Republican Race Still Wide Open

Lack Of Distinctions Between Candidates, Apathetic GOP Electorate Results In No Consensus

(CBS)  It's been decades since a Republican primary race was this wide open, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.

"Any of five candidates could conceivably get the nomination," said Republican strategist Whit Ayers, who claimed that's partly because the top candidate's positions are remarkably similar, with a few notable exceptions.

"[John] McCain on immigration and climate change, [Rudy] Giuliani on abortion and gay rights," Ayers said.

At a campaign stop in South Carolina on Tuesday, Fred Thompson hinted at the reason why candidates' positions are so alike. "Well, you know from what they're saying today, there's not that much difference," he said. "But from what they've said their entire career, up until now, there's a lot of difference."

Pollsters pin the lack of consensus for a candidate on an apathetic Republican electorate. In a recent CBS News poll, 32 percent say they're less enthusiastic about voting than they were four years ago, compared to just 15 percent of Democrats.

"What they're really looking for is Ronald Reagan," said Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C. "And he's not here."

Sanford says the trouncing taken by the GOP in the 2006 midterm elections has made Republican voters cautious.

"In some ways, Jesus himself could come back as a candidate and there'd still be the introspection, with a lot of folks out there saying, 'I don't know, I don't like his robe, I don't like his beard,'" he said.

Polls show Mitt Romney leading by double-digits in Iowa and seven points in New Hampshire. He visits both states every week. He's battling it out for first in Michigan and in a three-way dead heat in South Carolina, two other early primary states. But polls show Rudy Giuliani leading nationwide.

"Those that do share common values with regards to social conservatism probably have 70 percent of the votes split among quite a few of us," Romney said. "And As the race narrows down, you'll see that conservatives will rally around a candidate, and that'll be our nominee."

That's why with less than two months to go before the first primary, you'll hear those candidates taking every opportunity they can to tout their conservative credentials.

[candide777]

ARE ALL OF RON PAUL''S SUPPORTERS WHITE SUPREMACISTS?

"[C]ontrary to the claims of the supporters of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the sponsors of H.Res. 676, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not improve race relations or enhance freedom. Instead, the forced integration dictated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 increased racial tensions while diminishing individual liberty." Ron Paul (2004)

If Ron''''s ideas about what is consitutional were to prevail, Missouri would pass laws prohibiting blacks from marrying whites and Georgia would require blacks to use different bathrooms and water fountains. The federal government stepped in on these issues because something needed to be done. Whereas George Bush Senior voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act because he is a racist, Ron Paul would have voted against it because he is out of touch with reality. Ron Paul is so wedded to principal that he cannot see the forest for the trees. We don''''t need a dogmatic conservative, we need a practical president with practical solutions. Let''''s have a president who can think for himself and recognize that there is no single one-size fits all solution to this country''''s problems. That''''s what you get with Ron Paul, an idiot who thinks that if you get rid of the federal government or totally disable it, all our problems will magically be solved.

[glndale187]

I would vote for any of the Democrats currently seeking that party''s nomination. But I have been a registered "no-party" voter since 1987, and now is not the time to jump on anyone''s bandwagon. As for the Republicans, ''my man'' says he is not interested in the nomination. If he were to change his mind, I would for him in a heartbeat. Florida''s Jeb, the best Governor we ever had.
Sincerely Yours, J. Glen Dale

[caponder]

The only choice is MIKE HUCKABEE! He has been consistent and the best governor Arkansas ever had. He values life, family, marriage and truly has the best interest for the people in his heart. And he loves Jesus! He has my vote!

