Analysis: John McCain - New Face Of GOP

Vaughn Ververs Says Path To Nomination For Romney, Huckabee Is Challenging At Best

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

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After amassing a huge delegate lead in 21 Super Tuesday contests, John McCain is the new face of the Republican Party. Despite loud and sometimes bitter opposition from some conservative corners, the Arizona senator has edged ever closer to winning his party’s presidential nomination.

Both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee pledged to fight on. But the sheer delegate deficit each must now erase to overtake McCain will make it harder by the day for them to have a realistic chance.

Charting a path to the nomination for either candidate at this point is challenging, at best. Some southern or quasi-southern states remain targets for Huckabee -- states like Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi. For Romney, who is out of home states to run in, the obvious targets are even less clear. But big states like Ohio and Texas would surely be on the list. What Romney does have is the money to keep running.

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View All Super Tuesday Results

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Big wins will be harder to come by now because just two pure winner-take-all contests remain - Virginia and the District of Columbia. The remaining states mostly allocate their delegates by congressional district winners, meaning it will be harder to overcome McCain’s delegate lead. And over half the delegates headed to the national convention have been selected already.

“Winning states is important, but it's really about delegates,” said Michigan Congressman Peter Hoekstra, a Romney backer. “Romney has to win enough delegates to get a reasonable number of people to look at him." True, but the bigger question is whether he can possibly cobble together enough to win.

Huckabee now looks very much like a regional candidate. He has not won outside of the South since Iowa and showed little strength in the Midwest, Northeast and West on Super Tuesday, despite winning five states.

Romney has proven he can win his various home states - Massachusetts, Utah and, earlier, Michigan. - but little else. What Romney did that Huckabee did not was demonstrate considerable strength nationwide, from Georgia to Colorado and points in-between.

Each will have something to hang on to after this day, Romney a likely second-place in the delegate count, Huckabee some statewide wins.

In the end, Romney has been stymied by better-known, more able candidates. He may also be the victim of a serious misunderstanding about what conservatism means today. Romney has sought to cast the race as being about who is more conservative, amplifying the mantra started by angry talk-show hosts protesting that McCain was not one of them.

But Romney seems to have missed his own stump speech in which he frequently talks about the three legs of the conservative coalition - economic, national security and social issues.

Among Republican primary voters nationwide voting on Super Tuesday, McCain won among those who cited the economy as their biggest concern, even as they thought Romney the best candidate to deal with it, according to CBS News exit polls. Whether those voters were conservative or not, they are speaking for the Republican Party.

McCain also won among those who cited national security as their top concern but finished third among those seeking a candidate who shares their values. In other words, McCain won two of the three legs of conservatism. Most importantly, McCain won the delegate rich (and winner-take-all) states giving him a big leg up on getting to the 1,191 needed to lock up the nomination.

McCain is for sure the choice of moderate and independent-minded Republican voters. There is also some evidence that he’s not the overwhelming choice among them.

Thirty-seven percent of primary voters on Super Tuesday called themselves pro-choice but just 51 percent of those voters chose McCain. And on immigration, one of the most contentious issues in this election, 54 percent said they oppose the deportation of illegal immigrants and just 46 percent of them voted for McCain. But McCain did not win traditional Republican states in the south or west, carrying more Democratic-friendly territory in the northeast as well as California.

The road to eventual victory may be daunting for Romney and Huckabee but the path to reconciliation within the party itself may prove more so. The rancorous debate that has erupted in recent days between Romney and Rush Limbaugh on one side attacking McCain and Huckabee on the other will need time to heal.

Limbaugh isn’t sounding optimistic about a coming-together anytime soon. “If down the road you think that the election of Obama, Hillary, or McCain is going to result in very bad things happening to the country,” he said on his radio show yesterday, “Who would you rather get the blame for it?”

Ironically, it’s the Democratic race which might relieve the pressure on Huckabee and Romney to bow out. Nothing would soothe a party with a financial and energy deficit than a head-start on the general election, allowing their nominee to repair the party and begin the fall campaign in earnest.

