The Republican Challenge ; Gop has to Get Serious to Avoid Blowing Big Opportunity

Summary

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The latest Rasmussen Reports poll makes what's at stake crystal clear for Republicans getting ready to vote in primaries and caucuses: President Obama is beatable. In fact, the only way Barack gets a second term is if the Grand Old Party drops the ball. According to Rasmussen's presidential matchups survey released Thursday, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney enjoys a commanding 6-point lead over Mr. Obama, 45 percent to 39 percent. Even more impressive, Mr. Romney has a huge 16-point lead among independent voters who have no party affiliation. It's time for the opposition to unify and work together to drive home a win.

The latest polling data don't mean that Mr. Romney has the nomination sewn up or that no other Republican can win the White House next year, although he is the only one the numbers show can beat Mr. Obama at this point. Still, as Rasmussen reminds, others have had temporary leads over the president in past polls, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, who has since departed the field. The bottom line is Mr. Obama is so unpopular that just about anyone can beat him in 2012 once the Republican nominee is crowned and has all the institutional party support behind him.

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The Republican Challenge ; Gop has to Get Serious to Avoid Blowing Big Opportunity

However, two dark storm clouds hover overhead that could rain on the elephants' victory parade. The first is a possible third-party challenge that wo...

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