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Romney defeat exposes weaknesses for potential battle with Obama (Romney the frontrunner)
Yahoo ^ | 1/22/12 | David Chalian

Posted on 01/22/2012 3:55:52 AM PST by GeorgiaDawg32

Echoing a worn adage, Mitt Romney said on Saturday night after conceding defeat to Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary that a longer, more competitive battle for the Republican presidential nomination would only make him stronger.

"I don't shrink from competition. I embrace it. I believe competition makes us all better," Romney told supporters.

That's a standard talking point from a frontrunner who hasn't yet locked up the nomination. But in fact, the weaknesses exposed in Romney's candidacy by the South Carolina results and, perhaps more important, in the days leading up to the primary, are cause for concern among Republicans, including some of Romney's own supporters.

--SNIP--

The Romney campaign is quick to point out that winning campaigns are those that survive tests like this. That's true. A presidential nomination is never handed to the frontrunner without him (or someday her) being knocked back on his heels once or twice.

--SNIP--

Yes, if Romney emerges as the Republican nominee, he will appear as a winner who overcame significant challenges. And an elongated nomination fight may improve his ability to take a punch.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: gop; newtgingrich; romney
Mittens is STILL being called the frontrunner, at least according to this article.
1 posted on 01/22/2012 3:56:06 AM PST by GeorgiaDawg32
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

More like the front bumper on Newt’s car.


2 posted on 01/22/2012 4:04:16 AM PST by TwoSwords (Romney is Crassus. Newt is Parthian.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

As long as romney lets his money do his talking, he loses. His money doesn’t impress people and his aloofness turns them straight off. He talks down to people. WE simply don’t understand what’s good for us. Money is a good thing. I sure wish I had more of it, BUT money can’t buy you love. End of story.


3 posted on 01/22/2012 4:04:16 AM PST by MestaMachine (obama kills)
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To: TwoSwords

Agreed. He doesn’t understand conservative values and is simply another cog in the establishment.

Newt is the guy. I’ve settled on him after being a Palinista and a Cainiac. The media and the GOP establishment doomed them, but Newt has a fire and I especially love the way he smacks down the media and tells it like it is.


4 posted on 01/22/2012 4:18:09 AM PST by GeorgiaDawg32 (Obama 2011: "Let them eat peas")
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To: GeorgiaDawg32
But there is a substantial difference between what's happening with Romney and the challenges that Barack Obama and George W. Bush faced. When Obama emerged from a long and bruising battle with Hillary Clinton, he did so looking like a dragon slayer. And the body blow that George W. Bush took from John McCain came from the center, and allowed Bush to shore up his strength with the Republican base.

Pretty good analysis here, actually. If Romney ends up with the nomination, the battering from Gingrich actually exposes him as further left than he'd like, so he's an even worse candidate vs. Zero. Fortunately it's increasingly looking like Romney is toast to everyone except the space cases at ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN/MSNBC/NYT/WAPO/HUFFPO etc etc

5 posted on 01/22/2012 4:21:16 AM PST by RDAardvark (Fast-forward to Jan 20th 2013, please.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

That’s the most ironic thing. The bashing of the media is what has really pushed Newt forward. Yet I’ve seen no introspection on their part about why this is and no requests for forgiveness either. They are truly the most insipid profession in the world and have surpassed lawyers in their delusion of importance.


6 posted on 01/22/2012 4:24:54 AM PST by TwoSwords (Romney is Crassus. Newt is Parthian.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Romney’s weakness is no concern of mine.

It only concerns the RINO’s who support him.

As far as I am concerned he needs to get off the tracks before the Newt train runs him down.


7 posted on 01/22/2012 4:26:29 AM PST by Venturer
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Sounds a lot like me, Palin then Cain. I like Newt because even though he was part of the establishment, the establishment has demonstrated that he is not anymore with their actions toward Romney. Because of how the GOP has treated all three of my candidates I no longer call myself a Republican.


8 posted on 01/22/2012 4:27:46 AM PST by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: TwoSwords

I’m not sure if the bashing of the media is what pushed Newt forward as much as it’s the way Newt handled it. (See the smackdown of the CNN dude regarding the “open marriage” question.

I was up off the couch screaming (in support) at the way he handled it. Newt isn’t taking any guff from them and isn’t afraid to call it like it is. THAT is what pushed him forward, IMHO.


9 posted on 01/22/2012 4:31:18 AM PST by GeorgiaDawg32 (Obama 2011: "Let them eat peas")
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Go read the comments on most any Yahoo linked article. They are primarily anti-media. Newt hit a nerve not for defending himself, but for attacking the main attackers. IMHO


10 posted on 01/22/2012 4:40:48 AM PST by TwoSwords (Romney is Crassus. Newt is Parthian.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Talk about timing. This was just posted on FR.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gingrich-beats-media-south-carolina-54-14


11 posted on 01/22/2012 4:45:26 AM PST by TwoSwords (Romney is Crassus. Newt is Parthian.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Has anyone seen the lamestream media post the actual numbers? What with them just saying Mitt didn’t win.

Last night it was 40% Newt vs. 28% Mitt. So far this morning, nada.


12 posted on 01/22/2012 4:45:40 AM PST by CPOSharky (The only thing straight, white, Christian males get is the blame for everything.)
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To: CPOSharky

I haven’t but Newt delivered a good old fashioned a**-kicking.


13 posted on 01/22/2012 4:49:53 AM PST by GeorgiaDawg32 (Obama 2011: "Let them eat peas")
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

I’m afraid that the LSM is not going to take “no” for an answer for their boy Mitt.

