Swift to Drop Out of Race; Romney to Run

BOSTON -- Acting Gov. Jane Swift will withdraw from the race for governor, a campaign source said Tuesday, just hours before Salt Lake City Winter Olympics chief Mitt Romney was expected to announce his candidacy.Swift's poll numbers have plummeted since speculation has grown that Romney would challenge her for the Republican nomination. She planned to announce her decision at an afternoon news conference, according to a campaign source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Yeah, ya know, I guess I'm glad about this. I'm a bit mixed in emotions. I mean, for a Republican to be elected in Massachusetts, what do they have to do--become a Democrat? I dunno. I hope there are some good conservative Nor'easters that can 'splain to this Midwestern corn-fed FREEPer:

1. How an elected Republican in Massachusetts is more conservative than a Democrat. AND

2. Why Romney shouldn't be pressed to run against John "Big Hair" Kerry in the Senate? (I mean, if he's a great guy, let's get him in the Senate and/or knock ol' BIG HAIR down a few notches in his hopes for 2004.)

Thanks.

Good riddance, to bad rubbish. She knew Mit was going to CLOBBER her if he ran.

She is citing "family" as her reason for quitting the race. What a load of trype.

She was a terrible leader without ANY real support from the republicans OR the people of the state. She has fired everyone who had any stones and replaced them with rubber stamp yes boys (note I did not say MEN, just look at who she chose as her running mate and you will get the picture).

Hopefully, Mit Romney can do for the state what he did for the Olympics = bring it in on budget and in the black. I also seriously doubt he will be picking a girley boy for his Lt. govenor.

1. How an elected Republican in Massachusetts is more conservative than a Democrat. AND 2. Why Romney shouldn't be pressed to run against John "Big Hair" Kerry in the Senate? (I mean, if he's a great guy, let's get him in the Senate and/or knock ol' BIG HAIR down a few notches in his hopes for 2004.)

Well, here it goes:

1. a. They don't raise taxes (unless you're Jane Swift and you raise Mass. Turnpike tolls, but then again Jane really was never elected governor);and

b. They sometimes lower taxes (Weld and Celluci);and

c. They sometimes increase the efficiency of the bureaucracy (The Registry of Motor Vehicles).

That's about it.

2. If Weld, as a popular sitting governor, lost to Kerry, Romney has little chance of beating Kerry coming right out of the private sector. He's got a far better chance of winning this race because the Democratic contenders are an unimpressive bunch. The only one who would give him a run for his money is the current Treasurer, Shannon O'Brien. All of the others have very high negatives (Reich-too liberal, Grossman- no elective experience, unknown to most voters, friend of Bill, Birmingham- liberal, condescending know it all, closely connect to the Billy Bulger, Tolman-virtually unknown and unimpressive to those who know him- the Harold Stassen of Massachusetts politics).

This is the race for Mitt and now is the time his political fortune will be decided. Plus, he sets himself up for another run against Teddy or the Kennedy-annointed-to- succeed-Teddy in 2006.

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