"GOP Can Revive Curbed Enthusiasm" (hoping for terror, a Hillary nomination, and a long Dem primary)

[skipos]

CAPITAL JOURNAL
By GERALD F. SEIB

GOP Can Revive Curbed Enthusiasm
January 22, 2008; Page A2

America's economy isn't the only thing that needs a stimulus. So do Republican voters, it appears.

In the wake of Saturday's South Carolina primary -- a high-profile contest in a presidential campaign that seems to have captured the nation's fancy overall -- a clear pattern now has emerged: Republican voters simply aren't turning out in the numbers you would expect.

(snip)

Put another way, the real need for Republicans this year may be less to excite the traditional base than to expand it in the post-Bush era, and Sen. McCain might be capable of doing just that. If there's a new national-security scare in the midst of this campaign, or new terrorism fears, Sen. McCain's national-security appeal would only be enhanced.

Finally, there's always the prospect that Democrats just might do the energizing for the Republicans. Republican pollster and consultant Neil Newhouse notes that one path toward greater intensity is "running against a Democrat in the general election who generates real negative passion among Republicans." He adds: "Luckily, such a candidate exists: Hillary Clinton." She registers a whopping 87% unfavorable rating among the party faithful, he notes.

At the same time, a drawn-out and divisive primary fight between Sen. Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama still has the potential to disillusion and discourage some Democrats about their ultimate choice. "There's only one direction that Democratic enthusiasm can go, and that's down," Mr. Newhouse says.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120095622616304835.html?mod=googlenews_wsj