The day is only halfway through, but Team Romney is celebrating another impressive group of endorsements this morning.
First, U.S. Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL) has endorsed Romney. Congressman Miller becomes the fourth Florida Congressman to back Romney, joining Reps. Crenshaw, Mack, and Rooney — as well as former Senator Mel Martinez. Romney clearly has strength in this must-win primary state. By the way, the total number of Florida Congressional endorsements for all the other candidates combined? Zero.
Romney also added some national and legal heft to his team when he announced the endorsements of William Barr, Michael Mukasey, George Terwilliger, and Mark Filip. Those names might not be familiar to you, but their positions are: Barr was U.S. Attorney General the last two years of George H.W. Bush’s term, and Terwilliger was Deputy AG during that time. Similarly, Mukasey was the AG the last two years of George W. Bush’s term with Filip as his Deputy AG. The four of them together will serve as co-chairs of Romney’s Law Enforcement Advisory Group.
On the local level, we travel to New Hampshire where Romney announced the endorsement of state Representative Norman Major. Usually, the announcement of a single state Representative in New Hampshire isn’t a big deal – but this one is interesting because Major was one of the NH endorsements Rick Perry unveiled last month. Representative Major has publicly reneged on his support of Perry and is now backing Romney instead, saying, “He accomplished a lot in the state of Texas, but as I saw him in the debates and how he handles himself, I realized he isn’t going to beat Obama… All the answers don’t come from Texas. Romney is more presidential and I think stands a better chance of beating Obama than Perry does.”
But the pain for Perry in New Hampshire continues past that endorsement retraction as well: Maureen Mooney has thrown her support behind Romney this morning as well. Mooney is a prominent social conservative activist, giving Romney a much needed vote of confidence in that area. More interesting than that, however, is that Mooney was one member of the “very small group who flew from New Hampshire to Texas to encourage Rick Perry to run for president.” So Ms. Mooney made the trip to Texas, begged Perry to run, saw Perry campaign, and has switched her allegiance to Romney.
October 28th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
OK, so Romney’s endorsement list (and the schedule on which he’s releasing them) is very impressive.
National polls 4 years ago, according to Rove, were:
Rudy 28
Fred 18
McCain 14
Mitt 11
Does anyone know what the endorsement list looked like for these candidates at this time 4 years ago? Did anyone have the level of endorsements Mitt’s got right now?
October 28th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
The big news here would be the former Attorneys General of the United States of America forming the core of Mitt’s Law Enforcement Advisory Group. One of these 5 (one not mentioned here) will reprise their role as Attorney General in a Romney Administration.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Wow, the withdrawal of an endorsement must come as quite a sting to any candidate. I mean if you think about the embarassment that the candidate who switches has to go through in order to switch an endorsement, you realize that it is a really big deal to take away your endorsement from somebody and switch to somebody else.
A candidate who switches their endorsement runs the risk of looking like a “flip-flopper” or a fairweather friend, or someone who has shown poor judgment. All of those things is what a candidate exposes themselves to when they withdraw their endorsement and go with another candidate.
I think it says a lot about Rick Perry that legislatures are actually withdrawing their support and opening themselves up to criticism.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Romney, the only serious candidate in the race. He has a foreign policy team with a released paper on his foreign policy (which includes specifics). He has a legal team. He has released a jobs recovery plan (which includes specifics) and, if I remember correctly (which I may not), he has an economics team setup. He has a full contigency of staff in most or all of the early states and he has a strong base of citizen supporters.
I like preparedness in my President. I haven’t seen this type of readiness in any Presidential candidate since… well never. (I’m not that old to remember how prepared Reagan was.)
October 28th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Well, I think GHWBush was this prepared to be POTUS.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Romney’s a man of character and hard work behind the polished man on stage:
http://mittromneycentral.com/2010/08/25/must-see-mitt-romney-doing-bad-hair-and-blue-jeans-in-2007/
October 28th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
3. Not just that, but a person who actually was a part of the team that begged Perry to get into the race was switched to Romney. That has to take guts.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Romney should be prepared he has been running for 6 years. That is a fact, oh Imknow he has done other things too.
I think that it is premature to think Romney has this sewed up.
There has not been one vote cast in a any primary so I will wait and let the people decide, instead of all the establishment Republicans decide.
Perry, Cain, Gringrich are still in the race and even Ron Paul.
I am voting for Perry!!
