New Hampshire’s primary results ought to serve as a wake-up call for the political pros and as a cautionary note for voters in the rest of the country.
The polls, predictions and talking points missed the mark. Just four months ago, Sen. John McCain was written off as a political dead man walking.
And even as late as mid-afternoon Tuesday, respected political analysts were portraying Hillary Clinton as a sure loser and heralding “change” as the dominant theme of the presidential race. But then those irascible voters of New Hampshire chose in each party the candidate who has been a prominent Washington fixture for the longest time. Some change.
The McCain and Clinton victories, and the failure of the conventional wisdom, stand as convincing indictments of mere sound-bite politics. Exit polls, focus groups and surveys are essential tools for effective coverage, but let’s not lose sight of the best measure of how each candidate is doing: How many committed delegates to the nominating conventions has he or she won?
Headlines proclaim former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and McCain the big GOP winners, yet former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads both in delegates won, 30 to 21 to 10. That leaves all three men more than 1,150 delegates short of victory. In short, the battle has barely begun.
Republicans have voted in just three states so far, with three different winners. Democrats have voted in only two states, with two winners. Voters elsewhere should keep their minds open and cast their ballots wisely.
Don’t be stampeded to judgment. Don’t knuckle under to early polls, early primaries and preening pundits. Consider the candidates on their merits, not their momentum or smiles.
After all, real change isn’t just a campaign slogan. Real change in government — less spending, fewer regulations, lower taxes, and more freedom and empowerment for individuals and local communities — can’t come as long as government is big and continually getting bigger.
Only when power is taken from Washington — its politicians, bureaucrats, lobbyists, pollsters and pundits — can the American people reduce corruption in Washington. Now that would be genuine change.
