Some thoughts on Florida
Dick Morris says that McCain can win the general election and Romney can’t. Period. We’re not taking a position on that. As for the primaries, McCain won the Florida contest fairly decisively, 36/31, over Romney. Jay Cost has some of the details:
McCain won voters for whom the economy is their top concern, 40% to 32%…Romney won voters who think the economy is healthy. McCain won voters who think the economy is sick…
McCain did well among many of the factions he lost, including Bush supporters. He lost them by just 4% last night. It was his 22-point victory among those who dislike Bush that is the noteworthy result.,,
McCain was perceived by more Floridians as the most electable, edging Romney out by 13 points on that quality…
Romney won voters who said that cutting taxes was the higher priority, 35% to 29%. McCain won those who said reducing the deficit was more important, 42% to 27%…
McCain won a decisive victory on the question of who is most qualified to be commander-in-chief, beating Romney by 18 points.
Though many on the conservative side have serious and deep problems with McCain, we can understand his weathered and gruff appeal to many. As one of our readers wrote, he’s like a tough but amiable guy who sits down with you in a bar to have a beer. Everything is all smiles until suddenly, for no reason, he picks up his glass and smashes it over your head. Maybe that’s what some people are looking for in a president in 2008.