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OK, I'm going to try this because I really have a sincere question for you. I do this with reluctance because I've found that Romney supporters aren't real good about answering straightforward questions, but here goes.
Why would Romney - who you would have to admit has drawn the antipathy of lots of conservatives for various positions he has taken - be able to "pull all the segments of the GOP together" better than Fred?
So far as I know, the only real rap on Fred is that he hasn't campaigned well. But IF he were to get the nomination, it seems to me that he'd have much more enthusiastic support of the conservative rank-and-file than would Romney. Just look at the polls on this site.
Why am I wrong?
Hank
Maybe you are asking the wrong “Romney supporters”. I’ll be happy to answer your questions.
I have no idea why Fred isn’t able to pull the conservatives together. I thought he would, which is why I supported him getting into the race, and sent him money.
At that time, he was rising in the polls, clearly because conservatives were warming to him and looking for something.
But once he got in the race, he became much less attractive to the republican base. I have no idea why, but he dropped from first to fourth.
Meanwhile, Romney has maintained a consistant, slow rise. And he had good numbers in the first primaries — Rudy was helped by lots of good support in liberal states.
If Fred could win the nomination, I think he would pull us together, but it’s hard to make that argument given that he hasn’t been able to do so up until now, even though he is “more conservative”.
With Romney, the issue is a fear. There are two fears — some think he is deceiving us with his conservative views, and some think he is too new to his conservatives views and might switch back.
Both of those are reasons to oppose him in the primary, or more accurately to choose a conservative-speaking candidate that you trust more, that is less risky to you.
However, if Romney wins the nomination, since he clearly SPEAKS a conservative message, conservatives would be foolish to vote AGAINST that conservative message simply because they are afraid he’ll govern like a liberal.
After all, we KNOW his opponent will govern like a liberal. Better to elect the guy who says he’s on your side, and then scream about being deceived if he turns on you, than vote against a guy who is hitting all the right notes on conservatism (because you don’t “trust” him), and hand the election to a real liberal while proving to the general public that people voicing the conservative message can’t be elected.
That is why I think Romney is much more electable than his primary numbers would suggest.
Well, firstly Romney has certainly made several dumb STATEMENTS in years past, but his "positions" in actual governance have been fairly conservative.
He is one of the few, perhaps only, Gov. who didn't raise taxes. His statements were perhaps distasteful to conservatives like myself, but they went a long way toward befuddling the wackadoodle libs in Massechusetts.
Lastly, I love Fred. I really do.
But it has become obvious he does not have the stamina...the fire...the drive ...to lead this enormous nation US of A (and the world) for an entire eight (8) years.
Methinks Fred is suffering more from his latest health issue (I forget the disease) than he lets on.