In a new Zogby Republican presidential poll released on Thursday, gay California businessman Fred Karger tied former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, with 1% of the 1,103 people sampled saying they’d vote for either. Voters where asked to select candidates under two scenarios—with only the announced candidates as options and again with Sarah Palin, Chris Christie and Rick Perry (none of whom have formally declared their intent) as choices.
While Karger’s chances at moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue are slim—even nonentities like Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson scored better—it does make it slightly more likely that Fox News will have to include him in their upcoming Republican presidential debate. The conservative “news” network has stated that a candidate must receive an average of 1% in five national polls to be invited to the August 11 event, being held in Ames, Iowa.
“We’re almost there,” said Karger. “This is now the third poll in just the past couple of months where I am averaging the magic 1%. For a first-time candidate, who has not raised millions of dollars, I am ecstatic about the results. Now we just need to score in two more polls and I will be standing on the stage in Ames, Iowa, next month with the other candidates… I have been at this for 18 months and all that work is beginning to translate into support. We’re up from 0% just four weeks ago.”
Not exactly “We’re Number One!” but we would love to see Karger at the debate—just to watch Michelle Bachmann and Rick Santorum squirm.
Jeremy
you’d kind of think that getting 1% is a sign he shouldn’t be in the Republican Party, but I guess that doesn’t register with everyone. In 2008, Democrats only had a woman and a black man competing in a dead heat for months…… not like a gay Democrat would have any chance, would he?
Cam
@Jeremy:
Hey, in 2000 McCain was polling at around 1% nationally when he started campaigning in New Hampshire, he ended up winning the state and a few others.
Riker
Don’t forget, Howard Dean was widely favored to win the nomination in 2004, and John Kerry was barely on the radar. If I recall correctly, it wasn’t until Super Tuesday that Kerry started looking like a strong contender.
Karger probably won’t win the nomination, but even him being at the debates and on the polls is likely to change the opinions of at least *some* voters about teh gays.
xander
@Riker : Good point about Howard Dean, who I still think could have been a decent Pres. or even VP if it weren’t for his epic screaming episode.
@Cam : Wow, I’d forgot about McCain starting at the bottom of the heap in 2000… Great reminder!
\/\
Having Karger in the Repub. debate on Fox may help increase the sanity quotient because he may be the most moderate person present, especially in regard to social issues.
Just to have Karger there as such sharp contrast to Bachmann, Romney, et al., may underscore how far right the Republicans have swung on many topics, perhaps at their peril.