Romney Wins New Hampshire By A Double-Digit Margin

[CQUIRK]

With 66% of the precints reporting, he is winning at 37-38% of the vote, followed by Ron Paul in second place with 23-24% of the vote.

Jon Huntsman is in third place with 16-17% of the vote.

http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/President/2012/Primary/NH

[Freedom]

A very strong showing. when I posting this he is at 40%.

[Avatar4321]

By the end of this, 55-56% of the voters in the Republican primary in New Hampshire voted for a Mormon. Regardless of what you think of the candidates, I think that's pretty good.

[BCSpace]

Huntsman did well for Huntsman (17%) but is currently (4%) behind Colbert (5%) in SC. Even if the voting is close, I really think if Romney takes SC and FL, he will have the nomination wrapped up.

Paul is asking everyone else to quit and throw their support behind him against Romney. I'd be real interested to see how the support falls out as the others drop out. How is Santorum's EV/Catholic support? I knew he would get nothing in NH because there aren't many of those kinds EV's there.

By the end of this, 55-56% of the voters in the Republican primary in New Hampshire voted for a Mormon

Of the 38-40% nationally who've said they would not vote for a Mormon, a majority of those by a margin of 2-1 or 3-1 (iirc) are not Republican so I think this notion that MItt is running for a party that won't vote for him because he's a Mormon is hogwash.

[CQUIRK]

Of the 38-40% nationally who've said they would not vote for a Mormon, a majority of those by a margin of 2-1 or 3-1 (iirc) are not Republican so I think this notion that MItt is running for a party that won't vote for him because he's a Mormon is hogwash.

Yes, most of the polls have shown that the majority of opposition to voting for a LDS presidential candidate actually comes from liberal Democrat voters, not conservative GOP'ers.

In the end, if Romney does get the nomination, the overwhelming majority of hard-core EV conservatives will suck it up and vote for Romney on election day.

However, I do think Ron Paul really is the best anti-Romney candidate out there, and if the rest of the conservative field could get behind him, he could still put up a good fight against Romney.

[CQUIRK]

I can see Mormon bashing coming up in the South Carolina primary soon; its likely to get nasty down there.

[Calm]

Paul is asking everyone else to quit and throw their support behind him against Romney.

Is there any indication that if Paul doesn't get the nomination, he will run as an independent?

[LeSellers]

Is there any indication that if Paul doesn't get the nomination, he will run as an independent?

That's not the good doctor's style.

He's made it clear that this option does not appeal to him. However, if the GOP chooses a really bruised man (farewell , Michelle Bachman, alas!) he would do well to do so in order to give us all, including disgruntled Democrats, an alternatve to O'bama.

Lehi

[thesometimesaint]

It would be best to wait till mid April for any candidate to claim the nomination.

[blueadept]

Huntsman did well for Huntsman (17%) but is currently (4%) behind Colbert (5%) in SC. Even if the voting is close, I really think if Romney takes SC and FL, he will have the nomination wrapped up.

Agreed.

Paul is asking everyone else to quit and throw their support behind him against Romney. I'd be real interested to see how the support falls out as the others drop out.

I believe Paul has found his support which is around 23% and I don't think it will necessarily grow even if everyone gets out of the race except for Romney and Paul. I don't believe he appeals to the EVs.

How is Santorum's EV/Catholic support? I knew he would get nothing in NH because there aren't many of those kinds EV's there.

Either Gingrich or Santorum will emerge as the Romney alternative after SC and FL. As a Catholic, I can only offer my Catholic perspective. As a voting block, Catholics have voted for the winner of the presidential elections for the last 4 decades so that included Clinton and Obama. I'll be interested to see if Catholics get behind the Republican nominee because I don't believe it's a shoe-in even if Santorum but I personally hope that they would.

[

Of the 38-40% nationally who've said they would not vote for a Mormon, a majority of those by a margin of 2-1 or 3-1 (iirc) are not Republican so I think this notion that MItt is running for a party that won't vote for him because he's a Mormon is hogwash.

All I can say is that it's apparent that Catholic voters are fickle but as a voting block have voted for the winning president. Between the choice of Romney or Obama, I don't believe there is a clear cut choice for most Catholics.

