What world are you living on?
The only reason we were as close as we were was because of the Indy/Dem vote in the caucuses.
http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/primaries/epolls/ia
We took 43% of the indy vote in IA, which constituted 23% of the overall vote. Without it, we are at 14%, in Gingrich/Perry territory.
Seriously. Try thinking the numbers and the political realities through.
whew man, you are really trying hard to convince me of something. Not sure what though.
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/index.html#IAREP
Notice in 2008 that there were 10% less people identifying as independant right? So that number increased this time, but where did they come from?
Also notice, in the 2012 entrance poll, nearly 40% of the people said that they haven't participated in a caucus before. Where did those people come from?
See now, you are going to tell me that Ron Paul increased the base. To which I reply, "not unless the base shrunk almost equally from the other side".
You see friend, the 2012 turn out was only a few thousand votes more than the 2008 turnout. The base did not increase, it shifted. Or I could believe what you believe that Ron Paul actually did increase the base, but at the same time, something else decreased the base.
Like I asked, do you want me to believe that the Republican base sat this one out to the tune of 10-15%? Or do you want to realize that the base is shifting? Cause you can't have it both ways.
If the base is indeed shifting, as I have laid out, then relying on independants to win the General isn't going to be a good strategy, because? The old Republican base just flat won't turn out. As evidence by Iowa if that is the thinking.
You need to explain why the base didn't turn out in Iowa. My explanation is the air of inevitibility that is Romney. As you can see, that was officially challenged by Ron Paul. If the trend is allowed to continue unchallenged, and the sentiment that Romney is going to win is allowed to gain foothold without challenge, then it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Of course, challenging that sentiment will be important and actually getting the base to expand will become a reality. Without expanding the base, Republicans cannot defeat Obama. Without turning out Indies AND Base Reps, even Ron Paul won't win.
You need to remember WHO sent Obama to the WH in 2008. It was the indies and the youth. The same people that Ron Paul is after. That is all fine and good, but not playing to the Base Reps has the effect of simply shifting the base, not expanding it.
Please, stop trying so hard to convince yourself and others, especially me, that ignoring Florida for any reason is a good idea. It is just not.