Early exit poll results from Florida show that the economy is the dominant issue for Republican voters. About half of Republicans cited it as their top issue, while terrorism, Iraq, and illegal immigration split the other half of the pie.
Romney has hammered economic issues hard and conventional wisdom suggests that the mindset of voters is favorable for a Romney win.
A local Pensacola NBC affiliate is reporting a strong Romney showing at some local voting locations. The Panhandle was long thought to be a source of some McCain strength and recent polls showed McCain with a slight lead in that part of the state.
We spoke to some exit pollers and looked at their numbers. These numbers are unofficial but it looks like Mitt Romney is ahead by a landslide in the area.
It’s important to remember though that random sampling of exit polls from one or two precincts isn’t an effective way to judge larger trends. But the focus on economic concerns suggests a slight advantage for Romney.
Another bad sign for McCain is that only 5-7% of voters appear to be Cuban, a community that’s expected to be strong for him following the endorsement of Mel Martinez.
Exit polling has been way off in the past, just consider the 2004 elections. And early exit numbers that are leaked on blogs and local TV stations tend to be even less accurate.
We’ll just have to wait another couple of hours to see how all of this shakes out. Polls begin closing at 7pm Eastern and the final polls will close at 8pm.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Romney is just a liberal wearing a sheepskin from the most liberal state in the union, mandating healthcare and raising taxes. He really burns me up! It is truly amazing people will be fooled by his reptilian grin.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Suppose you woke up this morning to the news that you have inherited $10 million. However, your benefactor has stipulated the following condition for the money to be transferred to your account: You must hire a money manager from the following list of five candidates to oversee your new financial portfolio.
Your first option happens to be married to a former U.S. president and is now in her second term as New York’s junior senator.
Next is a lawyer and former state senator in Illinois who has served in the U.S. Senate for the past three years.
Then there is a former two-term Arkansas governor who, prior to that was a Baptist minister.
You also have the choice of a man who served two terms as mayor of New York City and once ran for the U.S. Senate before dropping out of the race.
Your next option has a distinguished 22-year military career and has represented Arizona for 20 years in the U.S. Senate. He is widely considered a true patriot for his service to our country.
Finally, there is a man who eliminated a $3 billion deficit in one term as governor of Massachusetts without raising taxes or borrowing money. This followed his rescue of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games where he turned a $379 million operating deficit into a handsome profit, mobilized 23,000 volunteers, and organized the largest security operation in the history of the world. Prior to that this candidate founded Bain Capital, one of the world’s most successful venture capital and investment companies which helped launch hundreds of other American companies and became a $10 billion company.
Who wouldn’t want as their personal money manager the candidate who has the most proven experience managing money — the most competent manager?
January 29th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Romney is the true Manchurian Candidate. He wants to buy the presidency. I hope McCain wins big and puts an end to Mr. Blow-dried Phony Romney’s attempt to lie his way into office.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Are you serious? You must not be voting for McCain then. If Romney is a liberal than McCain is a Kennedy. That guy has done more to singlehandedly gridlock the Republican party than any other Liberal (not moderate) Republican. Romney lived in and had to deal with a blue state. What is McCain’s excuse?
January 29th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
McCain is clearly the liar. Anyone who has been listening the last 3 days CANNOT under a clear conscience deny it. Or maybe McCain’s increasingly most-used reply (I don’t recall saying that) is old age setting in.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
At least McCain is consistent. Romney will say ANYTHING to get a vote. He has no honor. McCain refused early release from a VC prison camp just to piss off his captors. Enough said.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Romney has changed positions on a few issues. McCain has been more consistent.
That means Romney is right 50% of the time and McCain is wrong 100% of the time. I like those odds.
Go Mitt Go!
January 29th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
McCain would be crushed by Billary because he’s out of money and would be the oldest president ever elected. He’s get crushed. mcCain is also no conservative — not by miles. Think AMNESTY, think failure to support his party in passing the Bush tax cuts, think how he partnered with liberals every step of the way in congress. yes, he was a Vietnam POW who deserves our respect, but his would be a disastrous nomination! Guaranteed failure. Vote Mitt. He is uniquely able to promote economic excellence for the US!
January 29th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
LOL
Good one, Mark…
but seriously, what about honor, courage, and sacrifice for the nation? McCain has shown he can handle the rough stuff. I want a leader that has the guts to make a tough call. Romney just hasn’t shown that he is about anything except money.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Romney is the best of the bunch. He was a successful conservative governor in a liberal state. He will be the most successful at defeating Hillary.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I don’t see any honor left in McCain. Let’s look at his record. He’s lied about the provisions that were in the amnesty bill (I actually read it and checked and yes, illegals stay and so do their family members). He’s lied about his economic prowess (either way– he changed positions on it and then denied it). He’s called Romney a liar in New Hampshire when he was called on his “mistatements”. He lied about Romney supporting a troop withdrawal. And romney is the flip-flopper and panderer? Give me a break. I will vote Democrat if McCain gets the ticket. At least then we have a chance in another 4 years and it wasn’t a Republican to blame for another bad run in the White House.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:04 am
If Romney wins Florida, it may well destroy the Republican party.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:07 am
That is the problem with McCain, the type of character he has displayed time and again in his life. How can a man of good conscience and good character abandon his crippled wife and 3 kids for a rich trophy wife 17 years his junior?
That is a character flaw whose magnitude I will not abide.
