Posted on 10/07/2008 6:14:40 PM PDT by mathwhizz
Mitt Romney's remarks last week that John McCain's presidential campaign should have provided more media access to vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin sent waves through the political world because it was one of the first times the former governor had criticized the GOP nominee's strategy.
"Holding Sarah Palin to just three interviews and microscopically focusing on each interview I think has been a mistake," Romney said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "I think they'd be a lot wiser to let Sarah Palin be Sarah Palin. Let her talk to the media, let her talk to people."
While Romney may have been reflecting the mainstream conventional wisdom going into last week's vice presidential debate, some say Romney's remarks are a glimpse ahead to a possible 2012 match-up between Romney and Palin, if McCain loses this year's race for the White House.
"The more interviews for Sara Palin, the less likely she will be the heir apparent to the Republican Presidential nomination next time," said Mike Shea, a veteran Boston Democratic strategist. "Whatever happens, McCain probably will not be the Republican nominee next time, and Romney will begin campaigning for that post the day after the election."
Scott Ferson, another Boston Democratic strategist, said Romney's remarks indicated a break from McCain, who appears to be slipping in recent polls.
"More significantly, [the remarks are] a show of independence that he has been cautious not to display when it looked like McCain's chances were strong," Ferson said. "It appears to be another set up for the party faithful, should McCain lose, to say they would have been better off with Romney."
The Romney camp fully dismissed any notion that the former governor was being overly critical of McCain or looking ahead to 2012.
"For the record, that's absolutely ridiculous," Eric Fehrnstrom, a spokesman for Romney, said, "a conspiracy theory that would make Oliver Stone blush."
"Gov. Romney has been working hard across the country to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin because he believes our nation will be better off with them in the White House," Fehrnstrom added.
Others suggested that Romney was simply reflecting the mainstream conventional wisdom in Republican circles last week.
"I think Romney is expressing his true sentiments, not trying to gain some advantage down the line by advising additional media exposure for Palin that could backfire," Rob Gray, a Boston GOP strategist, said. "Romney's view is in line with most Republican operatives I've spoken to, thus pretty mainstream."
Still, the local political punditry couldn't help but think of how a race between Romney and Palin would play out.
"It would be a battle," said Peter Blute, the former Republican congressman from Worcester. "Palin certainly has the conservative base, and she probably would maintain that."
That conservative branch of the party, Blute noted, gave Romney trouble this year because many evangelicals were unwilling to accept Romney's Mormonism. Nevertheless, Blute said Romney set himself up well.
"I think he's still a viable presidential candidate," he said. "He did a very good job in his first go around nationally."
And, Blute said, he isn't sure Palin is looking to run for president.
"I don't think she is necessarily as ambitious as Romney is," he said. "So she may not adhere herself to national politics...that may not be her thing."
At least one person said that Romney may be well-positioned because Palin's inexperience and lack of policy understanding has already taken hold.
"Palin's weakness in dealing with a range of issues is fundamental," said Paul Watanabe, a political scientist at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. "No tactical adjustments - relatively less or more exposure - can hide her lack of experience and critical knowledge."
That sentiment, plus Romney's significant political experience as a candidate and surrogate, led other to believe the former governor remarks indicate his own strategy looking ahead.
"Any strategy Mitt Romney suggests is for the benefit of Mitt Romney," Doug Hattaway, a Boston Democratic strategist and Al Gore's spokesman during his 2000 presidential campaign, said. "That's the safest bet you can make in politics."
State Rep. Brad Jones, the minority leader of the state House of Representatives, said Romney's political future is, ultimately, tied to the outcome of this election and how well Palin performs. If McCain wins this year and decides not to run for re-election in 2012, Palin will be in place as the frontrunner for the nomination.
"If Sen. McCain wins the presidency and decides not to run for re-election for whatever reason," Jones, a North Reading Republican, said, "the sitting vice president is going to have the resources of incumbency and if things have gone well, she's going to have that much more experience."
But, Jones went on, Romney could fill a vacuum as the frontrunner for 2012 if McCain loses and Palin is viewed as a drag on the ticket.
"If McCain loses and Palin isn't well-received," he said, "it partially elevates Romney because another viable contender is not there. It's going to be pretty hard for Palin to say, ‘I did poorly, we lost, Obama is on the presidency and now I perceive myself as the likely contender four years from now. And my pulpit is basically two more years as the governor of Alaska.' I don't see that."
