The AP is reporting this afternoon that Team Romney is seeing the dollar signs and raising some pretty astounding figures off of their website, mittromney.com — to the tune of $1.4 million in one month!
Romney’s website has been taking donations since January 3, and up to the beginning of this week, one month’s time, they have raised $1.4 million – on top of the nearly $7 million raised in one day after Romney announced his exploratory committee.
The numbers are even more significant when compared to Howard Dean, the darling of the online community, and his campaign last year. It took him two months to even reach the $1 million mark – and that was a full year after he created his campaign committee. Add to that the fact that Democrats have always been able to raise more than Republicans on the web, and you’ve got a powerful contender in the money race with Mitt Romney.
February 8th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Add to that news, from Dean Barrett at townhall, that “Mr. Web” Edwards raised 746k in the same period online, and Romney’s clearly generating excitement from many quarters.
February 8th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
There’s an exclusive video courtesy of Caucus Cooler that is pretty damning stuff for Romney with respect to CFR positions he took in 1994. He’s GOT to nip this stuff in the bud now.
February 8th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Wow, Lurker, that is a damning video. I was willing to write off one major flip-flop, but this is getting ridiculous. “I would abolish PACS” – Mitt Romney
February 8th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I know. I couldn’t believe that quote myself. Say, GOP Boy, do you have any relations to GOP Activist?
February 8th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Yeah, he’s his super sidekick.
February 8th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Sweet, I’m about to donate $2100 to his campaign myself. If this does not cement Romney as a top tier candidate, nothing will.
At this early stage of the game, I’d rather have my guy leading the money race verses leading the in the polls. The polls will come up for Romney when things really get going. Right now, the race is primarily about endorsements and money so that you can have a shot at a decent campaign.
Go Romney!
February 8th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
“the race is primarily about endorsements and money”
That is so Mark Kennedy.
FYI: Mark Kennedy lost by 20 points in Minnesota.
I don’t want to see this on a national level:
http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&Races=0102
February 8th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
As a staunch supporter of Romney, and a fellow Mormon, I was not at all surprised that he is doing so well in fundraising. I read an article recently (I cant remember where, but will try to post it later) which discussed the influence that Mormons could have on this election. It states this.
Consider that there at 5.5 million Mormons in the US, and say 50% of those are active. That is 2.75 million people, and about 1 million of those are adults. 90%+ of active Mormons are conservative Republicans. This is evident by the large margins of victory seen in Utah, and other predominantly Mormon states. If each of the 1 million or so active Mormon adults gave $100 to Romney, he could raise 100 million from just Mormons. Consider too that 50%-75% of the country (depending on which poll you read) still don’t know who Romney is. Many others know him for nothing more than the “Mormon guy” who’s running. Romney is such a formidable candidate for this, and many other reasons. I’m tired of people reminding me of the polls in each state because he is still known by very, very few people.
One more point the article pointed out was the involvement active Mormons will have. They go to church for 3 hours a week, give on average of $5000 a year in tithing, and volunteer of there time (beyond just a 2 year mission). Many other Mormons like me will freely give of there time to volunteer for the campaign in the months ahead, including traveling to other states if necessary to help out. Remember, this is only the funding and help he could expect from other Mormons, not including the many pro life, smaller taxes and government conservatives, who will also come to his aid and give of there time and funds. He is gaining in the polls everywhere, his fundraising and organization is 2nd to none, his message is resonating with voters, and he will be well ahead of others in the months to come.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
JasonH,
Good luck with that.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
GOP Activist, we all know that you LOVE Rudy but can you quit with the Mark Kennedy comparisons to Romney. Mark Kennedy didn’t accomplish what Romney did in the 2002 Olympics, or as a tax cutting, successful Republican Governor of the bluest state. I’m sure he was a good guy, but he isn’t Romney. And enough of “forget about Rudy’s positions on moral issues, he’s elect able” crap too. Elect able is what gave us Dole, Ford in 76, Kerry in 04, even Dukakis. Each of them seemed elect able at the time. If you look at Romney, or listen to him, or see him lead, he is very much like another former liberal (then conservative) Governor of California who become one of our greatest presidents Ronald Reagan!
February 8th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
GOP Activist, 1.4 million online in the 1st month, and $6.5 million in one day. Thanks but I dont need your luck!!!
