Excerpts from The (Columbia) State newspaper:
Mitt Romney’s assignment in the 2008 S.C. Republican presidential primary is simply this: Derail John McCain’s “Straight Talk Express.” If there were any doubts about Romney’s mission, they were erased during the former Massachusetts governor’s two-day visit to the state last week
Romney will not have to work too hard to derail a train that derailed itself here in the Palmetto State six years ago despite Granite State Big Mo, when GOP sandlappers saw how crooked was the talk from the Straight locomotive.
Romney attracted large, enthusiastic crowds at stops in Charleston, Aiken and Columbia. It was a shot in the arm for his campaign.
How remarkable is this? More than a year before the first primary, a former Massachusetts governor/Mormon draws such crowds in a land the MSM deems a bigotted Baptist backwash.
The MSM didn’t cover the Romney tour, much as they don’t cover a historically qualified war in Iraq.
Romney’s chief rival in South Carolina is McCain, the U.S. senator from Arizona who leads in the polls here and enjoys the backing of the state’s GOP establishment. Romney isn’t impressed. Endorsements never elected anybody, he says. In the 2000 S.C. Republican presidential primary, McCain won 43 percent of the vote, losing to then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Today, McCain is polling about 38 percent against Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
McCain has lost at least five percent of his followers and probably more, given the open primary system in SC.
Romney noted his foe from Arizona wrote the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law that restricts certain types of contributions.
“That’s a terrible piece of legislation,” Romney said. “It hasn’t taken the money out of politics. … (But) it has hurt my party.”
Conservative Christians, who make up a third of the GOP primary vote, oppose McCain-Feingold. But that’s not all. McCain opposed President Bush’s tax cuts, Romney noted.
“I supported them,” the former governor said.
McCain believes the president’s interrogation of terrorist detainees was a violation of the Geneva Accords.
“I disagree with him,” Romney said.
Of the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill, Romney said, “I think it was a mistake.”
McCain’s record is his worst enemy. Romney’s job is easy.
February 7th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Yeah, I’ve been meaning on posting this article.
You didn’t touch on the most significant part of the article though, Gamecock. McCain garnered 43% in SC in 2000 against Bush, but he’s leading the field now with 38%. That means that with two strong competitors to McCain this time around, he’s only lost 5% (within the MoE) of his total over the past 7 years. That’s quite amazing considering everything that went down. McCain’s in a very strong position in South Carolina.
February 7th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Romney in 2007 tells SC that he supported Bush’s tax cuts.
What did own spokeswoman say in 2003 when they were actually being debated?
Shawn Feddeman, Romney’s spokeswoman, said the governor has neither endorsed nor opposed the tax cut plan because “it’s just not a state matter.”
So when it counted, Romeny’s own PR stated that he did NOT support them. Further, on the #1 issue of Bush’s domestic agenda, he didn’t even bother taking a position. Way to show leadership.
Who should we believe, Mitt in 2003? or Mitt in 2007?, and where will Mitt be in 2011?
February 7th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
I doubt we will find out if you are right about the most significant part of the article LJ, because McCain looks like the fire in the belly is gone. I doubt he makes it to Iowa, much less SC.
But what went down in SC is that McCain was shown to speak crooked, not straight, thus losing him the primary, and now, he has even lost at least more of those that stuck with him anyway.
Many of the 38% are democrats, many of whom will not vote in the GOP primary given that the dems are going to have one in ’08.
Time will tell…
February 7th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I believe Mitt in 2007.
February 7th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
How does “neither endorsed nor opposed tax cuts” mean that he did not support tax cuts? All he said was that it wasn’t a state matter. That was true. But if we look at how Romney handled state finances in Mass, that shows better than anything how good he’d be for the national economy as a whole.
February 7th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
It wasn’t even Romby who said it.
I don’t think McCain’s folks can spin this. He surely did vote against the major tax cuts. He was in full-swing maverick mode trying to piss off the base while doing it.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I keep on hearing these political anyslyst are the and i am afaid: they baically say RNC has no one that can beat hillabeast clinton?