[cfin5]

Yeah, It''s called the "Demopublican Party" now,......with the exception of Ron Paul. I think he needs to go talk to the "Constitution Party" and do it soon. (constitutionparty.com)

[heartlandjim]

Mike Huckabee proved last night he can win against all talk radio and pundents. Mitt proved he can not. Mike Huckabee is the true conservative and has my vote. I do love the fight in this dog! Go Mike Huckabee, go!!

[holmantx]

Well, it%u2019s about time. The conservatives are now just realizing the neoconservatives are not their friend. The neos need a horse, and they found one in McCain. Talk radio and the ideology they espouse is now realizing the neoconservative Machiavellian realists have no problem embracing big government and pragmatism over political principle. And since the communication arm of conservatives have effectively doused the conservative rank and file call to ditch neoconservative Leftists through the use of the anti-Semitic platitude, talk radio is shocked that they are being cut adrift whilst the neos switch horses in the middle of the stream. It was never about principles with the neos, but all about retaining power through deception. Use of force and low grade wars as a tool of governance, imperialism, big government, embracing the Welfare State, nation building, running deficits, and pacifying the population with slogans, are all justifiable means to an end for the neocons. So who%u2019s a Paleo now, talk radio? You ride with outlaws, you die with outlaws. Except in this case, it is the conservative movement that will be doing all the dying. The neos are not so encumbered with such passi notions such as Reaganism.

[news4all]

It has been said that our country will get the leader the people deserve...

McCain is a hot-tempered, power-hungry, warmonger who will stop at nothing until he gets his way.

Huckabee is a goofy, ethics violating, self-righteous, ignorant, flippant mouthed, obnoxious, bigot.

Romney is highly educated(with honors), experienced, self-controlled, knowledgeable and he is a problem solver who has integrity, vision & decorum.

The fact McCain, the scariest person from either party, is ahead in delegates should be a wake-up call to all Americans...

[liberalvet]

So NEOCONs how does it feel to be left out in the dark? American''s have turned thier backs to you. Not even your beloved fat azz Limbaugh and w**** Coulter could turn the tide.

Moderate conservatives have stood up and taken back thier party. While I still oppose most of thier view points I applaud them for kicking the far right to the curb......

[ampesq1]

%u201CWho would you rather get the blame for it?%u201D
Someone should tell Rush that there are those who care far less about placing the blame than preventing the harm.

[singingrick]

The fascist wing of the Republican party have spent so much time swift boating McCain. This must really upset them.

[likeitis5050]

Haaahhaaaa...new face of the GOP? Not hardly. McCain is a stooge who doesn''t even have the guts to run in his true party...he''s a Democrat. He''s been in bed with so many of the schemes and obstructions Democrats have come up with, he reeks of them. But that''s good for Democrats...either way on election day, a Democrat takes the office...and frankly of the three..I''d rather see either McCain or Obama saunter inside the Oval Office...Clinton needs no more access to the Oval Office than she supposedly had for 8 years under Bill and Monica.

[quantitave2]

Good grief! The ugly rhetoric some of you have resorted to is unbelievable. This was and continues to be a process of defining who the candidate will be that represents the republican party. Attacks on talk radio, or individuals are petty and based on personal biases, not facts. It appears, from many of these comments, that there is far too much hate and ignorance among those who own computers and write on these sites! How about sticking to the facts--not the hate rhetoric and repetition of what the media talking heads say. Take the time to become better informed by doing a little personal research and making choices and decisions for yourself. Give those typing fingers a rest, and start exercising your minds! Whoa---What a novel idea!!!

[likeitis5050]

Moderate conservatives have stood up and taken back thier party. While I still oppose most of thier view points I applaud them for kicking the far right to the curb......

Posted by LiberalVet

And when does Pelosi get the boot? She is as far left as those you despise on the far right. Fair is fair...oh, but this is politics..nothing fair about it...at least when it comes to taxing and building government to the point everyone is dependent..buh-buy independence...hello Big Government. And the ones who are destined to be hit the hardest are the wealthy who support them...gotta love the irony.

[hwy71so]

The simple fact of the matter is that the average American just rides the boat.

Kind of disheartening.

[singingrick]

What will the GOP fascists do now? Without a horse in the race they will be irrelevant again. They''ll have to go back to burning crosses in peoples yards to get attention.

