Posted on 02/09/2008 10:53:51 AM PST by Brian_Baldwin
Dear Brian,
If you have not heard by now, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president. This was not an easy decision for me, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support from the beginning to the point where we are today. We’ve come such a long way, and our hard work together will leave an imprint on the course of history.
As I addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) yesterday in Washington, D.C., I outlined what I know is the right course ahead for our nation – a course based on conservative principles such as individual responsibility, strong faith and values, economic strength with lower taxes and a national defense that will not retreat from the threat of evil extremism.
I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding surrender to terror.
This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and, you, our supporters, have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.
You can be sure I will continue to stand for conservative principles. I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face evil extremism.
It is the common task of each generation – and the burden of liberty – to preserve this country, expand its freedoms and renew its spirit so that its noble past is prologue to its glorious future.
Please stand proud today that you fought for a cause greater than yourself, and please continue to fight to preserve our ideals.
Thank you again so very much.
P.S. To read more about my vision for strengthening America’s future, please take a look at my speech from CPAC. Thank you.
Romney stated the following in his letter, which no doubt fellow Romney supporters have already received and read:
"I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win."
Given that, I feel this is his way of saying that we now need to support John McCain against the Democratic nominee.
Thank you Mitt Romney, there are millions who will always be ready to give our support to you in your efforts for America and in the future.
I got this same letter and I too think he will be our nominee in 2012. Once more people get to know him and he helps campaign for other nominees. With him on the ticket, we can carry the Great Lake States, all the states in the west except CA and some New England states.
I wish McCain would pick him for V.P.
2012.
I think so too. I will vote for McCain but that's it. I won't campaign, donate, or in any other way support his candidacy. He will have my vote though, and that is all.
I think our time money and efforts will be much better spent in electing enough true conservatives to Congress that we may be able to provide some kind of bulwark against the liberalization of the GOP.
Bummer, wasn’t it. I so wish Romney could have won CA.
The man has class.
McCain had the name recognition advantage, having competed for the nomination in 2000 made him a known factor, and who knows, Bhutto’s assasination may have helped his candidacy in the sense that it drove home the fact that there’s a war against terrorism going on.
He will do no better in 2012 than he did this time.
I favor all of those objectives as well, but not at the sacrifice of our nation and our borders to Mexico and its illegal invaders. And McCain has made it obvious by his having Juan "La Raza" Hernandez on his staff that he intends to do precisely that.
No President who sacrifices our homeland can proclaim any sort of victory in the war on terror. Period.
I, too, am a fan of Mitt Romney, but I would not like to see him as McCain's VP choice.
McCain is going to fall apart, and it's going to be ugly. The man can't help himself -- he's unbalanced. The media has covered for him so far because they need him to usher Hillary into the White House. Once our convention is over and McCain is the party leader, the media will turn on him. Everyone on his campaign staff will be tainted, and anyone associated with him will be persona non grata in the Republican party.
I would much rather see Romney lay low for four years, working behind the scenes helping other candidates and collecting political chits to be cashed in in 2012.
My thank-you from Fred Thompson must still be in the mail, haven’t received it yet.
He would have gotten farther if he was actually conservative.
The irony is that Mitt’s departure might conceivably have increased the likelihood of a brokered convention, since the anyone-but-McCain vote will be much more concentrated. If that happens, Mr. Romney might be in a good position. Even if he’s lagging somewhat in delegates, if there’s a sentiment that Huckabee’s votes were mainly “anyone but McCain”, Mr. Romney’s class earlier may pay dividends. What would be best IMHO would be a Romney/Thompson or Thompson/Romney ticket. Not likely, but anything could happen.
As I posted on an earlier thread, this is what I would do if I were Romney:
It took Reagan 3 attempts to win the Presidency. The third time was the charm. Romney can do the same. If I were Romney, I’d start living in that Michigan home he’s got (the old family home), re-establish residency ASAP, and run for Gov against the liberal female Gov that is now in office and not as well liked anymore (Jennifer Granholm). She’s very beatable, and Michigan’s economy is in shambles.
They’d welcome Mitt back with open arms if he ran for Gov. And Michigan isn’t as far gone liberal yet as MA.
There he could further establish his conservative bonafides, and after running the state for 4 years and improving its economy, which I know he would do, then run for Prez again and beat the pants off of whoever might run the next time. If McCain wins, he will be a one-term President. That means Romney could try again in 4 years, and would have as his base a solid, Midwestern state rather than a northeast liberal state. Do like Reagan, don’t ever give up.
I think that Mitt Romney will one day be President of the United States. He has shown so much class, poise, and character in the midst of vicious character assasinations from both outside and inside the Republican party.
As a Michigander, I would love to have him as our Governor in the meantime.
He was ready to be President. Unfortunately, our party wasn’t ready for him.
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