Republican Voters Split Over Mr Electable [Y-not]

There hasn't been any major bloodshed on the blog for a good two or three hours, so how about talking about the 2016 candidate pool?

Via the outfit (probably Lefty, but who knows) YouGov, we have these recent poll results:

The majority (53%) of Americans say they do not want Mitt Romney to run for president in 2016. This includes the majority of Democrats (68%) and independents (52%) who oppose another run by Romney, who also ran and lost the race for the Republican nomination to John McCain in 2008. Republicans are more divided: a third (32%) want him to run again and a third (34%). The rest are unsure.

Also from that poll:

Within only Republican voters however, opposition to a Romney re-run may be lower than opposition to a potential run by Chris Christie (38% in April) and about the same as for Jeb Bush (35%). Republicans seem to be much less opposed to runs by Ted Cruz (17% in May), Rick Perry (19% in August) or Romney’s 2012 running mate, Paul Ryan (21% in May).

I admit, I'm usually taken aback when I see anyone suggest that running Romney again is a winning strategy. Although one could argue that a weak economy might make voters long for a businessman President, I think the class warfare problems in this country probably preclude running someone so identified with The Rich. It may not be "fair" or rational given that most politicians seem to be millionaires, too, but that's just my gut reaction. YMMV.

Anyhoo, how about a couple of polls? I'll put in the main candidates from this YouGov poll and add a couple of others whose names often pop up just for kicks.

First, which candidates would you find acceptable to vote for in the Republican primary?

Second, for the general election. For whom could you make yourself vote against whatever horrible diablo the Democrats run?

Let the games begin!

posted by Open Blogger at 09:11 AM

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