If Mitt Romney has what it takes to be president, and I suspect he does, he will use his present predicament to overcome his greatest vulnerability in the presidential contest for his party’s nomination, that is, his failure so far to connect emotionally with voters.
That does not mean that the former governor of Massachusetts will suddenly say he “feels our pain,” or that he will make teenage girls and grown men swoon with incendiary rhetoric. Mr Romney’s personality is not naturally outwardly warm or empathetic; that is not going to change overnight or suddenly, as if by a political consultant’s wand. But where is it written in American political history that the nation’s chief executive is supposed to be the First Therapist or the National Teddy Bear?
In fact, few presidents have been like Bill Clinton. Yet most presidents did have the knack to relate to voters, that is, voters have found them ultimately likable. Mitt Romney is a rich man, but he is a self-made rich man. He is a problem-solving businessman. His greatest problem now is restoring his campaign for president, subjected for months to “bubble” assaults in the polls from rivals. He has recuperated from each of these, but the Republican nomination is now in its decisive stage, i.e. , delegates are being chosen, voters are finally making up their minds.
Although I have written for months, without endorsing him, that I thought that Romney would ultimately win his party’s nomination, nowhere have I suggested that his victory was absolutely inevitable. In politics, nothing is absolutely inevitable.
What is Mr. Romney’s problem? It is a lack of connection. It is not that voters cannot “like” him, but they are having difficulty “connecting” to him. His remoteness is the distance he appears to place (intentional or not) between himself and voters. Does it come from his personality, his wealth, his upbringing, and his political circumstances? Yes, all of these. He can’t change his wealth, nor his upbringing, and his political circumstances have been thrust on him. But he can share with voters his obvious dilemma, and invite them to help him solve his problem.
This probably cannot be done alone with massive political advertising by his own campaign (nor by the SuperPac he does not control), nor by pretending he does not have a problem. It cannot be solved alone by superior organization. It cannot be solved simply with his resume.
Mitt Romney needs to get a large number voters to be part of solving his political problem, and that begins with a simple heartfelt appeal directly to voters. Voters, I have observed over many presidential cycles, are not looking for perfect candidates. They look for candidates who agree with them, but they also like candidates who can admit mistakes, who ask forgiveness for their personal shortcomings, and most of all, voters in America like candidates who acknowledge, simply and humbly, that they, the politicians, ultimately need them, the voters.
I do not presume to say what Mr. Romney should say, and how he should say it, to accomplish this, but at some point he will, if he is to prevail, have to do this. If he does not, Mr. Gingrich may yet overcome his own problems and win this nomination. If neither of them do it, there may yet be a so-called “brokered” convention, and no one now in the contest may suddenly emerge.
This election is bigger than personalities, and someone who can do the job, even if he or she is not now on the ballot, will contend to be commander-in-chief this November. Mr. Romney earned his fortune, as they say, ”the old-fashioned way.” If he is to be president, he must find his way to do this again.
____________________________________________________________________
-Please visit Mr. Casselman’s personal site.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:59 am
Give it up man, Romney’s been running for POTUS for more than 6 years.
If he hasn’t connected by now, sheeeesss.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:06 am
#1:
I used to be in sales. They teach you to close 3 times, but after you’ve tried your best you move on.
Mitt Romney has tried to close the sale on way more than 3 occasions over the last 6 years. It ain’t going to happen. There are potential customers who simply won’t buy what you’re selling.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:26 am
Romney:
1)Is not a good politician because he is too slow to respond to events on the ground or does not realize what is happening on the ground.
2)Hires poor advisers who simply kiss his butt and only tell him what he wants to hear
3)Alienates too many people especially conservatives
4)Is only an average debater
5)Possesses a bunker mentality that makes it easy for him to delude himself that he is doing better than he is
6)If nominated would take Obamacare off the table; by virtue of the 2010 exit polls 92% of Tea Party members favor its repeal
7)Was stupid not to embrace the Tea Party in 2010; instead he gave it the back of his hand
8)Believes money can buy happiness and the GOP nomination
9)Should have offered Santorum the VP slot before Florida
10)Should have embraced Sarah Palin
Romney possesses three qualities that are serious problems but combined together are lethal:
1)Being OBLIVIOUS
2)Is EGOCENTRIC
3)OLYMPIAN DETACHMENT
An old dog can’t learn new tricks.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:34 am
I think Mitt’s moment will come. He schooled Newt in their last debate. He hasn’t gone head to head with Santorum since Santorum caught a bubble, but when he does, the man who has the better moment is probably going to win.
