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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



GOP focus group plays the word game

Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 11:47 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Mark Murray
RICHMOND, VA -- We wrote about this earlier, but it bears another mention: Thompson seems to have a lot more upside as a candidate than many in the Chattering Class believe, at least according to the GOP focus group we attended here last night.

As another example, here were some of the focus group's word associations with Thompson: "grandfather," "father," "conservative," "soft spoken," "good," and "confident."

By comparison, here were words for Giuliani: "good," "cocky," "cold," "confident," and "liberal."

Romney: "leader," "principled," "good," "smart," and "articulate."

Huckabee: "don't know," "funny name," "Christian," "conservative," "good man," and "fair tax."

McCain: "Vietnam," "strong," and "confident."

No one had views on Tancredo and Hunter, and Paul drew just one response: "too weak on national security."

Here were the GOP focus group's word associations with Hillary Clinton: "dastardly," "too liberal," deceitful," and "socialistic."

And Obama: "too liberal," "hip," "inexperienced," "young," "fake," "unproven," and "soft."

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Comments

The idea that ANY of the Republicans would make a better president than Hillary Clinton is ridiculous. Shes brilliant and they are a bunch of warmongering yahoos.

And no I havent actually who to vote for in the primary. But the idea that Hillary would make a bad president is just plain wrong. The hatred of Hillary by the right wing is totally irrational.
Yoland:

Hillary Clinton in a coma on a bad day is still 100 times more coherent than George Bush...the Republican's "dream" president. I swear the man can't even speak a complete sentence.

Of course she is a smart independent woman so I get why Republicans feel the need to trash her. They prefer their women barefoot and pregnant and doing what the men tell them to.
Just want to make mention that Clinton took the heat from six opponents in Tuesday's primary.  She also was hit by both moderators.  I thought that moderators were not supposed to be playing gotcha, but they do with Clinton.  It's not right and not fair.  But, she came through it and is still standing.  She is the only one strong enough in either field to be president.
Joy Gilmore (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 2:18 PM)

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Joy your post was a joy and worth reposting so I did ...BRAVO
Just want to make mention that Clinton took the heat from six opponents in Tuesday's primary.  She also was hit by both moderators.  I thought that moderators were not supposed to be playing gotcha, but they do with Clinton.  It's not right and not fair.  But, she came through it and is still standing.  She is the only one strong enough in either field to be president.
Joy Gilmore (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 2:18 PM)

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Joy your post was a joy and worth reposting so I did ...BRAVO


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