October 28th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
8
Funny how Perry backers instantly become “Establishment” Republicans the second they switch to Mitt Romney.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
8. You say that like it’s a bad thing! Good grief.
“The first time Reagan ran for president was in 1968. He entered the race very late. He tried again in 1976 and nearly wrested the nomination away from Gerald Ford.”
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Did_Ronald_Reagan_win_the_first_time_he_ran_for_president#ixzz1c6QphcFY
I’m actually glad Mitt has had the experience of running last round. It has made him a better man and a better candidate.
Romney detractors will grasp at any straw to make him seem less than he is.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
9. Yeah, look how Christie become marginalized when he endorsed Mitt. First he was going to be the savior of the party and then, oh, he’s just a sell out.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
11
Just watch, the fireworks are only beginning. When DeMint, Haley, and Palin all throw their support behind Romney in the coming months, they’ll turn into “Establishment RINOs” overnight. Get out the popcorn, it’s going to be fun watching these people go bonkers.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
8. Like Keith stated, you say that like it’s a bad thing! We know what unpreparedness does – see Obama. Perry stating he has only been at this for a 8 weeks is not actually a positive point. I want the most prepared guy in the office. He’s had time to analyze the issues and the problems and come up with quality solutions. That is what Mitt does. That is what any responsible person who comes in to turn a bad situation around is supposed to do.
Romney 2012-2019.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Romney the strongest Presidential nominee says Democrat insiders:
http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/10/gop-insiders-ne.php
But, of course according to Rush, it’s all just a secret conspiracy because they really want Romney as the nominee.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
LIARS!!! They’re all just playing us for fools, to trick us into thinking Romney’s the best! They really think he’s the weakest and want him to run!!! ROMNEYCARE WILL BE A LIABILITY!!! DON’T FALL FOR IT!
LOL!
October 28th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
I love this. “Romney should be prepared he has been running for 6 years. That is a fact”
That is exactly the point. We need someone who has learned the lessons. When a company needs a CEO they don’t go out and find someone who has been doing the work for 6 – 8 months. They look for someone who has the required level of experience and the required documented results.
To all the naysayers, Mitt Romney is the only candidate, Republican and Democrat, who meets all the necessary requirements and who has the proven record of success.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
12. Only to be followed by Rush. Can I please get butter on my popcorn. And a Dr. Pepper please.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
What is Romney doing to bring conservatives on board? Nothing that I can see. Will there be a third party? The republican party is fragmented , with tea party, libertarians, establishments, and conservatives. Just wondering…
October 28th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Per Norman Major
“He accomplished a lot in the state of Texas, but as I saw him in the debates and how he handles himself, I realized he isn’t going to beat Obama… All the answers don’t come from Texas. Romney is more presidential and I think stands a better chance of beating Obama than Perry does.”
WOW, those are some powerful words. Now if only Bobby Jindal would follow…..
October 28th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
8 & 18
Nancy – we will welcome you on the bus when all of the rest of the participants run out of gas. You can sit next to Smack – even if you may be kicking and screaming when you get on.
We’re patient.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
BTW, some pretty harsh criticism of Romney on Morning Joe, today. Bummed me out.
They, too, are calling this union thing a flip flop. I don’t get it, but there it is.
And, apparently the buzzword against Mitt is now, “soulless” or, “he has no soul”
Mitt is going to have to deal with this.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Keith Price,
Mitt has no core.
REPOST:
Mitt on Thursday:
“My view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet, And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us.”
Mitt in June:
“It’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors,” I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that.”
Romney as Governor presided over plans to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
So Smackdaddy’s question is this, and has always been this:
Is it real, or is it a Romney?
October 28th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
22. Step right up – Step right up!
Ladies and gentlement – watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!
I have nothing in this hand – I have nothing in my other hand. POOF!
Slight of hand creates magic.
You trully are a master promoter.
But sooner or later Tommy Boy gets it right “they find out that you just sold them a guaranteed piece of $h!t.”
All aboard the Romney ride. Last stop – White House!
October 28th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
22, and I still say that’s not a contradition. Contributing to global warming is not Causing it.
You’re still grasping.
But, I’ll tell you what, I’m going to get some work done, so you’ve got another 2 or 3 hours where you can post your fluff and non-issues without any rebuttal from me.
Hopefully, someone else with sense will keep you in check. But, good luck!
