Mitt Romney delays run, but experts say he’s a sure bet

Boston Herald ^ | 11/20/2010 | By Hillary Chabot

[BuzzKillington]

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, a likely GOP presidential candidate for 2012, told supporters he won’t announce his candidacy before the end of the year — but political analysts said yesterday the discussion is the strongest indicator yet that he’ll run.

“We know who is running, they’re just doing everything but coming out and saying so,” said Andy Smith, director of the Political Center at the University of New Hampshire.

Romney held a conference call with 245 of his top supporters Thursday and told them that unlike his failed 2008 run, he won’t be announcing until later in the cycle, according to a Romney campaign source.

[Diogenesis]

"I am not a backstabber (when I am with Martin Luther King)"

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The Palmetto Scoop reported:
"The sources said nearly 80 percent of Romney's former staff was absorbed by McCain and these individuals were responsible for what amounts to a premeditated, last-minute sabotage of Palin."
that Palin would be a serious contender for the Republican nomination in 2012 or 2016, which made her a threat to another presidential quest by Romney.

"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"

"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"

"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"

"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"

"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"

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Poor sport spoiler Romney doing what he does best:

Novak: "Fred Thompson drop-out rumors traced to Romney campaign"

Said Novak: "The rumors were traced in part to Mitt Romney's campaign,
trying to stir up strife between McCain and Thompson."

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"Despite outspending his rivals by huge margins throughout the primaries,
(Mitt Romney, Carpetbagger UT,CA,MA,NH,Mexico) lost Iowa, South Carolina, Florida and California.
The only primaries he won were in Michigan, where Dad was governor; LDS states;
and a few states on Super Tuesday in which his California-obsessed rivals
couldn't spare the cash to advertise.
Only John Connolly in 1968 had a worse cash-to-delegates ratio.
And John McCain rightly did not like Romney's tactics during the primaries.
(W)hen (Romney's early leads) started slipping away, he resorted to unfair,
distorted, scorched-earth negative ads, betting that his opponents couldn't
afford to spend enough for the truth to catch up to his charges."
[Romney: A Mistake for McCain, 7/23/2008, Dick Morris]

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"Go Mitt. Go Mitt. Go Mitt."

"Rove is pushing Romney so aggressively some folks are beginning to wonder what's going on," grumbled one veteran Republican strategist."

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"Rove has made no secret of his support for Romney as McCain's VP. "

[steveab]

“He is an empty suit.”
He’s more than a “empty suit”, he’s a danger to the Republic.

[chickadee]

"He’s waiting to find out what his lifelong deeply held convictions will be for this election cycle."

Priceless. It's funny 'cause it's true.

[ncphinsfan]

“Now, for me at least, it’s DeMint.”

Me, too. He’d be great.

[TomGuy]

He may run, but I doubt he can win.

Unless the economy shows drastic improvement in the next 18 months, Obama may be forced off the ticket by his how party. That could pave the way for hClinton, and she would be formidable against nominee Romney — because she now has solid experience as a twice-elected US Senator and Secretary of State.

Of course, nominees Huckabee, Gingrich, jBush would also face uphill battles, as each has massive baggage (jBush’s being Daddy and Bro not-so-stellar presidential administrations).

[SeaHawkFan]

And yet, and yet...he faces the real prospect of defeat by this "little lady" from Alaska who has started the race with not one of his many advantages.

Sarah may not have been born with advantages, but her character, faith, intellect, and passion for America and the truth far exceed the advantages of Mitt.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

In Mitt's case, maybe it is "baited!"

[KC_Lion]

I initially Supported Mitt Romney in the 2008 campaign but now I have some......."concerns" about his ability to win the nomination

Just a little humor here people, we can NOT allow Mr. Abortion to win the nomination, then any chance of a Health care repeal goes out the window, and for me that is perhaps the MOST important thing the next president will have to do!

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Iowa has a caucus system. It is held at the same time as the Democrat caucus so a voter cannot attend both. Sure anyone can come to the caucus but they must register as a Republican, even if for that brief period of time BUT how do you make sure only devout Republicans attend. The process is open to everyone.

Even during our primaries, when voter goes to the polls, they must choose one party only to receive the ballot.

How are you going to change it?

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Who the hell is the “establishment”? Gosh, I wish someone would explain it to me so I can be on the lookout for them.

[BobL]

“Me, too. He’d be great.”

Yea, hope he runs. I like him laying low right now, and letting Sarah take the arrows. It would be great if she keeps it up, then drops towards the end - essentially saying that DeMint is her clone, without the MSM baggage.

[DTogo]

Romney will certainly keep the Conservatives home, and Obama in the Oval office.

Joy. /s

[GailA]

NO ROMNEY! I want NO MORE RINOS in the WH. After 4 years of the Marxist I want a Ronald Reagan, not a RINO.

[Notary Sojac]

I still dont understand how he thinks he can win.

Those Freepers who get most or all of their political commentary from FR, a site from which Romney supporters and moderate Republicans are excluded, might well feel that way.

But there are millions of middle of the road voters out there who have never visited FR, who very likely think of Mitt as a "smart businessman" who won in a historically Democratic state, and think, why not have him head the GOP ticket?

So we dismiss Romney at our peril. Think I'm exaggerating the differences between FR and the GOP as a whole? Ask President Thompson and Vice President Hunter why the secret service won't let them into their offices.

[laweeks]

Can’t stand him. Altho he looks visually like he was cast for the part, I’m tired of visually really-neat looking candidates . . . Lincoln never would have been elected if that were so. I agree with the tag line on this Freeper site that he is an unrepentant abortionist/statist lying political whore . . . another McLame/Dole rolled into one.

But I will predict that the RIM will fully endorse the dishrag like they loved McLame . . . that is, until he gets on the ticket, and then they’ll slime him.

[ViLaLuz]

He’d be a sure bet I won’t vote Republican if he’s the candidate.

[grumpygresh]

“I would vote for Obama before Romney.”

I would never vote for zero and I would never make such an idle threat. If Romney were the GOP nominee, and he remained unrepentant, there could be an outside case for a very strong 3rd party candidate. However, we must do everything we can to defeat Romney in the primaries and get a principled conservative candidate. Romney has NOT categorically stated that he opposes the 0bamacare mandates and that is certainly of grave concern.

Please note, I DO NOT believe that you are trying to create dissension or confusion. However, I do believe that we will see Leftist trolls going on this site specifically to create de-moralization, distraction and confusion. The Left wants to select our candidate. Some may voice strong support for Romney, others may call for a vigorous 3rd party candidate campaign to take hold. We must identify and resist these efforts as they are designed to get zer0 re-elected.

[LibLieSlayer]

Sure bet to get his liberal arse stomped in the primary.

LLS

[Caipirabob]

WTF?!? ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS ROMNEY IS A OPEN SOCIALIST LOVING TRAITOR...

The political destruction of mutt romney-care must be a priority for every thinking American.

Romney = YANKEE SOCIALIST, GO HOME!!!

[magritte]

"Ask President Thompson and Vice President Hunter why the secret service won't let them into their offices."

Your analysis looks correct at this point...if Huckabee decides to enter the fray, he will split the "Christian" vote with Palin, giving Romney/McCain/Establishment Guy an open field to run on...shades of 2008...magritte