Gallup: 4 in 10 Republicans Find McCain 'Unacceptable'

[sabra]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002875570

Gallup: 4 in 10 Republicans Find McCain 'Unacceptable'


NEW YORK A new Gallup poll asking Americans theirs views of 25 leading candidates for president in 2008 found that one of the Republican frontrunners, Sen. John McCain, is judged "unacceptable" by 41% of those in his own party.

A bare majority, 55%, find him "acceptable." In contrast, 73% of Republicans give their okay to rival Rudy Giuliani. Condoleezza Rice got the thumb's up from 68%.

Most of the opposition to McCain comes from conservatives, possibly explaining his moves in that direction lately.

Interestingly, the Republicans with the highest "unacceptable" ratings are Vice President Cheney (61%) and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (52%).

[pepperbear]

1. Don't they know....

that ya reap what ya sow?

:hi:

[yellowcanine]

2. McCain made a strategic error pandering to Falwell. The wing nuts

are never going to be enthusiastic about him and he pissed off moderate Democrats and Independents with that move. McCain could still squeak by for the nomination but without enthusiastic support from the wing nut base he will not be able to overcome the defection of moderates. The Democrats still need to run a strong candidate, though. I think either Gore (my preference is Gore/Obama) or Clinton could beat McCain head to head at this point with a good campaign. And with an independent run by a right winger it would be even easier. I don't know that we can count on that, though.

[MissMillie]

7. I'm surprised that didn't make his numbers better

I mean, we're talking about people who STILL think GWB is doing a good job.

[AlCzervik]

3. wait until the primary, the gop is going to have a field day knee capping

him.

[acmavm]

4. And here little Johnnie made out with bush** in public

just to show these people how he's 'one of them'.

[GreenArrow]

5. the flip of that it that six of ten Democrats

find him acceptable.

[michreject]

20. You beat me to it.....eom

[mike923]

6. My Republican friends say it will be Romney....

They are keeping him on the back burner, away from the spotlight(critics), but he's going to be the guy.

[yellowcanine]

8. I think they are dreaming. Romney is too unknown and it would be

totally unlike the Republicans to nominate someone that much of a neophyte in presidential politics without significant national name recognition. George W. Bush was something of a fluke only made possible by his "presidential" name, imo. The other huge question with Romney is how his Mormanism would go over in the Bible Belt. Not very well, imo. Southern Baptists think Mormans are heretics. A Morman governor from Massachusetts? Forget it. And don't think for a minute that other Republican candidates or "swift boaters" won't find a way to "use" that little tidbit against Romney in South Carolina and other southern states. This is also why Orrin Hatch will never be president (thank God).

[closeupready]

9. Agree.

eom

[mike923]

24. Don't under estimate their sneakiness....

They want him to be an unknown right now. That keeps negative press (like being a Morman) off the front page. Their plan is, talk about McCain/Guiliani/Newt right now, have them take the heat, then when primary season starts, he'll walk in unscathed.

He's a pretty face and can speak relatively well, which will come off as a savior versus Bush. He'll be the challenge.

It's basically the plan Clinton and Bush used to get elected, while the opposition put up polorizing senators. So i cringe when i hear of all of our candidates being well known (with extensive voting records) senators, and theirs being a relative unknown governor. History could continue to repeat.

[jerry611]

27. Isn't Romney a Morman?

He'll never make it once that comes to light.

[Evergreen Emerald]

36. Romney scares me

He was heading the past attempt to amend the Constitution on the marriage issue. He shilled for the neo-cons.

[Orangepeel]

10. 73% approve of Giuliani now

wait until after a primary campaign when his pro-choice, non-homophobic opinions come to light.

[Bandit]

11. What about the "It's all about Character" crowd

That was the cry from the right on Clinton's infidelity. Will we hear anything but cricket chirping from the right about Rudy's quite famous and blatant infidelity? I sure won't hold my breath..

[Roland99]

12. Goes to show that Republicans are IGNORANT. Go off emotion only

All they think of when they think of Giuliani is 9/11 aftermath, not his politics.

[sgxnk]

13. the complete poll results

http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=23764

scroll down for the dem #'s.

i find edwards very high #'s interesting. some surprises here (for me) in this poll

[Roland99]

14. Can't stand seeing Hillary that high up. And, Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[sgxnk]

17. thank you

thanks.

if this middle east thing (tm) goes totally richter, i'll be interested to see how hillary's hawkishness plays.

out of the dem leaders in the polls, she seems by far the most hawkish

[omenapoint]

15. Rudy and McCain would be great for us!

Rudy and McCain are anti-gun. They have no chance. However, if one of them was nominated, and we nominated a pro-gunner, then we could take millions of votes from the R's.

[Bridget Burke]

19. I know people who have guns, collect guns and/or hunt.

But they are not so stupid as to be one-issue voters. Why must you malign gun owners so?

[omenapoint]

22. I know my stuff on this issue.

There are millions of people who will not vote for a gun banner, whether that banner be Rudy or whether it be Kerry.

Even if you don't believe me, then I know that they won't be avid supporters, they'll be tepid at best. Look at Ohio's race for Attorney General. The Democrat, Mark Dann, is very pro-gun. He has the endorsement of pro-gun groups and even has a GOP Gun Owners For Dann crew. His opponent, Betty Montgomery has a history of anti-gun positions and could very well be toppled.