However, I will say that Rick Santorum hurt himself badly today with his “phony theology” statements. When you broadcast your message on the back of religion, you begin to use a very narrow bandwidth of the population. And it’s an unattractive method outside of smallish circles. I’ll be watching for responses from pundits and subsequent polls. He’s dancing on the side of the line that excludes and diminishes appeal. I don’t know what he’s thinking after all the contraception conversation that also can’t have hellped him. If he has a message beyond Socon issues he’s sure doing his darnedest to obscure it.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:38 am
Santorum is playing to the base. Primaries are different than general elections.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Watchinitall says “I think Mitt’s moment will come” impying that Mitt’s obstacle is Santorum. Mitt’s obstacle is Mitt. He’s a loser to all comers.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:49 am
This is nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy…. you convinced yourself you have nothing in common with the man and you do everything you can to pretend his is less than human.
The dehumanizing, justifies the continued lying about him.
I have cried at Romney’s speech a several times. I think he is charming and wonderful… that prank about writing on the shoe was delightful. His love for his country and family are truly inspiring.
The problem is not on Romney’s side.
It is the dehumanizing that the far right has done for the past two years trying to bring him down.
Religious people, not of his religion, are threatened by him, and can’t let themselves like him for fear of giving credibility to his religion.
Romney threatens their world view.
Until they get over it, there is nothing Romney can do. The problem is not with Romney. Those churches teach he is the devil. No one wants to bond with the devil.
You see, look at the list above…none of that is true… Romney doesn’t even take a salary anymore for any of his work. But they accuse him of greed, of caring about money, but look at his charitable giving compared to all the rest. They have to make up excuses.
This is in the heads of the haters.
Romney is warm and genuine. There are dozens of stories of his kindness and help to others. Like his elderly former neighbor, who tells of how he would come over and help her with chores… even do her dishes by hand for her.
Romney is anything but cold and detached.
But nobody wants to bond with someone their pastor says is the devil.
It is not Romney’s fault those churches have spent a fortune teaching that Mormons are evil. He connects fine with people who give him a shot. Sort of like getting a step parent… people don’t want to be disloyal to their church.
Not hard to figure it out. Not Romney’s problem.
February 19th, 2012 at 2:00 am
3. Epic fail. Did you just type the first 10 things that popped into your head?
1.) Tell that to Newt in Iowa and Florida.
2.) Subjective claim with no basis in fact.
3.) There is no polling to prove this claim.
4.) Subjective claim with no basis in fact. The Florida exit polls said that 2/3 of voters claimed the debates mattered and Romney carried the state.
5.) Subjective claim with no basis in fact.
7.) First, apparently you fail to understand the difference between a federal and a state program. Secondly, the supreme court will more than likely overturn it before the fall anyway. Thirdly, The tea party is a small voting group and their support will not win us a national election.
8.)Subjective claim with no basis in fact. Romney is well funded because of his strong political organization. The fact that Santorum and Gingrich are so underfunded speaks to their lack of organization and their perceived electability.
9.) That would have been idiotic. Santorum wouldn’t have taken it, and Romney wouldn’t have offered it. Both men are viable and both can win nomination without resorting to cheap political theatrics.
10.)Has done nothing but. When McCain foolishly selected Palin as VP in 08, Romney as a McCain surrogate, was one of her most ardent supporters on the campaign trail.
February 19th, 2012 at 2:23 am
#8:
1)Why did Romney allow a man who was polling at 4% two months ago to pass him? Colossal blunder. One of the worst in American presidential politicd
2)How could Romney’s advisors have missed #1? They were definitely asleep at the switch. What good advice have they ever given Mitt?
3)You’ve got to be kidding. Polls for 2+ years have shown that conservatives and evangelicals don’t get along. Where you have been? Hiding under a rock.
4)Yes, that is subjective, but how many pundits go on and on about Mitt’s superb debating skills after debates? None. He is not as poor as Rick Perry but not as good as Newt Gingrich.