October 28th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
#22 Smack
You know what, I’ll take my chances with what ever the Libs throw at Romney in the general, compared to all the other candidates he will hold his own. All Mitt has to do is stay on message and keep attacking Obama’s failed policies and the state of the economy. Every rebuttal to whatever Obama attacks on should be about the current situation of the country. Deflect the negative ads by showing the American people how bad this country has sunk under Obama. By the time the general election season rolls around the GOP and a lot of Indies will be behind Romney in full force, there is no way they (or most of the country) wants another 4 years of Obama. In the end, Obama’s only play is to go negative and play class warfare, this will backfire on him this election cycle.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Once again, people twisting Romney’s words. Agreed with Keith: contributing is not causing. He doesn’t deny that it’s happening, but he’s not going to sign legislation against a massive unknown like climate change. He’s a calculated man, and he solves problems.
We need him to be our President.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
“He’s had time to analyze the issues and the problems and come up with quality solutions.”
LOL! Now, that’s just the kool-aid talking there! Romney polls his positions and answers…that’s why they change according to what will win votes. It’s quite possibly the worst offense a politician can make….but, when someone is in love with the idea of being President as much as Mitt Romney is, it’s par for the course!
October 28th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Bye bye Perry
October 28th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Quite funny. Some folks simply refuse to see nuanced arguments. It’s either black or white only. If you don’t support it unequivocally, you must be against it. Actually, not funny … just sad.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
#22 Smack,
How about posting the next line or two of your from your Romney June quote?
If I remember correctly, he went on to say we should NOT take any steps that would affect our economy which is right in line with what he said on Thursday.
Also, your quote says “… MAY be a significant contributors.” May and are have two entirely different meanings. If you don’t think our emissions are harmful, how about going out in your garage, start your car with the door closed, and sit around for a while. (Actually please don’t as I enjoy your enthusiasm. It’s just that we really have no idea what these pollutants do in the long run and I think that is what Romney’s position is.)
October 28th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
The talk radio crowd, the MSM, and conservative media are working through the five stages of grief when it comes to Romney. This summer, they were in denial. A conservative savior would rise from the muck and save us from such a weak field and a weak frontrunner. When their annointed savior turned out to be a) not quite as conservative as he led on and b) incapable of communicating a coherent thought, they directed their anger at Romney. Perhaps Perry wasn’t the answer but Mitt would never satisfy them and they were hell bent on saying so. Now we are leaving the anger phase behind and beginning the bargaining phase. So we see people who have backed Perry start to jump ship. I hear conversations on talk radio admitting to themselves “We know Romney’s not conservative but he’s the only one who can stand on the stage with Obama.” They are finally admitting this and dealing with it. Once we get past this stage, we will enter the depression phase. We will hear stories from the media lamenting the “slow pace” of the campaign, how there aren’t enough events, and there are too many debates. They will wonder what would have happened had Christie or Palin or Huck gotten into the race. Eventually, as the first votes are cast, we will have acceptance. The right wing will drop their attacks and rally around Mitt.
The paradox of the tea party is that they want someone who is anti-establishment but at the same time, they will eventually disqualify anyone who hasn’t had governing experience and been part of the establishment. The only person who met their stringent requirements was Sarah Palin, who was both Governor and VP candidate, yet quit her post to take advantage of her popularity with these people, only to find that act had disqualified her from the office she sought.
October 28th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Keith (#21): As for Romney and the recent Ohio incident, here is what I see has happened:
1) Earlier this year, Romney clearly supported Gov. Kasich’s effort to limit union power. From his Facbook page on June 18:
2) On Tues. Oct. 25, Romney appears at a call center supporting Gov. Kasich’s and says:
Here is the video.
He still says he supports the governor’s and the Republican party’s efforts, which includes limiting union power. However, it does seems he is mistaken about the number of initiatives–since there are three on the ballot. It is possible that when he says “those are up to the people of Ohio”, he is aware and thinking about issue 3 (exempting Ohio from national and local health care mandates) but he may forgotten about issue 2. Since I’ve never campaigned for President before, I don’t know how difficult it is to stay up to date on all the names, initiatives, etc. that a candidate needs to have at the ready as he/she travels from state to state on a daily basis. I’m sure mistakes can happen.
3) On Wednesday (the next day), Romney clarifies any confusion that occurred from his statement on the previous day:
Video link.
So, it appears that he is still very much in support of limiting union power and still stands with Gov. Kasich.
October 28th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
There is only one sure thing I know of that mitt changed his mind (flip flopped on) and that was abortion. I’m not sure about some of the other things. There is so much miss representation.
