Analysis: GOP Race Now A Two-Man Brawl

CBSNews.com Analysis: It's Now Romney Vs. McCain In Nasty Battle For GOP Nomination

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com's Dick Meyer and Vaughn Ververs.

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After John McCain’s squeaker win in Florida, the Republican campaign, with apologies to Thomas Hobbes, looks to be rich, nasty, brutish and long. The campaign is now one on one combat between McCain and Mitt Romney and they both have staying power.

McCain’s margin of victory may have been slender and the road ahead is certainly long, but a few things became clear in the Florida sun. The campaign of Rudy Giuliani is over. Unless Mike Huckabee is a political Lazarus, he won’t be rising up either.

And the fighters left standing, McCain and Romney, do not much like each other. The bitterness that emerged in New Hampshire and Michigan became full-blown animosity in Florida, with charges of outright dishonesty on both sides. Romney accused McCain of being dishonest about his position on a timetable for troop withdrawal on Iraq while Romney has belittled McCain over his economic preparedness and "liberal" friendships.

So the Republican Party is facing the kind of unpredictable, nasty and long primary fight it has avoided for generations.

The political intangibles would seem to strongly favor McCain going in to Tsunami Tuesday. But Romney has something in his arsenal McCain cannot match: money.

In Florida alone, Romney was able to air 4,475 ads compared to 470 for McCain. Romney’s air power is likely to dwarf McCain’s prior to Super Tuesday, an advantage the better-known McCain will try to blunt with free media.

But McCain is the first Republican to put together back to back wins in big races, South Carolina and now Florida. He is leading Romney in all the from Giuliani and Fred Thompson's is likely to follow shortly.

The results in Florida reveal other McCain strengths.

Romney’s advantage has been on economic matters and Romeney's camp thought last week’s market collapse would benefit him. But McCain won voters (45% of the total) who said economy was their top issue by 38 percent to 32 percent. Though McCain is notoriously popular with independent voters, Florida was closed to independents and McCain still won.

McCain did extremely well with Hispanic voters in Florida. And though McCain is at odds with the party’s core on immigration, McCain did well in a state where immigration issues are constantly in the news.

McCain is supposed to be the guy the GOP establishment doesn’t like. But in Florida, McCain snared helpful endorsements from Governor Charlie Crist and Senator Mel Martinez.

"It shows one thing. I'm the conservative leader who can unite the party," McCain said about his Florida win.

McCain will also argue he is the strongest Republican in ageneral election. Forty-five percent of Florida’s primary voters thought McCain had the best chance of winning in November.

Conventional wisdom, which has been rather unwise so far this year, says McCain benefits from Giuliani’s exit and not just because of the endrosement. The thinking is that both men appeal to voters highly concerned with security issues, and McCain will now have the clear edge with those voters.

Similarly, the fact that Huckabee is still in the race could hurt Romney since they still compete for votes from social conservatives.

Still, it doesn’t seem likely that McCain will be able to land a knockout punch on Super Tuesday. Romney has what it takes to stay in the ring - deep pockets. And they are his own deep pockets to dip into.

[denn034]

"I''''m beginning to regret this posting. Religion should never be a motivating factor. Period! Religion is never rational and that has to be acknowledged. My apologies to Romney but, McCain still has my support though."
Posted by denn034

I''ve decided that my original posting calling Freemasons, Mormons, Trinitarians, and Binitarians Morons was right. One God equals one absolute and rational truth. Period!

[news4all]

Romney founded Bain Capital which enabled Staples to expand from one store in 1986 to nearly 1,700 in 2006. Bain Capital founded, acquired or invested in hundreds of companies.

In 1990, Romney was CEO of Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.

Romney served as president and CEO of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games held in Salt Lake City. Before he was called in, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. Romney revamped the organization''s leadership and policies, reduced budgets and boosted fund-raising. He also worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 by coordinating a $300 million security budget. Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million, not counting the $224.5 million in security costs contributed by outside sources. Romney contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and donated the $825,000 salary he earned as President and CEO to charity.