5)Romney acts really clued out sometimes; he really does believe he is inevitable. He doesn’t realize how close he is to absolute defeat.
6)Obamacare would definitely be off the table. The media would accuse Mitt of gross hypocrisy if he ever dared to attack Obamacare. Even Obama claimed Romneycare was the protoype for Obamacare. He should know.
7)Tea party members represented 41% of the overall electorate at the midterms by virtue of the exit polls. They gave the Dems 11% of their vote; a recent PEW Research poll showed Obama now only approved by 4% of TPM.
At the present time Santorum is supported by 40%-50% of TPM whether it is national or state polls. Mitchell polling, a Michigan pollster recently claimed that Romney cannot win Michigan without decent TP support because he calculates TPM will comprise 2 out every 3 voters in the primary.
Romney made a huge mistake not to offer an olive branch to the TPM. Feeling scorned the TPM, has embraced Santorum hook, line and sinker.
8)Carpet bombing Newt into submission in Florida-money, money, money!
9)Santorum may have thought about the VP slot before Florida. You never know until you make the offer. Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.
10)Sarah Palin is a rock star and commands a huge, huge presence in the base of the GOP. I’m not saying he should have made her VP but to completely ignore someone that prominent is simply stupid politically. Note a word from her in SC and Newt won the primary there.
February 19th, 2012 at 2:32 am
wft are we even talking about bloody Sarah Palin?!
February 19th, 2012 at 2:39 am
7. I think you hit the nail on the head. The guy works tirelessly. He does everything the best he can. He was valedictorian at BYU. He graduated with 2 degrees from Harvard. He turned down his inheritance to make it on his own. He volunteered for his church for over two years. Has been a lay pastor for his church counselling church members on personal matters, and family problems while his own kids were waiting for dad to come home. He donates Million$. He refuses to be paid for his public service. (Where as the other candidates live off the government trough) He is not an egotistical blowhard or a whiner. He is a fantastic father and devoted husband.
I worked with a part time evangelical pastor for years and he would not stop spewing hatred for Mormons or Catholics. He taught it in his congregation. He was more obsessed with other religions than he was helping his congregation. I’m sure not all evangelical pastors are like this but there must be more.
If Mitt has to act like a carnival barker like Nooot or whine and snivel and wear his religion on his sleeve like Rick then I don’t care if he doesn’t win. At least he can go back to his family and work where he can continue to pay millions in taxes and continue to donate millions that we all benefit from.
The idea that the sheeple are even considering Rick or Nooot over Mitt confounds me. I don’t get it. I agree Jack Welsh, Mitt is the best most capable candidate that we’ve had in years.
February 19th, 2012 at 2:46 am
Out side the teavangelical fringe of the party, Sarah is not a rock star but an embarrassment to the republican party.
February 19th, 2012 at 2:53 am
#12:
Conservatives comprise 72% of the Republican party currently. It it to most of that 72% she is considered a hero. You must have been on vacation during the 2010 midterms. Without Palin there might not have been such a robust turnout and the greatest midterm victory since 1938.
You want to get conservatives on board with you Mitt: woo Sarah Palin.
Mitt’s problem: As a moderate he is only playing to roughly 30% of the GOP. If conservatives coalesce behind one conservative candidate as they are apparently now doing getting behind Rick Santorum, Mitt cannot win.
It’s simple math, especially when Newt’s supporters are drifting over to Santorum’s tent by the bucketload to fortify Rick’s current surge.
February 19th, 2012 at 3:10 am
9.
1.) Romney has taken on Pawlenty, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, Gingrich, and now Santorum. Romney has undergone attacks from both the left and the right for more than a year, yet Romney still maintains his viability. His campaign is one of the most resilient and tactical in modern American politics.
2.) Unless you have been apart of or have read transcripts from his campaign war room meetings, you have no idea what his advisors are telling him. Again, you are being purely speculative.
3.) Well if polls for 2+ years claim this then you should have no problem producing just 1. You claimed Romney “alienates too many people especially conservatives” show us the polling to back it up.
4.) Do you get all of your opinions from pundits after debates? I think Romney has done very well in debates, but again, this is subjective. There will only be 3 debates against Obama, what will really matter is the organizational strength of our candidates political campaign.
