Posted on 02/02/2008 6:43:44 PM PST by NormsRevenge
MINNEAPOLIS - Despite John McCain's building political momentum, Mitt Romney said Saturday he does not expect the Republican presidential nomination to be settled during the coming week and he is planning to continue campaigning beyond Super Tuesday.
The former Massachusetts governor said the number of states up for grabs, his prospects of succeeding in some of the 20-plus GOP contests that day, as well as a growing concern within the Republican Party about conferring the nomination on McCain give him reason to fight on.
Romney said he plans to speak Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference convention in Washington, although he conceded he may pare his staff after Tuesday's elections surpass the halfway point in the nomination battle.
"I'm planning on doing well on Tuesday, planning on getting the kind of delegates and support that shows that my effort is succeeding, and taking that across the nation," he told reporters as he flew to Minnesota from Utah after attending the funeral of Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley.
During a news conference Friday in Denver, Romney passed on three chances to vow he would carry on, prompting speculation he could drop out of the race as early as Wednesday in Boston.
He said Saturday: "We're still early in the process, seven states in. We've got 22 coming up on Tuesday. I expect to pick up a number of those states, and I don't think anybody's going to have the necessary number as of Tuesday night, and so we have time. It's a funny thing about how sentiment ebbs and flows in this race, and has ebbed and flowed in this race. And I am encouraged by the support which I'm seeing grow for me."
During a news conference late in Minneapolis, Romney celebrated a caucus victory Saturday in Maine, noting that it came despite McCain's backing by the two U.S. senators in Maine, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.
"This is a people's victory," Romney said. "It is, in my view, also an indication that conservative change is something that the American people want to see. I think you're going to see a growing movement across this country to get behind my candidacy and to propel this candidacy forward. I think it's a harbinger of what you're going to see on Tuesday."
While Romney has lost major head-to-head contests against McCain in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida, he preferred to focus on his prior victories in Wyoming, Michigan and Nevada. "With this, that gives me the edge 4-3," he said with a chuckle. "I don't weigh 'em all the same, of course."
Nonetheless, with the fact that 29 states will have by Wednesday, Romney plans to review his budget. While he has outraised the field, he has also been his campaign's largest single contributor, donating $35 million to his committee.
"We have a very substantial staff, as you know, not what's here but back in Boston, and we had a big staff in Iowa, Florida, New Hampshire," he said. "That's a much larger staff than you have as you go on to these subsequent primaries. So, we'll have the people needed where we're going to need them."
McCain beat Romney last Tuesday in the Florida primary, his third major head-to-head victory over Romney. In the aftermath, the Arizona senator picked up high-profile endorsements from former rival Rudy Giuliani, as well as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
His newspaper endorsements have also swamped those going to Romney, but the former governor said bedrock conservatives are coming to his side, driven by supportive commentary from conservative media voices such as Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.
Romney also said his campaign has seen an uptick in donations — $345,000 in one day last week versus a typical daily take of $50,000 — as the race has crystallized into a two-man contest between him and McCain.
Two other candidates, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, have lagged in national public opinion surveys and the GOP delegate count.
"I think one of the dynamics that changed is that conservative Republican and mainstream Republicans, all over the country, in the last 48 hours or so, have concentrated on the prospect of Senator McCain being our nominee and are saying, `That's not the direction we want to go,'" Romney said.
He has accused McCain of being out of the Republican mainstream on taxes and immigration, and he has hit on McCain saying that economic matters are not his strength. McCain has accused Romney of flip-flopping on an array of partisan issues, and said that Romney lacks his understanding of military matters and foreign affairs.
Romney told reporters: "The resolution of Iraq will become more clear in people's mind, but the lack of resolution of our economy will become more of a concern. And I know there will be some who say this is just a short-term thing, it's just a bump in the road, everything is fine. But I see far more concern long-term in our economy than I think a lot of people want to acknowledge."
In his unusually introspective session, Romney said he had not given any thought to his plans should he quit the race.
"There'll be plenty of time for thinking if I don't win," he said.
He also declared he was not stressed about the precarious state of his campaign.
"This is not something I'm doing because I need or I want it desperately for myself," he said. "I believe the country could benefit from the experience I've had, but that is not what motivates me."
In addition, Romney reflected on the massive funeral he had just attended among his fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Romney met with Hinckley several times when he was running the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, as well as once on a personal basis before launching his presidential campaign. If successful, Romney would become the first Mormon elected president.
"Obviously, for the president of our church, it was a much larger ceremony than you'd normally enjoy," he said. "It was very tender. It was very easy to listen to and not be emotional."
In 2004, McCain made his "dishonest and dishonorable" comment regarding the Swift Boat Vets. He sided with John Kerry, rather than with 250 plus Vietnam vets, including some fellow POWs. He didn't just say that he would have to look into the claims of the Swifties, or that he didn't know the specifics. No. He called the actions of those men "dishonest and dishonorable." Not only did he not apologize for that comment, but he reportedly entertained the idea of running with John Kerry.Why are so many Republicans freaking out about John McCain's primary success?
McCain defends terrorists from waterboarding, wishing them to have full access to our legal system.
McCain cares more for the needs of the next wave of 40 million Mexicans than he does for the American citizens who will be taxed to support them.