February 7th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Greg:
Do you believe them? Do you believe the country will want to vote for her after a year straight of hearing her annoying voice? Do you really believe her so gifted that she won’tdo anything stupid? Do you really think the American people will choose her over Romney or Giuliani?
The Clinton inevitability is the product of depressed Republicans and overly optimistic liberals.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I am afaid because she’s drawing huge crowds at thses campaign stops already and WE HAVE ONLY ONE TO BEAT HER IN 08 I THINK and its rudy and thats a maybe beat her in the race 08 nov.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
PLUS IF HILL CLINTON Runs I AM AFFRAID the GOP WILL STAY HOME like they did last NOVEMBER!.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
You’re pissing youself over drawing crowds? Settle down dude, she’s beatable.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Am I being punked?
February 7th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
you say shes beatable is she beatable v.s. rudy because i hear on tv news she beats him?
February 7th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
And you believe everything you hear on the TV news?
February 7th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
what part of this is unclear?
According to the observer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Romney told the delegation that he “won’t be a cheerleader” for proposals he doesn’t agree with, “but I have to keep a solid relationship with the White House.”
even his spokeswoman confirms the account
can anyone cite anything from Rombey in 2003 that he supports the Bush tax cuts or is he just saying that now?
if there is such evidence, I’d like to see it?
February 7th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Jim, You have no point because it wasnt a state issue, and Romney was is a proven tax cutter. Imitation is the best form of flattery and Romney immitated Bush by cutting taxes too. Greg, Dont believe everything you hear about the unbeatable Clinton Machine. She is shrill and polarizing and will not win in 08. And Im tired of hearing Republicans say that Rudy is the only electable candidate. Ann Coulter, who supports Romney, said it best when she said that we all thought that Gerald Ford and Bob Dole gave us the best chance to win because they seemed “electable”.
Clearly they werent and we lost in a route. Reagan was a recently converted pro lifer, and former governor, with great looks and a great communicator, and he won 2 elections in a route. Im tired of this BS that Rudy and McCain are more electable because they are moderates. CONSERVATISM WINS ELECTIONS. Romney is the most conservative today, and he is the best candidate out there. And you haters, dont give me the “he said this 3 years ago, or 12 years ago” because we have all heard it and it’s a non issue today. Get over it!!!!!!!!!!
February 7th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Save it GOP Activist with the
“havent you seen how Romney is doing in the polls?”
“yea Rudy, he is in 1st place in the polls, Romney has no chance”
The only thing we can draw from these campaigns are who is moving up, or down, in the polls, and clearly Romney is moving up in all of them as he is becoming more well known.
Organization and fundraising is the other barometers to take from and I love my chances there too with Romney. He will be better than Rudy and McCain in both of those in 07.
February 7th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
You know, jim, I’ve noticed something about your anti-Romney posts. You seldom supply links to them so we can read them in context.
It took me about fifteen minutes, but I finally tracked down the article you are referring to.
The bit about Romney not agreeing with the Tax Cuts is you quoting the Boston Globe quoting an anonymous Democrat quoting Romney. You expect us to take that seriously?
And that bit about his spokeswoman confirming the account. The only thing she confirmed is that Romney as State Governor was not going to take a public stand for or against the Tax Cuts, a national matter.
February 7th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Jim. . .You still haven’t said where Romney said he DID NOT SUPPORT tax cuts. Just show me a direct quote from Romney, not an anonymous observer, where Romney ever was against tax cuts. As Jason said, Romney is a proven tax CUTTER – just look at his record. You can disagree with Romney but at least do it based on actual facts.
February 7th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Jim, before demanding evidence to refute your claim, perhaps you should show a shred of evidence to support it…or maybe just give this one a rest. Romney’s record on taxes, budgets, and all things economic is unassailable.
February 8th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Jason says it all best!
February 8th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I’ve been reading blogs and political junkies for about 3 months now almost everyday. I initially decided to back Romney for president because he seems to be the strongest leader and the most innovative. Right now, I hear convincing arguments for any of the top three. Romney is the strongest player in the game but it’s far from over. The candidates are only warming up and flexing their muscles right now but game hasn’t really begun yet. Mitt is still the best but I’m satisfied with any of the three as we have a long road ahead of us.