Let me start from the beginning… About six-weeks ago, I received a tip from one of my best and most trusted sources that Mitt Romney was contemplating moving to Nevada to take on Harry Reid in 2010.
The thinking was explained to me like this: Palin has so much grassroots support and will exert such gravity from the right flank in the 2012 Republican Primaries, that something dramatic would be needed to overcome her built-in advantage.
Taking out the sitting Democratic Senate Majority Leader would do just that. Can you just imagine? It would be absolutely epic…
Anyways, I was a bit skeptical because it seems too risky, and most states have residency requirements to run for Senate. I was also sworn to secrecy by my source.
Well, I now have independent corroboration:
Then there’s this item from the Pahrump Valley Times, about Nye County residents Pilar and Frank Toppo, who attended the Obama inauguration: “They sat a row behind talk show host Oprah Winfrey, arguably the strongest Obama supporter. Their other neighbors were boxing promoter Don King and television psychologist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. … Frank Toppo passed along some political scuttlebutt from inside the Beltway: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is planning to move to Nevada to challenge Sen. Reid for his seat in the 2010 election.
Take this for whatever you think its worth. It’s most likely bunk. But there just may be a tiny bit of fire here.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Interesting…
February 5th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I would like to see Mr. Reid gone. It would in deed help Mr. Romney by taking down a giant and demonstrating his seriousness.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
That would be awesome…
But Romney wouldn’t be running in 2012 if he won the seat, right? So, besides being awesome, how does this help any immediate Presidential ambitions?
He would probably be tapped a President Palin or Sanford or whoever as HHS Secretary or HC Czar…
February 5th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Sorry Kavon, but I’m pretty sure that NV has a two-year residency requirement to run for statewide office.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Dr. Ruth, Don King, and Oprah all in a row?
Yikes.
Anyway, as much as I opposed Romney for President, I would like to see him take out Harry Reid.
Reid’s last two elections have been EXTREEEEEEEEEEMELY close.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Anyway, I view this as baseless rumor. Romney’s not going to subject himself to charges of carpetbagging.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
RUN MITT RUN! How could New York Senate seat be a greater priority than defeating Harry Reid.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
“To qualify to run for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Controller, or Attorney General, a person must be a resident of the State for two years preceding the election. (Nevada Constitution, Article 5, Sections 3, 17 and 19)
To qualify to run for the Nevada State Senate or Assembly, a person must have been a resident of the State for one year preceding his or her election. See NRS 218.010. For information on residency requirements for local government offices, contact the appropriate city or county clerk’s office.”
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/lcb/research/residency.cfm
Haven’t found anything yet that discusses requirements for Senate. Can a state set such requirements for federal office above and beyond the US Constitution? Alan Keyes and Hillary Clinton both ran as carpetbaggers.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Reid had an easy win over a no-name Ziser in 2004. Romney-Reid would hands-down be the race to watch in 2010. Please let this rumor be true.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I hope not. It would deprive the GOP of their best and strongest candidate in 2012. NO CANDIDATE can match Romney on economics – which are likely to be the key issue in the next cycle.
Romney is much better as an executive who actually makes decisions.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Battle of the Mormons!
Didn’t Hillary Patent the old move-there-just-to-get-elected maneuver?
February 5th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
You know, Romney was always a closet Runnin’ Rebels fan since he was a little kid……
February 5th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I would support it if Mitt vowed publicly not to run for president while in office….flashback to Mass. governor record…
Actually, I would support it anyway, just for laughs.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Man, who cares if it was only a two year term for Mitt, as long as it got rid of Reid.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Battle of the Mormons
Seriously… This one would be even weirder than the Romney vs Hunstman matchup some people have thrown around.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
“Man, who cares if it was only a two year term for Mitt, as long as it got rid of Reid.”
The problem is that he would somehow have to talk Nevadans into supporting him knowing that he could soon leave for the Oval Office.
Also – he can’t run two campaigns at once.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
This would make Romney a GOP hero.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
I’m all for it, as long as Romney pledges not to run in 2012.
Actually, I doubt he could win under such circumstances. Reid is unpopular, but Romney would be such an obvious carpetbagger that he would have little credibility in the state.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Um, Nevada is probably the only place he can pull a two year term. This would be epic! Bring it on!