McCain defends the indefensible: Kerry the Lord Haw-Haw of the Vietnam War.
Is McCain insane or a traitor.
In either case he is unfit for commander in chief.
Huckabee needs to drop the hell out already.
Maybe marginally better, but I'm not voting for someone who is against all or most of what I believe in and stand for.
Yeah I’m on those same terms for McCain. If Romney came out with a statement along the lines of something like “I will not pursue nor sign any legislation that infringes on law abiding citizen’s right to own firearms” and/or a pledge to nominate a conservative minded judge if the SCOTUS has a vacancy during his term would you be more inclined to hold your nose and vote for him? Or if he secured the NRA’s endorsement?
Hi, NormsRevenge - Do you know Steve Frank? He is past president of CRA (California Republican Assembly) and other posts. Anyway, he has endorsed Mitt Romney. Here’s some info:
Steve Frank Endorses Gov. Romney
Dear Friends:
As many of you know I was active as a staff member in the Giuliani for President effort here in California. I supported him because of his tax cuts of $9 billion, cutting government employment by 20,000 and creating over 400,000 private sector jobs. Mayor Giuliani cut crime and made New York safe again for families. His administration is what a conservative in office should aspire to be. I have the utmost respect for the Mayor, which is why as a conservative I was proud to support him for President. His administration was run the way Ronald Reagan would have run it, were he Mayor of New York.
I note that the Mayor has endorsed another candidate for President and I respect his decision.
At the same time, my candidate needs to be a consistent conservative, one that I trust will promote conservative and Republican principles. That is why I am proud to endorse Governor Mitt Romney for President.
On the campaign trail I have learned to respect the values and principles of the Governor. I know he will cut taxes, enforce the laws against illegal aliens and provide conservative governance.
I hope you will look at the record of Gov. Romney and see your values in him, as I do. Below is a story just published by my good friend Jon Fleischman in the FlashReport. Feel free to forward my message to your email list.
On Tuesday, we need to send a message that the Republican Party stands for limited government, strong national defense, oppose illegal aliens, believes in free speech and stands with families. Join me in supporting Governor Mitt Romney for President.
Steve Frank
FlashReport Weblog on California Politics
Giuliani Coalitions Director Steve Frank: My Vote Is Going To Governor Mitt Romney
by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email) (print)
2-1-2008 12:26 pm
I just got off of the phone with former California Coalitions Director for Rudy Giuliani, political consultant, and internet publisher Steve Frank. He wanted to make perfectly clear to me and FlashReport readers that while he respects Mayor Giuliani’s endorsement of Senator John McCain, he will not be following in his footsteps. He was adamant about this. He is endorsing Governor Mitt Romney for President of the . Here’s the rationale for his decision:
“Governor Romney’s economic policies match those of Mayor Rudy Giuliani. We know that Governor Romney, as President of the United States, will provide an economically conservative, tax-cutting administration. We also know that Governor Romney has always opposed amnesty for illegal aliens, just as Mayor Giuliani has. As a former Giuliani campaign leader, I believe Governor Romney comes closest to the ideals and principles of Mayor Giuliani and President Reagan. This is the time for conservatives to join together and step up to provide a principled, consistent conservative administration in Washington. I am honored and proud to be endorsing Governor Mitt Romney to lead our party and nation into the 21st century. Conservative principles work, and I am confident Governor Romney would be consistent in pursuing them.”
http://www.flashreportorg/blog0a.php?postID=2008020115264840&post_offsetP=0&authID=2005081622025042
Huckabee is likely to do better than Romney on Tuesday. If Huckabee drops out, it is all over. At last check, the 2nd choice of most of his supporters that would not sit out is McCain.
I’m guessing closer to 325 for Romney, but our number on McCain is pretty close (636 for me.) I am guessing about 276 for Huckabee and 35 for Paul.
As I’ve pointed out before a posting of that chart, it has Romney wrong on the only one relevant to him as governor: He also opposed the Bush tax cuts. Not sure what consulting his lawyers would do to Gitmo, surrendering Iraq to Iran would do.) He supported multiple sanctuary cities in his state. I’ll be voting for none of the four... thank you.
Y'all don't seem to get it. Many of the Huckster voters would stay home. Of those that would still vote, their second choice in McCain right now. Without Huckabee in there, this race would be over Tuesday and not in a way to your liking.
If McCain or Romney get the nod, no. I’d vote for Huckabee and hope he gets good advisors. I trust him on judges. If Paul got it... that’s a hard thing to make someone decide.
Romney is 3 points behind McCain in Tennessee in the latest Ras poll, with Huck third. That's a big change.
It’s not the polling I’ve been seeing here in Tennessee. However, Rasmussen left off two very important things. Thompson(who is still on track to get delegates here,) and how many of those he polled had voted early. There was a great deal of early voting in this state as has been the case for years.
That chart is also deficient. For one, it lists Romney as against abortion. Though he says he is pro-life, his actions have been decidedly anti-life. Offering health-care seems wrong too. As does the immigration question, since he did nothing to act against sanctuary cities in his own state.
No. He's such a flip flopper that I wouldn't trust him to keep such promises.
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