5.) Again, you are being subjective. You need to debate in fact.
6.) Let’s just say, for the sake of argument, Obamacare somehow survives the supreme court, this would still not take ObamaCare “off the table”. The only similarity between MassHealth and ObamaCare is the individual mandate (which by the way is a conservative idea and a brilliant one at that). Obamacare is a 2,000 page, trillion-dollar federal program that will micromanage every aspect of health care in America. It will enforce a mountain of regulations that will bankrupt the country and destroy medical care. It is intellectually lazy to claim MassHealth and ObamaCare is one in the same. The Dems are hoping you don’t think too long about some of the idiot things they say.
7.) The tea party has lost much of their political momentum over the past year. Also exit polls from Florida show the Tea Party vote went to Romney, so your argument is a bit worthless anyway.
8.) If Newt was running a viable campaign he wouldn’t have fallen victim to “carpet boming”. If he was viable he would have had the funds to retaliate and the organization to win over voters. Also money doesn’t always translate into political wins. See California, Meg Whitman
9.) Again, this would just be cheap political theater and neither man would have done this. They are both very intelligent and serious individuals with a deep respect for this process.
10.) Nobody denies Palins popularity, and I’m sure Romney would love to have her support, but Palin will do what Palin will do. Neither of them have negative views of each other. Sure, they differ from time to time, but both of them have been incredibly cordial to one another.
February 19th, 2012 at 5:08 am
Romney has the wacko mole problem
As soon as he wacks one done, another rises. In normal years, these guys would have had the brains to drop out, but haven’t.
Hello, Romney has more delegates than the rest of the also rans combined
And Projects is he will continue that after Super Tuesday,,,
Romney 111 Delegates so far
Santorum 44
Newt 30
Paul 15
After Michigan and Arizona
Romney 154 (14 from Michigan by CD and Arizona 29 WTA)
Santorum 58 (14 from Michigan by CD)
Newt 30
Paul 15
===================================================
And Romney will have expanded his lead by 29 Delegates
(Super Tuesday) (Projections based on Polls and 2008 Results)
Alaska Caucus (Romney 14, Santorum 6, Ron Paul 7)
Georgia Primary (Newt 60, Romney 6)
Idaho Caucus (Romney 28, Santorum 4)
Massachusetts Primary (Romney 38)
North Dakota Caucus (Romney 14, Santorum 6, Ron Paul
Ohio Primary (Santorum 40, Romney 26)
Oklahoma Primary (Newt 20, Romney 16, Santorum 4)
Tennessee Primary (Santorum 25, Newt 19, Romney
Vermont Primary (Romney 14)
Virginia Primary (Romney 46)
========================================================
Super Tuesday Totals:
Romney 210
Santorum 85
Newt 99
Paul 15
=================
Total 409 (Romney takes more than half the delegates)
Totals after Super Tuesday
—————————
Romney 321
Santorum 129
Newt 129
Paul 30
As you can see after, Super Tuesday, Romney will be well ahead of the Delegate count, and some of his worst states will be behind him
February 19th, 2012 at 5:13 am
March will be a bad month for Romney, then things pickup in April.
February 19th, 2012 at 6:08 am
Good morning Michigan.
Just because the polls and pundits say that Santorum has got Michigan all wrapped up there is still a chance for Rommney to become the true Comeback Kid. It ain’t over yet.
Let’s work hard to spoil Palin’s day on the 28th.
Give em severe hell Mitt!
February 19th, 2012 at 6:16 am
“There are potential customers who simply won’t buy what you’re selling.” Gee, I wonder why we are not buying MAcare.
“Super Tuesday Totals:
Romney 210
Santorum 85
Newt 99
Paul 15″ For this to happen, Mr. Romney must catch fire fast and Mr. Santorum must meltdown fast. Hey anything is possible, but we are certainly not trending that way.
February 19th, 2012 at 6:20 am
Mitt is sort of quiet, shy and a bit reserved by nature. It’s in his DNA, that’s his personality. His life is pretty much an open book that he has admitted is not perfect, but there isn’t anything in his past that he wants to hide…All his flaws are out there for all to see.
