McCain Dominates But Doesn't Clinch Party Base

Three new studies give berth to Arizona senator

(NEWSER) - John McCain leads the pack in the GOP race for South Carolina, two new polls show, with Mike Huckabee in second place, the State reports. A Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll updated today gives McCain 29% of voters to Huckabee's 22%; Fred Thompson follows with 14% and Mitt Romney 12%. Clemson University also finds 29% preferring McCain, while Huckabee pulls 22%. Fred Thompson ties Romney for third place at 13%. More»

Current Republican field riddled with weak spots

(NEWSER) - Republicans talk a good game about challenging President Obama in 2012, but the GOP would look scarier if it had even one legitimate challenger , says Dick Polman. "Obama's job-approval numbers are tepid these days—but he looks robust when matched against actual Republican challengers," warns the Philadelphia Inquirer columnist. "Not to mention the inevitable wounds and scars that any Republican will suffer during a primary season that promises to be downright Darwinian." More»

(NEWSER) - The 2012 presidential race is heating up—at least in a Gallup poll of Republican voters. CQ Politics looks at the results, which have former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney out front, with 26% saying he should top the GOP ticket. Sarah Palin snags 21%, Mike Huckabee gets 19%, and Newt Gingrich scores 14%. But the poll also reports favorability ratings, and there the picture is different: More»

Huckabee, Jindal among possible GOP candidates hitting trail in Iowa, elsewhere

(NEWSER) - Likely candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination are playing it cool, but their feet tell a different story, Jonathan Martin writes for Politico. Mike Huckabee, for example, says 2012 is “way too far away” to think about, but his book tour has lots of stops in Iowa and South Carolina, aboard a campaign-style bus with his face on it. More»

Huck and Mitt hope delicate party dynamics will topple McCain

(NEWSER) - John McCain's strong Super Tuesday showing has left him looking like a sure thing to win the Republican nomination, but Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney are staying in the race and hoping for a change, the Wall Street Journal reports. "Once you're out of the race, you're out. But if you stay in, you have a chance to put something together," a Republican noted. More»