http://ElectoralMap.net/2012/myPredi...0rwr0qq0xrwn0q

this is my current view of the electoral map with mitt vs. obama. I see the closest states as being indiana , colorado,missouri,georgia, nevada, and florida in that order. I also see maine , new hampshire, and pennsylvania as being close due to a slight boost mitt will get from his northeasterness. I think mitt would lose georgia by less than 1% due to a southern problem and the increased diversity in that state. I think his turnout may be down in the southern states across the board but he would still win alabama, souyth carolina missisipi because he isnt obama ldo.

Is there a GOP candidate who can beat Obama?

tbh i think mitt is the best choice out of the current candidates running in a cakewalk.

Romney also hoping that theory works out for the Republican caucus in Maine...

Given the current trajectory of the economy probably not unless he makes a pretty big mistake between now and November. If his approval number is 50+ very easy win. 45-49 a close win. Sub 45 he loses. imho anyway.
All this assumes a Romney win in the primary cause otherwise it is LOL no.

Where does Romney differ from Obama on issues?

Your a Paul supporter, right? So in that context I think I can say not a lot. But spending priorities and taxation are the most significant differences. Foreign policy is probably more style than substantive differences.

Where in the bible does it says abortion or birth control is against the religion. You can still go to church while taking birth control. Birth control should be taken out for cost reasons. Dental should be added, but they won't because it will cost money.

I think there is a certain threshhold that could be reached where both obama and mitt would attack iran but both candidates would prefer not to. I think the difference is that mitt would hit that threshhold a bit quicker.

I support RP, but I think I favor Obama over Mitt. I am just looking for a quick rundown of the differences.

I think Obama moved to the right versus his campaign rhetoric because there is a lot of considerations that the general public isn't aware. There is also some merit in talking tough so that you are not tested. But yeah I would guess your estimation of Iran is accurate.

To tell you the truth I would wait for the general campaign when the campaigns sharpen their messages and the differences will become clearer.

Totally.

Granting a special exception that says when the catholic church owns a business they don't have to follow the same rules as everyone else seems like a very clear violation of that clause.

bahahhahahahahhahahahahhaa

If he carries NC and Virginia like that map, the he gets AZ and CO as well. I just hope he has the pragmatism to pound toss up senate and house districts with surplus cash.

I think if Romney ran as pro his healthcare plan. I think he would have a lot more credibility. He could of said we will try it for 4 years. But, that is why Mitt will never win, the plan is almost exactly how he wanted it and now he is against it because Obama 's name is attached to it.

Nobody believes the economy is Obama's fault. Obama inherited Bush's accelerating deficits.

Romney could have easily won by listing Obama's numerous faults. Obama is borderline communist and basically cradle to grave has been government for him. Obama wanted to pass a $500 billion jobs bill, yet it did not pass and the economy is actually improving (at least according to the media). The reality is the best thing Obama can do for the country is spend the next year or 5 years in Hawaii and veto everything.

So in summary, the only one that can beat Obama is Paul. Once Paul gets in there and he states his case over and over again, I think everyone will realize he is not a racist and that all his ideas make some sense.

Fantastic. High comedy. Steward will have a ball.

Until he starts with the evolution-denial. Or starts talking about going back to the gold standard. Or waxes nostalgic about health care in the 60s.

It is the Rs way to paint a picture that "oh noes Obama be attackin muh reeleegion"

I think I told someone earlier in this thread that Mittens wouldn't win Maine, and it's looking like RP will actually be able to pull it off. No, that doesn't mean he'll be the nominee, but pretty cool that Maine is willing to make a statement like that.

Is Santorum actually leading national polls? The funny thing is that Newt's ego is too big for him to drop out, so these shenanigans are just going to keep continuing

Lol. No. The last thing in the world Paul would want to do is talk about his ideas.

disagree with you there phill - while some of his ideas are nuts (gold standard comes to mind most immediately, but also slashing all welfare basically, etc.), i think a lot of his ideas would have more appeal in the general than the R primary.

scaling back the empire/coming home from wars, ending the drug war, etc. are rational and make sense to a lot of people. i'm not arguing that he'd have a chance, HE wouldn't. that's my point - the ideas are more appealing than the man himself.

What is nuts about the idea that money should be commodity-based rather than inherently valueless and able to be manipulated in supply by elites?

economy can't grow on a gold standard, regular people would have no access to gold and be even poorer imo

whenever the media overplays an issue such as this one, it is most likely done to divert public attention from a real, more important issue