With Mitt Romney’s wealth he could have lived any life he chose and no one could have stopped him. He chose to stand as a good husband and father to his family. Behind closed doors and within the four walls of his home he has showed more GOOD character then anyone I have ever seen run for public office. Where are McCain’s 3 children? I have not seem them stumping for him like Mitt’s 5 sons.
Everything I see in McCain’s life, both public and private, point to him being selfish and power hungry.
As a conservative I will not vote for this man even if he is the Republican nominee. I would rather the country hit the skids with Hillary in charge then a “Republican” of low moral character.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Romney is Washington’s hope. We don’t need someone who hasn’t accomplished anything in 20+ years.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Den - you show a lack of commitment to conservatism with a statement like “I will vote Democrat if McCain gets the ticket”. McCain has pretty good scores from conservative organizations, yet you would vote for Hillary or Obama? Lower the drama level if you want to be taken seriously.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Romney is a Mormon whack job.
They are right up there with Scientologists.
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon if you have any doubt!
I guess when you compare him to a perverted cousin lover, and a senile old man he doesn’t look that bad. It is a sad time to be a conservative.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Where are McCain’s children? I saw his daughter in person at an event the other day and she’s been blogging her travels on the campaign trail.
His son is in the military headed to Iraq. Doing the kind of dirty business that Mitt’s five sons don’t want to bother themselves with.
Romney’s children are rich spoiled brats.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Maybe that’s the issue– McCain has not done much of anything to help the Conservative movement. If I don’t vote Republican, it is because there is no Conservative option. Republican does not automatically equal conservatism. In my opinion, McCain has been a hindrance to conservatism and therefore I would vote on other criteria. Do you think I am alone on this? Certainly not.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:13 am
If Romney wins Florida, and goes on to be the nominee. We all Win!!!!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Romney’s flip-flops on abortion and gays are just too much for me personally. I think he is a man who will say anything to get elected, like Hillary (yes to the man part - LOL) and Obama. McCain stood by the war effort and the troop surge when his poll numbers plummeted as a result. IMO, that says a lot.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:19 am
the only reason you sheep hate mccain is that is what drug addict rush limpbag wants you to do!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Mormonism is no less crazy than Catholicism or Christian fundemantalism. It’s just less familiar to people.
And anyone who voted for McCain is voting for two invasions: the U.S. invasion of Iran and the Mexican invasion of the U.S.! Either could bring down this country. Shame on you.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I am a mormon and offended by Jerry’s comment.
I don’t see Mitt’s religeous views having been imposed on Massachusetts as a governor. It seems he did a good job. I feel that McCain has gotten votes in states where the primaries were not closed, allowing Dems to vote in South Carolina primaries for the most liberal of the Reps. but i feel that Florida will be a better test of Reps, because only voters that are registered republican will be able to weigh in on the rep candidates.
i also feel it was a mistake for the DNC to essentially boycot michigan and Florida because all the television time will go to republicans. I really wish, that out of millions of Democrats, that the better ones would run for office. Or if the 3 smartest Democrats in the whole united states were actually Clinton, Obama, and Edwards i would have to retract the previous statement.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:27 am
If you breakdown the CNN exit polls, it show Romney leading 40-27 with conservatives, McCain leading 41-19 amongst moderates. 6 in 10 are conservatives, if you do the math it shakes out 32.8 McCain, 31.6 Romney.
Also “experience” is cited by a third of voters, more than was the case in past primaries.
You are focusing on the “economy”, but that doesn’t translate to not voting for McCain, the exit polls give him a slight edge.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:33 am
FOX exit poll
Those who said their biggest issue was the economy — the top issue for Republican voters in Florida overall with 47 percent — gave the edge to McCain over Romney 38 percent to 34 percent, with 12 percent for Huckabee and 10 percent of Giuliani.
McCain ahead on the economy! McCain also way ahead with older voters, 40-31, CNN says almost half over 60!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Another thing to consider, the absentee voter, which is not included in the exit polls. Polling firm Insider Advantage had McCain slightly ahead with people who had already voted.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:40 am
From National Review:
The first wave of exit poll numbers, including absentees: McCain 34.3 percent, Romney 32.6 percent, Giuliani 15.3 percent, Huckabee 12 percent
January 30th, 2008 at 12:46 am
9% reporting
McCain 34% Romney 30%, McCain up 13000 votes!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:46 am
Something to consider, Romney currently is far behind McCain nationally. Even with a FL win, the rest of the nation will second guess him. Only the core of the Republican party is gung-ho for him, the rest of the nation which is conservative leaning will go for McCain.
So isn’t a national McCain win better than a Romney loss to either Obama or Hillary?
January 30th, 2008 at 12:48 am
RIP Rudi G
January 30th, 2008 at 12:56 am
14%
Mccain 34 Romney 30, McCain 20000 ahead.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Romney gives us that choice of electing a man that has a vast spread of experience, ability, and moral values that has seldom been matched in political history. This will become more evident as the voting goes on.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:44 am
Dudes and dudes,
Its wonderful for this liberal Democrat to hear about all your Republican animosity. Please, please, please keep that up during the general election. I love the hyperventilation about how the nomination of Romney will destroy the party. Yeah. Such talk underestimates the number of idiot citizens out there that will vote against their economic interests in order to support a candidate that will kick down upon Mexican immigrants looking for nothing other than a good day’s honest labor. Boy, you guys sure do suck ass.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
To bad, Ron Paul is the only true Conservative running. To call Romney or M’Cain a Conservative is like calling Hitler a Jew.