GOP Pollster Says Warner Can Win
A new survey announced in Washinton on March 30th from GOP Pollster Frank Luntz declares that Mark Warner is the 'big star' going into the 2008 presidential election.
Warner "ought to frighten Republicans if he were ever to get the nomination -- because he could win" in 2008, Luntz said. See Related Story
In response to the survey Steve G. of New York writes:
The Luntz focus groups, my own observations, and the experience of others I trust suggest that no candidate makes more headway in an initial meeting with a voter or voters than Mark Warner. You cannot underestimate the importance of a candidate who only does himself good when he meets and speaks with voters.
This might seem like a bottom line qualification for any national candidacy, but it actually is quite rare to have someone with such an innate ability to positively connect with almost anyone. And to come off as sincere because he is sincere!
Consider a contrary scenario, i.e. the candidate who starts out with a strong reputation and good name recognition and high expectations. He either shoots from the lip and you pray he doesn't erode his support or you are afraid for him to say anything. You try to spin misstatements as frankness and refreshing, quiet as pensiveness and introspection, but inside you are thinking: Please be careful. Remember this a Latino audience. Remember you are in Chicago. Remember the Mayor's name.
Lord would I love to watch Mark Warner meet any voter, of any race, ethnicity or gender, in any debate, in any state. Think of it: A candidacy with an absolute minimum of places you would either have to stay away from or places where you wouldn't want to waste your time. A candidate who could contend in the Carolinas, in Florida, in the big northeastern states like Ohio nand Michigan, out west, everywhere. A Democrat from a Red State who you could be confident would carry his home state.
In fact, while thrilling, Mark Warner as a candidate would have a very different challenge: Given his ability to contend in places Democrats have not contended before, you'd have to make cholices that Democrats dont usually have to make. You could honestly think about Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas, Tennesee, Kentucky, Arkansas....all sorts of places. Tough choices.
In my lifetime I have not seen a candidate who could be as fearlessly and enthusiastically unleashed on almost any voters anywhere. Bill Clinton was superb, but never forget how much political energy and capital was spent on fixing and backtracking and apologizing and schmoozing. Mark Warner's warmth and connection with people is infinitively more earnest than the Clinton neon because it is so clear that it is built into the fiber of who he is.
Now as his positions start to crystallize, say on the war, not each and every contact will be a cakewalk. There is an angry segment of the Democratic base who will literally scream at anyone who doesn't support a "cut and run" policy. Social security will be Mark Warner's third rail just like everyone else.
But for now, there simply is no better candidate in the Democratic field.
I should say that I used the male pronoun becuase there has never been a credible female Presidential candidate. This time there will be. And that is great. But as a dyed in the wool New York/ New Jersey Hilary Democrat, count me among her strongest admirers who cannot conceive of a scenario in which she wins nationally.
One guy's opinion.
Steve G.
NY, New York
Warner "ought to frighten Republicans if he were ever to get the nomination -- because he could win" in 2008, Luntz said. See Related Story
In response to the survey Steve G. of New York writes:
The Luntz focus groups, my own observations, and the experience of others I trust suggest that no candidate makes more headway in an initial meeting with a voter or voters than Mark Warner. You cannot underestimate the importance of a candidate who only does himself good when he meets and speaks with voters.
This might seem like a bottom line qualification for any national candidacy, but it actually is quite rare to have someone with such an innate ability to positively connect with almost anyone. And to come off as sincere because he is sincere!
Consider a contrary scenario, i.e. the candidate who starts out with a strong reputation and good name recognition and high expectations. He either shoots from the lip and you pray he doesn't erode his support or you are afraid for him to say anything. You try to spin misstatements as frankness and refreshing, quiet as pensiveness and introspection, but inside you are thinking: Please be careful. Remember this a Latino audience. Remember you are in Chicago. Remember the Mayor's name.
Lord would I love to watch Mark Warner meet any voter, of any race, ethnicity or gender, in any debate, in any state. Think of it: A candidacy with an absolute minimum of places you would either have to stay away from or places where you wouldn't want to waste your time. A candidate who could contend in the Carolinas, in Florida, in the big northeastern states like Ohio nand Michigan, out west, everywhere. A Democrat from a Red State who you could be confident would carry his home state.
In fact, while thrilling, Mark Warner as a candidate would have a very different challenge: Given his ability to contend in places Democrats have not contended before, you'd have to make cholices that Democrats dont usually have to make. You could honestly think about Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas, Tennesee, Kentucky, Arkansas....all sorts of places. Tough choices.
In my lifetime I have not seen a candidate who could be as fearlessly and enthusiastically unleashed on almost any voters anywhere. Bill Clinton was superb, but never forget how much political energy and capital was spent on fixing and backtracking and apologizing and schmoozing. Mark Warner's warmth and connection with people is infinitively more earnest than the Clinton neon because it is so clear that it is built into the fiber of who he is.
Now as his positions start to crystallize, say on the war, not each and every contact will be a cakewalk. There is an angry segment of the Democratic base who will literally scream at anyone who doesn't support a "cut and run" policy. Social security will be Mark Warner's third rail just like everyone else.
But for now, there simply is no better candidate in the Democratic field.
I should say that I used the male pronoun becuase there has never been a credible female Presidential candidate. This time there will be. And that is great. But as a dyed in the wool New York/ New Jersey Hilary Democrat, count me among her strongest admirers who cannot conceive of a scenario in which she wins nationally.
One guy's opinion.
Steve G.
NY, New York
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