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McCain wins New Hampshire, Ron Paul beats out Fred Thompson for 5th |
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Written by Stu Norman
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Thursday, 10 January 2008
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 While Hillary Clinton was the front runner on the Democratic side since she announced her run for President of the United States, John McCain was off the radar since last summer after his campaign imploded making his victory in New Hampshire on Tuesday bitter sweet for the Arizona Senator. McCain ran out of money yet was able to come back and win New Hampshire, reigniting his candidacy. Sportsbook.com had Senator John McCain at +475 odds underdog (Bet $100 dollars to win $475 dollars) to win the New Hampshire Primary.
Most political strategists wrongfully assumed that Obama would grab the majority of the independent voters in NH given him the landslide victory over Hillary Clinton. By grabbing these voters, John McCain would have a struggle against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. As it turns out, John McCain was able to grab the vast majority of the independents to win convincingly with 37% of the votes. Sportsbook.com has John McCain at 7 to 5 odds (Bet $5 dollars to win $7 dollars) to secure the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination.
Romney came in second with 32% of the votes. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, winner of the Republican Iowa Caucus, came in third with 11% of the votes. Unlike his Iowa performance, former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani was able to beat out Texas Congressman Ron Paul by 1% in New Hampshire. Guiliani received 9% of the votes in New Hampshire with Paul receiving 8% of the votes. Guiliani has decided to put all his eggs in one basket, preferring to spend time and money to win Florida later in the month.
It turns out that the extra face time in the Fox News New Hampshire Republican Debate did not help Fred Thompson, the actor turned Presidential Candidate received 1% of the votes. Ironically, Thompson was given the 5th and final seat in the Fox News New Hampshire debate, irrating Ron Paul supporters.
The Republican Party is trying to find and define itself in 2008 and one cannot help but notice the country's desire for a change in Washington. The real change agent in the Republican party is Ron Paul, not Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee. Paul has the "change" message and the experience but can he build a national audience that will listen to the message?
The Republican Party needs to woo independents and keep party defections to Barack Obama. Ron Paul is the only candidate on the Republican side that has a true “change” message that can beat Obama should the Illinois Senator secure the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination. Ron Paul believes in limited government and is a constitutionalist that would like to eliminate the federal income tax. Sportsbook.com has Ron Paul at 12 to 1 odds to secure the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination.
The three biggest issues on Republicans are: Economy, War & Immigration. An NBC News New Hampshire Exit Poll stated 50% of Republicans were unhappy with the job performance of President George W Bush.
Sportsbook.com has posted political betting odds on who will win the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination:
Duncan Hunter: 100 – 1
Fred Thompson: 25 – 1
John McCain: 7 – 5
Mike Huckabee: 3 – 1
Mitt Romney: 7 – 1
Ron Paul: 12 – 1
Rudy Giuliani: 5 – 2
Tom Tancredo: 100 - 1
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