The Influence Factor: Romney & Cruz will produce a better ROI than rest of the GOP field

US News & World Report ^ | November 12, 2014 | Jamie Chandler

[2ndDivisionVet]

Looking ahead to the 2016 presidential election, how influential were each of the potential GOP candidates during the midterm election?

The Appinions study I wrote about on Monday provides great data to answer this question. The midterms continue to be a highly salient topic, despite the fact that it’s been just over a week since voters drew the curtain on the campaign. Indeed, Appinions "Active Attention Index," a metric based on the quantity and quality of reactions on the topic from opinion leaders across multiple media venues, grew 34 percent, from 129,000 the day after the election to 173,000 on Nov. 10.

The pundits are now throwing so many Chinese fortune sticks to forecast who will run that if they’re not careful someone is going to get their eye poked out. But as is typically the case, these divinations are based on conventional wisdom. They are about as telling as televangelist Pat Robertson predicting when a doomsday asteroid will hit the planet.

The Appinions data indicates, and if we use the level of attention a politician commands as a proxy for electability, then Mitt Romney and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, generated more attention than the rest of the current GOP aspirants. To wit, their scores were one-third greater than Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, double New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, triple that of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and a whopping six times higher than former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Clearly, Romney and Cruz have the attention advantage.

We can’t understate the influence of these men, and the appeal of their diametrically opposed visions for the country. It’s significant. If Romney runs, he immediately leads out of the gate and will hold more sway over the electorate than Bush, who most see giving Republicans the best chance of retaking control....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Comments?

[PieterCasparzen]

Just like Reagan was forced to accept the new world order handler George HW Bush as his VP...

Cruz will only be allowed on the ticket if he likewise accepts a new world order minion/operative of some kind as VP.

Private equity or finance people would be likely candidates, as long as they are not whistleblowers, but good little minions.

[Shadow44]

I bet once people start paying attention, Romney’s name evaporates from the crowd.

Nobody wants him really, it’s just name recognition.

[thorvaldr]

Romney proved last time he isn’t enough of a fighter. He doesn’t deserve another try.
I like Cruz or Gov. Walker.

[discostu]

In a cycle that we are almost gauranteed to win is not the time to nominate a socialist stooge masquerading as Republican. No Romney, not 6 years ago, not 2 years ago, not 2 years from now, NEVER. I will never knowingly vote for a socialist.

[pallis]

Romney and Cruz, no, but a Cruz and Romney ticket is light years ahead of any campaign the Communists can muster.

[pfony1]

I’m sure Romney is a good. decent man.

Everyone would like him as a neighbor or brother-in-law.

HOWEVER,

Romney has a herky-jerky way of talking that makes me think he has no common sense.

And we KNOW where that character flaw takes us....

[Jewbacca]

Romney is not a good or decent man.

I learned that with his dirty tricks and lies in the Republican primaries (e.g., lies about Fred Thompson).

Whats worse, he is a coward and has others do his dirty work for him.

On top of that, he will say anything and take any position to be elected.

Not remotely a decent man, and, as much as I despise Obama, I am glad Romney lost.

[rrrod]

Agree with the non fighters....Walker/Cruz/Pence and perhaps a few more would be acceptable.

Paul, Huckster, Bush, Romney and Christie are definate no’s IMHO

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Romney and Cruz, no, but a Cruz and Romney ticket is light years ahead of any campaign the Communists can muster.”

No RINOmney for me in any position.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Everyone would like him as a neighbor or brother-in-law.”

No, I’d rather have Bill Clinton, who can at least talk and relate as a human, despite his political beliefs and flaws. I sure wouldn’t want my sister married to RINOmney (or Clinton!).

[ansel12]

I bet once people start paying attention, Romney’s name evaporates from the crowd. Nobody wants him really, it’s just name recognition.

Yep, people don't realize how ineffective Romney has been in politics during his more than 20 years of running for offices and twice for the presidency.

Mitt has a single under 50% election win, and that resulted in a failed one term governorship in which he left with 34% approval.

[wafflehouse]

F*CK ROMNEY

[House Atreides]

Romney? Never again! He showed his true colors when he “reemerged” and the first thing out of his mouth was bad mouthing of “the Tea Party” and conservatives. He can suck an egg for all I care.

[House Atreides]

“Comments?”
******************************************
Romney is like the turd that refuses to go down on the first flush.

[elcid1970]

If you had Bill Clinton for a neighbor, there would be strange goings on at all hours of the day & night and unusually high traffic in & out of the ‘hood. Lots of Secret Service around, too.

Anyway, Ted Cruz in 2016. Like Obi Wan Kenobi, he’s our only hope.

[Sirius Lee]

Cruz will beat mittens like a rented red headed stepchild’s mule in any debate.

[Lady Heron]

NO Romeny!

You still have the conservative Christian base that will stay at home for pro-choice morman, that is if they can get past the high tax and spend, pro-gun control, Romney Care Romney. Then do the math on the last time Republicans actually put a North Easterner actually in the White House.

I am sick to death of the stupid party being this stupid.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.

Romney - the Magic RINO:

Chihuahua Romney - the One and the Only "Magic RINO(TM)":

Mitt Romney and Lil' Ricky Santorum celebrate Political Assassination of 2012 Conservative GOP Presidential Candidates (Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Michelle Bachman ...)

"We don't intend to turn the Republican Party
 over to the traitors in the battle just ended.
We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged
 to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support.
Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates
wouldn't make any sense at all.""
--  President Ronald Reagan

[riri]

Well, his wife is a managing director at Goldman Sachs. At one time was a term member in the CFR. Supposedly an expert on North American trade (NAFTA)...What do you think?