With Fred Gone, CA Repubs Turn To Romney

A new California poll taken after Fred Thompson's withdrawal from the Republican Primary shows Romney as leading big over McCain in Ca when it comes to which candidate best represents the Republican Party. In the state horse race poll, there is no significant difference between McCain and Romney with McCain up by only two points. Meanwhile, Jay Cost at RCP addresses in depth what will be a delegate battle moving forward. h/t Protein Wisdom Strong conservative opposition to McCain has the potential to derail his nomination.

Romney also held a substantial lead in regard to which candidate “best represents what the Republican Party stands for” with 32 percent, compared with 20 percent for McCain, 13 percent for Huckabee and 10 percent for Giuliani.

That may prove to be a significant statistic, DiCamillo said.

“I think that attribute is an important one in deciding who the Republicans nominate because they want one of them,” the pollster said. “They want a Republican who represents the party, and that's why it's a closed primary.”

The volatile Republican presidential contest in California has turned upside down in the past month and now stands as a close race between Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, according to a new Field Poll.

That race became even tighter yesterday when former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee dropped out.

The poll shows McCain leading with 23 percent to Romney's 21 percent as the Feb. 5 primary approaches.

Comments

[Cory]

Go Mitt!

[Al in St. Lou]

Romney has LOST every head-to-head poll against Hillary or Obama. If Fred is out and McCain is unacceptable, we have no choice but to nominate Rudy.

[Flap]

Dan, poll was taken January 14-20 BEFORE Fred Thompson withdrew.

Link: http://www.field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2261.pdf

[Dan Riehl]

Thanks Flap - another one now out after Fred at top.

[Dan Riehl]

BTW - from the article I linked above w/ the poll - you sure this isn't a new one?

"That race became even tighter yesterday when former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee dropped out. "

[Kaitian]

Al,

FYI, Romney has alot less name recognition and his history hasn't been clear to the American people say compared to Guiliani's scrutiny as New York's Mayor, McCain's service in the Senate for a long time and a previous Presidental run, Thompson's acting career. Now Obama is relatively new whereas Clinton wins out ahead of Romney because of the fact, they've known her since 1992. But if Romney gets the nomination, he's going to get boosted and everything about his platform will be publicized. Now, Hillary Clinton if she gets the nomination will be trashed for every -gate scandal she's been involved in especially being listed as the #1 corrupted politican in America.

[George Vreeland Hill]

Some polls say McCain is doing better than expected.
A vote for McCain is a vote for Bush.
They are both complete idiots who think the war in Iraq is the right thing.
McCain and Bush spend money, and then tell the people that Democrats are big spenders.
Really McCain?
The Republicans broke this country.
They lie and cover things up.
Bush and McCain laugh at you!
I am,

George Vreeland Hill

[Bob M]

The only person worth voting for who would actually end the war in his first month, restore our civil liberties and impose fiscal responsibility on government is getting 2% in the California polls. America is going to elect the candidate they deserve. I'd just assume the whole thing hit the curb while a Democrat is in office ( because we'll get socialism if it happens on the GOP's watch ). Neither Hillary nor Obama have a plan that doesn't involve printing money, nor will they commit to end the war before 2013.