As the Nevada GOP Senate primary approaches its unpredictable conclusion, there is a potential disaster brewing for Silver State Republicans come fall. Sue Lowden, once the clear leader in the race has imploded thanks to politically asinine comments about bartering with chickens for health care. Never mind that bartering does continue to take place, when it comes to politics, such an unforced error is devastating. Moreover, Lowden’s questionable partial ownership and nondisclosure of her campaign bus has given her campaign an air of underhandedness. Add to Lowden’s woes her insider’s-insider status as the former Nevada GOP Party Chair and her past support and endorsement for Harry Reid and her veneer of formidability evaporates. As the latest polls indicate, Nevadans are walking away from Sue Lowden in droves, and Fox News reports she’s now third behind Angle and Tarkanian. Despite the backing of heavyweight GOP establishment figures, in the final analysis, Lowden is a falling star.

The bigger problem for Nevada Republicans is the possibility that many are leaving Sue’s campaign for Sharron Angle. Sure, Angle’s conservative, and she’s got the backing of both grassroots groups and political machines like the Tea Party Express, but Angle remains for many a fringe candidate with tenuous ties to Scientology and some questionable votes on spending. Her opponents, most notably Lowden, have pointed out her authorship of a bill which included the hair-brained scheme of providing massages to prison inmates. Can anyone see a Reid campaign commercial there? While Angle’s record does include some bright spots as well, the mere fact that Angle has a record at all is cause for concern in this anti-incumbency year. A four-term record in the Nevada State Assembly is sure to provide ample fodder for Reid and Democratic operatives, and Angle’s fringy style will likely prove an easy target for Reid’s well-oiled machine; a machine that’s managed to keep the sullen, liberal Majority Leader – by any measure an unappealing candidate – in office for more than 20 years. As the final vote draws near it’s clear that going with Angle is huge gamble.

The sleeper candidate in the race remains Danny Tarkanian. While Tarkanian hasn’t exactly caught fire, his quiet, consistent message and famous Nevada name have kept him in the running and amidst the unpredictability of Lowden and the quirkiness of Angle, Tarkanian looks more and more like the safe conservative choice. Tarkanian is just as conservative as Angle, he’s pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, opposed the Wall Street bailouts and focused on bringing the federal government to heel. He’s endorsed by Chuck Heath – Sarah Palin’s father and the grassroots Minuteman Project – but as an attorney and small businessman who’s never held public office before, Tarkanian comes without the baggage of a legislative record. He’s the outsider in an outsider’s year – something he grasped early as the first candidate to jump in against Reid last August when the Democrats were riding high. Going with Tarkanian has its disadvantages – Danny’s run for statewide office before, unsuccessfully – but on the other hand in doing so he’s boosted his statewide name recognition to a degree that Angle never has; most Nevada Republicans have a memory of casting their ballot for Danny Tarkanian. It helps also that every living room in the state has fond memories of watching his father, the legendary UNLV basketball coach, take the NCAA title.

Can Danny Tarkanian beat Harry Reid? If polls are any indication, yes. Tarkanian’s campaign boasts an impressive list of some 16 polls in which Tarkanian beats Reid – every poll, save one, since August 2009. While most Republicans are confident that a ham sandwich could beat Harry Reid in November, their overconfidence is just that – overconfident. Reid’s machine should not be underestimated – nor the millions upon millions of dollars in negative advertising and get out the vote efforts that will pour into Nevada to prop up the ailing Majority Leader. Reid will not go quietly, and while Angle’s upstart campaign seems to have the energy now to take on Reid, like Kentucky’s Rand Paul, personality along with her record, will likely prove far too easy to marginalize come June 9th; in the words of one respected Republican strategist, “Harry Reid will eat Sharron Angle for breakfast.”

Tarkanian may not be a dream candidate, but his quiet demeanor, constitutional focus, and stubborn determination are a good match for Reid’s own workmanlike approach to politics and the anti-government mood of the electorate. Over the course of nine months, Tarkanian has proven to be the only reliable candidate in Nevada’s GOP field, and he’s done so without the big dollars or the machine backing that has propelled his rivals. Ultimately Tarkanian is the safest option and the best candidate to take on Harry Reid this November, and should be the choice of Nevada Republicans.