February 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Yowzers, just the threat of a Romney run will make Reid go running away from his lefty policies. Reid would probably have to resign as majority leader to have a chance to keep his seat.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I dunno, guys. Are you sure? Didn’t NV just go to Obama by TWELVE points?
I think it would be foolish to do this.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
LOL! Then he could resign and in two years a GOP governor would appoint a GOP replacement. Mission accomplished.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
It sounds like a good idea. Running a moderate conservative campaign and establishing a solid record of responsible conservatism in the Senate would position him well for 2016, if that’s his goal. It’s just barely possible he could do this and still run in 2012, but maybe he’s looking at 2012 and saying, “Let somebody else take one for the team.”
If you’re going to be a carpetbagger, there are few states that are better for it than places like Nevada and Arizona that are full of newcomers (McCain had only lived in Arizona about a year before running for congress).
February 5th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I don’t think this will happen, because I don’t think Mitt would give up his 2012 chances for the nomination to do this. If he were running for President he would have to start running right after he became Senator.
Mitt is the front runner right now, and I’m pretty sure he knows it.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
This would be a terrible idea. Running in Michigan or Utah might be moderately sensible, but what earthly connection does Romney have to Nevada, that would enable him to plausibly claim to be anything but a carpetbagger? He might as well come to New Jersey, randomly, and run against Corzine for Governor. At least he’d get to, you know, serve for awhile before he starts running for President. This would be the political equivalent of Dick Nixon running against Pat Brown in 62′, but less sensible- sure Nixon’s action was that of a restless politico who couldn’t stand to be out of the limelight, but at least he had a credible claim to represent California. Now, this idea might be mildly interesting politically, if we had a few factors in place. 1. Reid had no credible Republican challengers. 2. Romney admitted that he wasn’t planning to fulfill his term, if he won, but Reid was simply too much of an embarrassment to not a have a serious challenger. Romney could then say something like “this guy is a disaster. He’s insulted our troops’ mission and their success. He’s botched the handling of virtually every issue. He needs to be held to account, and I think I can do that. I know I’m not a Nevadan, but they treated me well last year, and they deserve better. I don’t expect to win and I can’t promise to serve out my term if I do, but I can only be better then Reid”.
I’ve always had this idea that politicians can elevate their stature, if they lose in a particular way. If Romney could find the right politician to crusade against, he could frame a “I’m not here to win, but to right this wrong/fight for principle” narrative and maybe benefit. But, this is problematic because I don’t think condition 1 is true; Reid has Daschle level approval ratings. Republicans should be able to find at least a credible challenger in state. So it’s bound to just seem absurd and contrived.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I heard this too Kavon, but I dismissed it because Mitt had just purchased a home in CA, but I must admit that your post has me intrigued and I’m going to do some more digging. Very interesting.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
absurd, yeah, contrite, yeah….but freaking awesome if he won!
February 5th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
*contrived
February 5th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I doubt that he would do it, but if he did, he would win. I think Harry Reid is toast regardless of who runs against him. His base of support has already eroded.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
#25, except that I think Romney wouldn’t ever run for office on the concept of “I don’t expect to win”. Look at how he ran for the presidency. He had long odds and no national name, yet he ran HARD, visited like all 99 counties in Iowa, setup a truly national campaign… he meant to win.
No, he wouldn’t run on principle if at all, he would only run to WIN. Just he has in every aspect of life. Success is what matters, and political success is judged by first winning the election and then carrying out an agenda, which if anyone could do, that’s Mitt; the planner and executor.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Emtee,
Well, the idea would be that by running on “principle”, without expecting to win, against a conservative bugbear, he’d elevate his chances of winning the Presidency which is, after all, the big prize, by removing the “pragmatist, shameless, unprincipled” rap against him.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Carpetbagger charges don’t stick well in Nevada were the majority of the population has lived there under 3 years. The biggest hurdle would be that he will be running in 2012. But but but, the argument in 2012 will be that the Senate will lose its filibuster ability. Even moderates will be swayed to vote for the conservative because would not a filibuster proof Senate. That would outweigh the criticism of running again in 2012.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Win or lose it would be money well spent. He spent 40+ million to get some love in the primaries. All he would need is 5 million in this Senate race and he would get the love.