Romney graduated from a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration program coordinated between Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. He graduated *** laude from the law school and was named a Baker Scholar for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.

Romney knows how to help our economy!

[jeness-2009]

The Dems can''t wait to get McCain in there so the contrast between their anti-war candidate and McCain''s hawkishness is blaringly apparent. Not to mention McCain''s age, his slowness and unpolished speech, and the fact that his health has to be an issue with his constantly swelling cheek/saliva glands.

[truthmaverik]

Ron Paul- CBS & the rest of the media giants scarcely mention him. I think he''s the only hope we''ve got right now for changing the track our country is on. If you are sick of corrupt government & you don''t know much about Ron Paul(mainstream media is CERTAINLY not going to help you out there) visit his website at www.ronpaul2008.com

[l00ker]

Also, Mitt''s not taking the easy way out; he''s giving you the STRAIGHT TALK, on illegal immigration, the economy and the war. And forgot his religion, that''s a personal matter, and is not what this election''s about. Can anyone imagine McCain, with nuclear (NUK''LEAR)weapons, and telling everyone that he is the decider. He can be very combative, such as he was last night not letting Mitt get a word in edgewise, and unpredictable, as he was in ''00 while giving his infamous speech down in Falwaell country, at times. But sadly, he will have to do, if Clinton is on the oher side of the lever.

[l00ker]

The only reason why McCain won so decisively in Florida, was because he had the illegal vote, and in last niht''s debate, he said that he would seal the border, while Mitt said that he wouldn''t grant amnesty to these disloyal illegals criminals. Mitt will do both, and will build a strong economy for legal Americans to boot.

[l00ker]

Mitt is not the media''s "dog" in this dogfight, and he will be better for the country than McCain, because Mitt will put an end to this illegal immigration, which will eventually destroy our country. That''s no America for no American. McCain has resorted to the Clinton and Guiliani playbooks, and has distorted Mitts position on Iraq, and constantly reminding us about him being a veteran and prisoner of war, as if those two things trumps all. McCain is the establishment candidate, just like Clinton is, and they will both resort back to business as usual, once either of the two is in office. Both McCain and Clinton voted for this lousy Iraq war, and both have supported Bush with his saber rattling against Iran. So, the only change that we will experience with either of the two, is a possible war with Iran.

[denn034]

"Some have argued on this board that Romney''''s Mormon beliefs are proof that he''''s unfit to be president. It is true that Mormons look at the absolute monotheism of the Jews during Old Testament times and come away with many gods not one. It is true that Mormons accept Joseph''''s view that the Masons had a corrupted form of the original endowment ceremony that was practiced in Solomon''''s Temple but, the Masons formed in 1616 and their ceremonies were created at that time or later and the rituals of Solomon''''s temple are spelled out entirely in the Old Testament without anything even remotely resembling Mormon ceremonies being found. It is true that Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers, ban non-Mormons from witnessing their Mormon child''''s wedding in their temples, and insist that their church is "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth with which I the Lord am well pleased. They do wear magic underwear and perform ordinances that I called weird after going through them myself in January of 1984. I''''ve decided that those who argue that only an incompetent moron would believe such are right. For that reason I''''m changing from Romney back to McCain. Period!"
Posted by denn034

I''m beginning to regret this posting. Religion should never be a motivating factor. Period! Religion is never rational and that has to be acknowledged. My apologies to Romney but, McCain still has my support though.

--McCain did extremely well with Hispanic voters in Florida.-- (gee, do you suppose McCain''s bill to grant amnesty to illegals aliens and having open borders had anything to do with this?)

And to all you bloggers that keep posting lies about Ron Paul being a racist:

The President of the NAACP stated publically and officially that in his opinion "Congressman Ron Paul is not and has never been a racist."

Now of course, if you spammers insist on suggesting that Black people and even the NAACP President aren''t intelligent enough to decide for themselves who is and who is not a racist, well, then that makes YOU a RACIST.