But, to ask a candidate to admit to their mistakes and ask the voter’s forgiveness for their personal shortcomings is asking a candidate who could very well be our next President to show their vulnerabilities and weaknesses that would be sure to hurt him when going up against the world’s worst leaders.
February 19th, 2012 at 6:46 am
OHIO JOE Says:
February 19th, 2012 at 6:16 am
“There are potential customers who simply won’t buy what you’re selling.” Gee, I wonder why we are not buying MAcare.
“Super Tuesday Totals:
Romney 210
Santorum 85
Newt 99
Paul 15? For this to happen, Mr. Romney must catch fire fast and Mr. Santorum must meltdown fast. Hey anything is possible, but we are certainly not trending that way
========================================================================
Your blind as a bat!!!!!! Tell me which states I predicted Romney to do well in, he will not do so well.
Virgina is already wrapped up as well Massachusetts.
Vermont will not like Santorum or Newt…
Idaho is Almost Utah.
So how about actually saying something intelligent!
February 19th, 2012 at 7:42 am
Great speech by Romney about the Olympics 10 years later. http://www.rightspeak.net/2012/02/mitt-romney-speaks-at-event-in-salt.html
February 19th, 2012 at 7:46 am
I think one of the problems for Romney is people don’t believe he’s had the same struggles they’ve had. They think because of his success, he doesn’t understand struggles. Unfortunately I think if he starts talking about their struggles, people might not believe him due to his success and his professional demeanor.
February 19th, 2012 at 7:49 am
Alaska Caucus (We have not have had any polling from that state since the Santorum surge)
Georgia Primary (We have have had some, but not much polling from that state since the Santorum surge)
Idaho Caucus (Same story as Alaska, it might be close to Utah, but Mr. Graham is in the Santorum camp and he is a good guy to have.)
Massachusetts Primary (Mr. Santorum should crack the 15% threshold)
North Dakota Caucus (Mr. Santorum should have little trouble here due to his Mid-western boom)
Ohio Primary (Unless, all non-Romney candidates meltdown, it would be rather generous to give Mr. Romney more than 5 or 6 statewide delegates. Out the big cites, Mr. Romney is not popular in Ohio. Furthermore, since most Santorumites do not have Mr. Romney as their second favorite candidate, I doubt that Mr. Romney will win the 3 CDs that Mr. Santorum is not on the ballot.)
Oklahoma Primary (Polling date from OK specifically, came prior to the Santorum surge in the South)
Tennessee Primary (Mr. Romney might actually do a tad better than you think in TN)
Vermont Primary (This state has been polled more than a year and a half ago, I would think Mr. Santorum has gain a bit of popularity since then.)
Virginia Primary (Do not dismiss the possibility that Santorumites and Gingrichite will vote for Dr. Paul in some CDs.)
February 19th, 2012 at 7:59 am
If I have learned anything in life it is that everyone has struggles and if you think someone doesn’t have challenges, you do not know them very well. Sure Mitt has money and that precludes him from financial woes. However, it didn’t inoculate his wife from breast cancer or MS. It is quite amazing that with all that money none of his kids went through rehab and all are successful not just living off daddy. There is definitely something very special about Mitt’s family but I seriously doubt it is money.
February 19th, 2012 at 8:03 am
Ohio Joe,
You said: For this to happen, Mr. Romney must catch fire fast and Mr. Santorum must meltdown fast.
As I said before, I base part of this on 2008 results.
In 2008, Alaska was all Romney and Santorum and Newt are not even trying there.
Georgia I agree Romney will not do that well, Your right that Santorum might take some Newt votes, but being CD, doubt it
Idaho is the second home of BYU University, and has more LDS than Nevada, your dreaming if you think anyone but Romney will take the state.
Massachusetts, its possible for someone to crack 15%, but that one only get them a single delegate.
North Dakota 2008 results
Candidate Votes Percentage Delegates[97]
America Symbol.svg Mitt Romney 3,490 35.67% 9
John McCain 2,224 22.73% 6
Ron Paul 2,082 21.28% 6
Mike Huckabee 1,947 19.90% 5
Alan Keyes 42 0.43% 0
Total 9,785 100% 26
Santorum is likely to pick up Mike Huckabee voters, but not much more.