It was June 1940. An undefeated and many thought unstoppable Adolf Hitler rolled across the European continent. From the air, the Luftwaffe dominated the skies of Europe, and would soon lay waste the venerable and ancient English capitol. Fear gripped a British citizenry low on food, ammunition, fighting men, and spirit.  The full fury of the Bilitz was only months away, and Britain was all alone in its struggle against NAZI tyranny. In this climate of seemingly overwhelming odds, the dogged and pugnacious British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, rose before the House of Commons to deliver one of his most stirring speeches. Knowing full well the awful price of defeat, and deploying all his considerable rhetorical skill, Churchill challenged and inspired his fellow countrymen and women to fight on to the bitter end:

“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…”

Churchill’s speech rallied the British people who fought on alone. But Churchill’s words inspired many hearts. Less than two years later and thousands of miles from the British capitol, men like Admiral John McCain were answering Churchill’s eloquent call in defense of freedom.  Rarely since those days has liberty faced such peril, but Churchill’s words have inspired many, no matter the contest or field of endeavor, to fight on. More than simply an echo of trying times, Churchill’s speech reminds us that when an important battle must be fought, it is incumbent upon each of us, individually and in unison, to go above and beyond the call of duty in pursuit of victory.

And so it is, that we find ourselves on the eve of a historic election for America. No elections are without profound consequences, but not since 1980 has America been faced with such a stark political and ideological dichotomy. John McCain is not the perfect conservative, but whatever his faults, John McCain is now all that stands between Reagan’s America and a disastrous turn toward socialism.  With Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi in charge of our Congress, and a President Obama ensconced in the Oval Office, leftist redistributionist policy will flow like water. Taxes hikes, profligate spending, and government expansion will unfold like storm clouds. The unionization of our private sector will begin in earnest and the end of the hitherto sacred secret ballot will come to pass. Our most cherished rights will be assaulted: from our freedom to express our religion, to our right to have and bear arms, to the very heart of the American spirit, the freedom of speech – which will wither under government imposed “fairness” guidelines. Our troops who have fought valiantly to secure a new future and a lasting peace in the Middle East will be undermined from home. The fight against Islamic extremism will end. The next justices on the Supreme Court will consider judicial activism their calling and judge-made law their right. Internationalism, foreign law, and sovereignty-undermining treaties will be the order of the day. Extreme environmentalism will trump all economic and business needs, and the promise of energy independence in the form of nuclear power, increased domestic oil production and natural gas will shrivel under draconian green legislation and government mandates. Like Gulliver amidst his captors, the great American juggernaut, already reeling from an economic blow of largely Democratic making, will succumb; death by 1,000 cuts. Not since the days of Carter will America have known such a malaise. The death of liberty by the hand of equality.

 But it is not a future that has to be. Hope remains.

John McCain is first to acknowledge that he is the underdog in this present contest, and many have proclaimed a McCain victory nearly impossible. Yet, with a strong final debate performance, a new sense that the American people are at last considering the true consequences of their choice in leader, and climbing poll numbers, a McCain victory remains possible. The odds are still unfavorable, and the task considerable, but in these final days, now is the time that every man and woman who cares about the hard won conservative gains of the Reagan Revolution must stand and fight. It will take more than merely voting, more than a yard sign or a bumper sticker, or a casual comment to a neighbor. It will take a sure and determined effort to mobilize every last Republican and independent vote.

In the end, it is not the media who decides our future, it is We, the People. So let us decide. Let us take our future into our own hands. In the spirit of Churchill, let us call forth every last remaining fighter. Family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues, parishioners, teammates, fellow students, and more. Even complete strangers and sometimes adversaries must be called upon and mobilized in this effort.  Ask yourself not merely what you will do come Election Day, but what you can and must do between now and then. The Left is mobilized and organized. They will be bringing to the polls thousands of voters who have never cast a ballot before.  On their side stands all the media with its long and duplicitous tentacles gripping the fountainheads of public opinion. Indeed, all the World whose interests lie in a weakened and demoralized America are willing your defeat.

So up with the rally cry! Dig in, mobilize and fight. We can win this election, and save America from a dreadful future, but only if we commit ourselves to delivering, with one resounding voice, the timeless battle cry of the victors: never surrender!

 Not if Michigan conservatives have anything to say about it.

Despite his lead in national polls, conservative Republicans are deeply distrustful of John McCain. While most concede that the nationally-known McCain could be their best hope for retaining the White House in November, many feel that McCain’s embrace of liberal positions – from pushing amnesty and campaign finance reform, to opposing tax cuts and promoting greater federal regulation - would amount to little gain.  Indeed, many contend that a President McCain, already predisposed to compromise with Democrats, and widely rumored to have considered leaving the Republican Party, would be a GOP disaster. 

