Remind me again why Mitt Romney is the safe, electable candidate?

self | today | self

[Brookhaven]

In his only election victory he got 49% of the vote.

He didn’t run for relection, even though he was still legally eligable. Why not? Because he would have lost–badly. After four years as governor, he was polling under 30%.

In the 2008 GOP primaries Mitt Romney only pulled in 22% of the vote. This cycle, despite having huge monetary and organizational advantages, Romney still can’t break out of the 20% range.

• Never gained more than 49% of the vote in any race.
• Failed to get reelected as governor.
• Got a mere 22% of the vote against…John McCain.
• Only has about 20% of the vote in the current GOP race.

What about Romney’s policial record says “electable, safe choice, guranteed winner”?

[Brookhaven]

The meme in the MSM and even here is Herman Cain can't win. Yet Mitt Romney is being pushed as a safe choice; a guy that can win against Obama. Based on what?

I feel like we're getting Bob Dole pushed on us again. An inept politician, but a guy that won't rock the establishment boat.

[rightwingextremist1776]

Because the RINOs say so......

[Sybeck1]

I can’t see him winning a single southern state in the primaries.

[DuncanWaring]

Because it’s “his turn”?

[Arcy]

I for one don't believe the polls about Romney. The MSM wants the GOP to put up a mild centrist RINO. I'm not buying what they're selling! My vote will go to Cain, Gingrich or Bachman. PERIOD!

[Polybius]

"Why is Mitt Romney the safe, electable candidate?"

I'm afraid that the current toxic dynamic has very little to do with Mitt Romney.

The dynamic now consists of Conservatives tearing each other apart in order to claim the title of "Most Conservatively Pure" while Mitt Romney, the most liberal candidate, smiles on the sidelines.

In the end, Romney will probably be the only one left standing.

If Ronald Reagan, Version 1980 showed up today, he would be ripped apart as a "RINO".

Reagan's son Michael Reagan comments about how his father would have fared in the primaries today: ….. "If you look at my father and you just knew him as governor -- raised taxes, signed an abortion bill, no-fault divorce, and a few other things -- today, the argument against him would come from the Right; not from the Left. ….. He would have trouble getting his own nomination, but yet he ended up being the greatest president in our lifetimes. ….. We need to look at the whole package, the whole picture, everybody, and stop nit-picking ourselves to death."

[Astronaut]

Romney is Bob Dole and Captain Queeg redux. “Its his turn” isn’t a valid reason to support the guy, and I dont. For that and other reasons.

However...

At least he finished out his one term as governor and didn’t quit half way through.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

The Huffington (Self-Puffed Up)Post would like to see a Romney -vs. -Zero contest .

Obviously , they believe Romney to be beatable by the “Great Procastinator “. Maybe they have seen his golf game too !

[b4its2late]

Romney sucks.

[IbJensen]

The Saudis like him.

[sanjacjake]

I agree. they(D,s) are waiting for Romney as they have all
the bases covered....soak the rich....He is building a
new residence in LaJolla, Calif. I would really like
Cain...as he would take some votes from OObama and his
business acumen would sink Obama,,,plus he is a true
American and has the gift of gab....he would be the best
candidate...with a few more debates...his numbers will
increase...JK

[Mr. K]

Why would we want the LOSER who lost to McLAME???

For chrissakes he could not even beat mcLAME!!! And McLAME lost to Obama!~

So he is the Loser who lost to the Loser, who lost to Obama

(actually I know the Media picked our candidate last time- but let’s not let them do it again)

NO MORE OPEN PRIMARIES!!!!!

[afnamvet]

Watch the LSM and their talking heads. Faux has gone to the dark side. The media is desperately trying to select your candidate for you. Look at their record, their "promises", their failures/successes. You have plenty of time to vet all the candidates.

As far as Romney is concerned, look at the Romney Truth file here on FR.

[edpc]

Given Romney was the governor of Mass, I wouldn’t necessarily look at his poll numbers as a measuring stick. That said, he still has other negatives which would make him a bad choice as the nominee.

[rockvillem]

The MSM wants the GOP to put up a mild centrist RINO.

I think this is a big part of what's going on - the MSM pulled this same stunt in 2008 praising the "maverick" McCain to the high heavens and then turning on him savagely in favor of their man Obama.

What they probably also LOVE about Romney is Romneycare - they'll use it as an inoculation for Obama over the disastrous Obamacare. "See, Mitt Romney thinks this is such a great idea he implemented it in his own state!"

[Doulos1]

If he would just carry and ink pen in his hand it would be perfect.

[heiss]

I agree he should not be the GOP nominee, but your arguments are a bit ridiculous.

He was preparing to run for POTUS, so why run for Governor instead? Most POTUS candidates would do the same. State-level run takes energy and money away from real job.

In anycase, GOP candidate winning in blue state is always unlikely.

You could as easily ask why Palin quit in Alaska or why Pawlenty did not run for re-election.

Romney’s case for 2012 is relatively clear. There are many people in the middle, who last time voted for Obama (he got >50%, keep that in mind), and would be willing to vote for somebody like Romney, who is seen as centrist. I’ve also personally seen many of my co-workers saying this about Romney and indicating they will go for Romney, but would never go for Palin or for somebody they feel is “fringe”. I disagree with them, but they have their opinion, unlikely to change too much.

As I said, I think he should not be GOP nominee, but your arguments are just silly.

As for Cain, I’m afraid his accent make him look too much like some southerner and many people in blue states do not want to vote for those they feel are southerners etc.

I’m personally eager to see Cain in the next debate and get to know him, but I have only 1 vote..

[DBrow]

‘didn’t quit half way through.’

The Boston Herald had some editorials complaining that he effectively quit, and started running for president after two years in office.

[laweeks]

Except for his party affiliation, he is nothing more than a solid democrat . . . in all ways . . . he's just what the asshats want at the head of our ticket so they can murder him.

Romney, please go away and challenge Obambi in the democratic primaries.

[fluffdaddy]

Pawlenty did run for reelection, and won in a very bad year for Republicans. Palin left her job because she was the target of relentless abuses of Alaska's very ill-advised ethics law which had made it very difficult for her to be effective. Mitt Romney didn't run for reelection because he would have been trounced and that would have spoiled his presidential ambitions. He was an unpopular governor and that is a substantial blow to the silly claim that he's “electable.”

Mitt Romney's persistent electoral frustration going back to the 1990’s should tell us something. He isn't a good politician and that's relevant. In general, idea that nominating moderates is the way to woo moderate voters is just silly. Give voters the choice between a real Democrat and a RINO, the’ll usually opt for the genuine thing. Romney's whole political career is a long demonstration of this point.