Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., was upbeat about his third-place finish in Saturday’s Iowa Republican straw poll. “We’re still in it, and I think we’re still in a position to win,” he said Sunday on ABC News’ “This Week.” But other political observers saw the results as a significant setback, given that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee came in second while spending less effort and money than Brownback on the GOP fundraiser. “Brownback invested a lot into the straw poll and got little return,” Chris Cillizza wrote on his Washington Post blog. “Finishing third behind Huckabee makes it tough for the Kansas senator to make the argument that he is the most viable social conservative candidate in the field. This is a major setback for Brownback and could well lead to his departure from the race in the near future.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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31 Comments
Sam (the Sham) Brownback simply is not ready for prime time. And he’ll never be.
What should scare the bejesus out of the Republic Party is that Brownback and Huckabee split the twice-born vote and, combined, out-polled Mutt Romney in Iowa. They’re not gonna vote for a Mormon “cultist” or pro-gay, pro-gun control, pro-choice Giuliani, and the racist base of the Republic Party will never forgive John McCain’s soft spot for immigrants. Fred Thompson is a walking talking conservative Rorschach Test; everybody hoping to see something that’s merely a blur of Neo-Con ink. Ron Paul speaks to conservative issues the way true conservative generally think, but that’s not the Republic Party’s agenda anymore.
It will be interesting how this all pans out, Brownback is the logical choice of the extreme religious Right.He speaks the party line word for word, so much so I think he ever concerns them. Huckabee is close but still mild enough he has some appeal for the more moderates of the R.R. Brownback’s third place showing in Iowa showed he does have a growing appeal to the R.R. LOL of course if Iowa wants him….. It would also be a good State for him not to represent in the Senate too!
“Ron Paul speaks to conservative issues the way true conservative generally think, but that’s not the Republic Party’s agenda anymore. “That why it is time for the Republicans to take the party back.
The straw poll means very little since votes are bought. Romney has millions and bused people into his air conditioned tent. Brownback put a lot of money in the effort and looked like the failure he is. Huckabee did a little better but higher profile candidates like Guiliani and McCain didn’t bother to make an effort.
The straw poll is meaningless. However, the fact that Brownback tried and failed reveals the lack of support he can get for the election. Time for him to drop out, and while he is at it resign so a more competent Republican like Ron Thornburg can represent Kansas. At least he’d show up for work.
I’d love to see Brownback run against Hillary. Talk about a rout!
I am HOPEFUL that Brownback is HOPELESS and will drop out soon!
Huckabee is the big story. Engaging, articulate Arkansas governor coming out of nowhere to try to grab his party’s nomination.
Where have I heard that story before?
Third in a straw poll doesn’t make you a leader…it means you’re a loser!
It’s obvious why Sam Brownback and or Huckabyee could never win in a national election. They are single issue, single minded politicians who pander the blue hair’s. This is a country with a diverse population, one that believes in GOD, however is not controlled by the church.
What can I say but that I’m heartened to see the good Senator from Kansas pulling himself up by his own bootstraps on the campaign trail.
14,000 people voted in the straw poll. Rudy, Fred and McCain didn’t even participate, because they knew it’s just a waste of time.
So if Brownback is all excited he came in 3rd. He actually is a very distant 6th.
And the Zombie marches onward, out of Iowa, three places back.
Correction: as Joe Williams says, six places back.
Go get ‘em Sammy! Hip hip hurrah!
Hip hip…
hurrah.
who cares…..(yawn)
Sam was the third-best Republican in Iowa. Pity Iowa.
If Brownback came in 3rd after spending all those millions in Iowa, then how does he expect to do any better in the rest of the country?
Give it up already…this ship just isn’t going to sail.
What would Kerry Livgren, Sam’s friend, say?
“Carry on my wayward son…”
or
“Dust in the wind…”
Put a fork in him. He’s done.
Look folks,
Sam is a longshot for the nomination, I have admitted that, from the start.
I have also told you, from the start, that Sam would do better than McCain.
Sam HAS done better than McCain!