February 8th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
GOP Activist, you are getting to be just like that one Condi spammer, whose name escapes me at the moment. Give it a rest, man.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Look,
Romney seems like a good guy, and I really don’t want to bash him.
It’s more like an intervention.
February 8th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I think I have just worked on too many campaigns like Romneys.
On a more positive note, has anyone actually volunteered for the Romeny campaign yet?
February 8th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
GOP Activist,
Perhaps you can tone it down a little bit. In each thread you are either gushing over every word that Giuliani utters or saying how Romney can’t be taken seriously because of his poll numbers. As everyone knows, I’m no fan of Romney myself, but you shouldn’t discount him solely based on polls. He’s obviously raising a hell of a lot of money and has an impressive national organization that (almost) rivals McCain.
February 8th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
GOP Activist. Yes, I have. I am working at his first NH event after his formal announcement in MI the day before.
February 8th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I think we can agree that Romney will be able to raise at least as much money as McCain and Rudy, and probably much more. However, money isn’t always dispositive in primaries. I seem to recall that Phil Gramm raised a lot of money (for the time) for the 1996 race, and he went absolutely nowhere. Romney is much more attractive, inspiring and likable than Gramm was, however, so he should do better once the actual votes are counted.
February 8th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Ray,
That’s good to hear. I know how hard it is to get volunteers. I have worked on many campaigns as a volunteer coordinator.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
GOP Activist, I’m planning on volunteering for Romney as well, once they need me here in Texas. I have also recruited the help of my family in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. By the way, I hear a lot about “Phil Graham raised a ton of money in 96 and went nowhere” when discussing Romney’s fundraising success. Fundraising in a post campaign finance reform (a horrible piece of McCain legislation) era is so much harder than in the days where people with rich friends and ties to unions could raise a ton, with very few supporters. Today, with a cap on contributions, fund raising is the truest barometer of support. Who gives money to a candidate that they won’t vote for? Additionally, no candidate for President out there is better than business matters than Romney (a former venture capitalist and CEO), so I trust he will make a $100 million dollars go further than anyone else could.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
GOP Activist,
I saw a cover of the NY Post the other day with some tart named Judi planting a nice wet one on Rudy that would make Al & Tipper jealous. Now I like Rudy, don’t get me wrong – but I think that he may be derailed by one of is ex-wifes or ex-girlfriends or ex something or another. I think Rudy will implode as the campaign wears on..
Like I said in my earlier post, the race at this early stage is about organization, fund raising, and endorsements. Polls are nice, but there is still plenty of time to improve poll numbers. For a relatively unknown candidate like Romney – fund raising, endorsements, and organization is key or he won’t have a prayer. I’m impressed that Romney has so far, out organized, out endorsed, and out fund raised the big gun celebrities. Is Rudy’s & McCain’s support is not as solid as Romney’s since Mitt has out fund raised them both with far less poll support and name recognition?
What this article really says is that those of us who like Romney really like him or like him a lot. So much so, that we back it up with donations of both time & money. After all, how is it that a candidate who pales in name recognition can out organize & out fund raise the likes of two celebrities such as Rudy & McCain?
Since you claimed to have worked on many campaigns, then you should be impressed what what Romney has achieved in terms fund raising, organization, and endorsements despite serious lack of name recognition. I certainly am.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
GOP Activist, Hey you left that 150 page Giulianni Strategy Playbook at my house. Come over and get it before it ends up missing and the news media find out.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
“Rudy will implode as the campaign wears on”
That may be true, but he’s the best thing we have going right now.
As a 911 hero, I think he is more likely to survive a YouTube attack.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
GOP Activist,
That may be true, but he’s the best thing we have going right now.
What?
February 8th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
LJ,
Are you suggesting that McCain is better?
February 8th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
GOP Activist,
Your post (#22) confused me because you said that Giuliani might well implode before the primaries, but he’s the best we have now. That doesn’t make any sense to me.
But yes, I do happen to think that McCain is better than Rudy.
February 8th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
I’m simply acknowledging that anything can happen to any candidate.
I also believe that Rudy may be able to survive these attacks better than McCain or Romney, due to his 911 hero status.
