the expense of the poor, increased survellience of the population, and all the other attributes of conservative politics. That all you have to do is mouth the words "family values," and then everything is aligned with the above attributes in stark contrast to the Gospel and Christian ideals.

Evangelical ideals based on Pauline doctrine have a double-edged sword aspect to them, in that Paul himself killed many many Christians before he converted by having had a religious experience. That his prosecution of the Christians was later converted to prosecution of non-subservient women, people of alternative lifestyles, and even those men who simply were not circumsized. I suppose these aspects are the antithesis of family values in the evangelical mindset.

Maybe Conservative GOP folk need to have a religious experience themselves.

[glossypan]

Three doddering ideologues and Mitt Of Many Faces. A supporting cast two steps ahead of the guys in the white coats.
Proof that the Republican Party is in trouble. None of the sharp, articulate Republicans; Lindsey Graham, Olympia Snowe, John Cornyn to name a few, are running in 2008.
Nobody with a political future wants to risk that future to face the anger generated by the actions of George Bush And Company.

[neobrian-2009]

If there`s only one lesson that has been learned,..After the Obvious failures ,..." Friends don`t let friends vote republican ",..

[skyk-2009]

Let''''''''s end corporate welfare & balance the budget. Ron Paul for President 2008!!


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Posted by macusweil at 10:50 PM : Oct 20, 2007
+ report abuse

Yep let''s end Social Security, Work Place Safety, Child Labor Laws, Civil Rights Laws, and while you''re at it TRASH the Constitution, especially the 14th Amendment.