Ohio: Real clear poll average has Romney 7 points behind Santorum, and that is before Romney goes on the attack, so it is possible that I am being way to generous to Santorum.
Oklahoma, it is possible for Santorum to take votes from Newt, but I still think Romney will get his.
Tennessee, having lived there I would be surprised to see Romney do that well there, but hey, one can hope.
Vermont is a North Eastern State like New Hampshire
Virgina. There may be a few Newt and Santorum supporters who will cross over for Paul, but not enough to make a difference.
So, I stand by my original assumptions, if you average the ups and downs, I still believe that Romney will out perform the rest of the candidates. It is also very possible that Romney takes Ohio, in which case, his lead will be even greater.
February 19th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Lets see….
Santorum says ” …as we look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is in shambles, it is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it.”
What world does he see ? What century is he in ?
Then, he says Romney deserves no credit for the SLC Winter Olympics. I just watched the opening ceremonies when the flag from the Twin Towers was carried in.
Where was Rick Santorum ?
What has Rick Santorum EVER DONE ????????
Memo to the GOP……Arsenic is quicker.
CraigS
February 19th, 2012 at 8:16 am
The problem is not what Mitt is: plutocrat businessman. It is what he is not: someone who can articulate how conservative values and principles are the right solutions for tackling the nation’s problems. Mitt only manages to get the messaging right, but then still comes across to the conservative base as unconvinced himself.
February 19th, 2012 at 8:18 am
26. True .. unfortunately neither had Obama and the country elected him. Are we doomed to overlook qualifications over the color of the shirt?
February 19th, 2012 at 8:19 am
Thunder 25
I live in Atlanta. Romney got 30 % statewide in the 2008 primary. Romney will get about the same in the 13 county metro area and could very well win it as Santorum and Paul drain away Newt votes. Latest Metro poll had Romney 4 % behind Newt. Since Georgia is proportional, I think Romney will get upwards of 20 + delegates
Tennessee……Santorum has NO DELEGATES in ANY of Tennessees 9 CDs. Unless a state GOP, controlled by Romney supporters , decides to award him delegates, he is shut out at Zero
Ohio………..Santorum has no delegates in 3 of Ohios 16 CDs so he loses another 9 delegates
Virginia…….Romney gets most of Virginia’s 49 delegates
Mass………..Almost all to Romney
Vermont……..Almost all to Romney
Rest of Super Tuesday, I agree with you.
One other note of interest. With Texas moving its primary date , it is possible that Utah, California and Texas will vote with a couple of weeks of each other. there will be almost 500 delegates or about 1 / 3 of all delegates needs for nomination in these three states
CraigS
February 19th, 2012 at 8:20 am
MarqueG Are you looking at the qualifications of the man or the color of the shirt?
February 19th, 2012 at 8:21 am
27: BTW, look at how Donald Trump — plutocrat businessman with a non-conservative background and sketchy personal life — managed to wow the conservative base by hammering Obama over the silly birth certificate until the Obama administration had to cave! The “plutocrat businessman” image wouldn’t hurt Romney if he could simply win some victories against the administration, Dems, the MSM, and/or other opponents of Americana.
February 19th, 2012 at 8:27 am
31. Romney will never be a loud mouthed blow heart sorry, but he can fix the what is financially wrong with the white house and possibly return decisions to the states. That would be HUGE!!! He would not appoint crappy judges and each person can deal with religion as they choose.
February 19th, 2012 at 8:38 am
While GOP squabbles Obama is giving away islands to Russia in secrecy. Keep you eye on the target…OBAMA http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/02/report-obama-administration-is-giving-away-7-strategic-islands-to-russia/
February 19th, 2012 at 8:42 am
Mitt does need to emotionally connect better and explain in layman’s terms how conservative principles are the correct ones for turning around the country.
But it takes two to tango.
Voters also have to get real and up to speed on the state of the nation…and they have to be objective.
Believing one person is a hero supreme and the other one is the devil say more about the voter than about the candidates.
We stick with Romney because we can plainly see that his positives far outweigh his negatives and the resulting positive number far outweighs that of the other candidates.
Like somebody just posted, “What has Santorum really ever accomplished as a leader and not just as one of the group?”