All eyes are now focused on Michigan, where tomorrow’s primary could have an enormous repercussions for Republicans. A McCain victory could boost the Senator’s standings nationally, and provide the momentum necessary to give him a resounding win in South Carolina, where he currently leads in the polls.

With so much riding on Michigan, throughout America, the conservative war cry has gone up - vote Romney.

Though most readily concede that Romney is an imperfect candidate, he is by all accounts, the leading Reagan conservative in the field – the others being former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, and California Congressman Duncan Hunter, who has gained little traction. 

The late enthusiasm for Romney however, isn’t due to a sudden epiphany by conservatives that Romney is their guy, rather, it’s a concession by most that other than Thompson, Romney is the best shot for true conservatives.

Thompson, the candidate that most excites conservatives has performed poorly in the race, and despite a surprisingly good debate performance last week, still trails McCain, Huckabee and Romney in South Carolina. The Palmetto State is largely seen as a do or die contest for Thompson, and a surging McCain, fresh off a Michigan victory over Romney would almost certainly spell disaster for Thompson and could propel McCain right through to the nomination.

By contrast, a Romney win in Michigan would mark a sea change in the race. Romney, who has been on shaky ground since his victory in Wyoming, needs a big state win to keep himself in the race and increase his momentum heading into the southern primaries. Moreover, such a victory would send a message across the country – that Reagan conservatism is still at the heart of the GOP.

Despite the press’ characterization of the Republican race as a free-for-all, battle lines have increasingly been drawn around complimentary campaigns; it’s now a struggle between two groups – the more liberal McCain and Huckabee versus the more conservative Romney and Thompson.

Weekend polls showed a slight trend toward Romney, but with so many variables, it’s difficult to tell who will take the Great Lakes State. An open primary, such as Michigan has, is widely regarded as favoring McCain, whose appeal to independents and moderate Democrats could give him the win. Moreover, Michigan is familiar territory to McCain, who beat rival George W. Bush there in 2000. Still, with every Democratic candidate besides Hillary Clinton boycotting the Michigan primaries, it is unclear whether enough registered Democrats or Independents will turn out to either vote against Hillary Clinton by choosing “uncommitted,” or vote for John McCain.

Despite the open primary, Romney also has reason to smile. The name Romney is familiar to Michiganites, as Mitt Romney was born in Michigan, and his father, George Romney, served as Michigan’s governor, as well as chairman of the Detroit-based American Motors Corporation. Romney’s association with the state, and his reputation as a successful businessman, adept at turning failing organizations around, may propel him to a win with an electorate suffering from economic woes. Add to that a possible enthusiastic turnout from conservatives, including Thompson supporters, and Romney could eek out a win that would have enormous implications.

At this point it’s simply too close to call, but Michigan may hold the key to the GOPs immediate future – will it be the continuation of the Reagan model offered by Romney and Thompson, or a trend left, toward the compromise and economic populism offered by McCain and Huckabee?

In the end, turnout, and the will of non-Republicans may hold the key.

A new poll is up, this time regarding Mitt Romney. Although he’s avowedly conservative, many within the party are refusing to support Governor Romney becasue he is a Mormon. Should religious beliefs be considered? Is it unfair, but unavoidable? Is it irrelevant? Voice your opinion on the issue in the poll and in the comments below:



Senator John McCain has long been regarded as running an unusual campaign.  Far from being a flip-flopper, McCain has seemingly sought out the positions most likely to harm his own ambitions, and stuck with them.

Much has been written about his authorship of unpopular legislation from McCain-Feingold to comprehensive immigration reform, but McCain’s seemingly self-defeating approach also extends to fundraising.  Although a hawk like McCain could be expected to be embraced by military contractors seeking favor from the next president of the United States, many defense industry players have avoided McCain because of his derisive comments about their influence in Washington. It’s the kind of position that even if accurate, won’t help boost McCain into a position to do anything about it.

However, McCain’s latest approach to campaigning is the most counterintuitive yet. As CNN reported, in response to questions about his campaign organization, McCain snapped:

“I’m not going to talk about my campaign anymore,” explaining, “I’m finished with talking about it. I’ve talked about it for two weeks. I will not discuss it or any aspect of it. Thank you.”

While we don’t expect daily briefs on the innermost power struggles of the McCain machine, for a presidential contender to refuse to answer questions about his campaign is nothing short of …bizarre.

It may well be that this latest maneuver may finally convince McCain’s remaining supporters that the Straight Talk Express has finally come to end of the road.

Update:  Atlas Shrugs reports tht Ed Morrissey will be interviewing John McCain on internet radio conglomerate, Blog talk Radio at 2 pm ET.