When I think of Rudy, I think of his leadership during 911, while people were jumping from buildings on fire. Nothing else seems to matter.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:59 am
But that’s just the thing GOP Activist. An awful lot of other things matter. Just because you’re able to ignore a third of his record, and his personal life history, it doesn’t mean that a party which prides itself specifically on being on the other side of that third, and having a sterling personal life, is going to follow your lead. I’ve said for awhile that I don’t believe that abortion, gays, and guns would ultimately derail Giuliani. I think the Republican Party, through the filter of 9/11 and the desire to win, could get past that. But I honestly think pictures and videos of Rudina are going to KILL him in the South. Most religious conservatives, a lot of whom he’s going to need to support him, view cross-dressing, even in jest, as the rough equivalent of homosexuality. I.e., they’d rather eat a tire then associate, let alone vote for, someone who’s done it. And while I think Rudy’s strength elsewhere might allow him to eventually overcome that, 9/11 simply isn’t going to do the job.
February 9th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I do have to say, that I’m surprised how well Rudy is doing in the polls. His high poll numbers will decline, but I just don’t see anything that propels Romney to the top.
Romney can’t win in his own state and he certainly will not win in Minnesota.
What Blue states can Romney win?
February 9th, 2007 at 10:02 am
I read this blog everyday. However, I have to admit that I am getting tired of this Republican vs. Republican hatefest on this bolg and that goes on in a lot of blogs (not just to pick on R4’08).
Ok, so people have preferences of who they like and those who they don’t like, but half of the disucssion that takes place here is unconstructive. Can we get back to real discussion and end all the baseless attacks?
February 9th, 2007 at 10:07 am
I agree JohioW,
I think that personal attacks are unproductive. Let’s stick to the issues.
Can anyone tell my what Blue states Romney can win?
February 9th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I think it would be interesting to look at the electoral map and speculate on how the three top GOP candidates would do.
Right now, I think McCain and Rudy could pick up several Blue states. I know that both of them would be competitive in Minnesota.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Rudy may pick up some blue states (CA, PA, WI, MI, MN, etc.), but I just don’t see McCain picking up any. If the war in Iraq is the overriding issues with a majority of voters (esp. Dem. voters), how would McCain chip away at Dem. votes WHILE keeping GOP votes (that he doesn’t have locked up).
As for Romney picking up Blue states, it’s an interesting question. If he get the nomination, it’s a whole new ballgame (obviously), and he might have the opportunity in some, I repeat some, of those Blue states like MI, MN, WI, and maybe some Northeastern (as would Giuliani). But, at this point Romney only get consideration for getting those Blue states if he’s the nominee.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I agree about Rudy,
It would be really exciting to be competitive again in states like California.
Rudy may be the only candidate that could really turn things around for the GOP in 08.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:58 am
A lot of folks criticize Romney for not being able to win Mass. in the general in 2008. Well, with Hillary as the Dem’s nominee, I think it’s far from a sure thing that Rudy would win his home state of New York. I do think that Rudy puts some “blue” states in play, but I also think it’s possible that his marital/relationship history jeopardizes a Southern state or two in the general. Certainly no “blue” states from 2004 would be gimmes for Rudy.
Considering “blue” states, Mitt would have a good chance to flip New Hampshire, a solid chance to flip Wisconsin and a fair chance to flip Michigan. Plus, we know Mitt will keep his cool during the race and nothing much will come up to sabotage his chances, like the DWI arrest of George W Bush almost did for the current president. With Rudy, you know there are lots of things people will dredge up at the most inopportune times.
February 9th, 2007 at 11:06 am
“Mitt would have a good chance to flip New Hampshire, a solid chance to flip Wisconsin and a fair chance to flip Michigan”
Currently Mitt is not winning in the polls with Republicans in those states.
If Romney is unable to win with Republicans, how can he win with Independents and Democrats?
I find it hard to believe that Romeny would be able to win any Blue state.
February 9th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Just hide and watch! Someone as smart and experienced as Romney has surely thought things through and
will have a strategy to deal with all the challenges he faces. If reports are true that he is officailly
announcing his candidacy next week – one could assume that he is in this to win. I feel that Romney is
a sleeping giant that is just starting to wake up! Although I’ve never met him or even been in his
presence, I’ve heard many say that he lights up the room when he comes in – if given the chance, he
will light up our country and as a result our nation will continue (only at a great scale) to light up
the world!
February 9th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Wayne,
Keep the faith. Maybe things will get better for Romney.
Miracles do happen.
February 9th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
This site is for educated and informative debate, KT. Period.
