--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Republicans tend to choose the…" description: "\"The Republicans tend to choose the candidate who came in second place in the last election, and Democrats tend to move on. Ask President Ed Muskie how ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/brian-schweitzer-28195_asks_the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candi_803357.png" --- # The Republicans tend to choose the candidate who came in… ![“The Republicans tend to choose the candidate who came in second place in the last election, and Democrats tend to move on. Ask President Ed Muskie how it worked out to be the front-runner. Ask President Howard Dean how it worked out.” quote by Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/brian-schweitzer-28195_asks_the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candi_803357.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/brian-schweitzer-28195_asks_the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candi_803357.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/brian-schweitzer-28195_asks_the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candi_803357.png) > “The Republicans tend to choose the candidate who came in second place in the last election, and Democrats tend to move on. Ask President Ed Muskie how it worked out to be the front-runner. Ask President Howard Dean how it worked out.” [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Party leaders often select candidates based on prior performance, ignoring broader appeal, leading to repeated failures. **In simple terms:** Choosing based on past rank can backfire. Key Takeaway Consider broader criteria for candidates. Themes politics leadership strategy Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - campaign planning - voter outreach - party primaries Key Concepts electoral dynamics candidate selection Questions to Reflect On - How might alternative selection methods improve outcomes? - What criteria should parties prioritize? A Different Perspective Past success doesn't guarantee future viability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Candidate Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-came-6146380/) [Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates/) [Choose Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-candidate-1725138/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dean/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Election Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election-democrats-1182049/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Partisanship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisanship/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republicans Tend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans-tend-1466477/) [Runners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runners/) [Second place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-place/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [We're able to choose our candidate not based on gender or sex or anything else other than their ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/we-re-able-to-choose-our-candidate-not-based-on-gender-or-sex-or/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [Republicans tend to be more steadfast in their allegiance, and Democrats read one headline in the 'New York Times,' and the sky is suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/republicans-tend-to-be-more-steadfast-in-their-allegiance-and/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [My primary objective, my desire would be to see the Democrat Party get shellacked in every election, to never see the Democrats ever win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/my-primary-objective-my-desire-would-be-to-see-the-democrat-party-get/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The Republicans have their splits right after election and Democrats have theirs just before an election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-republicans-have-their-splits-right-after-election-and-democrats/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“Republicans tend to be people who don't believe in anything, they just want to win elections. Democrats, I think, have really sincere beliefs. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-novak/republicans-tend-to-be-people-who-don-t-believe-in-anything-they-just/) [Robert Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-novak/) > [Democrats in environmental agencies tend to be more sensitive to environmental harm. And Republicans tend to be more sensitive to business harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/democrats-in-environmental-agencies-tend-to-be-more-sensitive-to/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I would prefer that in the Republican party, we not engage in trying to destroy each other, because all that does is hand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-would-prefer-that-in-the-republican-party-we-not-engage-in-trying/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Let me put it this way: I think Republicans tend to keep the ball in play, Democrats go for broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/let-me-put-it-this-way-i-think-republicans-tend-to-keep-the-ball-in/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [The only truly shocking thing about last Tuesday's election is that the Democrats didn't do far worse, or as badly as they deserved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-rich/the-only-truly-shocking-thing-about-last-tuesday-s-election-is-that/) [Frank Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-rich/) > [“One of the most important but least recognized facts in American politics is that Republicans tend to win in places where more people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/one-of-the-most-important-but-least-recognized-facts-in-american/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [There is no real correlation between how late or how early a field forms and the eventual nominee's success in the general election. Democrats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/there-is-no-real-correlation-between-how-late-or-how-early-a-field/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [“I think being a woman is like being Irish... Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-think-being-a-woman-is-like-being-irish-everyone-says-you-re/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“It took only three years for Jonathan Papelbon to surpass Bill Campbell, Lee Smith, Tom Gordon, Sparky Lyle, Derek Lowe, Jeff Reardon, Ellis Kinder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/it-took-only-three-years-for-jonathan-papelbon-to-surpass-bill/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## More by Brian Schweitzer > [We have always been dreamers in Montana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/we-have-always-been-dreamers-in-montana/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [If I stay in Washington for more than 72 hours, I have to bathe myself in the same stuff I use when my dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/if-i-stay-in-washington-for-more-than-72-hours-i-have-to-bathe-myself/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [The generosity of Montanans is inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/the-generosity-of-montanans-is-inspiring/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [I challenge you to be dreamers; I challenge you to be doers and let us make the greatest place in the world even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/i-challenge-you-to-be-dreamers-i-challenge-you-to-be-doers-and-let-us/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [You can't pay for healthcare if we're sending a trillion dollars a year to dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/you-can-t-pay-for-healthcare-if-we-re-sending-a-trillion-dollars-a/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [Twenty-six states have passed renewable portfolio standards, which simply says somewhere between 15% and 30% of their electricity will come from renewables by such-and-such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/twenty-six-states-have-passed-renewable-portfolio-standards-which/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [We need to work our level best in this legislative session to help grow Montana's economy, so that grandchildren can stay in Montana, grandchildren…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/we-need-to-work-our-level-best-in-this-legislative-session-to-help/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [I don't know a single Republican in Montana who would get in a fight in a bowling alley for John McCain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/i-don-t-know-a-single-republican-in-montana-who-would-get-in-a-fight/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [Good ideas are the backbone of good government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/good-ideas-are-the-backbone-of-good-government/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [We can push Montana forward and we can do it with out raising taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/we-can-push-montana-forward-and-we-can-do-it-with-out-raising-taxes/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [I do feel a lot more comfortable when my dog is with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/i-do-feel-a-lot-more-comfortable-when-my-dog-is-with-me/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [We work for the families back home, we do not work for the lobbyists that prowl the halls of the capital building, do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/we-work-for-the-families-back-home-we-do-not-work-for-the-lobbyists/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [No, money is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/no-money-is-power/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [I know that Montana is the greatest place in the world to raise a family, to start and grow a business. You know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/i-know-that-montana-is-the-greatest-place-in-the-world-to-raise-a/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) > [And yes, the Homesteaders, including my grandparents who left behind almost nothing, and arrived in Montana with nothing but the clothes on their back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/and-yes-the-homesteaders-including-my-grandparents-who-left-behind/) [Brian Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) [Explore all 19 Brian Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Republicans tend to choose the candidate who came in second place in the last election, and Democrats tend to move on. Ask President Ed Muskie how it worked out to be the front-runner. Ask President Howard Dean how it worked out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Schweitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candidate-who-came-in-second-place/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candidate-who-came-in-second-place/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/brian-schweitzer-28195_asks_the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candi_803357.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/brian-schweitzer-28195_asks_the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candi_803357.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/brian-schweitzer-28195_asks_the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candi_803357.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Republicans tend to choose the candidate who came in second place in the last election, and Democrats…” — Brian Schweitzer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brian Schweitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schweitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Republicans tend to choose the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candidate-who-came-in-second-place/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schweitzer/the-republicans-tend-to-choose-the-candidate-who-came-in-second-place/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```