Posted on 01/19/2015 5:06:02 PM PST by Maceman
Mitt Romney, not one to quit while he’s ahead, took polls placing him at the front of the GOP presidential pack at face value and decided to run for president again. Departing from his repeated denials of interest in seeking the office for a third time, Romney informed a “senior Republican” that he “almost certainly will” run, the Washington Post reported on Monday. Last Friday, he told a group of important GOP donors in no uncertain terms: “I want to be president,” signaling that they should get ready to open their wallets.
Reaction within the GOP has been far from enthusiastic. The GOP establishment and party “moderates” have not been quick to embrace their old standard-bearer. Case in point, straight from the Wall Street Journal editorial page: “The question the former Massachusetts Governor will have to answer is why he would be a better candidate than he was in 2012. The answer is not obvious.” Indeed, it is hard to see why a candidate that Americans see as un-relatable, unprincipled and only out to benefit his 1%, plutocrat friends deserves a third shot at the presidency. No, blaming it all on economic growth leading up to the 2012 election (for which he, of course, gives President Obama no credit) won’t cut it. Widespread criticism aside, Romney has enough fundraising clout and name recognition (the main reason for his place at the top of the polls) to make him a serious 2016 contender despite the reservations of pretty much everyone.
One might expect grassroots, Tea Party conservatives, who fiercely opposed the “Massachusetts moderate” last time around, to oppose another Romney run with special vehemence. However, many on the far right look with favor on the notion of another Romney campaign, which is sure to divide the GOP establishment. Betsy Woodruff of Slate compiled a few telling reactions to Romney’s announcement from grassroots conservatives. “This is going to be corporatist on corporatist crime,” said Steve Deace, a respected conservative radio host from Iowa. “And whenever corporatist blood gets spilled, we all win.”
Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and Chris Christie, to name only the biggest names, draw from an overlapping web of donors and big business interests like the Chamber of Commerce. The overwhelming cash advantage that any one establishment candidate would hold over the Tea Party is diminished if Wall Street, big energy and other key donors place their green eggs in different baskets. With New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in a weakened state owing to Bridgegate, New Jersey’s struggling economy and concerns about his fiery temperament, a reluctant Jeb Bush’s decision to dip his toe in the water raised the prospect of an establishment favorite early on. Romney’s reemergence ensures that this won’t happen, at least not yet.
This is good news for grassroots favorites like Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who will have a bigger opening to generate enthusiasm and court donors as the establishment titans (known to harbor not-so-fond feelings for each other) duke it out. Things could get even more dicier if less established but nonetheless formidable candidates like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker enter the fray, provided they can make a strong, distinct impression in a crowded field.
Hardcore conservatives may never love Mitt Romney, but they could have reason to thank him come the primaries. As Chris Bedford of the Daily Caller puts it: “A three-way battle for the soul of the [establishment] GOP? For its money, consultants, and votes? Good news, we think.”
I am praying for Romney, Jeb, and Christie to divide the liberal vote so we can finally elect a conservative. It’s the only hope America has left.
Which is exactly why it won’t be allowed to happen. Now, faux conservatives bleeding off votes from real conservatives? That’ll happen!
You’re not including my fav’, Huntsman. Let’s not leave him out of the mix! He’d feel so dejected.
What is it you’re talking about?
I’m wondering if Romney is really serious about running, or if he’s just there to thwart Jeb? I know that sounds a bit kooky, but when Fred Thompson ran in 2008, there was a lot of talk that he was doing so to peel potential Huckabee supporters off in order to help McCain get the nomination.
Either way, I don’t want Romney as a candidate. I voted for him in 2008, because I knew what another 4 years of Obama was going to bring. But we conservatives have so many good options out there for 2016. We don’t have to settle for Romney, and we shouldn’t settle for Romney.
Howdy Doody’d be OK. Or, micky mouse .
Let’s avoid the Huckaby/Peroit technique.
You're being funny, right?
But just in case you're not: I'm talking about having a whole bunch of RINOs splitting the "moderate" vote, thus handing the nomination to Ted Cruz.
That's what I'm talkin' bout, foo. Watchoo talkin' bout?
bump
Which is why it won’t happen.
“This is going to be corporatist on corporatist crime,” said Steve Deace, a respected conservative radio host from Iowa. “And whenever corporatist blood gets spilled, we all win.”
This race will show the relative strength of the conservative vs. moderate wings of the GOP, that’s for sure.
It could work unless the conservatives/Tea Party support half-a-dozen or more conservatives.
Some 20 Republicans have apparently expressed interest in 2016. That field needs to be reduced very fast.
Unfortunately it doesn’t matter if Ted Cruz had the support of 90% of Republicans and Romney or Bush each had 5%. The RNC will fund either Romney or Bush (probably Bush because he’s further to the Left).
The actual level of public support, or what the public wants, is totally irrelevant to the RNC. They play by an internal, private “cash to play” mset of rules that none of us are privy to. We are outsiders, just curious onlookers, to them. All they care about is the status quo cash machine. Us peasants are just footstools to them.
Is that how it's going to work? They just nominated Cruz?
Thanks for the breaking news.
BTW you taking like a black person was very 70s. Clever.
I won't hold ya from your celebration...
Cheers.
I don’t think the corporatists are that stupid. Sure, political theater will be on display, but at the end of the day big money almost always wins.
Romney doesn’t want to run in order to thwart Jeb Bush....
Romney wants to run in order to thwart Ted Cruz.
Romney doesn’t believe Jebbie can win the primaries, so Romney wants to jump in the race in order to (try) to prevent Ted Cruz from getting the nomination (this is what Romney thinks, anyway).
Romney had his chance. He should have used his vast wealth to run ads in the summer of 2012, instead of waiting for the GOP’s money after the late summer convention. Obama had plenty of time to define Romney.
Obamacare needed to be hammered over the heads of the dems, but with the father of Romneycare heading the ticket, that was not going to happen.
Maybe maybe not....one thing is true: conservatives MUST get behind one candidate early and ride that horse to victory. No more of this mamby pamby stuff waiting to see who might win
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