[taddles-2009]

"Moderate conservatives have stood up and taken back thier party. While I still oppose most of thier view points I applaud them for kicking the far right to the curb......

Posted by LiberalVet at 09:44 AM : Feb 06, 2008"

Nicely put.

I heard a comment this morning that kind of sums up the neo-con right wing movement..."None of the Republican candidates are conservative enough for the neo-cons, Stalin wouldn''t even be conservative enough"

[taddles-2009]

"And when does Pelosi get the boot?
Posted by likeitis5050 at 11:03 AM : Feb 06, 2008"

She doesn''t, she''s not up for election. You''ll just have to live with her ;o) Like we had to live with "bug-boy". At least the Dem speaker hasn''t been indicted yet....

[chrisl45]

Last night at a John McCain party in Seattle Washington, I got to party with ex-govenors, congressmen and the like for 4 and a half hours. Media interviewed me. My advice is to find a candidate you like and studied everything about him/her and then look for a web page to connect with parties and volunteerism.

[nolalou]

"And when does Pelosi get the boot?
Posted by likeitis5050 at 11:03 AM : Feb 06, 2008"

She doesn''''t, she''''s not up for election. (posted by Taddles).

Sorry, Taddles, but ALL members of congress are up for election next November! However, the Democrats will probably increase their majority, so Pelosi''s job as Speaker is not at risk, at least for the next few years.

[davidlar2]

"I heard a comment this morning that kind of sums up the neo-con right wing movement..."None of the Republican candidates are conservative enough for the neo-cons, Stalin wouldn''''t even be conservative enough""

I hate to break it to you, but Stalin was a leftist (a big government Communist), not a conservative.

[excoachken]

John McCain is the senile Uncle that nobody wants to come to Thanksgiving dinner, but he always shows up and picks the most inappropriate time to belch and call your little sister a dirty name.

[neoconnie]

It was a sign from God that when Rush Limbaugh spoke, millions of voters switched to support Mike Huckabee. You cannot deny the power of conservative Christian Republicans. They prevailed in 2000, 2004, and we will prevail again in 2008.

[bookwerm314]

Folks who claim McCain doesn''t "represent" their party are quite wrong. By definition, if the most Repubs VOTE for McCain, he DOES represent the party.. or at least the majority. You can pile all the right wing nuts and NEO Con talk show hosts into a big pile, because that is all they are.. they do NOT represent the normal party members.. The PLATFORM of the GOP is obviously at major odds with what the rank and file folks want, and that is evident in their voting pattern! The GOP leadership all needs to be removed and sane people put in.

[inventagod]

New Face of GOP?

Fear and endless war...

Ya - riiiight...

[rockyspoon]

Hey, Quantitative... I have looked at the facts, and it''s easy to see McCain is on the wrong side of the issues to be what I consider a conservative. You''re right... the rhetoric gets thick, but at the same time, so does McCain''s distortion of the facts. If you want to start preaching to someone about being honest, McCain is the best place to start.
PS You can tell the MSM want McCain because of the distortion they put in their article titles: McCain a NEW FACE? What a joke.

[bookwerm314]

What is funny to me is how stupid the NEOCons are, they cut off their own noses to spite their faces.

For instance, shown over and over medical costs and fear of losing coverage is a huge detriment to American business (except big pharm and HMO''s of course). France has the number 1 system, half what we pay. Any decent businessman would love a chance to limit and control medical costs, and single payer IS the way to go.. medicare much more efficient. But based on "philosophy" that Market economics are superior they stick with that.

So, if it is so great, why do we pay so so much more for drugs and medical vs. EVERY OTHER FIRST WORLD COUNTRY? I say the "free market" is a bunch of hooey for this, as they are parasites adding costs and controls that have NO value! Eliminate all insurance and HMO companies, pay EU prices for drugs (1/3 what WE pay), and move on.

AT this point, new auto factories are opening in CANADA instead of the USA, entirely due to the $2000/yr medical cost price added to each car.

[macusweil]

New face? Whoa! He''s still a free spending necon PIG who will bankrupt our nation with dreams of glorious victory in Iraq. Borrowing every dollar from the Arabs and Chinese to pay for it!!