Romney has been nothing but supportive of the McCain/Palin ticket and has been to Nevada three times in the last month in an attempt to help them save Nevada. In fact, he hosted a VP debate watching rally when Palin debated Biden and had nothing but positive things to say about Sarah.
You are right, CoD. I, too, sense the same underlying features emblematic in the liberals' Palin Derangement Syndrome that some Freepers display in their Romney Derangement Syndrome. It's sad. It's visceral and personal --- and, frankly, pathetic.
You mean when he’s lying about owning a gun?
Or lying about being a hunter?
Or lying about his gun-grabbing record?
Or lying about both he and his father marching with MLK?
Or lying about his pro-abortion record?
Those aren’t “flip-flops”, they are lies, either you own a gun or not, you are a hunter or not, your past gun record exists or not, you and Governor Romney marched with King or not, your past abortion record exists or not. It doesn’t matter what your political positions are, you cannot state that you own a gun when you in fact do not.
And you must have missed his record on Judicial appointments, it was discussed in detail here, about 25% of them were Republicans, probably none of them were conservatives.
Palin will win that showdown.
MYTH SLICK WILLARD can always run for POTUS on the Democrat ticket, wouldn’t be a problem for him at all.
Yes he is. Any of the above would have been better nominees. I had been hopeful, but it looks like my impression this time last year is right, a tall more or less nice looking young guy and an old fart who is almost as liberal.
I am voting for Sarah on 11/04.
Romney just comes off so fake. I think we need to unload everyone from the primaries this year. Huck should just stay on his show.
We need the young blood...Palin, Jindal, Pence, Cantor, Paul Ryan, McCotter (he should run against Granholm)
You are right. It is completely silly. Ridiculous, in fact. Romney has campaigned far and wide for this ticket.
On the other hand, nobody can deny that Mitt would have given Obama a much more spirited debate on the economy than did McCain this time around. Romney/Palin would have been my preference. We shall see what happens in the future though.
I am still praying McCain can win this thing in a month. I am hoping the Bradley effect is in play....
While many of the things I brought up were positions that Mitt changed overnight, none of my points were criticisms of his flip-flops.
I pointed out his lies and deceitfulness, his fakery, his insincerity. Mitt will agree with whatever audience he is addressing regardless of any principles he may or may not hold.
It’s too bad he is not sooooooooooo today, we might be winning.
Just imagine if Romney could have pulled off being reelected Governor, and then accomplished something.
He would have been so well-positioned for greater responsibility in 2012 or 2016.
Years from now he can campaign on having been a 1 term governor years ago and working on the Olympics back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Don’t forget Doug Kemeic, an ex-Romney supporter who is now shilling for Obama. Doug Kemeic is a reflection of Mitt Romney and his supporters.
Therapy wouldn’t work. Neither would medication, a straight jacket, rubber room or shock therapy. Unfortunately, there is no hope. It is an incurable mental illness. : )
Your entire post is excellent. I suspect you overheard a telephone conversation I had with another Freeper last week. The left is doing to Governer Palin what a small percentage of idiots on the rigt did to Governor Romney, though you said it so much better. Great minds think alike and all that!
If McCain blows this, Palin will be the front-runner for 2012 over Romney and Schmuckabee. In fact, it will almost be no contest. Sarah would clean their clocks for the nomination.
Right you are, RG. There isn’t a person on the right who is more supportive of Governor Palin than Governor Romney and I can’t think of a better sport in or outside of politics anywhere. But then, unlike his perpetual critics, Mitt Romney has character and maturity (and he’s probably far better looking too!.) : )
I get the distinction. Some of them are arguable, but in any case I do not agree with your outrage. Politicians get called on false claims, and rightly so. Hillary in a hail of bullets comes to mind. Romney's missteps may have been significant, but they pale in comparison to his good record, leadership, and sincerity.
Mitt will agree with whatever audience he is addressing regardless of any principles he may or may not hold.
Romney has played differently to different audiences in different decades. Look, as a legitimate contender, he still needs to do politics. But largely he has been consistent in recent years, and seems certain to continue to be. Clearly, you disagree.
Maybe certain people on here will acknowledge his suckage if he runs against Palin and starts with the same arguments against her the rats are using now.
Depends if they are on payroll or not...
I’m not a DOuglas J. Hattaway, I’m just a refugee from the MA GOP and I can vouch for the statement, unfortunately.
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