(PHOTO CREDIT: AP PHOTO)

FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

Nearly all of the focus in yesterday’s primaries was on the Democrats, and rightly so. But, here’s an interesting little nugget about how the Republicans voted:

Despite the fact that John McCain has been his party’s presumptive nominee for almost three months now, about a quarter of Republicans in North Carolina and Indiana voted against the Arizona senator.

That’s right. In North Carolina, McCain received just 74% of the vote, while Mike Huckabee got 12% and Ron Paul received 7%. 4% said they had no preference. And in Indiana, 77% of Republicans voted for McCain, while Huckabee got 10%, Paul received 8%, and Mitt Romney 5%.

McCain faced similar results in the Pennsylvania primary two weeks ago. Also, quite a few Republicans crossed over to vote in the Democratic primary… with one in 10 Indiana voters in the Democratic primary identifying themselves as Republicans.

McCain’s campaign says it’s pleased with the way the Republican Party has united around his candidacy. They also point to polls that show them doing as well – if not better – with Republicans as President Bush did at similar points in his first campaign in 2000. The difference is President Bush wasn’t running against the record of President Bush in 2000.

Here’s my question to you: What does it say when about a quarter of Republicans voted against John McCain yesterday?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

Republicans are going to have a very tough time getting elected this fall, except maybe for John McCain.

The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows only 27% of voters have positive views of the Republican Party.

It’s the lowest level for either party in the almost 20-year history of this particular poll. The last time the numbers were this low, voters threw George Bush’s father out of office and elected Bill Clinton in 1992.

And yet John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, continues to run about even in hypothetical match-ups with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Interesting in light of the fact that an overwhelming number of us, 73%, think the country is headed in the wrong direction under President Bush. John McCain embraces many of the policies of President Bush, including the war in Iraq, which Americans have really had enough of. And President Bush has now achieved the highest disapproval rating of any president in modern American history.

And it’s not just the war that has American voters in a foul mood. Our economy is struggling under the weight of high gas prices, the housing collapse and a loss of jobs. All things that have happened on the Republicans’ watch.

A majority of voters say they want a Democrat in the White House next time. Which makes John McCain’s position even more remarkable.

Here’s my question to you: Why does John McCain remain popular in light of sharply falling support for the Republican party?

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Click the Play Button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

Turns out Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice might be interested in being John McCain’s vice president after all… despite her numerous claims in recent years that she has no plans to run for office.

Republican strategist and former Bush aide Dan Senor stirred the pot yesterday, when he told ABC news that Rice has been “actively” campaigning for the number two slot in recent weeks. Senor says that she’s been cozying up to the Republican elite, like an appearance before Grover Norquist’s group of economic conservatives. Senor suggests Rice’s experience would make her a prime candidate and the McCain campaign wouldn’t need to waste time introducing her to the American people.

When asked about Rice’s lobbying for the job, McCain said he “missed those signals”, but went on to compliment Rice, calling her a “great American” and adding that there’s very little but “utmost praise” he can give for someone who served as a role model to millions of people around the world. Right.

One little problem: McCain has been critical of the way the Bush administration has handled the war in Iraq and said Rice, who was national security adviser for the first year and half, bears some responsibility for that.

Some would suggest McCain would have to be crazy to put anyone associated with the Bush administration on his ticket, that it will only lend to the Democrats’ argument against a third Bush term. But having an African-American woman on the ticket could make things really interesting in the general election against either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.

The State Department today denied Rice is interested in the job,saying that if she’s actively seeking the position, “she’s the last one to know about it.”

Here’s my question to you: Would you be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if Condoleezza Rice is his running mate?

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FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

There’s no doubt the 2008 campaign has been full of twists and surprises, and here’s one more: Republicans are coming out in huge numbers to vote for Hillary Clinton.

That’s right. About 100,000 Republicans came out to support Clinton in Ohio. 119,000 voted for her in Texas, and 38,000 in Mississippi.

The Boston Globe reports on why this is happening: Some Republicans are supporting Clinton hoping it will prolong her bitter fight for the nomination with Barack Obama. Others think Clinton would be an easier opponent for John McCain to beat in November. And still others are voting for Clinton because they want to keep her in the race to expose more information about Obama ahead of the general election.

Consider this: up until recently, Obama was getting a lot more support than Clinton was from Republicans in the primary contests. At the time, many traditional GOP voters said they liked Obama and were willing to cross party lines. But, once McCain sealed the deal with his party’s nomination, things started to change. In Texas and Ohio, more than double the number Republicans turned out to vote in those Democratic contests than in earlier ones – and Clinton ran about even with Obama in both states.

Some loud voices within the party – like conservative radio hosts Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham – have been actively calling on Republican voters to do just this. For example, Limbaugh said Republicans should vote for Clinton “if they could stomach it” since it is so important to “sustain the soap opera” between Clinton and Obama.

Here’s my question to you: Is it a smart strategy for Republicans to vote for Hillary Clinton in the primaries?
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Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton at the CNN/LA Times/Politico Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

John McCain is looking more and more like he’ll be the Republican presidential nominee after tomorrow’s Super Tuesday contests. However, it’s worth noting that one of the defining factors of this Republican primary race has been the inability of any of the candidates to unite their party. But maybe they won’t have to. Maybe a Democrat can do it for them.