February 9th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
For someone who claims to have worked on many campaigns, you know surprisingly little about political cycles GOP Activist. Right now, Bill Richardson is losing to Rudy Giuliani, in general election matchups, by 15 points. 49-34. This is according to the same Rasmussen that has Romney trailing Hillary by 10 points and Obama by 14. Yet, if you were to ask any frequent contributor to this site, who the strongest general election Democrat would be, I’d wager at least 75% would say Richardson. Richardson would almost certainly win at least New Mexico, Florida, and Arizona and would put a whole host of traditionally red states into play. In short, in no conceivable universe does Richardson lose to Giuliani, or any other Republican, by 15 points. So why is Richardson struggling? Name recognition. Another likely strong general election Democrat, due to his relative moderateness, is Tom Vilsack. Vilsack is losing to Giuliani 56-28 (double!) and McCain 49-32. In no conceivable universe does Vilsack fail to get 45 percent of the vote against ANY Republican. In short, if people don’t recognize a candidate, they’re more, often then not, going to be quite a bit more hesitant to vote for him. This applies in both the general election and the primaries. This certainly problematic for Vilsack and Richardson, at least as far the primaries are concerned. Its significantly less of a problem for Romney. Because 100 million dollars can buy an awful lot of name recognition. So yes, Romney is doing poorly in general election matchups. But he’s not doing poorly in the same way that Newt Gingrich is doing poorly. Because Gingrich’s failings are borne out of familiarity. Romney’s are borne out of precisely the opposite.
February 9th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Matt,
I think you just made my point.
“due to his relative moderateness”
Richardson is a moderate, Rudy is also a moderate.
They both would make strong candidates.
February 9th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Then why isn’t Richardson winning? Especially with the 10-20 point “advantage” the MSM is giving Democrats? If polls are so terribly useful at this juncture, and if Richardson has truly broad appeal (which he does) then he ough to be winning. Instead, he’s being crushed. Romney is viewed as a conserative by 30% of the population and a moderate by 30% of the population. McCain is viewed as conservative by 38% and a moderate by 43%. The ratio is nearly identical. Contrast that to Gingrich who’s viewed a conservative by 59% and a moderate 14%. It’s night and day. And thus far, the ONLY campaigning widespread campaigning Romney has done has been geared towards conseratives. McCain’s had 6 years as America’s Maverick and he’s considered, statistically, just as moderate as Romney. To be sure, Giuliani is considered significantly more moderate then either, but my point is, far from being viewed as some radical ideologue, which some people seem to assume, Romney’s seen as a relatively moderate conservative. And he’s not even trying to sell himself to anyone outside of the conservative audience. There are all sorts of very good reasons why this is the case, and why we can expect this image to persist even as campaigning becomes more heated. One, simply on a gut kevel, it’s impossible to imagine a radical, ideologue, Massachusetts Republican in the same way its difficult to believe that John Edwards is radical. 2.) Romney actually has accomplishments, in his record, which are going to appeal to people outside of the conservative base. Universal Health care, for one. 3.) Romney projects reasonable and moderate. He’s constantly smiling and is highly unlikely to frighten anyone on a personal level. Etc.
February 9th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Then why isn’t Richardson winning?
He’s not a 911 hero.
February 9th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Do you work for the Rudy campaign GOP Activist?
February 9th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
GOP Activist,
Can I assume that if it were not for 911 you would not be supporting Rudy? That is the only thing you come back to with Rudy. Every question that is asked of you the answer is “Rudy is a 911 hero.” Does Rudy not appeal to you in any other ways?
February 9th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
RayB,
I think he also likes that Giuliani’s not Mark Kennedy, while Romney apparently is.
February 9th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
“Do you work for the Rudy campaign GOP Activist?”
No, but I would like to.
“Does Rudy not appeal to you in any other ways?”
Yes, I really like what he did in NY, but 911 sets him apart from all the other candidates.
“I think he also likes that Giuliani’s not Mark Kennedy”
Yes, Rudy is definitely not Mark Kennedy. I don’t think we want to repeat that disaster.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Please tell me all that he did in NY that makes him so appealing. I’m trying to stay about the fray and not bash or anything – I just want to hear positive positions on a candidate.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Ray,
This may help:
In 1993, Rudy became the first Republican elected Mayor of the City of New York in a generation. Campaigning on the slogan “One City, One Standard,” he focused on reducing crime, reforming welfare and improving the quality of life. In 1997, he was re-elected with nearly 60% in a city in which Democrats outnumber Republicans five to one.