[BCSpace]

All I can say is that it's apparent that Catholic voters are fickle but as a voting block have voted for the winning president. Between the choice of Romney or Obama, I don't believe there is a clear cut choice for most Catholics.

Looks like Romney got 45% of all Catholics who voted in NH.

[thesometimesaint]

BCSpace:

You need to clarify that a bit.The Catholic Republican Primary voters voted at the 45% level for Romney. There was no opposition on the Democratic side to Obama. We'll have to wait till November to see who takes the Election. I can't speak for Catholic voters but Santorum wouldn't be my choice either. Huntsman(also a Mormon) came in third with 70% more votes than Santorum.

[BCSpace]

http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/10/10102559-possible-implications-for-november-in-exit-poll-data

45% Self-identified Catholic vote.

One surprising finding: Santorum, a Catholic, won only about 8 percent of self-identified Catholic voters, a serious underperformance on his part since Catholics accounted for more a third of the electorate Tuesday. Gingrich, also a Catholic, won 10 percent of Catholic voters, according to exit poll interviews.

Romney, a Mormon, dominated among Catholics winning 45 percent of them.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

With 66% of the precints reporting, he is winning at 37-38% of the vote, followed by Ron Paul in second place with 23-24% of the vote.

Jon Huntsman is in third place with 16-17% of the vote.

http://www.politico....2012/Primary/NH

Based on another thread I have posted about prejudice against Mormons it is interest that 1^st and 3^rd are Mormons.

[thesometimesaint]

With about a week left to the SC Primary Romney is expected to do quite well.

[Nofear]

A more detailed look at at the New Hampshire exit polling data: Religion and the 2012 New Hampshire Republican Primary (from the Pew Forum of Religious and Public Life).

[Avatar4321]

BCSpace:

You need to clarify that a bit.The Catholic Republican Primary voters voted at the 45% level for Romney. There was no opposition on the Democratic side to Obama. We'll have to wait till November to see who takes the Election. I can't speak for Catholic voters but Santorum wouldn't be my choice either. Huntsman(also a Mormon) came in third with 70% more votes than Santorum.

Seems odd to me that a faithful Catholic like Santorum wouldn't appeal to Catholics or rather to assume that they wouldn't. I don't expect them to vote for someone simply because of faith, but alot of people complaining about santorum complain about his religion and i just can't see Catholics having a problem with that. Im curious as to what would be disconnecting Catholics from Santorum. Anyone have an idea without being too political and getting this thread terminated?

[Calm]

Santorum's more conservative on the social issues than many Catholics (also American Catholics in general are more liberal on many social issues than the official Church position such as on gay marriage and abortion), specifically immigration reform, universal health care and the military.

As far as what the government and military should be doing, he probably aligns better with more Evangelicals than he does with Catholics.

http://swampscott.pa...atholic-problem

[BCSpace]

Santorum just got a major evangelical endorsement:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/14/rick-santorum-endorsement-evangelicals_n_1206372.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%26pLid%3D127639

Romney currently has a 21 point lead in SC. If no other major events occur (unlikely) between now and that primary, perhaps we shall see what, if any, effect this has.

[thesometimesaint]

calmoriah:

My guess would be that it is not his religion per say, but it is that he wants to shove his interpretation of Catholic beliefs down other peoples throats.

[Stargazer]

calmoriah:

My guess would be that it is not his religion per say, but it is that he wants to shove his interpretation of Catholic beliefs down other peoples throats.

Hmmm. I'll admit I had not heard of him doing this, but you may be better informed. Have you any examples?

I like Santorum. I just don't think he's got enough traction to win the nomination.

[Stargazer]

Well, I will just come out and admit it: last week I sent money to Romney's campaign.

One question: Is this deductible on my tithing?

[thesometimesaint]

sure.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendell-potter/rick-santorum-would-be-be_b_1193875.html

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/01/05/31-rick-santorum-quotes-that-prove-he-would-be-a-destructive-president/

[BCSpace]

One question: Is this deductible on my tithing?

Maybe someone will give you an indulgence or absolution.

[Mark Beesley]

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/jan/18/mitt-romney-warns-us-military-becoming-archaic/

I find it rather curious that a candidate who professes belief in the Gospel of Peace is seemingly wedded to the gun as the instrument for exerting American influence throughout the world.