But regardless, I think that Palin/Sanford/Jindal would be good options if he chose to sit it out in 2012 because of his wife’s health or if he felt he would be just as effective in the Senate.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Dumb. I would doubt this is true. Palin has ‘grass roots’. LOL. a handfull really like her. The rest of the country (do you recall, SHE LOST?) have feet planted in reality.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Andrew
there will never be a ‘president palin’. The people spoke already. I think had romeny been second seat on the ticket, you’d all be calling him the loser, and should just step away. Well… I’m doing just that. We did not want Palin, so she’s the loser and should just step away.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:02 am
But Romney was the loser too, just a bit earlier
Both she and Romney had more than enough skepticism, so to say Palin is critically flawed and that Romney is Reagan reincarnate is ignorant and ignores the own flaws (which, of course, can be refined) in his message and delivery.
She’s really quite charismatic – if she eliminates the quirkiness and manages to convey more seriousness and authority, she’d do just fine.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:04 am
#31
Or it would give the anti-Romney crowd lots of ammunition to call him a loser. “If he can’t beat Reid, how can we expect him to beat Obama” “If he can’t win in the West, how can he win in the South and North East” etc., etc…
February 6th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Wow, speculation is wild. Let me see if I can recall all the potential positions predicted for Romney this year and upcoming:
Car Czar
Health Czar
Treasury Secretary
Michigan Gov
California Gov
Nevada Senate
President
Am I missing any?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:52 am
#38
RNC Chairman-expired
Obama economic advisor
February 6th, 2009 at 2:41 am
Stop these stupid posts! Mitt is running for one job only. Mr Obama’s!
February 6th, 2009 at 5:12 am
“I dunno, guys. Are you sure? Didn’t NV just go to Obama by TWELVE points?
I think it would be foolish to do this.”
We lost Michigan by more than 12 points, but many in the Romney camp tell us he’ll have no problem winning in Michigan.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:44 am
I’m really hoping he runs. I’m not a fan of Romney in the slightest, but I absolutely cannot stand Reid. Nothing would please me more then if he would lose his seat. It would be a major blow to the Democrats, and it would send the message that we are sick of their extreme leftism and massive government.
Another plus: it would be very hard for Romney to run for President so soon after, and thus he would not be a contender for President.
So I’m all for Romney running against Reid.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:11 am
a little mormon on mormon crime,. should be fun.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Makes a great deal of sense to me. He was a moderate, then flipped to a conservative. He ran in MA for Senate, then flirted with running in Utah for governor. He runs for President and claims Michigan as his “home”. Only makes sense that he would flip, yet again, and claim NV…
February 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Wow, so many Romney haters. If he did take this Senate seat, undoubtedly there would still be many repulicans who would only view this as another opportunistic stunt rather than a tremendous victory for the party and for the country in ousting Reid.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
THis is funny…dr ruth was at the obama inauguration and had primetime seats???? As for romney running for US senate in NV? i think that’s a pretty dumb theory…now if your talking about the senate seats in Utah or NH in 2010 where he actually has lived, than it makes a lot of sense.
February 8th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
[...] can verify the accuracy of the website, but the rationale for the move makes a modicum of sens… I received a tip from one of my best and most trusted sources that Mitt Romney was contemplating [...]
February 8th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
It maybe just an “Only in a dream” scenario, but wouldn’t it be great if we could eliminate almost half of the Democratic Leadership in one fell election?
Majority Leader: Harry Reid (2010)
Ast. Majority Leader / Majority Whip: Dick Durbin (2014)
Democratic Conference Vice Chairman: Charles Schumer (2010)
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman: Bob Menendez (2012)
Democratic Conference Secretary: Patty Murray (2010)
Democratic Policy Committee Chairman: Byron Dorgan (2010)
Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Chair: Debbie Stabenow (2012)
Democratic Committee Outreach Chair: Jeff Bingaman (2012)
Democratic Rural Outreach Chair: Blanche Lincoln (2010)
Chief Deputy Whip: Barbara Boxer (2010)
Deputy Whips: Tom Carper (2012), Bill Nelson (2012), and Russ Feingold (2010)
February 16th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
[...] want to mobilize and finally dump Harry Reid for good. There are even rumors that Mitt Romney will move to Nevada and take care of this himself—and he’d be the guy to do it, [...]