sailingaway
02-26-2012, 11:33 PM
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_99/Presidential-Primary-Has-GOP-Nervous-212616-1.html?pos=opolh
Both Paul and Romney ran for president in 2008 and began the 2012 race with existing campaign networks. Each is attempting to follow in the footsteps of previous Republican nominees who ran at least once and lost before winning their party’s nod — Reagan, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (Kan.) and McCain among them.
Despite the advantages that often accompany a second bid, some unaffiliated GOP operatives contend that not having run for president previously is no excuse for the organizational ineptness exhibited by some of this year’s first-time candidates. That Gingrich and Santorum failed to qualify for the primary ballot in the key Super Tuesday state of Virginia — where they are both official residents — troubles them.
“The fact that there are states where they aren’t on the primary or caucus ballot has got to be a complete embarrassment,” one Republican campaign operative said.
Getting on the ballot in Virginia is “‘ABC’ easy,” added a Republican with presidential campaign experience who now works on K Street. “It is essential that the nominee have a national organization. Romney has the closest to one; Gingrich and Santorum have nothing.”
Santorum also failed to qualify to compete for the full slate of Ohio’s convention delegates, although he is on the Buckeye State’s March 6 ballot. In Indiana, there is still a chance Santorum might fail to qualify for the May 8 primary ballot. Gingrich, meanwhile, failed to qualify for the
Feb. 7 Missouri primary. In 2008, first-time candidates did not appear to experience similar missteps.
The Obama campaign, unburdened by a primary, is free to focus on the general election. Already, the president has 46 field offices in six crucial battleground states that could decide the race. Among them: 11 in Iowa; three in Nevada, including two in greater Las Vegas and one in Reno; eight in New Hampshire; four in Virginia; and eight in Ohio.
And just last week, the Obama campaign opened its 12th Florida office. That one, in Tampa, is probably not the last in this vote-rich metro area that also is home to the Aug. 27–30 GOP convention. “Nine months from now, our organization will be more than ready to turn out the vote,” Obama campaign spokeswoman Katie Hogan said.
In 2008, Obama and Clinton were bolstered by similarly strong organizations as they campaigned from state to state until the Democratic primary concluded in June. In this year’s GOP contest, Romney, and to a lesser degree, Paul, have been able to pivot from state to state with operational effectiveness.
more at link
Both Paul and Romney ran for president in 2008 and began the 2012 race with existing campaign networks. Each is attempting to follow in the footsteps of previous Republican nominees who ran at least once and lost before winning their party’s nod — Reagan, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (Kan.) and McCain among them.
Despite the advantages that often accompany a second bid, some unaffiliated GOP operatives contend that not having run for president previously is no excuse for the organizational ineptness exhibited by some of this year’s first-time candidates. That Gingrich and Santorum failed to qualify for the primary ballot in the key Super Tuesday state of Virginia — where they are both official residents — troubles them.
“The fact that there are states where they aren’t on the primary or caucus ballot has got to be a complete embarrassment,” one Republican campaign operative said.
Getting on the ballot in Virginia is “‘ABC’ easy,” added a Republican with presidential campaign experience who now works on K Street. “It is essential that the nominee have a national organization. Romney has the closest to one; Gingrich and Santorum have nothing.”
Santorum also failed to qualify to compete for the full slate of Ohio’s convention delegates, although he is on the Buckeye State’s March 6 ballot. In Indiana, there is still a chance Santorum might fail to qualify for the May 8 primary ballot. Gingrich, meanwhile, failed to qualify for the
Feb. 7 Missouri primary. In 2008, first-time candidates did not appear to experience similar missteps.
The Obama campaign, unburdened by a primary, is free to focus on the general election. Already, the president has 46 field offices in six crucial battleground states that could decide the race. Among them: 11 in Iowa; three in Nevada, including two in greater Las Vegas and one in Reno; eight in New Hampshire; four in Virginia; and eight in Ohio.
And just last week, the Obama campaign opened its 12th Florida office. That one, in Tampa, is probably not the last in this vote-rich metro area that also is home to the Aug. 27–30 GOP convention. “Nine months from now, our organization will be more than ready to turn out the vote,” Obama campaign spokeswoman Katie Hogan said.
In 2008, Obama and Clinton were bolstered by similarly strong organizations as they campaigned from state to state until the Democratic primary concluded in June. In this year’s GOP contest, Romney, and to a lesser degree, Paul, have been able to pivot from state to state with operational effectiveness.
more at link