Free Republic

-snip- Romney’s enduring lack of appeal is again making headlines anew, as politicos ponder new favourability ratings that suggest Romney may well be the most unpopular likely presidential nominee ever. -snip- That enthusiasm gap extends even to Romney’s own supporters in Illinois, where one prominent backer, former GOP congressman Bob Michel, openly lamented the absence of breakaway momentum for Romney. “He’s not overwhelming, that’s the problem through this whole damn primary,” Michel told Politico. “What’s the spark? What’s the thing that gets him off and running? No one knows.”

Alabama's Republican governor has some advice for Mitt Romney the next time the former Massachusetts governor campaigns in the Deep South: Cut out the y'alls and references to "cheesy grits'' and be himself.

The long and increasingly messy Republican presidential contest is starting to hit Mitt Romney where it hurts most: his wallet. New signs of financial stress are emerging in Romney's campaign, which has built a wide lead in delegates thanks in part to the might of his bank account and multistate operation. As rival Rick Santorum's surprising strength keeps extending the nomination battle, Romney has scaled back expenses, trimmed field staff in some cases and begun to count more on free media coverage to reach voters. -snip- But it's less encouraging for the campaign that the money is badly needed to...

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Friday defended GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney from critics who mocked him for calling himself an "unofficial Southerner" at a campaign stop the previous day. "Now they’re attacking Romney for joking about learning to say “y’all”? According to the left, no one can have a sense of humor - lighten up!" In Mississippi, Romney told the crowd that his bodyguard, a Mississippi native, was turning him into an "unofficial Southerner." "I'm learning to say 'y'all' and I like grits, and strange things are happening to me!" the former Massachusetts governor added. Critics were quick to...

Saturday 5:51 p.m. With 78% reporting, Romney is holding on to his strong lead in Wyoming Caucus with 49% of the vote.

Mitt Romney was at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday to attend the Daytona 500. Rain postponed the race, so he didn’t get to see NASCAR racers charging around the famous Daytona oval, turning only to the left. (No Massachusetts Moderate jokes, please.) But here’s our question: What was he doing in Florida, when there’s a make-or-break primary in two days at the other end of I-75, in Michigan? Shouldn’t he have been campaigning in, say, Marquette? -snip- OK, his Daytona walk-around itself was yet another example of Mr. Romney’s inimitable stiff bonhomie. When he mixes with regular voters, he reminds...

The Republican presidential aspirant was at it again on Friday, praising the greenery of his birth state in advance of next week's primary. "This feels good, being back in Michigan,” Romney said during a speech in Detroit. “The trees are the right height. The streets are just right.” The latest bout of rhapsodizing almost perfectly echoes Romney’s earlier comments about the size of the Great Lake state’s timber earlier this week.

Mitt Romney, during campaign stops in Michigan yesterday, embraced his Michigan roots for all they’re worth. As he watches his popularity plummet in the state in which he grew up, he seems to be grasping at anything to keep from sinking any further. Romney tried to hit all the right buttons in order to resonate with Michigan voters leading up to their February 28 primary, by making himself one of them again. “I was born and raised here. I love being in Michigan,” Mr. Romney said. ”Everything seems right here. You know, I come back to Michigan; the trees are...