Under Mayor Giuliani’s leadership, overall crime was cut by 57%, murder was cut by nearly 70%, and New York City – once considered the crime capital of the country – was recognized by the F.B.I. as the safest large city in America. New York City’s law enforcement strategy has become a model for other cities around the world, particularly the CompStat program, which won the 1996 Innovations in Government Award from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
When Mayor Giuliani took office, one of every seven New Yorkers was on welfare. Mayor Giuliani implemented the largest and most successful welfare-to-work initiative in the country, turning welfare offices into Job Centers, leading to the reduction of welfare rolls by 640,000, or nearly 60%, to the lowest level since 1966.
Mayor Giuliani also took decisive steps to restore fiscal responsibility to New York City, reducing or eliminating 23 city taxes while turning an inherited $2.3 billion budget deficit into a multi-billion dollar surplus. These reforms helped lead New York City to an era of broad-based growth, with approximately 425,000 new private sector jobs created in eight years, as business returned to the center of city life. As news of the New York renaissance spread around the nation and the world, tourism grew to record levels. Under Rudy Giuliani’s leadership, New York City became the best-known example of the resurgence of urban America.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
RayB-
ASK ANY New Yorker what the city was like prior to Giuliani and they will tell you: A crime-ridden 9petty and violent), dirty filthy, downtrodden economically, leftist/socialist politically place to live. He completelly turned it around in all of those aspects. Take it from me, I am an ex New Yorker who left shortly after he left office. And ironically, now under Bloomberg, in my visits back home to visit my family, I see the city is once again starting to slide.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Good point KT,
Rudy’s record in NY is actually more impressive than what Romney did in MA.
Then you add his 911 hero status, and Romney is not even in the same league.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
GOP Activist,
For a moment there, I thought you weren’t going to mention “911 hero status” or popularity polls. But seriously, please keep things up in the style of your #48.
Btw, do you have info on the dollar amount that Rudy reduced taxes by? I don’t care that he eliminated 23 individual taxes…I’d like to know how much the overall tax burden was reduced.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Not to dilute the content of your post GOP Activist, but in the future you ought to note when information you’re posting is not your own material. Taking something from Rudy’s exploratory committee website, copying it verbatim, and giving no citation or indication that it comes from another source, is seriously frowned upon…
February 9th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
murphy,
Two points:
1.) I think that you are failing to acknowledge the emotional impact of 911.
2.) You also don’t want to also acknowledge the fact that Rudy leads in just about every scientific poll.
I think these points are rather significant.
February 9th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Matt,
Good point,
For more information, please visit Rudy’s Website:
http://www.joinrudy2008.com/
February 9th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I have looked at Romney’s Website, and I have a hard time believing that he has done anything that will allow him to win in Blue states.
How is Romney going to win in this tough political environment?
February 9th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Ok…does anyone else have information on the amount of the overal tax burden which Giuliani cut?
February 9th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Can anyone tell me how Romney can win?
February 9th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
GOP Activist,
I gave you three “blue” states Romney could turn. He doesn’t have to turn any of them to win the election. If you refuse to consider the arguments of others, that’s nothing any of us can do about it.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Marksal,
You never supported your reasoning. What significant attribute about Romney will turn any Blue state?
In this political climate, I think Romney is going to have a hard time keeping Red states.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I’m going to suggest, right now, that GOP Activist is, in fact, a staffer for the Giuliani campaign. He fits the classic profile to a T. Initially he appeared on this site “mildly” in favor of his candidate of choice. He was for Rudy, but one could still imagine that he might be an objective commenter on certain issues. Then the onslaught began.
