If Obama And Rick Perry Are Losing, Why Isn’t Mitt Romney Winning? (The Note)

ABC ^ | 10/04/11 | Michael Falcone & Amy Walter

[freespirited]

Rick Perry’s fading, Herman Cain’s surging and what about Mitt Romney? He’s running in place.

The past and present Republican front-runner is back on top of a fresh ABC News-Washington Post poll out today, but he hasn’t moved an inch since last month. In September, Romney was the choice of 25 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in our poll, and one month later, he’s still the choice of 25 percent of them. http://abcn.ws/nNgsS0

Compare that steadiness to the volatility of former front-runner Rick Perry, whose support plummeted from 29 percent last month to 16 percent in October.

And then there’s the 2012 race’s current “it” candidate Herman Cain who quadrupled his support in the span of one month, blasting off from 4 percent in September to 16 percent in today’s poll.

Still, as ABC’s long-time Romney watcher, John Berman, points out,Romney advisers are upbeat, saying, “this is all good for Romney.” One adviser said that while it is clear voters are shopping around, “All of this is people who will come to Mitt.” Eventually. http://abcn.ws/qb0cA8

Another clue in the poll for the lack of Mitt-mentum: Issues matter. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 73 to 20 percent, said it’s more important to them to support the candidate they agree with the most than the one who’s most likely to win. That’s a relative weakness for Romney. Why? Head-to-head against Perry, leaned Republicans by a 43-37 percent margin, describe Perry as closer to them on the issues.

[freespirited]

Romney advisers are upbeat, saying, “this is all good for Romney.”

No it isn't. As the Bachmanns and Santorums drop out, their support will go to someone other than Romney, creating a victor other than Mitt.

[not2worry]

As the Bachmanns and Santorums drop out, their support will go to someone other than Romney, creating a victor other than Mitt.

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I agree. Only this time I believe the Tea Party will make certain it’s a true conservative. Last time Romney lost to McCain. I just can’t see Romney being the candidate of the Tea Party. The GOP can’t afford not to adjust their sails in this storm.

[Longbow1969]

Romney advisers are upbeat, saying, “this is all good for Romney.”

Don't count on it. Republican primary voters may be shopping around and looking for the candidate that most shares their values, but in the end caution (aka electability) is very likely to prevail. Much as I don't like Romney, I wouldn't write him off.

[South40]

No it isn't. As the Bachmanns and Santorums drop out, their support will go to someone other than Romney, creating a victor other than Mitt.

Exactly. And their supporters are likely conservative which means they will go for Cain and won't go for RINO Mitt Perry.

[BuffaloJack]

Sarah and Herman.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Because he’s boring as hell. Nobody is excited about him. But now that Christie is not running (and given no blue birds hop in the race) then he will absolutely be the nominee.

[Buckeye McFrog]

As long as he won’t denounce Romneycare he can’t effectively oppose Obamacare.

And as long as Obamacare remains about as popular as the Bubonic Plague, it’s all a giant boat anchor chained to him at the wrist and ankles.

[org.whodat]

Yes, they will go to Cain, the true conservative.

[LS]

Agree. I think the reason no ONE Republican is beating Obama soundly is that the GOP base is still sharply divided among Cain, Perry, Bachmann, and Romney, with a handful still waiting for Palin to declare. Once the candidate emerges, I think the polling will reflect a convergence on the GOP side, big time.

[treetopsandroofs]

Who is North Vietnamese fighter jet ace McCain supporting?

[ReaganBaby26]

Another question would be: If Perry’s campaign is over and we have nothing to fear from Perry anymore, why the 24/7 unrelenting attack campaign against him from the establishment and media? Why attack something that’s dead?

[Diogenesis]

Romney eliminates the ObamaCARE/RomneyCARE/DeathPanel issue.

Ineligible Romney also removes the fake BC issue.

Romney, who failed in the economy in Mass
as its wandering governor, will also negate the economy
issue.

Romney also eliminates the corruption issue.

IT’S UNANIMOUS FOR ROMNEY

Carville(D):
"It's a feel-good story, this Romney thing.
Romney is an ascendant guy."

Sen. John Kerry (D) to Don Imus on RomneyCARE:
"I like this health care bill".

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) on RomneyCARE:
"To come up with a bipartisan plan in this polarized environment is commendable."

Mitt Romney wins much coveted Jimmy Carter endorsement

[ReaganBaby26]

Only if we let him. I for one am not going to let him and not because he is boring.

[MNJohnnie]

Why is it that when every a Perry support posts it not to actually tell us why we should support him but instead to whine about how unfair we are all being?

All of the people supporting Perry on here need to realize that Perry's demonstrated incompetence as a National Election campaigner pretty much guarantee he would self destruct in Oct 2012 thus handing the 2012 election to 0.

It easy to win in Texas with an R next to your name. It is a whole lot hard to run nation wide. Perry simply is not ready to run nationally.

Rather continue to worship the cult of Perry, Freepers better wake up to the fact that Perry is DOA. Continuing to back him to the last bitter ditch like some of you are is what is helping Romney.

Quit blaming everyone else for Perry's incompetence as a campaigner. Wake up and face the facts.

[bigbob]

uh...because it’s so early that 99.9% of the population isn’t even paying attention yet?

[1malumprohibitum]

Could someone please explain how how Mittens has a chance in hell of beating obama when he couldn’t even beat mclame? I am tired of losers eventually rising to the top of the ticket when it is their “turn.” Dole....mclame....and now Romney? If the stupid party cannot wake up to this most basic folly then they do not not deserve our support.

[ReaganBaby26]

This is totally off topic and really has nothing to do with Romney himself. Why is it that almost every bill you see being signed (no matter who is signing or what is being signed) has a picture where everyone is laughing outrageously like they have just heard the funniest story ever told?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Everybody is waiting for she whose name must not be spoken.

And I don't mean Hillary.

[Huck]

The Tea Party is already running out of candidates to turn to.

[so_real]

As the Bachmanns and Santorums drop out, their support will go to someone other than Romney, creating a victor other than Mitt.

Bingo. And I say that as an advocate for both Bachmann and Santorum. I like them and I'd happily vote for either. But Cain has the momentum right now. If they leave the race, Cain will pick up their voters as he more closely identifies with their following. Perry votes will split when he leaves the race, which means a slip for Romney is inevitable. Watch for him and the MSM to try and manufacture a gaffe (like Bachmann's Gardasil statement) to hurt Cain. It's the only tool they have left to "water down the Tea".