Wed
Apr 23 2008
09:57 am

Lost in all the attention on the Democratic primary, there was also a Republican primary in Pennsylvania yesterday.

McCain won with 73% of the vote. Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul got 16%, followed by Chucklebee at 11%.

73% doesn't seem like a very strong showing by the presumptive nominee and savior of the Bush GOP legacy against two guys who already dropped out.

It sounds like a third party Ron Paul Ron Paul Ron Paul/Mike Huckabee ticket is just what the GOP disaffected need. Democrats would be happy with that scenario, too.

Turnout was also interesting. More than 2.3 million Democrats voted, v. 804,000 Republicans. That's nearly three to one for Democrats. Of course, St. McCain is a lock so lots of Republicans probably stayed home. Hopefully they'll do the same in November.

Brian A.'s picture

Did Ron Paul formally drop

Did Ron Paul formally drop out? Someone must still be distributing yard signs and the like even if he did.

Hopefully they'll do the same in November.

I wouldn't count on that happening. Although some of the rightist gasbags gave been staging a public hissy fit regarding McCain, you know they will close ranks during the summer.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

R. Neal's picture

I think he technically

I think he technically suspended his campaign or something. But his supporters are a persistent bunch.

Hayduke's picture

There is more than one way

There is more than one way to do it.

RayCapps's picture

PA only for the GOP faithful:

McCain is already the nominee. The GOP primaries no longer have any interest to anyone save those who vote out of habit, have an interest down ticket, or want to "send a message" of their dissatisfaction with that "notorious renegade" and "compromiser" McCain.

3rd Party hasn't been the GOP's style. You've got a certain disaffected radical group of extreme isolationists who've never really fit inside the GOP tent well enough to properly be called GOP'ers (see Buchanon's candidacies). But this election saw a clear schism between the social conservative and fiscal libertarian GOP blocs (Good old boys and silk stocking crowd is how I heard one person put it) envisioned by Goldwater and forged by Reagan. McCain is strongly of the silk stocking camp and has never embraced or been embraced by the good old boys. If there was a group predispositioned to quit the party, it's the good old boys. They only came on board a decade after defecting and causing the collapse of the FDR era Democratic coalition in the mid to late 60's. The silk stocking crowd has roots going back at least as far as McKinley and aren't going anywhere else. Will the good old boys bolt to a third party, as they did for George Wallace in '68? Not for Ron Paul, but maybe for a Huckabee type is my guess. But by this point in the campaign season, the rumblings would already have to be out in public for it to happen. Looks like the good old boys have either decided to hold their noses and vote McCain or stay home and cuss.

Bbeanster's picture

I may have said this before,

I may have said this before, but the gun-toting, boiler-making drinking white males are going to vote for McCain in November, I betcha.

Anonymous's picture

I may have said this before

Don’t forget gas guzzling SUV driving republicans too

RayCapps's picture

To play vehicular stereotypes:

Obama/Clinton has all the Prius drivers and all the folks with adhesive bumper stickers covering their Volvo/Camry/Accord/Passat.

McCain has all the full sized SUV's and Pick-Up trucks.

Lexus/Infiniti/Mercedes/Audi drivers are going to split based upon how the money gets in their bank accounts.

But the election is going to be decided, like always, by all those white mommies in the minivans.

Justin's picture

4-Runner for Obama here. :)

4-Runner for Obama here. :)

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

TN Progressive

TN Politics

Knox TN Today

Local TV News

News Sentinel

    State News

    Wire Reports

    Lost Medicaid Funding

    To date, the failure to expand Medicaid/TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding. (Source)

    Search and Archives