1.) Repitition. Repeat something often enough, and the actual validity of statements become less important. 2.) Unfavorable comparisons. Romney=Mark Kennedy. Mark Kennedy lost. We don’t want to lose, so lets not nominate Mitt Romney. 3.) Imperviousness to facts. For instance, a refusal to acknowledge that all candidates with low name recognition, on both sides of the aisle, are losing significantly to candidates with high name recognition on the other side of the aisle. 4.) Similarity of responses. For instance, GOP Activist says “Rudy is leading in the polls and is a 9/11 hero.” Someone makes a sensible reply about other logical political factors and ends their post with “You really ought to explain more fully why you support Rudy”, whereupon GOP Activist replies “Those are good points, but I think you’re forgetting 9/11 and polls.” His answers to a whole host of varying, nuanced posts, is approximately the same. It reads like someone who doesn’t have an interest in engaging in substantive discussion, but merely wants to promote their candidate at all costs. 5.) Impossible demands coupled with logical fallacies. I.e. “Tell, me how Romney can win? He’s losing in the POLLS!” His post format essentially demands that we respond to his questions with a very narrow set of political factors. His posts boil down to “He’s losing, so he can’t win. Show me where he’s winning?” 6.) He attempted to pass off a long post from Rudy’s exploratory committee as his own (which it might well be, if he’s in fact on Rudy’s exploratory committee) in lieu of independent analysis. Etc, etc, ad nauseam.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Matt,
That sounds a little desperate.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Just in case you are a real person, capable of being persuaded on anything, I’ll bring up one state where Romney could likely play well, despite initial polling. Michigan. I’m not going to bother to get into his status as near “favorite son”. It’s been considered and debated before. But, perhaps the most significant industry in Michigan is the automotive industry. And its in terribly poor shape, as you no doubt know. One thing in particular that is crippling companies like GM, is the cost of Health Care. US Car companies spend more money on health care, by a significant margin, then they do on steel. The high cost of health care, and specifically the large health beneift packages that the car companies give to employees, is absolutely crippling the industry and turning Michigan’s economy into the worst in the nation. Romney is the ONLY person, in either field, with serious credibility on the health care issue. In particular his plan allowed people to purchase health care insurance, on their own, using pre-tax dollars. What this means for companies is, often, health insurance won’t be any cheaper through the company. This changes the bundle of incentives that go towards offering health care to your employees. But more generally, if health insurance becomes cheaper, no one will benefit more then the automotive industry, and Michigan (Detroit mainly) in particular. Romney’s also promoting alternative energy, without threats to tax the this industry, cap fuel emissions, or engage in other aspects of fuel efficiency that hurt companies like GM and Ford.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
“In particular his plan allowed people to purchase health care insurance, on their own, using pre-tax dollars.”
Ok, this is a step in the right direction, but it sounds a lot like some of the proposals that President Bush has already made.
This is hardly the type of hot button emotional issue that will sway Independent and Democrat voters, in a very hostile political environment.
Although, I will give you an A for effort.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
7& unemployment isn’t a hot button issue? People fleeing the state en masse isn’t a hot button issue? I’m goint to assume you live in Minnesota based on your references to Mark Kennedy and Pawlenty, so I’m surprised you’re not more aware of the Michigan political climate. Granholm is clueless and is threatening to raise taxes, in the middle of a sluggish economy. The reason John Edwards plays so well in this area is because his fair trade rhetoric, plays so well in an area which desperately wants industry (particularly the automotive industry) protected because it is the life-blood of their economy. Even without his health care successes, Romney has always been able to sell himself as a man who knows what do with an economy. Its the notion that he’s built his entire political und. It’s an issue which connects quite neatly with his thirty years in the private sector. Add in health care and the type of energy initiatives that are geared specifically towards the automotive industry, and you’e got a winning formula.
February 9th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Political career around*
February 9th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
“unemployment isn’t a hot button issue?”
Yes is it could be, when used by a Democrat, but the MSM will not give Romney the time of day. Unfortunately, the playing field is not level and 100 million dollars will not even begin to offset what the MSM and the Liberal machine will spend to defeat Republicans.
In this political environment, you need to come up with something extraordinary to break through the MSM barrier.
I believe that only a 911 hero can do that.
February 9th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
We know you do GOP, we know you do.
February 9th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
GOP Activist brings a good point on how influential MSM can be in regards to elections. They all but ensured the creation of the Clinton political dynasty in the early 90′s. When confronted with scandals and unsavory details, they were willing to look the other way because they liked Clinton’s charisma more than his integrity. It seems the MSM is trying to do the same thing with Obama, but this time it will fail due to the lack of political experience. At least Clinton had a few terms in as governor.
Romney’s team will have their work cut out for them, increasing national recognition and preventing the MSM from hijacking his image. It will be hard for the MSM to spin the outcomes of the upcoming debates though. The guy is smart and has wit to match.
February 9th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
The fact that Gov. Romney’s father led American Moters in Michigan for many years also would help Romney in Michigan. He can speak specifically to the problems of the auto industry like no other candidate can. He hasn’t started to yet, but he probably will at some point, and his extra knowledge there will help him considerably.
May 29th, 2009 at 3:38 am
Claritin….
Claritin d. Claritin….