McCain risks loyalist opposition from Ron Paul & former Huckabee supporters.
I will link a few good posts from trusted sources on the Minnesota 6th CD Republican Convention: What happened to honesty? & 6th CD Convention Redux: Chilly With An Occasional Peek Of Sunlight
I can tell you Republican Leadership has my respect and sympathy. It seems there is a significant issue building as we finish up the convention season. Our Todd County Convention had few Ron Paul supporters, but a lot of very loyal Huckabee supporters who said they would not vote for McCain. We will have to see if Huckabee dropping out and the passage of time has quelled those convictions........I do know time will tell.
I do not think Ron Paul or Huckabee loyalists got voted through from our county convention in any significant numbers. However, it appears they are having success in other areas of Minnesota.
Republicans have taken some well deserved delight in the troubles the Democrats continue to have in picking a nominee. The talk on the Democratic circuit are topics of revisiting a divisive convention like 1968. The Democratic nomination battle certainly has the chance to go that way, but I do think after the next primaries we will see a liberal Democratic nominee emerge. Shocking!!
McCain's problem continues to be a threat from a new breed of younger political activists as demonstrated by Ron Paul supporters. Ron Paul remains a strange force from within the Republican Party this election cycle. In my view, another group of Huckabee supporters are more of a risk to embarrass a McCain Campaign because they are generally social Republicans that have been around for a while. The Huckabee supporters were about one issue generally and that was "Pro-Life". Side note: I am pro-life, and I do not want it to appear from my comments that I am not.
The two factions may bring a more contentious convention than in times past for McCain. It seems that there has been a real concerted effort this time around here in Minnesota, and I have to imagine nationally.
McCain has made some statements to try and bring the social conservatives back, but it looks like he will stick to his guns on embryonic stem cell research and other similar positions as he tries to forge a new coalition that puts states like California and Northeastern states back in play. I have my doubts about such a strategy. In fact, I will liken it to the Rudy Giuliani strategy of waiting until Florida before contesting to win.