[topprophet]

Things people should know about Rudolph Giuliani: A Spanish company, Cintra-Zachry, which is owned by the King of Spain, is already building the North American SuperCorridor highway through the middle of our country thanks to NAFTA, and they''re going to get the tolls. Rodolph Giuliani''s Law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani represents that Spanish company. Another Giuliani business, Giuliani Capitol Advisors was once a partner of Cintra-Zachry, and actually owned the rights to collect tolls from the Indiana and Chicago sections of the SuperCorridor before Giuliani sold that interest recently to an Australian company called Macquarie. Bracewell & Giuliani represents some of the biggest multi-national oil, utility infrastructure and financial corporations both in the U.S. and abroad. With that have come the connections that Giuliani has been able to tap into for campaign donations, essential for his Presidential bid, not only in Texas but nationwide, as he has become the consumate NWO globalist. Particularly unnerving, given Giuliani''s personal experience on 9/11, is his defense of open borders at any cost while condoning the NAFTA Superhighway Corridor and by extension the North American Union, without the consent of the U.S. Congress or the will of the American people. We should have seen it coming when Mayor Giuliani enacted Special Order 40 in 1994, ordering NYC cops to stop checking the immigration status of suspects caught violating the Law. Vote for a REAL AMERICAN--Ron Paul.

[topprophet]

Ron Paul can win the GOP nomination. If he does, I predict a landslide victory in November of 2008. Even the oddsmakers in Vegas aren''t willing to discount his chances. They''re currently giving him 3:1 odds to win against Hitlery if he gets the nomination. Romney, McCain and the globalist, sell-out Giuliani aren''t given anything better than a 35:1 chance of winning if they get the GOP nod. All it takes is for formerly apathetic individuals to get off the couch and nominate him in their local Republican primary or caucus process. Political parties are nothing more than tools. Those who read the manual and use the tools properly will win the nomination for their candidate. For the past 20 years, many good people have stayed at home and accepted whatever candidate they let others select for them. This year, those people are learning how to use their vote to bring about positive and long overdue political change in this country. To make a difference, you must participate in the Republican primary election or caucus process in your county, precinct or district. Nothing else matters. If we do this, we win. If not, we lose. The GOP has been suffering from declining participation for decades. Fewer than 10% of registered voters have ALL the power because they actually participate. Now the remaining 90% must surge to use their vote as a tool for bringing about positive change to our country. The time to act is now. The time for political revolution has come. The time for Ron Paul is NOW!

[topprophet]

All of these free trade deals and world governmental organizations that all of the presidential candidates support (except Ron Paul), such as the ICC, NAFTA, GATT, WTO, and CAFTA, are all major threat to our nation''s sovereignty. They transfer power from our government to unelected foreign elites. The ICC wants to try our soldiers as war criminals. Both the WTO and CAFTA could force Americans to get a doctor''s prescription to take herbs and vitamins. The WTO has forced Congress to change our laws to meet their needs, and not our own. If anything, the WTO makes trade relations worse by giving foreign competitors a new way to attack U.S. jobs. The NAFTA superhighway, which is currently being built, is just one part of a plan to erase our borders and create the North American Union, a single nation State like the EU, out of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with a new unelected bureaucracy and money system. And forget about controlling immigration under the NAU scheme. There won''t be any borders anymore, or a free America. Our limited, constitutional government, will be gone forever. Let''s not forget the UN either. It wants to impose a direct Carbon Tax on us. Ron Paul successfully fought this move in Congress last year, but if we are going to stop ongoing attempts of this world government body to rule over us, we need someone who knows how to say "No." We must withdraw from any organizations or trade deals that infringes upon our nation''s sovereignty. Vote AMERICA FIRST. Vote for Ron Paul.

[cfin5]

I just what the best American to win the Presidency. Ron Paul''s voting record trumps all. Been wondering about Senator Webb (D) from Virginia,......He seems like the best choice on the Democratic side that should run. Anybody know something about him?

[denn034]

Go Thompson!

[chucktruck2]

Pat Robertson suppports the 666... I mean Rudy. "Evangelicals for Mitt " for the rest of the story.

[chucktruck2]

Mitt Romney leads in the first five states.Ann and Mitt do Christmas shopping early for 10 soon to be 12 grandchildren .Ann will make the best first lady ....................Oh sorry to mess up your koolaid party......

