Romney inches into 1st in buzz share
by WonkoKevin
Mitt Romney came in first place in Wonkosphere buzz share yesterday with 22% amongst conservative bloggers, beating out Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson. Discussion about Romney centered around his 3rd quarter fundraising results, the lauch of Ann Romney’s new web site, and news that he had shown his 10,000 TV ad.
From WSJ Washington Wire:
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is expected to report nearly $10 million in contributions for the third quarter, in addition to a $6 million personal loan to his campaign chest, the Associated Press reported…While the third quarter is traditionally seen as a slower fund-raising period due to summer vacations, Romney’s fund raising has declined with each quarter, from about $24 million in the first quarter and $21 million in the second. His contributions total roughly $60 million so far.
First Read reports they expect Romney to begin spending more TV money in South Carolina and Florida.
Ann Romney has a new web site, and I’ll let her describe the cause that interests her the most:
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the fall of 1998. Since then, I have devoted a great deal of time to raising awareness about the disease and am devoted to making a difference in the lives of people who suffer from MS. As I travel the country campaigning with and on behalf of Mitt, I am continually amazed by the number of people who approach me to offer support and relay their struggles and successes with MS… (for more info, go here).
Meanwhile, a new poll by ARG continues to back up WonkoKevin’s prediction that Romney could indeed have a triumvirat of wins early on.
| Republicans | IA | NH | SC |
| Brownback | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| Gingrich | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| Giuliani | 21% | 20% | 23% |
| Huckabee | 4% | 3% | 1% |
| Hunter | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| Keyes | 1% | 1% | - |
| McCain | 11% | 20% | 15% |
| Paul | 2% | 3% | 2% |
| Romney | 22% | 24% | 26% |
| Tancredo | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| F Thompson | 16% | 8% | 10% |
| Undecided | 13% | 12% | 13% |
BTW, the same poll shows Clinton with commanding leads in each of the three states.
Finally, here’s one of my favorite posts of the day from an admittedly ”biased” observer:
My prediction: Governor Mitt Romney will be elected the Republican nominee, without a convention challenge.
Fred Thompson will become marginalized completely by the end of November (2007) and Giuliani will be seriously challenged by strong conservatives outside the Mitt Romney for President camp, leading to a slow erosion of support in money, poll numbers, and grassroots foundation, into the Iowa caucus voting. McCain and Huckabee will continue to add to the national debate, but their contributions will be nominal at best as they will be unable to challenge, surviving off the crumbs leftover from Republican fundraising efforts.