[fairandbal]

A Bush lapdog is the ''new'' face of the GOP??!! give me a break. He''s the same old same old = torture is ok, protect corporations screw average americans, support the wealthy. nothing new here folks!
The MSM loves McCain and will do anything to put him in power to keep the Bush regime going strong. Don''t buy it!

[mcharlton]

McCain is an indication of just how confused Americans are with their leaders. A couple years ago, we kicked the Republicians out and let the Democrats in. All the Democrats have done is offer to raise taxes, yet we still elect them! McCain''s record reflects the opposite of everything his party stands for. No wonder the NY Times endorses him, because so far it''s a win-win with McCain and Hillary.

[rushlimpdrug]

Why would these people listen to a drug addict?
Posted by avoice at 12:05 PM

Because God told them to.

[joyous88]

VOTE McCAIN FOUR MORE OF THE SAME

[joyous88]

If the Democrats had the Votes in the Congress we would be OUT of Iraq -right now -

think about that when you vote next time

[anonbene]

It''s funny to see limbaugh and hanity going berserk over McCain. Evidently they aren''t the spokespersons for the republican voters in America. How does it feel to be impotent? Diminished? I hope we are witnessing the end days of these hateful people. Remember folks they are rich white men and have only their own self interests at heart.

[liberalvet]

The Democratic party rid itself of the rightous big business evangelicals years ago. If you remember they used to be called Southern Democrats. Good ole boys preaching the bible with a biggoted agenda. When booted from the Democratic party they infested the Republican party and are now called NEOCONS. Good ole boys preaching the bible with a biggoted agenda.

Question is where do they go now that the Rupublican party appears to be turning on them as well?

[conspiracygirl]

Ask yourselves this:

If Mike Huckabee were the same man is as he is right now but NOT a baptist preacher, do you think he would still have the support of former conservatives?

What if Mike Huckabee were a Methodist? Would his supporters be as fervent...? Would they even be the same people?

What if Mike Huckabee were exactly the same candidate, but he were a Mormon...?

[conspiracygirl]

Ask yourselves this:

What if John McCain were exactly the same candidate, as he is now,except for his religion...? What if he were a Jehovah''s Witness...? What if he were a Mormon?

Do you think he would still be sweeping the USA?

[singingrick]

carolm62

You make some very good points.

[conspiracygirl]

Ask yourselves this:

What if Mitt Romney were the same candidate as he is now, except for his religion...?

What is he were still a successful businessman, but were a Methodist instead...?

[timoteotk]

%u201CI want to make real sure that he (Romney) understands something. This old Arkansas boy is not for sale. He doesn%u2019t have enough money to buy me. I%u2019m not some troubled company that he can buy, sell off the assets and send us home. There%u2019s a whole lot of people like me in this country who are tired of people waving their checkbooks at us and making us think they own us and they can buy us. Well you can%u2019t buy us. You can%u2019t even rent us. We%u2019re not for sale. We%u2019re going to the polls Tuesday and we%u2019re going to show America this country is about ordinary people who believe in the extraordinary power of the American dream and we%u2019re going to prove it at the ballot box Tuesday.%u201D - Governor Mike Huckabee on Monday Feb 4th

It''s NOT THE PUNDITS, the pollsters, the Radio hosts, or establishment POLITICIANS, it''s the PEOPLE WHO DECIDE! Way to shut their FAT mouths Governor Huckabee!!!!

I predict Huckabee will be in play in Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Mississipi, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Nebraska, & Ohio & even Wisconsin....but go ahead and continue to underestimate him and you will get shocked once again!

[superdem]

What in the world is "new" about John McCain ? There is not one single policy difference between him and Bush. Not one. Same big buisness imperialist war policies. Same "free market" economic policies which are making the economy tank right now. Same "Pro-Life" anti-woman anti-stem cell research nonsense. He kissed all the far-right religious *****. Plus he''s a million years old.

[liberalvet]

carolm62

Good questions....but a better question is

Why does it matter what religion someone believes in? Does religion (No matter which one) make someone a better leader?