The Black People have already defended Ron Paul.

If you need more dirt on Paul, try doing what Hillary did to Obama. Try looking into Paul''s time in Kindergarten. Maybe you''ll find out where he used a spit ball at the teacher.

(man we sure have some real ignorant people in this country)

[byeneocons]

Rex: Glad you showed your true Ron Paul colors.
Can anyone prove or disprove his statement that "95% of the black men in D.C. are either ciminals or semi-criminals?"

The fact he would even offer that statement proves he is a racist.

And yes, he wrote all of those racist statements and many more. It is well documented in the Houston Chronicle, and the racist newsletters Ron Paul put out in the 90''s are coming back to haunt him.

The idea you would like to think what he said was true shows your true color, and it isn''t black or white.

[byeneocons]

If Mitt Romney is such a great and honorable person, why is his website an entire mudbath against McCain?

I think the problem is that Mitt has shown his ruthless side, and it doesn''t quite jive with his professed ethics.

Besides, you can''t win the presidential nomination by spending 50 million dollars for each delegate.

[bdrlnt4rl]

one of the things that i know from my mormon neighbor is that they love america. they would do almost anything to build it up and protect it. they are the true americans. they are the only church i know of that even have their standing toward america in their doctrines.

[byeneocons]

In 1992, Ron Paul wrote, in his own words: "If you have ever been robbed by a black teenaged male, you know how unbelievably fleet-footed they can be." About blacks in Washington, D.C., Paul wrote, "I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal."

David Duke also campaigned cloaked in Christianity.

[gwagener]

Posted by RexProphet
"There shall be no religious test."
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That''s not the rule. The rule is (first amendment)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
The religious test for President is that he/she will respect the freedom of religion (or lack therof)

[denn034]

"Remember guys "There shall be no religious test." Leave Romney alone."
Posted by RexProphet

Would you support a satanist for President?

[hillaryin08]

You know this how??? ROFLMAO You aren''''t very smart... Nazi''''s are stupid, that''''s a fact but you even embarrass them! ROFLMAO Do you read the trash you post??? ROFLMAO Now the ONLY way you would know that is if YOU were involved now wouldn''''t you? So are you a member of the Toe Tappers Association?? ROFLMAO I know you supported Senator Wide Stance so were you involved in some of those Public Restroom situations?? ROFLMAO Seig Heil Y''''all. Folks this creature is without a doubt as dumb as dirt... plain and simple!! ROFLMAO


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Posted by MCVet at 04:20 PM : Jan 30, 2008

Your the only Nazi on here that we know for sure about

[denn034]

"Then stop interjecting your Jesus into my politics!"
Posted by gwagener

I''ll stop it after you stop interjecting your atheism into my politics.

[mcvet]

Actually these are Barney Frank''''s girl friends. They reach across the aisle. Very bipartisan group.


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Posted by mudrose at 03:47 PM : Jan 30, 2008
+ report abuse

You know this how??? ROFLMAO You aren''t very smart... Nazi''s are stupid, that''s a fact but you even embarrass them! ROFLMAO Do you read the trash you post??? ROFLMAO Now the ONLY way you would know that is if YOU were involved now wouldn''t you? So are you a member of the Toe Tappers Association?? ROFLMAO I know you supported Senator Wide Stance so were you involved in some of those Public Restroom situations?? ROFLMAO Seig Heil Y''all. Folks this creature is without a doubt as dumb as dirt... plain and simple!! ROFLMAO

[gwagener]

Posted by denn034
Keep your atheism and I''''ll keep my Jesus.

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Then stop interjecting your Jesus into my politics!

[denn034]

"That''''s true of all religions."
Posted by gwagener

Actually, that''s not true. The Unitarian-Universalists, United Church of Christ, Scientologists, Buddhists, Hindus, and Rev. Schuller would say that''s most empathically not true. Keep your atheism and I''ll keep my Jesus.