Gage Memo: A Few Good Conservatives
Posted by TOM BEVAN | E-Mail This | Permalink | Email Author
Romney strategist Alex Gage has released a memo to "interested parties," the gist of which is summed up by the first paragraph:
Public polling shows McCain ahead in many states, but we are now in a two-man race and a few points' movement among conservatives is all that's needed to tip the scales in favor of Gov. Romney. (emphasis in the original)
Gage goes on to argue that McCain's coalition simply can't hold up in a two person race on February 5th:
The McCain formula for success worked in a divided field when conservatives were fractured, but even a small coalescence of conservatives around Gov. Romney would reveal his support as a coalition too small to win the nomination of the Republican party. Conservatives, self-identified Republicans, and voters who approve of President Bush are likely to be majorities of the electorate in all of the February 5th states. It is therefore easy to see how we defeat McCain in a two-main race by focusing on traditional Republican primary voters.We still have an uphill battle in front of us - the mainstream media is ready to anoint John McCain and he will have advantages in many states from running for president for the past eight years - but Gov. Romney has a clear path to victory on February 5th and beyond. (emphasis in the original)
The fly in the ointment? Mike Huckabee. The memo contains not a single mention of the former Arkansas Governor.

