March 01, 2007
Why We'll Be At CPAC
1. Every major Republican presidential candidate sans John McCain. (McCain hasn't attended a CPAC event in... at least nine years, according to Ian Walters, a CPAC legend who has staffed the convention for... nine years.) Still, Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) will speak on Saturday, and he's just about the best McCain surrogate we can imagine. If McCain went to CPAC, the MSM would say he's pandering. Hugh Hewitt would say he's pandering. CPACers aren't McCain Republicans -- it's just a fact of life that McCain's campaign accepts.
2. The exhibition booths and the 100+ co-sponsors. Free literature, free notepads and free pens. Also: a good way to take the temp of the Conservative Movement.
3. The CPAC straw poll is kind of frustrating. Participants are asked to guess the next nominee -- as in, "Who do you think will be the Republican nominee?" They don't get to register their preferences. At most, then, the CPAC results can be read as an expectations barometer. Nonetheless, a few candidates (Romney included) are bussing in supporters.
4. The Hillary-hating. How many exhibitors will feature anti-Hillary goods? Will any other Democratic candidate be so honored?
5. The grumbling: why hasn't President Bush ever graced CPAC?
6. The more than 3500 young Republicans who take over the Omni Shoreham. They drink and smoke -- the older ones, anyway. They're fun to be around, regardless of your political or professional persuasion. Think YearlyKos for the conservative mindset.
Posted at 09:03 AM
Comments
I just got back from CPAC. Romney is clearly not the favorite. Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul and Sam Brownback seem to have the most supporters. Makes sense, because these are the most conservative candidates in the race. I voted for Paul and Brownback in the straw poll, on principle.
Brendan Steinhauser | 03.01.07 11:39 PM
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Most of the articles that I have read indicate that Romney and Rudy were the real crowd pleasers at the CPAC. Paul, Brownback and Tacredo may be the most conservative on social issues, but these guys are not legitimate candidates in terms of money, exposure and qualifications. A candidate has to be more than simply the most conservative candidate on social issues to get my vote. He has to have signficiant qualifications, including a resume of successful executive leadership over large organizations, whether it be in business, government or both. Look at Romney-he was CEO of Bain, a multi billion dollar company, CEO of the Olympics, and Governor of Mass. Rudy was the Mayor of NYC, a city that is larger than 39 states. These other guys don't have anything that comes close.
Mark | 03.03.07 11:16 AM
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Getting caught up on the coverage and viewpoints about the 2007 CPAC and one HUGE QUESTION was on the minds of many registrants regarding the ballot:
WHERE'S CONDI?
If you look up CPAC 2005, the data shows Rudy was the top choice at 19%, Condi Rice at 18%, all others ranked less.
Then in 2006, the data shows George Allen was ranked top at 22%, then McCain, Rudy, and Condi at 10%.
So you can imagine the questions I was getting from people asking, WHERE IS CONDI? So that is why our group, Thinkcondi.net, was promoting a WRITE-IN campaign.
The Zogby poll (released in Feb. 2007) listed Condi Rice as a choice and she came in at the 4th ranked 2008 candidate.
The national polls show Condi is a viable choice for the Republicans/conservatives. It was quite amazing to hear others agree that her name should have been included as in the past.
By the way, she was recently interviewed on television and said "If I fill out the remainder of my term, it will have been 12 years since a white male has held this position." During a conversation with Condi supporters, they all agreed the key word is IF, and that she is a wordsmith who could have easily said the phrase "WHEN I serve....".
My note here is lust to give a more complete report of how hundreds of people wore I LIKE CONDI buttons. It would be interesting to hear from Fabrizo how many Condi write-ins were tabulated. Has anyone heard?
Crystal Dueker | 03.06.07 01:29 PM
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