After this is all over, if there is still a Republican Party on November 7, there needs to be very, very serious reform of its nomination process - starting with the calendar.

It should basically be made impossible (except for an incumbent President) for the nomination to be “locked up” until the convention, or just before.

The most important reform, the one that would do the most good, would be to require 67% of the delegates to nominate a candidate.


14 posted on 01/22/2012 4:52:10 AM PST by Jim Noble ("The Germans: At your feet, or at your throat" - Winston Churchill)
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To: Jim Noble

They’ll fight for him till the bitter end, I agree.


15 posted on 01/22/2012 4:54:09 AM PST by GeorgiaDawg32 (Obama 2011: "Let them eat peas")
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To: goodwithagun

Exactly my feelings (and situation too!). (Palin -> Cain)
Go Newt!


16 posted on 01/22/2012 4:59:56 AM PST by Bikkuri
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

I think Newt has Benefitted from the fact that a Lot of Americans have done things they are Not proud of and are ashamed and will not go into the Public square for fear of being exposed for any number of transgressions. So when they see a Person Ridiculed in Public they identify with and try to Imagine how they would handle it,they are not bad People but are just Human and when they see a person Like Newt and Yes even Bubba Clinton they will Rally to them if they React like Newt did. I know democrats did not care what Clinton had done with Lewinsky ,Paula Jones, Jennifer Flowers,Juanita Broderick etc.because he was for abortion and His wife is a Saul Alinsky Radical,but Americans felt the way I have Described,Now Newt has an American Message and People Dont see him as Evil no Matter what the Millions of dollars of propoganda ads aimed Strictly at him have said. They see the Marxist in the White House destroying the Constitution,attacking Religion,LIFE and the Press and The Establishment giving him a Pass and Romney is afraid to call him a Socialist,Newt is Not.With what is coming from the Democrats we Need a Fighter,he may not be the Most attractive But as a Fighter I will Take Him over Mitt any day of the week.
In world War 2 the Country enlisted the Help of Organized Crime against the Nazis,They may have Been Crooks but they were AMERICAN crooks! May not be a Good analogy but I think you Get the Point when you look at what the Country is going to Go through in the Next 10 Moths


17 posted on 01/22/2012 5:24:16 AM PST by ballplayer
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

The media is going to do all it can to prop up Romney...they know as the nominee he will play along with them, and like McCain, lose nicely to The One.

Gingrich won’t, and the media are terrified of him.


18 posted on 01/22/2012 5:25:12 AM PST by kjo
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To: CPOSharky
Has anyone seen the lamestream media post the actual numbers? What with them just saying Mitt didn’t win.

I had to google the specific terms to find a mention of the percentages. Looks like Gingrich didn't just win, he won big. From deep in a WaPo article...

Returns from 95 percent of the state’s precincts showed Gingrich with 41 percent of the vote to 27 percent for Romney. Santorum was winning 17 percent, Paul 13 percent.

19 posted on 01/22/2012 5:40:40 AM PST by 6SJ7 (Meh.)
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To: MestaMachine
BUT money can’t buy you love.

That's what the Beatles sang:

Can't buy me love love
Can't buy me love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend
If it makes you feel all right
I'll get you anything my friend
If it makes you feel all right
'cause i don't care too much for money
For money can't buy me love

20 posted on 01/22/2012 6:06:51 AM PST by mc5cents
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To: ballplayer

Step away from the “shift” key until you know how to use it properly.

And, no, people are not cheering for Newt because they have done shameful things themselves. It is because he is a GOP candidate who has finally smacked down the media elites instead of politely taking their bullying.


21 posted on 01/22/2012 6:29:58 AM PST by Bigg Red (Pray for our republic.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Mitt Romney is a wimp. And that is one of the main reasons for his rejection.

Newt Gingrich, with all his moral baggage, will punch Obama (and the communist media) in the face, day after day.

Newt said it best (and I’m paraphrasing): It is not his debating skills. It is that he giving a voice to the silent majority. Very Reaganesque.


22 posted on 01/22/2012 6:31:33 AM PST by nhwingut (Sarah Palin 12... No One Else.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Mitt...time to drop out, and retire to your ten million dollar compound in New Hampshire.


23 posted on 01/22/2012 6:33:14 AM PST by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32
I especially love the way he smacks down the media and tells it like it is.

I happened to catch the beginning of Ann Coulter on F&F this morning.

One of the guys had to flat out state that she's already endorsed Romney because she was so negative towards Newt.

She decided that Newt's attack against the media in the last debate didn't help him at all.....huh?

Then, she started in on some tirade about how unelectable Newt is in the general. That's where I changed the channel.

24 posted on 01/22/2012 6:39:51 AM PST by CAluvdubya (My preferred taglines are not in the running...)
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To: CAluvdubya

My concern is Ron Paul - he will run as an independent and that will assure re-election for the socialist.


25 posted on 01/22/2012 7:11:49 AM PST by bevlar
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To: bevlar

I hope you are wrong about that. From what I have seen and heard, he is merely trying to garner delegates to affect the Republican platform. I can’t imagine that he would do anything to help Obama get elected. I do hope he and Santorum take the exits soon.


26 posted on 01/22/2012 7:30:14 AM PST by alamogal
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To: 6SJ7

If Santorum hadn’t been in the race I can’t see all his supporters voting for Romney.


27 posted on 01/22/2012 10:43:49 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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