[stevex47]

"But they at least mentioned Ron Paul..then stopped for some uknown
reason..Ron Paul just won the most money"

Obviously big business republiconvict. Sorry, we''ve had enough of them lately. Next.

[stevex47]

Honestly, republicons shouldn''t use the term "wide" ever again. As in "wide-stance".

[feelfree1]

Re: "Republican Race Still Wide Open"

Is it safe to say that this "race" has a "wid-stance"?

[adventurepa]

CNN had a few good things to say about Ron Yesterday on Jack Cafferty file during Wolfs Blitzers show.

Said he gets slammed with e-mail from Ron''s supporters 10-1 any time they mention his name comparred to any other candidate running.

Ron still needs to run as an independent

[dawhetsell]

On top of all the bad coverage of Ron Paul . Every one who gave on Nov. 5 should call all the sponsors on CBS evening news . Tell them they will not buy there products until the have Ron Paul on to tell the truth and show that CBS lied about him.

[dawhetsell]

Last nite on CBS evening news Katie said that Ron Paul is listed as ZERO on the polls,Iguess the poll in her mind. Then she let the nut Jeff Greenfield say that Ron Paul was a Libertian . Thas is the biggest lie I have heard in a long time. Ron paul has always been elected as a Republican. He ran as a libertian in 1988. All the news media are telling lie''s and not giving him a fair shake to keep him from winning.

[tcoleman12]

Notice that there is no mention of a certain candidate, but all of his tinfoil hat wearing, doosh-bag supporters flood every blog with line after line of what he "believes".
Why not have him spend some of his "hard earned" donations and get his own word out?

[xtijane]

Do you love your life? Do you love your liberties? Do you understand what the constitution has granted you

http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/Instructional/Resources/FoundingDocuments/Docs/TheBillofRights.htm

If you don''t understand and appreciate/love these rights afforded by the consitution..then vote any which way you please. The time is now. Honor the Constitution of the United States. Ron Paul is the only candidate that will honor and defend your rights!

[xtijane]

watched the "so called news on CBS" ..they
mentioned the Ron Paul HUGE donation..then only went on to talk about
Mit...Obama..Hillary..you know the story..

But they at least mentioned Ron Paul..then stopped for some uknown
reason..Ron Paul just won the most money...but let''s talk about the
other guys instead....bull-sheep..(I am coining that word): )

I think we need to question CBS news why they dont talk about his (Ron
Paul) ideas..??? They just keep talking about the
losers..Hil...Mit....Mccain.. Obama..back to Hillary.

Why not talk about Ron Paul?? and his message and his views..just the
same as the rest of the flock..no..no no!

If you don''t send this to CBS, I will. I am not a sheep. Tell me why
people want Ron Paul. I want to know. We want to know. He earned a
RECORD amount of money for his campaign...they might mention that he
is a record earner....yet no news station will report his views..bull-
sheep!

[xtijane]

they mentioned the Ron Paul HUGE donation..then only went on to talk about Mit...Obama..Hillary..you know the story..But they at least mentioned Ron Paul..then stopped for some uknown reason..Ron Paul just won the most money...but let''s talk about the other guys instead....bull-sheep..(I am coining that word): )
I think we need to question CBS news why they dont talk about his (Ron Paul) ideas..??? They just keep talking about the others..Hil...Mit....Mccain.. Obama..back to Hillary. Why not talk about Ron Paul?? and his message and his views..just the same as the rest of the flock..no..no no! If you don''t send this to CBS, I will. I am not a sheep. Tell me why
people want Ron Paul. I want to know. We want to know. He earned a RECORD amount of money for his campaign...they might mention that he is a record earner....yet no news station will report his views..bull-sheep! I will no longer watch/value CBS until they show the entire truth.
Ron Paul is making millions in his donation campaign..from the PEOPLE. Yet the people (and Ron Paul''s ideas) are not presented on this channel or many other news channels..they only talk of Hillary,
Obama, Mit Romney,