Missing: Republican warchest (2 Viewers)

[Dave]

He's an opportunist, I'll give you that. He wanted to be mayor of NYC. He had to change political parties in order to get it done.

As far as how he runs NYC, the proof is in the pudding. After surviving the initial push back, he has NYC running better than even his predecessor.

I don't know if you've had a chance to read this yet. Interesting article.

And now he's left the GOP. For what reason?

He has done some good things for NYC, but some of his policies or views don't sit well with me. The article you linked to talks about his support for his Kyoto Protocol which would be a huge disaster for the US especially considering that the 2 of the biggest polluters in the world(China, India) aren't even included. I support his need to try to clean up the enviroment, but his views on that subject seem a little extreme to me.

The article talked about his support for stem cells, but didn't specify what kind of stem cells. I'm guessing they are talking about embryonic stem cells because the said Bush didn't support it. I support adult and fetal stem cells, but I do not support research with embryonic stem cells.

He left the GOP, but is that a suprise to anyone? He was a career democrat that switched to the GOP for political expiediency.

There are definitely some things to like about Bloomberg, but his nanny state policies make me less likely to support him if I am looking at independents.

 

[Rickboy]

A Hillary nomination almost guarantees a Republican win. Right now the Republicans are suffering for that foolishness of an immigration bill. Many Republicans are thinking they'd rather blow it up and let the Democrats win, then start over. During the last Presidential election cycle, I gave over $500 bucks to GW and Senator Cornyn. I've already gotten calls from the RNC and I told them to jump off a tall building. I'll give to Cornyn when he goes back up for re-election, but I'm not giving a dime to the RNC.

As for the Republican candidates, I kinda bounce back and forth with various ones. Newt is still my favorite but I can't deny he would have issues with the general election. But any of the Republican candidates can beat Hillary. Too many people feel she isn't just the wrong person but they flat out despise her.

However, Obama is a totally different story. If the Democrats nominate him, they can flat out win it all. Obama doesn't come across as a far left nut. He comes off as very intelligent and someone that can be negotiated with. Experience is his only real downside.

Oh, and then there is the dark horse, Al Gore. If he runs, he gets the nomination and Obama will happily be his VP.

 

[JimEverett]

IMO the problem with Hillary and Obama - strictly from an electability view - is that they would ensure that the 2008 election is fought in the same states as the 2000 and 2004 elections. Which mean - Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Florida.
Only the last two are states that Bush carried - so the bulk of the fighting will be on the Democrat's turf. That leaves little room for error, and that was a big reason why Kerry lost.
I see the same thing, maybe even worse, for Hillary. She will have to campaign heavily in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota - states that should be solid Democrat. My guess is too that Florida will be even less in play than it was in 2004 with either of them. So the GOP will just campaign heavily in states won by KErry and also in Ohio. IT sets up too nicely for them.

I don;t know what candidate from the Democratic party could change this. You really don;t have anyone that comes off as a BLue Dog Democrat - the type that did so well in the 2006 elections in otherwise solid red states and districts. Richardson, I guess, is close - but from what I have seen of him so far he is goofy in debates and on the campign trail. Edwards' economic populism might be able to make inroads into a some red states, but I doubt it. Chris Dodd is a solid guy, but he is too much into details to be a presidential candidate (sort of like Kerry). Biden might be the best guy from an electability standpoint.