What do we have to go on to gauge his leadership abilities…Hope?
I’ve have enough of “hope” with the current POTUS…..We need a tried and tested leader this time…
February 19th, 2012 at 8:44 am
25– Romney doesn’t have the same coalition he had in 2008.
He was the “conservative ” answer then, backed by Limbaugh and cie. Now he’s the “establishment ” candidate.
Must be obvious to all by now.
February 19th, 2012 at 8:49 am
“Santorum has no delegates in 3 of Ohios 16 CDs so he loses another 9 delegates” And how many of those 9 for to Mr. Romney, not my 3.
“I live in Atlanta. Romney got 30 % statewide in the 2008 primary.” Mr. Romney also did well in CO & MN in 2008 and how did he do there.
“Santorum has NO DELEGATES in ANY of Tennessees 9 CDs.” That is not exactly true.
February 19th, 2012 at 8:55 am
OhioJoe That is funny, the guy you are backing can’t even get any delegates in your CD. Priceless
February 19th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Ohio Joe…..Go to the CD delegate list and alternate list for Tennessee and find me a name for Santorum
February 19th, 2012 at 9:14 am
Oh Bob you could not be more wrong.
90% of the Republican Party is embarrassed by Sarah Palin. We gave her a shot and she failed miserably. Her behavior this past year has been beyond deplorable. My guess–Palin will not last long even at Fox now. If Fox itself lasts, Fox has lost it’s way.
Romney will be the nominee.
And in true Reagan form he has to battle a hostile press. Only Romney’s hostile press is coming from both sides.
Despite that, Romney is taking his message directly to the people. And WE are electing him.
His crowds are large and enthusiastic. His support is strong and growing with nothing but organic grass roots, and some money to get past the hostile press.
Romney has made very few mistakes… and his message is loud and clear. And his message of American Renewal and a path to a prosperous century ahead and a continued legacy of strength and freedom is resounding in the ears of those who have ears to hear it!
The odd way the bloggers and establishment rightwing media react to Romney is only the by product of the fact that they make more money if Obama is re-elected. Obama is a cash cow for talk radio and blogger advertising money. And Obama is best for Fox, who’s profit motive has betrayed the conservative cause.
There is no path to anyone else winning. Only Romney. And your dream install a Queen at the convention will never be realized. It is completely against the democratic ideal of this country. We will not return to the smoke filled rooms where Queens could be installed. The PEOPLE will choose, and WE choose Romney.
The only one who could possibly get it now besides Romney is Paul and only because he studied the delegate process.
But assuming Paul is in control of his people… he will support Romney too in the end.
Romney and Paul took over from the establishment of FOX, and the Fox employee stooges, meant to give them control over our lives and our government.
And because Fox will need to survive, they will of necessity swallow the loss of their maniacal dream to control the government by way of their puppets, and support Romney in the end.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:22 am
“Go to the CD delegate list and alternate list for Tennessee and find me a name for Santorum” That is irrelevant. In Tennessee delegates do not need to appear on the ballot. TN has different rules than Ohio. I thought Y’all believed in the Right of States.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:23 am
“Her behavior this past year has been beyond deplorable.” A great description of Mr. Romney’s behavior, yup absolutely deplorable.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Petunia… I couldn’t agree more. I have been disgusted with FOX and their promotion of their employees or former employees. They seriously want to call the shots and think they can do it from an insider in the white house.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:25 am
26 – Craigs – you are exactly right. Aresenic IS quicker. . .
Romney does have an interesting personality. . . He’s NOT the guy you’d probably go out and have a beer with (or a root beer); but we GOT that kind of president now, and how is THAT working for us????
Romney is the numbers man; the fix-it man; he’s the guy that you want to fix something. He’s the guy that you want on YOUR team, when the chips are down – just look at his history of fixing things at the Olympics – with a SURPLUS AFTERWARDS, Massachusetts – WITH A SURPLUS AFTERWARDS, Bain etc. Remember how he shut down his company and had all the employees comb the streets of NYC looking for an employee’s kidnapped daughter?? THAT’S the kind of man I want as POTUS; someone who’s going to kick butt when the chips are down.
Ever seen Santorum do anything of substance except demand earmarks for the polar bears at the PA zoo??? Anything on his OWN????? Anything?????????? Crickets. . . . . .
