Do you think...

**Iron Juggernaut** · November 05, 2008, 01:22 AM

After taking a couple of hours to reflect on the election, do you think McCain might have won if he'd registered as an Independent?

I think he would have done significantly better, judging by the number of people I've heard talking about Ron Paul and Ralph Nader.

**jsktrogdor** · November 05, 2008, 01:46 AM

Its an interesting idea, some of the pundits mentioned that before he became a traditional republican he had better poll numbers. The problem (which is a big one) is that registering as an independent means that he's running against the republican party. He would split the ticket, basicly a loose loose situation for both him and the republican party.

**MansaSakura** · November 05, 2008, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by Iron Juggernaut

After taking a couple of hours to reflect on the election, do you think McCain might have won if he'd registered as an Independent?

I think he would have done significantly better, judging by the number of people I've heard talking about Ron Paul and Ralph Nader.

Nah. At best he'd have been a spoiler (like Ralph Nader). McCain could have won if he had picked Romney as VP. He was someone who knew something of the economy. Palin well...didn't.

**~~Roman Rapper~~** · November 05, 2008, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by Iron Juggernaut

After taking a couple of hours to reflect on the election, do you think McCain might have won if he'd registered as an Independent?

There is absolutely no way McCain would have enjoyed any level of support as an independent. He has performed dismally as it is, even with the reluctant support of the Republican base.

The truth is that McCain was always a second rate candidate. Never forget that McCain is the guy who 8 years ago in 2000 was not good enough to beat Bush to the Republican nomination.

Yet 8 years later a guy who was not even as effective as Bush was still the Republican party's best hope.
I guess that shows you precisely how much trouble the GOP are in.

**Boer** · November 05, 2008, 06:34 AM

If he ran as an independent he would have had to raise his own money, not take public funding (I think). He could not have raised sufficient funds when running against Obama and a Republican.

**Mikelus Trento** · November 05, 2008, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by Iron Juggernaut

After taking a couple of hours to reflect on the election, do you think McCain might have won if he'd registered as an Independent?

I think he would have done significantly better, judging by the number of people I've heard talking about Ron Paul and Ralph Nader.

I think he would have had to do these things to be more competitive...

1. Not waste the time advantage he had after securing his nomination WEEKS before Obama did. He spent the entire time reciting his bio.

2. Using current technologies more efficiently, eg, the internet.

3. Maintain a consistant POSITIVE theme for his campaign. Every day it seemed their focus was on finding a different kitchen sink to throw at Obama.

4. Had picked Romney, with his expertise in the economy, as his VP.

5. Had not said "the fundamentals of the economy are strong".

**Boer** · November 05, 2008, 11:49 AM

He gave the democrats too many, good sound bites to use against him. I can't even count the number of times a clip of McCain saying either "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" or "I voted with the president over 90% of the time" were used in a add against McCain. He should have kept the name "Republican" but not run a traditional republican style race. He is not a "normal" republican, yet he tried to run as one in a year which called for change.