Posted on 11/04/2010 9:53:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Tea Party activists are injecting into the 2012 GOP presidential primary an element of antiestablishment volatility that could hurt Mitt Romney’s possible bid while benefiting a fast-growing crop of conservative candidates, political observers say.
“It is wide open,’’ former House majority leader Dick Armey, one of the leaders of the Tea Party movement, said of the potential field of candidates. In a twist of GOP tradition, the nominee could be someone Americans know little about, he said.
“The defining influence electorally in America is we are tired of big-shot insiders taking care of themselves and one another,’’ said Armey, chairman of FreedomWorks, which seeks to mobilize conservative voters.
In the most typical Republican path to the nomination, party insiders all but anoint an establishment candidate early, then primary voters confirm the candidate. Romney, who ran strongly in the 2008 primaries, has been widely portrayed as the establishment front-runner.
But that path could be thrown off course as Tea Party activists try to build upon their influence in the midterms and make further inroads into the GOP power structure, analysts say.
Romney did reach out to the Tea Party movement by donating to a number of its nominees in this year’s congressional elections but that was sometimes after they had defeated mainstream Republicans. Some conservative insurgents distrust him because of the Massachusetts health care plan he helped engineer while governor, although Romney has disputed assertions that the program served as a model for President Obama’s national plan...
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
There is nothing anyone can do that could hurt Romney enouogh to satisfy me!!!
I don’t want the regular beltway Republicans either.
Romneycare is Romney’s worst enemy.
Tea party: Repeal Obamacare! Repeal Obamacare!
Romney: can I join in on the fun? I have executive experience. I was responsible for the Winter Olympics. I like CPAC. I...
Tea party: WTH?
Hurt the Mutt’s aspirirations? ROTFLMAO!!!!!
That greasy haired slime ball better not run.
He will be a laughing stock before the end of the first day of his announcement and he will be in shock as his chin hits the ground, while watching his dream go down in spectacular flames as he screams “Oh the humanity!!!!”.
That thing will look like the Hindenburg.
Romney is his own worst enemy.We aint buying what he’s selling.
That sure isn’t his best photo, he looks like he has aged a lot, and put on weight.
They can call us anything but losers.
Romney hurts Romney.
We are Pasco County Florida, Conservative Capital of the world and we like Romney, Palin, Rubio.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Masella1954#p/u/7/dipTAGvZVcY
More of my videos at www.OurtownFLA.com/Politics
>>> Tea Party success could hurt Romney: Activists distrust establishment ties <<<
Ya think?
Two out of three ain’t bad (do I really need to say?), but work on it.
Future of Brylcreem and Dentu-Grip looking grim.
The original Boston Tea Party members were activists...it’s not a bad label when there’s a legitimate reason for activism. Our perception of the term has been poisened by decades of addled, graying “juvenile” delinquents who never got over the 1960’s.
Nice spelling there, Trod.
The O’Donnell backstabbing had Country Club mits all over it.
Pray for America
The GOP gave its nomination to John McCain in 2008, which I thought was absolutely impossible.......
Now, I already see the gathering to give Romney to 2012....
Conservatives can't wait until 2012 to stop Romney, he must be STOPPED NOW !!!!!
Otherwise, McCain part 2 will lead to Obamas second term....
That said, what the hell is it with the GOP always trying to pick the guy who came in 2nd or ran in the last race as the new nominee ?
Dole lost in 1988, so he got the nod in 1996, McCain lost in 2000, so he got 2008, Romney lost in 2008, so they want to give him 2012 ?
Even going back, to Reagan, he lost in 1976, and won in 1980 (though he did that over the GOP's body at the time).....
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