MyDD :: Sam Brownback: "I am running for America"

Sam Brownback: "I am running for America"

by Jerome Armstrong, Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 10:39:04 AM EST

Is Sam Brownback becoming the "get out of Iraq" presidential candidate on the Republican side? There is probably already an opening for that candiate now, and moreso a year from now. Brownback is getting close to go there, embracing the ISG report and saying on Fox:

BROWNBACK: I'm not -- I'm not jumping ship. I just think it's time that we really put pressure on the situation. And we've been very patient with this, and we've invested a lot. I do think as well it's time for us to put diplomatic pressure to the point where you just park the Vice President and Secretary of State in the region. It's shuttle diplomacy going back and forth between the countries that will receive us, really pushing on them to stop funding things into iraq and start working with us, because they don't need a civil war in that region either, and to really have them start coming to the table instead of just sitting back and even hurting the situation inside of Iraq.

Great dig on Cheney too, that will appeal to theocons pissed off about Mary.

I think Brownback understands too, that there is an groundswell of support ready to him over the internet from conservative religious communities and all their listserves, message boards, and blogs:

Most of the questions in the conference call related to Brownback's presidential aspirations. The senator will participate heavily in a grassroots campaign style in Iowa, the first state to hold a primary for the 2008 elections.

"We'll be putting a lot of emphasis on Iowa," he said. "You've got to do well in Iowa if you're going to win down the line."

Money always seems to be an issue in high-profile political campaigns, and while Brownback knows he'll need some to be successful, he also believes that it's not about spending more than everybody else.

"You can do a lot of things without money, but [money] does matter," Brownback said. "The Internet can be a vehicle to generate enthusiasm for the campaign and to build name recognition."

It will be interesting to watch and see if Brownback, and Huckabee is the other, gain traction in Iowa into the top-tier.

Follow the recent GOP blogger poll:

Gingrich 29%
Giuliani 23%
Romney 20%
Brownback 6%
Tancredo 6%
Pataki 6%
McCain 5%

Brownback is up from 2.5% last month, and this is amongst mostly neocon Republicans, I'd bet among the more theocon Republicans, support for Brownback is higher. Chatter is happening (Pandagon too):

Posts that contain "sam Brownback" per day for the last 30 days.

Tags: Sam Brownback (all tags)

Permalink :: 9 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Sam Brownback (none / 0)

I believe Brownbeck is #2 to McCain at this point. He is THE conservative candidate. Rudy & Mitt are "liberal" easteners. Allen's implosion is a huge boost for Brownbeck.

by howardpark on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 11:02:53 AM EST

Re: Sam Brownback (none / 0)

More than Allen's explosion, Santorum's disaster was key to Brownback even running. They are good friends with similar ideologies, and I doubt if they both would have run.

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by KansasNate on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 12:31:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Romney (none / 0)

I'd bet the Brownback numbers will go up pretty quickly if the "Romney doesn't hate teh gay" story gains as much traction as it seems like it will. Some religious conservatives will be looking for a candidate they can call their own ...

by BriVT on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 11:10:58 AM EST

Re: Romney (none / 0)

The whole Romney deal just feeds the narrative that Brownback is pushing to the religious right. "Brownback is the only real conservative." Those other guys are just acting that way for your vote.

Want Blue States? ActBlue!
I work for ActBlue.

by KansasNate on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 12:34:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sam Brownback: (none / 0)

As I've said before, i think Brownback is the Dem's dream opponent. He's definitly way to the right on the spectrum, and has about as much excitablity (personality wise) as John Kerry. He would be much preferrable to a John McCain or Rudy candidacy from our prospective IMHO.

by bjschmid on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 11:12:22 AM EST

Re: Sam Brownback: (none / 0)

That's exactly right. He's a santorum-style extermist and can never win nation-wide. If the evangelical base ever starts feeling their oats, they're going to sour on McCain, Guiliani and Romney, leaving Brownback (and Huckabee) as the benefactors.

A bonus effect Brownback's new anti-iraq-war or war-ambiguous stance, assuming he emerges as one of the Republican frontrunners, is that it forces Democratic candidates to express a more staunchly anti-iraq-war position to look credible.

by fwiffo on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 11:27:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sam Brownback (none / 0)

Brownback might look pretty sharp in a VP slot for someone like McCain who has to woo the far right.

by Lucas O'Connor on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 11:51:54 AM EST

Re: Sam Brownback (none / 0)

I can't imagine he would be hoping for anything more. He is angling to be the religious right's "heart" candidate. They will vote for him to feel good rather than holding their nose and voting for someone like McCain.

There just aren't enough crazy GOP voters, outside of Iowa and South Carolina, to make Brownback the nominee. But there are certainly plenty to make him the consensus choice of the far right activists. That alone could be enough for the VP slot if McCain or Romney were the nominee. The base would need to be appeased somehow.

Want Blue States? ActBlue!
I work for ActBlue.

by KansasNate on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 12:38:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sam Brownback (none / 0)

Weird how Hillary and McCain both get very high numbers with the general public and very low numbers with bloggers

Someone should average the two types of polls somehow so you get a look at who best bridges those worlds

This is similar to averaging a more 'in-the-know' crowd or simply focussed crowd with one less so

by jimpol on Tue Dec 12, 2006 at 03:46:01 PM EST

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