Posted on 02/08/2008 2:30:32 AM PST by indcons
Mitt Romney didn't become a multimillionaire by ignoring numbers, and he wasn't ignoring them Thursday when he officially scrapped his bid for the presidency.
The odds were simply too steep for the former Massachusetts governor, especially after his weak showing in Tuesday's round of coast-to-coast primaries.
"I've known him for 14 years, [and] he's always been a realist, and he just looked at it," said Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Peter Torkildsen.
In dropping out in the name of party unity, Romney built himself some goodwill within the GOP and maybe even positioned himself for a run in 2012.
But the former governor will start at a deficit in the congeniality department - he was privately loathed by his rivals this year, largely because of his tough ads and seemingly endless stream of personal cash.
If he does run again, experts said, he'll likely face all the same suspicions that doomed him this time: that he is a flip-flopper on abortion and other key issues, and that he's always been more of a chameleon than a conservative.
"You get only one chance in life to make a first impression," said Dennis Goldford, a professor of politics at Drake University in Iowa. "And the question with Romney will always be - which Mitt is showing up?"
This year, Romney first cast himself as the race's true conservative. When that didn't work, he retooled himself as the race's establishment Republican, only to repitch himself later as a Washington outsider. Finally, when the economy slipped, he emphasized his business background.
None of it really worked.
The die was cast Wednesday in Boston, when Romney's brain trust presented him a long shot scenario for victory that would have required winning Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina - and by significant majorities.
That scenario, Romney was told, would require millions more in cash, dozens more staffers and serious ad buys, especially in the large states.
"It was doable," said one source. "But there was no margin for error."
Who is actually voting for McAmnesty? Rats crossing over? Mexicans who just got their papers? Who actually likes him?
I was just watching the news here in Japan ...I must admit I have been getting ALL my primary news via FR ...and hadn’t seen Romney or McCain on tv until now ...And they called my man REAGAN the actor !!??...Romney and McCain are phoney baloneys ...I can see right through them ...Perhaps one must get away from the USA for a time to see through the BS , as you get bombarded with it on a daily basis ...Nobody is REAL ...
In the Florida primary, against primary rules, independents were permitted to vote using republican ballots. They estimated abnout %17-18 of the vote in favor of McCain was "non-republican". That made more than the difference to put him over the top.
I believe it is Rats who have not had a choice of strong military and social programs such as Johnson, Kennedy, Truman.
They have had to put up with Kerry, Reid, Pelosi, Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Gore
I think the election is rigged.
John McCain Gets Soros Cash - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1360852/posts
If you want to call having far fewer electoral votes than the guy who just quit because he didn't have enough being "in the game".
Right now, the Dems want to run against W, not McCain. If Romney or Huckabee are the nominee, they would make this election a referendum on W. With McCain, they have to change their tack, and McCain’s experience in foreign affairs and Washington policy will leave Obama’s inexperience and Hillary’s sleazy connections in the dust.
Not everyone thinks immigration is the greatest issue.
And yet, even with no money, the huckster stays in the game.
Well the Americans picked a dope from Hope already so why would you think they wouldn’t again. Two dopes from Hope would be a record I suppose.
Sorry. Either the Hildabeast OR Obama are going to absolutely SLAUGHTER McInsane in the general.
50 state sweep for the Dems, PLUS both houses of Congress. It is NOT going to be pretty for our side with McInsane as our candidate..
Ugh. WHEN will the Country Clubbers realize that the VAST majority of (R)s don’t think like they do?
THAT is what happens when you nominate a liberal for POTUS.
Huckabee can’t add as well.
Sorry but those RATS are not going to win my state, nor a lot of others.
They already have Congress, thanks to all the Pubbies who stayed home in 06.
“50 state sweep...both houses...yada,yada,yada...”
And the Patriots were going to kill the NYGiants.
Shouldn’t we play the game first?
Huckabee’s team = not so good at math?
Honestly, I don’t know why he’s staying. He has no one significant issue, or cluster of issues, that he represents. With Paul, it’s plain and simple: he has “causes,” sane and insane, that only he represents the way he represents them.
But Huckabee? No clue.
Except the issue of himself.
WHAT MITT needs to do now is spend the next four years championing all those causes that caused him to be called a flip flopper this time.......I.E. undo what he formerly did THAT CAUSED HIM SOO MUCH TROUBLE THIS TIME AROUND....so.....we’ll see you in 4 MITT....
till then its gonna be a bumpy ride to be sure...
I don't think these are the reasons. Those who have contact with Mitt Romney usually describe him as arrogant.
Math was never Huck’s strong suit.
It’s a bad hand, but the best one we can play.
And yet, even with no chance of beating obama, mccain stays in the game.
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