torchbearer
Lizard King
- Joined
- May 26, 2007
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http://www.courier-journal.com/arti...mney-needs-win-most-toss-up-states-beat-Obama
Republican Sen. Rand Paul told a Louisville chamber of commerce group Wednesday that President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney are neck and neck in seven or eight state, and “we have to win most of them to win.”
Speaking to the media before addressing members of Greater Louisville Inc. Wednesday at The Olmsted, Paul laid out his concerns contested government seats around the country.
Paul said are seven or eight states that are evenly divided between Obama and Romney, he said. “And we have to win most of them to win,” he said.
There are third-party presidential candidates, specifically Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in New Mexico and former Rep. Virgil Goode in Virginia, who could split the Republican vote and cause Obama to win, Paul said.
Virginia in particular is an important state in the presidential election, and if voters gravitate toward Goode it could make the difference between a Republican win or loss, Paul said.
“Virginia could make a difference, because Virginia is going to be very tight and if the Constitution Party candidate gets three or four percent, that could be enough for the Republicans to lose,” he said.
He does not believe, though, that it is fair to ask those candidates to drop out of the race.
“No, I mean it’s a free country, and we have rules on getting on the ballot,” Paul said. “It’s actually very difficult to get on the ballot, and I think (Johnson) could have an impact there.”
It’s up to the Republican candidate to find common ground with those voters that may side with the third-party candidates, Paul said.
“I think the only way to keep those voters in the party is if you’re the nominee of the party you need to appeal to those people who are either Libertarian or Constitutional Conservatives and say, ‘Stay in the party because I am going to be sincere about balancing the budget, I am going to be sincere about cutting some spending,’” he said. “But it’s going to take some work to keep those people in the party.”
Paul said he believes the Republican Party needs to mix it up with candidates in traditionally Democratic states and appeal to third-party candidate voters to stick with the GOP.
“It’s tougher and tougher for Republicans because we don’t compete very well in the West Coast, we don’t compete very well in New England,” he said. “To give up all those votes, then you really have to win the rest of the country.
“Those areas where you’re not competing, maybe a Libertarian Republican would do better in California, or New York State,” he said.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul told a Louisville chamber of commerce group Wednesday that President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney are neck and neck in seven or eight state, and “we have to win most of them to win.”
Speaking to the media before addressing members of Greater Louisville Inc. Wednesday at The Olmsted, Paul laid out his concerns contested government seats around the country.
Paul said are seven or eight states that are evenly divided between Obama and Romney, he said. “And we have to win most of them to win,” he said.
There are third-party presidential candidates, specifically Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in New Mexico and former Rep. Virgil Goode in Virginia, who could split the Republican vote and cause Obama to win, Paul said.
Virginia in particular is an important state in the presidential election, and if voters gravitate toward Goode it could make the difference between a Republican win or loss, Paul said.
“Virginia could make a difference, because Virginia is going to be very tight and if the Constitution Party candidate gets three or four percent, that could be enough for the Republicans to lose,” he said.
He does not believe, though, that it is fair to ask those candidates to drop out of the race.
“No, I mean it’s a free country, and we have rules on getting on the ballot,” Paul said. “It’s actually very difficult to get on the ballot, and I think (Johnson) could have an impact there.”
It’s up to the Republican candidate to find common ground with those voters that may side with the third-party candidates, Paul said.
“I think the only way to keep those voters in the party is if you’re the nominee of the party you need to appeal to those people who are either Libertarian or Constitutional Conservatives and say, ‘Stay in the party because I am going to be sincere about balancing the budget, I am going to be sincere about cutting some spending,’” he said. “But it’s going to take some work to keep those people in the party.”
Paul said he believes the Republican Party needs to mix it up with candidates in traditionally Democratic states and appeal to third-party candidate voters to stick with the GOP.
“It’s tougher and tougher for Republicans because we don’t compete very well in the West Coast, we don’t compete very well in New England,” he said. “To give up all those votes, then you really have to win the rest of the country.
“Those areas where you’re not competing, maybe a Libertarian Republican would do better in California, or New York State,” he said.
