Posted on 08/04/2006 9:25:25 AM PDT by PDR
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Virginia Sen. George Allen are strong candidates for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, although each has serious challenges to overcome.
That’s the view of Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and one of the most influential conservatives in Washington.
“When I talk to each of the presidential candidates, every one of them brings up Romney — unsolicited — because they’re all focused on him as the smartest, toughest guy in the race,” Norquist told reporters Wednesday at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. “He is very well thought of.”
But Norquist cautioned that Romney could be hampered by the fact that he grew up in the western, conservative state of Utah and then moved to the eastern, liberal state of Massachusetts. Americans who live in the vast middle regions — both geographically and ideologically — might find it hard to relate to the governor, Norquist said.
“And the other challenge [for Romney] is being a Mormon: Is that something that’s going to bite him?” he said. “I spent this weekend with an evangelical conservative Republican group and everyone said, ‘Well it doesn’t bother me, but my friends.’ And it really makes you wonder.”
Religion is not an issue for Allen, whom Norquist described as “most comfortable” with the conservative movement’s positions on taxes, property rights and traditional values.
“So he’s best-positioned, policy-wise,” he said. “His challenge is that he looks and sounds like George W. Bush. It’s the boots, it’s the ‘hail fellow well met.’ It’s the, ‘Hi, when you talk to me for five minutes, I don’t scare you into thinking I’m going to outsmart you next week.’”
Referring to Bush as a “non-fluent English speaker,” Norquist said Allen’s similarities to the president could be a negative.
“If there’s Bush fatigue, I think it’s not just personal, it’s maybe stylistic,” he said. “So that’s a challenge for him.”
Norquist, who has been criticized for his association with disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, said whoever wins the Republican primaries almost certainly will face Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. He said all other Democratic contenders, including Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, will spend the primaries “sucking up to Hillary.”
“There are going to be eight people sitting up on the dais — Hillary’s chair will be a foot higher than everyone else’s — and the other seven guys will kick each other under the table,” he said. “They will all be auditioning for vice president.
“And they will say things like, ‘I was thinking today how wise Hillary Clinton was and it reminded me that BIDEN’S AN IDIOT!’”
Romney looks the part but his 'tar-baby' comment will come back again and again. Does anyone have the exact quote?? I have heard about it but not the exact comment.
They have ONE challenge to overcome - stop acting like Democrats!
Neither are as strong as Tom DeLay.
If George Allen "looks and sounds like George W. Bush", what's wrong with that? Particularly since Senator Allen stands solid for enforcing the borders, without any amnesty.
Neither one of these guys have a chance. If this is the best we can do, we are in trouble.
In polls, McCain beats Hillary in '08. But... oy! Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
BTW - I hear Governor Corzine is going to be introducing universal health care for your state in a few months. You have my sincere condolences if that passes.
McCain or Rudy would beat Hitlery. I'm leaning towards Rudy.
Earlier this week, I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Illinois for Mitt Romney". Nothing else, but I found it curious.
They have ONE challenge to overcome - stop acting like Democrats!
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If the GOP was still controlled by, and acted like CONSERVATIVES, they could sweep the 2008 election. They have created their own problems by not serving the people, and focusing on their politics of empowerment in Washington. They have been trying to "out-Democrat" the Democrats. Bad recipe for America and for them.
I agree on the Senators. I can't think of one GOP Senator I would want to see President.
McCain or Rudy would beat Hitlery. I'm leaning towards Rudy.
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Yeah, but both McCain and Rudy are liberals. We need a REAL conservative in the White House that will clean up Washington and America, restore our soverignty, CLOSE the borders, get the illegals under control, provide for a VERY STRONG defense and military, CUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING, and reduce taxation appropriately.
Exactly right. When GOPers like Lugar tell the president to meet with Little Kim in NK and when Grassley channels Paul Wellstone suggesting energy companies redistribute their wealth, well...
Pat Roberts, Jon Kyl , John Cornyn included? ;-)
I don't joke about that stuff. I heard it on the radio a few days ago. Expect it within the next few months.
I hear you man. If it ever comes to my state, I'm seriously considering taking the government to court for endangering my health - pointing to the track records of Cuba, France, England, Canada, Germany, and every other socialist state that makes people wait on long waitlists for necessary procedures.
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