It’s not about ideology.
It’s about victory. The Mormon haters among the far right wing may be lost, if they were truly going to vote McCain anyway, but that’s it.
Romney may lose McCain some votes among the extremists in states McCain will carry by 10+%, but he won’t lose any votes among moderates — simply because he was Governor of the most liberal state in the country, as a Republican. If he can win the decisive moderate votes among independents or even centrist Democrats in Michigan because of his family history there, and bring out the Mormon vote en masse in Colorado and Nevada, Romney can somewhat quietly be the decisive figure in the election.
From Day One, people . . . from the first day of this overall campaign there was not going to be a conservative agenda. There could not be because the Dems are going to control Congress. There can be no conservative agenda with a liberal Congress. The president’s role in 2009 is to dilute the left’s agenda. That’s the best you can do this year, and to do that at all you have to win.
Winning is the ultimate requirement when you face a far left wing Congress and the most liberal Senator existing as the presidential opponent. Winning trumps absolutely everything in that circumstance.
Romney has electoral vote potential in the marginal blue states absolutely necessary if Virginia is at risk — and of all the talked of VP possibilities, he’s about the only one who does beyond Pawlenty, and Minnesota can’t undo the possible loss of Colorado and Nevada. Romney can.
“The Mormon haters among the far right wing may be lost,”
The conservatives in my neighbor will have no problem voting for Mitt if he is the VP choice. That includes one man who is Jewish. I can’t speak for those on FR who are so far around the bend they are almost on the far left.
Excellent summary and so right. Romney is going to Nevada next week to campaign for McCain. Even Montana is close now. If Obama wins, we have nothing and pure Marxism. Imagine a huge Senate and House majority with him as Prez. Horrors.
"President John S. McCain"
So - which does a better job of "diluting" the left's agenda?
A) Elect a moderate/centrist/capitulating President and somewhat liberal VP
B) Electing in the most conservative POTUS and VP that you can
?
Very good analysis, though I do not agree with the standard view that the Congressional votes this year are lost. I think with the drilling issue there is yet hope.
One thing about your analysis: if Virginia is at risk, picking Romney seals it in the Obama column and hurts in many more traditionally Republican places. The thinking is this: if McCain says he is like the Social Conservatives at Saddleback, then picking Romney puts a lie to his own words.
“Romney has electoral vote potential in the marginal blue states absolutely necessary if Virginia is at risk — and of all the talked of VP possibilities, he’s about the only one who does beyond Pawlenty, and Minnesota can’t undo the possible loss of Colorado and Nevada. Romney can.”
Excellent analysis, Owen. I agree with you whole-heartedly. I worked for my County GOP on Nevada’s Caucus election day (was a ballot counting supervisor and precinct captain). I saw how decisively Mitt Romney won Nevada. I am one of MANY grassroots conservative political activists who will hit the ground running volunteering for a McCain/Romney ticket and give as much $$ as possible to the RNC Victory War Chest in order to ensure a McCain/Romney landslide. To me it truly has become a VEEP thing.
With Romney on the ticket, I will work my tail off for the RNC. Without him on the ticket, I will hold my nose and only show up to vote AGAINST Obama on Election Day.
(Here’s hoping I get to work my tail off these next 75 or so days until Election Day!!!)