Yes, Huckabee is the big story, but Huckabee hates raising money and will not do as well in the urban states, since he also does not like intense media campaigns.
I like Rudy. He will have problems with the base, problems that I will ignore if he gets nominated.
I like Mitt. He will have problems with the base, problems that I will ignore if he gets nominated.
If Rudy or Mitt are nominated, they will need someone like Brownback or Huckabee to “balance the ticket” — and that is a very real possibility.
Kansas Democrats should be pulling for Fred Thompson.
Fred won’t need to “balance the ticket” and therefore Fred would probably not pick Sam as a running mate.
By the way, “Longtime” there is absolutely NOTHING racist about the Republican Party.
Sam Brownback has spoken up more, and tried to do more, to stop slavery and genocide in Africa than any other American politician.
“Kansas Democrats should be pulling for Fred Thompson.”
Why?
Good points on Sam perhaps running for VP.
“Sam Brownback has spoken up more, and tried to do more, to stop slavery and genocide in Africa than any other American politician.”
And for that I must respect him.
What Windmill will Sam Quixiote fix his sights on next! So many Windmills, So Little Time!
“Econ101″ wrot:
“By the way, “Longtime” there is absolutely NOTHING racist about the Republican Party.”
Uh-huh.
Pull the other leg.
In the 2000 Republic Party primaries they had a passionate articulate candidate who advocated every cause supposedly sacred to the GOP. He was anti abortion, anti big government, pro tax cuts, against nation-building, for Social Security privatization… *EVERYTHING* the Republics said they wanted in a candidate. That candidate was Allen Keyes. Wonder why Republics didn’t vote for him…
Long timeI have eaten lunch, at the same table, with Alan Keyes more than once. I like the guy.
By the way, is it your contention that EVERY Democrat that votes for Hillary over Obama is “racist”??
Your logic is flawed!—–
Ben
Very simple: If a KANSAN is on the National ticket, on either side, it will increase voter turnout in Kansas, in FAVOR of the party with a “favorite son” or “daughter” on the ticket.
Sam as VP candidate would help the Kansas GOP.
Fred is less likely to pick Sam, more likely to pick Rudy or Mitt.
Reasonable point econ – however I guess I am still a bit more national-oriented than local-oriented. So, when I look at Thompson I ask will he be good/bad for my country; not just my local party.
A Rudy-Sam ticket might be interesting …
After wrapping up the Iowa straw vote Kansas Senator Sam Brownback returned to the Senate Chambers. He was over heard asking the Sgt. of Arms. “Where The Hell is Everybody!”
The straw poll means nothing. It’s results are actually worse than any poll the media uses. At least the media doesn’t PAY anyone to vote, or do they? No one in their right mind should make a decision on Iowa.
Regardless – Sam needs to bow out now so republicans can rally around a leader and get that leaders face into the media. Get the leader to be as well known a household name as Clinton/Obama already are.
Only problem is there is no leader. So all these little “no bodies” need to butt out – in support of the party as a whole.
What is so great about Fred Thompson? He is just another actor trying to be a politician. Everything you see on television is not real. Keep telling yourselves that and one day it might just sink in.
Fred,
That is exactly what I say about all of Michael Moores movies and Al Gore’s An Inconvienent Truth…
One question:
Is Sam Brownback the person the Republican party wants to put forth as the best person they can find to represent the United States of America?
“If Rudy or Mitt are nominated, they will need someone like Huckabee or Brownback to balance the ticket…” Posted by: Econ101.
This might balance the ticket for conservatives, but not for blue dog Democrats who might have been tempted to vote for Rudy. If Rudy’s appeal is to draw from moderate Republicans and then pull some blue dog Dems along for the ride, then Brownback scotches it, as does Huckabee. They’d both be up there singing out of the strict constructionist hymnal at Supreme Court Justice nomination time, and while I don’t mind one or two of these to balance things out, four or five or six strict constructionists is too many. You need the argument in this country, especially on The Court. Preserve the argument and prevent any one dogmatic viewpoint from gaining an overwhelming advantage.