AP: Palinmania may stop Romney from running in 2012

hotair.com ^ | November 14, 2008 | Allahpundit

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

AP: Palinmania may stop Romney from running in 2012

Eh. If there’s any truth to it, I’d say Ambinder is a lot closer to the real reason than the AP is.

The surprising ascendancy of McCain’s eventual pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and her popularity among some GOP conservatives have left Romney wondering whether he could wage a viable second campaign for the White House, according to friends and advisers…

“While (Palin) may not be popular with the winning majority that Barack Obama put together, she’s enormously popular with the losing minority that John McCain put together — and that pretty closely mirrors Republican primary voters,” said Rich Bond, former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Charley Manning, a Massachusetts Republican operative who has worked as a Romney adviser, recently told a local radio interviewer: “I’d be surprised if Mitt ever ran again for president. I sure don’t think it was the best experience of his life.”

Taking on the ‘Cuda is a fool’s errand only if two things occur: (1) the economy recovers, leaving Mitt without an obvious argument for why the base should prefer him to her, and (2) Huckabee doesn’t run, thereby ceding social cons to Palin. Number one is obviously more important than number two since a sustained crisis would give the GOP a shot at the White House; absent that, I’m not sure why any Republican would want to run in 2012, especially a guy like Mitt who had to eat a ton of campaign debt this year and would probably end up on the hook for a ton more trying to take down The One’s money machine.

For a guy who’s supposedly sour on the idea, though, he sure seems to be making the right moves:

[Nathan Zachary]

"He could make a good Vice President."

Nope. No more rino's

[LibLieSlayer]

I am expecting him to fail and will be shocked if he does anything but become the most radical leftist commie ever to hold national offie. My main reason is that he is just too dumb to do otherwise. His choice of ‘toon III in picking his government proves he has no plans and no direction other than left.

LLS

[TheFourthMagi]

Sarah Palin is the antithesis of Bob Dole in every respect.

[RightWhale]

I expect the economy of Alaska to collapse and it would be tough to continue to look good as Governor. Every time the State budget is cut the opposition, which we saw in Troopergate and the rest this year, will rachet up its campaign.

[ellery]

Too many bigoted Romney-haters who need to open their minds to the notion that he might be the one to articulate fiscal conservativism.

Nonsense. Romney supported the nearly $1 Trillion government bailout, as well as many other un-fiscally conservative proposals.

[Diogenesis]

Read #117 above to see what a miserable economic failure
Mitt Romney has been.(except to his kneeclad-pad-RomneyBOTs).

[Stourme]

Don't we all know that Palin was a drag on the ticket?

She was.

My family, who does not identify with any religion or church voted for Mitt Romney in the primaries...but voted for Obama in the general election.

I voted for McCain -because he wasn't Obama.

At the beginning of the primaries Evangelicals were polled in the news if they would vote for a Mormon. It was all over the news about how evangelicals were bigoted toward Mormons and wouldn't vote for Romney.

With that in mind and with the history of how evangelicals have treated Mormons. I mean you can see it on YouTube or right here on FR for reference...

Why would I want an evangelical anywhere near the white house? Why would I vote for an evangelical?

Why would I want to put someone who's disposition toward me is openly hostile, in a position of leadership over me? That's just silly.

[Lysandru]

Your point about your family is well taken. I am sure that Palin cost McCain some votes. I also know for a fact that she gained him quite a few.

There was no energy in the McCain campaign before her selection. The undeniable fact to anyone paying attention was that she drew huge, enthusiasitc crowds.

The question you have to ask is: did Palin give a net gain to the ticket? I believe that she did.

[Stourme]

The question you have to ask is: did Palin give a net gain to the ticket? I believe that she did.

I know she did. Of course I think anyone would have to some degree.

To be honest, I think a dead cat might have been an improvement. :P

[Stourme]

I think you have it backwards... It’ll be Romney/Palin. Romney would have beaten Obama in debates hands-down. Romney would have focused on Socialism long before it Joe The Plumber to cause McCain/Palin to stumble into the anti-socialism strategy.

Romney would have been an asset during this financial crisis because he could have articulately explained what to do unlike Obama and McCain.

Too many bigoted Romney-haters who need to open their minds to the notion that he might be the one to articulate fiscal conservativism. Palin can do it half-way, but she’s not savy enough and makes too many blunders.

Nicely explained.
Mitt is a very likable person and at the end of the campaign when it was the economy that mattered most to people, Romney would have been the go to guy.

And would he ever have attacked Obama. He'd have laid in to Obama with everything he could find.

It's just sad...Mitt was the only one that could have won the national election.

I don't care that Mitt Romney wasn't perfect. When Obama goes to the White House the only title I wanted him to have was "Tourist".