A Thought as We Move into South Carolina.

[McCamy Taylor]

We all know that lots of Republicans see Bernie as their big chance next fall. Who wouldn't want to run against a Socialist? Bernie has no chance of upsetting Clinton in the next primary--South Carolina. Unless, the GOP can persuade Dems to cross over and vote in the Republican Primary, an open primary meaning that Dems are more than welcome to participate. However, they must choose, they can not vote in the Republican Primary and then in the Democratic Primary the next week.

What does this mean for those who want to stop Clinton in her own primary? They will want to give Ben Carson a big push in this state. Because if they portray him as a man who can win the GOP primary if he can only take South Carolina, then they might just be able to get some Clinton Democrats to switch primaries and vote for him.

Things to be on the watch for---any story that claims that Clinton is unstoppable in South Carolina. If the locals are saying "Hey, Clinton does not need your vote. Go vote in the GOP primary" watch out! Other things to be on the watch for---MSM talking heads suddenly talking about some mythical Carson momentum that will die the second the South Carolina primary is dead.

Do not take South Carolina for granted. The GOP will never in a million years nominate Ben Carson. But they will use him to try to keep the Dems from nominating Clinton. It is probably the real reason he is running. I am sure he will be more than happy to go back to selling vitamins when this election is over.

[Treant]

1. Isn't NV up next?

A closed caucus, which should give some interesting data.

Post that, though, SC!

[FrenchieCat]

2. Black folks do not vote for other black folks because they are black

A Black Democrat Who would vote for Ben
Is not a being to be found in this country.

The Black people who will vote for Ben Carson are black Republicans , and there are some of those out there, of course!

So even though that might be a GOP strategy, it is not a strategy that will work in any way, shape or form.

[jmowreader]

3. It is as discriminatory to suggest blacks would vote for Carson on skin color alone...

...as it is to suggest women would vote for Clinton on gender alone.

Because Republican presidential candidates are basically alike - they all hate same-sex marriage, abortion and taxes, and they all want to start about nine wars - your choices fall into a grid format: Religiously Insane/Not RI and Insider/Outsider

If you want:
RI Insider: Cruz
NRI Insider: Rubio
RI Outsider: Carson
NRI Outsider: Trump

The secret to South Carolina, if you're a Republican, is to REALLY love Jesus and REALLY like to spend on the military, since South Carolina contains both The Citadel and at least one base for every branch of the service. Carson hits on both cylinders so he should do well there among all ethnicities. (SC Democrats seem to enjoy candidates who are comfortable around people of all ethnicities, and whose platforms have at least a slight chance of being enactable. Since the last Democrat on the ballot meets both criteria, SC is well within her reach.)

[mgmaggiemg]

4. agree ;)

[Thinkingabout]

5. One thing to look to is SC has been picking the winning nominee

Making their results very important.

[yallerdawg]

6. South Carolina brings the 'big nasty' out.

This is where race and gender dog- and wolf-whistles will have a chance to be tested.

The guiding principle of politics is "whatever works."

A lot of mischief can come in your southern primaries!