He outspent everyone 2-1 at least here in the 08 primary. He won, but could not break 50% despite some assistance from McCain's comments on the auto industry which sunk him here.
I was up at the big Republican event back in 07 up on Mackinac Island. Most of the presidential candidates were there, and I got to hear Mitt speak. What did he spend most of his time on? Gay marriage. Why? Because he wanted to say "I'm conservative too." There was not much talk on the economy. I was not convinced on his "conversion" with the abortion issue. He was pandering and untrustworthy on the gun issue. Give me something to work with, Mitt. He lost any chance of my vote at the conference. Too bad Fred Thompson was not a good speaker. He could have been the winner following Romney.
08 was Mitt's time, but he could not win despite the money, the network, and the orginization. People simply did not trust him. He was too slick and changed his mind on too many issues. That does not even go to his health care plan.
We need a fresh face in 2012, preferably not someone who ran in 08.
Couldn't agree more.
In 2008 Romney (and Huckabee and Giuliani and Thompson) all had their opportunity, running against John McCain -- a candidate who regularly abandoned the party in the Senate and majored in insulting the party's base.
If Mitt (and the others) could not beat the weakest GOP nominee for the Presidency since Thomas Dewey, why would we expect them to defeat the Democrat nominee?
We don't need any of the second-rate 2008 primary crop muddying the 2012 waters.