From Rasmussen:
…A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 77% of Likely Republican Primary Voters think that every one of the party’s presidential candidates would do a better job than the current occupant of the White House…
…Eighty-three percent (83%) of primary voters say they will vote for the Republican candidate even if their favorite does not capture the party’s presidential nomination. Seven percent (7%) will vote for Obama if that happens, while five percent (5%) will go for a third-party candidate.
Perhaps surprisingly, Tea Party members are more committed to supporting the GOP candidate than other Republicans. Among GOP primary voters who are Tea Party members, 92% will vote for the Republican candidate even if their favorite falls short of the nomination. Among non-Tea Party members, only 78% are that committed to the Republican candidate…
This is interesting for a couple reasons. First off, it shows that any of the current or prospective GOP field can win and unify the party behind him- or herself. Secondly, it shows that the people most likely to bolt the party if they don’t get their way are the more RINOish elements. That moderate GOPer who would like us all to unify behind that sorta-pro-life, kinda-fiscally-conservative candidate…he’ll take off if his man doesn’t get the nod. Meanwhile, the TEA Party fanatic will swallow pride and do what is right for America…getting the liberal out, no matter what.
To me, this is an overall healthy development for the GOP. It shows a growing sophistication on the right – a willingness, as long as core principals aren’t violated, to do what is necessary to win. I mean, there is a “RINO-too-far” possible – such as what happened in Delaware last year when TEA Party people backed the loser because the winner would have been so awful. But aside from really blatant examples of RINOism like that, TEA Party people have a realistic approach to politics. Additionally, as the GOP gains new adherents we are seeing the old RINOs fade from the party. They are probably leaving us – and soon will be gone. The last of the go-along-to-get-along GOP is either dying out or moving to the Democrats. We won’t long be troubled by them.
The GOP needs to be a firmly conservative/libertarian party in order to defeat liberalism. Only those who are willing to fight on principle can really help us to victory. It is an odd coalition – normally, libertarians and conservatives cannot work in harness – but it is the necessary coalition for the vital goal: getting liberalism out of power permanently. I think this is what we’re seeing in this poll – the development of that coalition. And I think it will win in 2012 and beyond, until liberalism really is destroyed.
After that, of course, it will promptly fall apart and libertarians and conservatives argue about various issues…but that is ok; if our two major parties are a Conservative and a Libertarian party, then America benefits.
Blogs For Victory 