Pardoning Scooter Libby?

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by pgardn

When a guy goes on TV to do a series, he might be thought of as a leftist from Hollywood immediately. To me it seems like Thompson has to prove how conservative he is first, just to get the Republican nomination.
Then if he happens to get the nomination, he will go for the middle ground. My take.

Won't that likely be the MO for any of the candidates? It tends to be the more devout Repubs or Dems who vote in the primaries, and then the general election brings out the moderates.

I think the conundrum the Republicans may find themselves in is that if they pander to the base in the primaries and then are perceived as moving too far to the middle the extreme right-wing voters may stay home Election Day. A lot can happen between now and then, but I think after the Bush years the Dems are more motivated than the 'Pubs to vote for their party's candidate, regardless of who it is.

The big wild card I could see is our mayor, Bloomberg, stepping in as an independent, simply because we've never had an independent candiate with the financial resources he has. He spent $150 million of his own money over his two campaigns here. I don't know that he will, but it sure would make for an interesting campaign, and leave this Dem in a bit of a quandry as to what to do, as I like Bloomie.