Posted on 01/05/2011 10:17:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The consulting firm of Richard Quinn and Associates – which guided U.S. Senator John McCain to victory in the 2008 S.C. Republican presidential primary – will not advise McCain’s former rival Mitt Romney in 2012.
In recent weeks numerous Palmetto politicos have been buzzing about a possible Quinn-Romney hook-up, which would have obviously upset the established S.C. political order.
It’s not happening, though.
In fact, Romney may not even actively campaign in the Palmetto state – choosing instead to focus his resources on the Nevada Caucus (currently scheduled for February 18) while downplaying the significance of the South Carolina vote, which will likely take place a week later.
That speculation has been fueled by the “free agency” of Romney’s two most important South Carolina supporters – U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and Gov.-elect Nikki Haley, both of whom have indicated that they may endorse other candidates in 2012.
Romney has been advised in the past by Columbia lobbyist Warren Tompkins – one of the state’s most notorious “Republicans in Name Only.” That relationship is apparently over, however. In fact, sources close to the Romney campaign say that the former Massachusetts governor hasn’t spoken with Tompkins since the night of the 2008 election – adding that the candidate and consultant had a “major blowout” after the 2008 election.
That’s understandable … Romney finished the the 2008 primary in South Carolina with a disappointing 16.3 percent of the vote – putting him in fourth place behind McCain, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson.
Also, Tompkins’ statewide stature has taken yet another dip after a disappointing performance in the 2010 SCGOP gubernatorial election (in which he advised distant second-place finisher Gresham Barrett). Obviously the Quinns didn’t fare much better in the gubernatorial primary (representing third-place finisher Henry McMaster), but they quickly cozied up to the victorious campaign of S.C. Gov.-elect Nikki Haley during the GOP runoff.
While most consulting hires end up having a negligible impact on the races in question, Richard Quinn Sr.’s firm is different. It is the largest, most experienced political firm in the state – and any 2012 candidate who signs with “the Quinndom” becomes an automatic contender, at least in South Carolina.
That’s why the Quinns have been auditioning candidates recently … not the other way around.
Also, with the ongoing decline of Tompkins’ network (and the death of consultant Rod Shealy last year), Quinn represents the last of the full-service “empire” consulting outfits. That means campaigns that go up against their candidate – whoever he or she is – will likely have to assemble a team of S.C. consultants to match the services that Quinn’s firm provides.
After advising McCain in 2000 and 2008, the Quinns’ decision on a 2012 candidate will obviously be one of the first big moves of the 2012 primary.
Will it be Sarah Palin? Newt Gingrich? Mike Huckabee? Tim Pawlenty?
“Stay tuned …” Richard Quinn, Sr. told FITS founding editor Sic Willie recently.
We will …
Romney knows he’ll have little luck in the south. His strategy will have to be to go for a long primary season; picking up the moderate/liberal Republican states.
Excellent post. I wish there was a way to ‘like’ things on here!
Good job!
This is good news. Romney is so damaged with his years of flip flopping a southern state doesn’t want to bother. A GOP contender can not write off a southern state and hope to pick up a blue one. Screw you Myth.
Nit Witt Mitt!
NO Way!!!
“The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)”
Everybody’s building the big ships and boats
Some are building monuments, others jotting down notes
Everybody’s in despair, every girl and boy
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here everybody’s gonna jump for joy
Oh come all without, come all within
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
Come all without, come all within
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn.
Oh you know I like to do just like the rest
You know I like my sugar sweet but guarding fumes and making haste
You know it ain’t my cup of meat
Everybody’s out the trees, feeding pigeons all under the limb
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here the pigeons gonna run to him
Oh come all without, come all within
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
Come all without, come all within
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn.
A cat’s meow and a cow’s moo to you know I, I could recite them all
Just tell me where it hurts you, honey, and I’ll tell you who to call
Nobody can get asleep, there’s someone on everybody’s toes
When Quinn the Eskimo gets here everybody’s gonna want to doze
Oh come all without, come all within
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
Come all without, come all within
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn.
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