[sgxnk]

25. omena is right

omena is right. this is a matter of facts, not personal opinion

clearly, there are some people for whom gun rights are a litmus test issue.

that's not surprising, any more than some people make reproductive choice a litmus test issue

this is not a matter of "how it should be". it's a matter of how it is.

some gun righters view gun control as a litmus test civil rights issue. no matter what rudi's other policies are - they will not vote for an anti-gunner

as a PRACTICAL matter, i am not sure how much of an issue is is on the federal level.

sure, the pres has veto power over congress, but gun issues have become primarily a state legislation not a federal legislation issue. see: florida etc.

on that respect, i think gun folks are more likely to see this as a litmus issue with a governor or state legislator than with a president.

the prez' primary power though i think would be in judicial appointments (appointing judges that view gun rights as an individual right), but apart from that...

i happen to live in a heavily blue state that is also heavily protective of the right to carry.

it's interesting

[omenapoint]

26. Also, I think it is a fed issue.

Look at what gave the Republicans control in 1994. The Democrats' gun ban. I believe that it was only last year that Senator Kennedy proposed an amendment that would have banned nearly all rifle ammunition. Lots of people voted for Bush because he had a positive pro-gun record as Governor of Texas. Senator Kerry had some of the worst 2A credentials of any candidate in history.

Sniveling Senator Mike DeSwine of Ohio is an anti-gun Republican. Gun owners in Ohio are not supporting him at all. Sherrod Brown could be the beneficiary of this apathy. However, Paul Hackett would have won those votes.

[sgxnk]

28. i do

i do think you are right, historically speaking

i just think that NOW the issue has morphed more into a state by state issue

the "assault weapons ban" (now expired) aside, most gun legislation that affects the average gun owner comes from state legislatures and state courts, not the federal govt.

if one lives in WA state, for instance - one has the right to carry a gun openly (nonconcealed) without even needing a permit. one can apply for a permit and WILL get one if one is not prohibited by felony convictions, restraining orders, etc.

contrarily, if one lives in New York or Chicago - forget it

so, again, NOW i see the issue as more of a state issue

it *is* true that the scotus *could* come down with a decision that expanded de jure civil rights and invalidate the gun bans in chicago, DC, New York, etc. but that is more of a pipe dream than a state legislature changing a state from a "may issue" to a "shall issue" status. especially given the experience in florida, i find the latter option more probable and more "real" in gun owner's eyes

[omenapoint]

29. good analysis.

I rather think that the national gun banners will STFU for some time. However, I think the voters will keep it up.

I would love a SCOTUS case sweeping aside most of the onerous state laws. National Reciprocity perhaps?

[sgxnk]

30. national reciprocity

iirc, the congress recently passed a law on national reciprocity for COPS but not for citizens with lawful permits

reciprocity laws could actually be seen as a violation of states rights (other states forced to recognize a permit from another state)

of course if one viewed onerous state laws of "may issue" states as a violation of the cotus in the first place, then i guess that's somewhat of a non-issue :)

personally, i'd LIKE to see every state have a "shall issue" status

[omenapoint]

31. Hell yeah!

And overturn the DC gun ban.

[sgxnk]

33. in effect

whether or not the intention is there, it is clear that the DC Gun Bans and most big city gun bans are racist in effect because (DC especially) areas with higher black populations tend also to have more strict gun control laws

DC has had up to 10X the national homicide average at times, and has about the strictest gun laws in the country. it's also about 75% black population iirc

see also: chicago, Baltimore, etc.

black males are FAR FAR FAR more likely to be the victim of homicide than white males, white females, asian males, asian females, etc. etc. etc.

and are more likely to live in areas where they are prohibited from LAWFULLY carrying a gun

the history of gun control also has a (well known) racist past.

again, i am *not* implying that most gun control law proponents are racist. i am saying that the EFFECT of these laws disproportionately negatively affects minorities

speaking of minorities, the fastest growing demographic of firearms owners is women

politicians in DC have no problem staying in the "safe" areas, and also having (publically provided) personal armed bodyguardsd

others are not so lucky

[michreject]

21. His anti gun stance

will make him go down in flames.

I don't see anyone from either party that's from the Northeast winning. I'm looking for a moderate midwesterner.

[BigDDem]

16. But, but wait...

McCain is a "maverick!"

[BigDDem]

18. Hillary is at 69% acceptable

that's sure to piss off some around here.

Diebold! Diebold!

[SensibleAmerican]

23. This is why the two party system is inherently flawed

Not that I'm neccessarily complaining.

McCain would win 48-50 states if the election were held today, with the possibility that the Democratic candidate could win his or her home state and a bordering state. Giuliani could probably win about 40-45 states, but he would lose most of New England, except New York. (Ironically, even though Giulliani would fare worse than McCain, he is probably the only candidate who has a competitive shot at winning New York if Hillary Clinton ran.)

However, neither of these candidates view fully jive with the Republican party. Whilst Republicans may like Giuliani and Rice (who is not running) better than McCain, this more than likely is because of the formers' hawkish positions in foreign policy. What may be likely to happen is that a pro-life hawk could end up winning the Republican primary, creating the conditions for a Democrat to win the White House.

[onehandle]

32. Think of McCain as the Hillary of the GOP.

Accepted by the majority, but not the base.

McCain is the GOP's only shot for 2008. And he's a bigger thug than Bush could ever be.

I hope he doesn't get the nomination, but I fear he will.

[SOS]

34. McCain and Lieberman will run a "Unity" third party run,

if McCain is denied the nomination by the fundie base.

If the major parties nominate Hillary and Frist, McCains dream will come true.

[indepat]

35. Surely seven in ten Americans find McCain unacceptable