According to the latest National Journal "Insider's Poll," George Allen has fallen out of first place among 2008 Republican presidential contenders. Replacing Allen is John McCain, who surged ahead with 61% of first-place votes, to 19% for Allen and 10% for Mitt Romney. All in all, McCain "establish[ed] himself as the clear favorite for the GOP presidential nomination among GOP Insiders."According to the National Journal:
Allen's grip on second place may not be firm. He ranked ahead of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney because of his popularity among his Capitol Hill colleagues. Among GOP Congressional Insiders, Allen received 10 first-place votes while Romney received none. Among GOP Political Insiders, though, Allen and Romney each got 10 first-place votes.
What's going on here? I've got three possible explanations:
1) Jim Webb, aka, "George Allen's Worst Nightmare," looks like he's going to be the Democratic nominee
2) The New Republic article did a number on Allen
3) Oh yeah, did I mention Jim Webb? Ha.
Or, it could be what Republican "insiders" had to say about Allen:
"Allen knows how to work a room and is the only front-runner with experience as a governor and a senator, but perhaps he is too similar to Bush. Nobody may be hurt more by the president's unpopularity.""Right out of the Ronald Reagan wax museum. At times he is trying so hard to be the Gipper he comes across as needing some identity counseling."
"Allen owns the swim lane for country-music conservatives, but may lack the heft to carry the party."
We'll see what happens in coming months, but right now, it looks like Allen's White House dreams are taking a bit of a hit. Perhaps "Bored George" might want to focus a bit on keeping his Senate seat first, before he jets off againt to Iowa or wherever else he goes when he's sick of Senate life. Ha.