[lorinkundert]

If the GOP picks McCain I will not vote any of them until he is gone.

[pared1]

John McPain will not get in. In fact no Republican will be elected.

[liberalvet]

superdem

You are correct that there are little differences between Mac and GW. He supports many of GW''s wacko ideas. He has kissed every NEOCON congressman''s azz that has served. But he has supported bills that not one NEOCON wouldk be caught supporting.

Again....I do not support him or agree with him...but he is not the old NEOCON trash that has had hold of this country.

[conspiracygirl]

You see, it really does come down to bigotry.

Analysts have wondered and wondered why "conservative" voters have started spouting leftist class-warfare speak. They ooze with resentmeant over Romney''s business success and convolute twisted explanations as to why it must be unfair -- even though they''re supposed to be pro-free-enterprise...

I postulate that it''s like anti-Semitism.

Romney is actually resented for his amazing education credentials and success in turning failures into thriving successes.

In the same way pre-Nazi Germany resented the Jews...

So voters chose instead a guy who graduated at the bottom of his class and is a caustic, ill-mannered liberal -- who has few redeeming qualities or traits to recommend him....

[walshjack]

Huckabee voters are no different than anyone else. Whereas they initially would have gone to Romney, they now support McCain, because of his long held status as the front runner (which they gave McCain by destroying Romney in Iowa and New Hampshire). The fact that Huckabee attacks Romney every chance he gets (ie profits bad), also doesn''t hurt. The fact is, however, McCain will be unlike most of the more recent republican candidates in that a very large segment of republican voters absolutely hate him. His present positions (forget about his flip-flops) on carbon emissions, a doctor''s pay, drug companies, guantanamo, water boarding and reduced earnings for fired workers who take lessor paying jobs, betray a democratic-liberal philosophy, which many republicans find not only annoying, but dangerous. This will not change. Thus, he is unlike any republican nominee, I''ve seen over the last forty years.

[yongamerica]

If this man was not back stabbed by the Bush family, and all of the sick people that make up his machine, the US would not be in the economical, political and military quagmire it is in now. GW Bush has RUINED the US international reputation. GW Bush and Cheney (another tricky ***) has RUINED the US''s international respect as a fair and just nation. His political machine has had the power to circumvent every aspect the US is founded upon for almost eight years.

The SAD PART IS THE ENTIRE NATION HAS NOT UNITED TO OVERTHROWN THIS TYRANT. Sic Semper Tyrannis! Where is the outrage?

[conspiracygirl]

LiberalVet,

I totally agree that religion should not be an issue. It'' isn''t for me, nor has it ever been. So I wonder why the most capable conservative candidate is rejected for those who have precious little to recommend them....?

I think if folks ask themselves a few simple little questions, the answers might be revelatory.

[whatithink-2009]

"I totally agree that religion should not be an issue. Posted by carolm62 "

So you would vote for someone who practised voodoo if he was the best candidate?

[melaniebrady]

What I don''t understand is why Republicans completely overlook Ron Paul. I don''t get it. He''s anti-abortion, anti-IRS, has a keen knowledge of the economy, and is not against military action when justified. He''s also a stand-up man and a reliable statesman. Is it just because he''s against staying in Iraq? People talk about wanting change. Paul is offering change for the good of the country. Consider it.

[melaniebrady]

What I don''t understand is why Republicans completely overlook Ron Paul. I don''t get it. He''s anti-abortion, anti-IRS, has a keen knowledge of the economy, and is not against military action when justified. He''s also a stand-up man and a reliable statesman. Is it just because he''s against staying in Iraq? People talk about wanting change. Paul is offering change for the good of the country. Consider it.

[conspiracygirl]

I won''t reward the Republican Party with my support for devolving to the left, so even though McCain smirks that we''ll come around at election time, I can promise that I won''t be voting for him.

If I have to choose between a liberal and a liberal, it will be a well-educated liberal, one who is a decent human being, and who admits he is a liberal. I just hope Obama makes it....

If the Dem nod goes to Hillary, well, I''ll likely just stay home. But if it looks like a close election I''ll vote for Hillary.

[conspiracygirl]

Yup. Like you said, if he were the best candidate....