Megan Kelly had Michael Regan (son of Pres. Regan) on her show today. He said that his father changed his mind many times on important matters
after he was over the age of 50. I think Mitt shows some pretty stong consistency and charater. Everyone of the candidates hve fip flopped to one dgree or another. Who do you think is not staying with in the bounds of Ronald Regan’s rule to not attack another republcan’s “chacater”?
October 28th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
27. Specifics, Mike? Since running for Governor, Mitt has been quite consistent. On nearly every myth of Romney flips, there’s a factual answer that debunks it.
Got anything to back it up?
October 28th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
32. Yeah, and that change was in, what, 2002ish? He’s been very consistent on that (and everything important) since.
October 28th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Does anyone find it quite humorous and interesting that the attacks on Romney all year have been on the basis of RomneyCare, until now?
Looks like the RomNots have given up their faux indignance on that issue, and are transporting it onto the old, dead-horse charges of flip-flopping from 4 years ago.
Oh, this is just great. Humor in its purest form.
October 28th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
When all else fails, the RomNOTs will start attacking Mormonism, but that’s all they had left (but were probably thinking about it all along).
October 28th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Kavon: It appears my earlier comment (#32) is still in moderation (due to too many links). Can you delete my earlier post? I’ll just repost without as many links.
Keith (#21): As for Romney and the recent Ohio incident, here is what I see has happened:
1) Earlier this year, Romney clearly supported Gov. Kasich’s effort to limit union power. From his Facbook page on June 18:
2) On Tues. Oct. 25, Romney appears at a call center supporting Gov. Kasich’s and says:
He still says he supports the governor’s and the Republican party’s efforts, which includes limiting union power. However, it does seems he is mistaken about the number of initiatives–since there are three on the ballot. It is possible that when he says “those are up to the people of Ohio”, he is aware and thinking about issue 3 (exempting Ohio from national and local health care mandates) but he may have forgotten about issue 2. Since I’ve never campaigned for President before, I don’t know how difficult it is to stay up to date on all the names, initiatives, etc. that a candidate needs to have at the ready as he/she travels from state to state on a daily basis. I’m sure mistakes can happen.
3) On Wednesday (the next day), Romney clarifies any confusion that occurred from his statement on the previous day:
Video link.
So, it is very clear that he is still very much in support of limiting union power and still stands with Gov. Kasich.
October 28th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
PPP is crud, but they have a new poll where Romney is doing well in WI, and the others are doa.
October 28th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
35
That’s what vetting gets you. Everyone’s heard “flip-flopper, RomneyCare, dog on roof, illegal landscapers, blablabla” a THOUSAND times.
Nobody cares.
October 28th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
39 Tweeted your comment because I thought it was so great. Hope you don’t mind. I gave you the credit and the url for the site.
October 28th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
In a perverse way, all these attacks are going to help Mitt. None of the attacks are substantive and they are making Mitt look sympathetic, especially when the bullies are Jon Huntsman, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum. Keep making the debates all about Mitt, it will only help him.
October 28th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
The Romney supporters should enjoy George Will’s column. Maybe they can call him names.
Even if a Reublican is elected next year the term will be a very tough one. Things will not change easily. He will need the real support of the base. I think it is highly unlikely Romney can build that support. In fact I believe he will aggravate the base.
I actually believe there is a chance Obama could come back in 2016. That is more likely with Romney. I really believe that he would be a one termer.
October 29th, 2011 at 1:52 am
43. I agree it will be tough. But, I also believe that the ones who voted for Romney will WANT him to succeed and when he follows through with his promises, I believe he’ll win them over with great enthusiasm.
In fact, the only thing that appears to be holding them back now is that they don’t believe him. So, once he shows them he’s trustworthy, the floodgates will open.
Hmmm, that’s an interesting point.
This is different than voting for someone who has SOME positions you don’t like but, you vote anyway because he’s the best you’ve got or the only one who can get elected. This is voting for someone who SAYS he has positions you support but you’re not sure you can trust him to follow through. THAT kind of person can easily convert the lackluster support into raving fans.
October 29th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
It is indeed hard to dismiss Romney’s flip-flopper label. But like others have pointed out before me (ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf most recently), flip flopping is not necessarily a bad thing. Many great presidents – Abraham Lincoln included – would qualify by any modern standard as a flip-flopper. Thank goodness for that. I’d rather be ruled by a competent flip-flopper than a semi-competent ideologist.
October 29th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Romney is trashing Obama and beating Perry and all the other candidates to win the nomination, after which he will oust the most far left President in history. Conservatives are anxiously awaiting the time when they will en masse voice their support for Mitt.