In fact, many people believe that Hillary Clinton could become that powerful unifying force for the Republicans. Supporters of Barack Obama along with top Republicans say that although many voters passionately support Clinton, there are just as many who really don’t like her.

As a Reuters piece points out, there are lots of reasons why some believe this is the case, including left-over resentment for her husband – the former president – her policies on issues like gun control and mandatory universal health care, and a personality that some see as too aggressive and insincere.

Clinton’s campaign dismisses these concerns, saying she has a proven track record of winning, and it emphasizes her record of reaching out across the aisle to get results.

Nonetheless, the idea of Clinton as a polarizing figure is a particular concern for Democrats in states that have many rural, conservative voters like Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and others in the Midwest and South. As one Missouri politician puts it, Clinton is quote “a lightning rod” who would bring people out to vote against her.

Here’s my question to you: Which candidate has the greater chance of uniting the Republican Party, Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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Republican presidential hopefuls (L-R) former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) participate in a televised debate at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

Three major primaries, three different winners, and the Republican party is not a single step closer to a clear front-runner.
With Nevada and South Carolina caucuses this weekend, candidates are scrambling for votes.

Mitt Romney, fresh off last night’s victory, is pushing his business experience hoping to hit home with the growing number of voters concerned about the economy. It seemed to work for him in Michigan.

John McCain is trying to regain momentum after a setback there. He’s already predicted a win in South Carolina.

So has Mike Huckabee though. He’s hoping Christian conservatives there might give him a boost.

But Fred Thompson, who hails from nearby Tennessee, may split the evangelical vote with him.

And then there’s Rudy Giuliani, still waiting until the Florida primary on January 29th to really get in the game.

Here’s my question to you: With a different candidate winning each week, how will the Republican primary finally sort itself out?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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John and Cindy McCain.

FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

Although the Republican presidential race could still be anyone’s to win, it looks like John McCain is picking up some serious steam.

It’s quite remarkable when you think back to last summer when a lot of people, including me, were convinced it was all over for McCain.

An average of three national polls conducted after the New Hampshire primary now show McCain on top with 32%. He’s followed by Mike Huckabee at 20%. Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are tied at 14% each, and Fred Thompson has 7%.

McCain is also viewed more favorably than any of his major competitors. A new CBS/New York Times poll shows 57%of Republican primary voters, including more than half of conservatives, like McCain. That’s up dramatically from 37% just last month.

Voters give different reasons for jumping on the McCain bandwagon: some think he’s more honest than other candidates, while others describe him as more “moderate” and willing to work with the Democrats.

Of course, it’s important to remember that nothing’s set in stone when it comes to this Republican race. If McCain wins Michigan and South Carolina, that could cement his front-runner status. On the other hand, if he loses either race, all bets are off. But for the moment, the political gods are smiling on the 71-year-old John McCain.

Here’s my question to you: Why has John McCain’s popularity among Republicans suddenly skyrocketed?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

Compared to the Democrats, the Republican race is a demolition derby, and New Hampshire is not likely to change that much.

A new Gallup poll asks which candidate people think will win the Republican nomination: 33% say Mike Huckabee. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani are tied at 18%, and Mitt Romney gets 14%. While Huckabee won big in Iowa, he’s not expected to do as well in New Hampshire.

In fact, the polls suggest a John McCain win today. According to “The Politico“, McCain’s goal is to be the “least unacceptable” Republican, in other words the candidate with the fewest negatives.

Mitt Romney was obviously hoping for the momentum from victories in both Iowa and New Hampshire. But even if he doesn’t place first tonight, Romney insists he will continue. And with the wide-open nature of the race, who knows?

And of course, a race with no clear front-runner is also good news for Rudy Giuliani, who is counting on the later states to win big.

And finally, another indication that things are definitely going Barack Obama’s way. Mitt Romney is now out telling voters he’s best suited to go head-to-head with Barack Obama, and that a long-serving U.S. senator, meaning McCain who is 71 years old, is not the best match-up. McCain shot back, saying he’d let voters decide how well he’d match up with Obama.

Here’s my question to you: Who will ultimately win the Republican nomination?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:
While the Democratic Party is approaching a swoon over Barack Obama, last night’s Iowa caucuses turned the Republican race into a demolition derby.

Although the contest in Iowa traditionally narrows the field, last night’s results have done just the opposite, giving more Republicans a chance to get the nomination. And you better believe it will get bloody before it gets decided.

Mike Huckabee’s Iowa victory means it’s a much more open race going into New Hampshire. He now has the opportunity to capitalize on his win, show that he can get support from more than just Evangelicals and turn his campaign into a national competition.

But he’s far from the only one who stands a chance. John McCain, who has been surging in recent polls in New Hampshire, hopes to win there and use that momentum to move forward. The fact that Mitt Romney didn’t win last night is great news for McCain.

When it comes to Romney, Iowa was a huge loss for him, having spent so much money and time there. He needs to find a way to recover. If he loses again, in New Hampshire, you can stick a fork in Romney… he’s done. And then there’s Rudy Giuliani. Iowa validated what many say is a risky strategy for him: skip the early, small states and count on Super Tuesday and being able to do well in places like Florida.

In other words, game on.

Here’s my question to you: Who ultimately will emerge as the GOP presidential nominee?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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