February 19th, 2012 at 9:26 am
“OhioJoe That is funny, the guy you are backing can’t even get any delegates in your CD. Priceless” That is not entirely true either, they can run at the state level. BTW, when Mr. Romney asked one lady in my CD to be a delegate for him, she told him that he was too liberal. So he had to ask a liberal woman to be his delegate.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:26 am
I put my money where my mouth is an donated again to the Romney campaign. It felt great!!
February 19th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Ohio Joe was Romney too liberal or was he wearing the wrong color shirt. :!
February 19th, 2012 at 9:28 am
“He’s NOT the guy you’d probably go out and have a beer with (or a root beer);” I’ll gladly drink Root Beer (not real beer) with the guy, but elect him as President? No.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:29 am
You tell me what color shirt he wears if you know so much about him.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Kermit true..
February 19th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Ohio Joe I worked on Romney’s campaign in 2008 and met him and Ann and several of the son’s on numerous occasions and not just a rallies. I was the face on one of his fliers and he is a good, caring, extremely intelligent man who deeply cares about this country. He is not promoting a religion he is trying to return the United States to greatness and the shirt he wears is red, white and blue.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:36 am
So much nonsense from top to bottom.
Mitt’s problem isn’t that of “connection” or bad advisers or whatever. It is simply a narrative that has grown around him and a set of powerful people eager to sabotage him.
Romney is a solid candidate all-around. Solid debater, meticulous planner, quick to address a shift in the campaign (with the baffling exception of releasing his taxes), patient when he needs to be, aggressive when that’s called for. His message, appearance, and qualities are all well within the acceptable realm.
He just has headwinds from those that, for reasons of their own, are choosing to make him a bogeyman for the wing of the party that Romney doesn’t even represent.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:39 am
“he is a good, caring, extremely intelligent man who deeply cares about this country.” True, but his judgement is rather poor.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:40 am
Thomas Alan Awesome!!! Thank you You deserve the red, white and blue shirt.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:44 am
It’s amazing that Romney is doing as well as he is doing considering the non stop bashing by the Conservative on air media. They never stop with their hatred of the man or maybe it’s the fact that he is a Mormon. Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, Palin etc. etc all will have melt down if Romney wins the Primary. Except for the silent majority, everyone has been against the man.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Ari Fleischer @AriFleischer
Having looked at Santos’s remarks in full context, I repeat: he is out of line. Elections shld b about ideology, not theology.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:50 am
I contend that Romney IS connecting with the people. He’s getting it done on the ground, in person. The problem is that he is trying to make his sale with a massive opposition force running a headwind.
Fox, Rush, Levin, Palin, et al. are lying and distorting Romney’s positions. It just means he has to sell harder once he gets to the next location. But he is making the case and making the sale. And he has a base of very enthusiastic supporters who do go to calling centers or make calls from their homes to get people out to vote.
Most people were the voting has yet to take place are just getting ramped up. Some have been mildly paying attention, listening to Rush or Fox. And then there are those of us who frequent websites and discuss politics. This last group are unlikely to change their mind. The middle group have not yet made up their minds. Some have, some haven’t. The first group are the undecideds. They may answer for one or the other in polling, but they haven’t been bombarded with the sales of all campaigns and can be easily swayed to one side or another.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:52 am
The silent majority doesn’t care about specifics of religion they care about an outsider that has the tools to get the United States back on firm financial ground. I think you might be surprised how many people on both sides of the aisle want financial stability for our country and if they are not faced with a left wing nut bag or a right wing nut bag might be willing to get her done.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Anybody else wondervwhy we haven’t seen any Arizona and Michigan polls lately. The most recent polls for Michigan were conducted on February 14th, 5 days ago. Much has happened since then….
February 19th, 2012 at 9:55 am
55 – Conservative Indie – you are exactly right with the non-stop bashing from the so-called “Conservatives’ on the air. I can’t even watch Faux News any more. . . . I am embarrassed at how naive I was to think that Faux News was “Fair and Balanced.” What a joke. They are as manipulative as MSNBC. Hannity, Brett Bair, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin – are all out pimping their homey Santorum. Well, when Romney wins the nomination, they’re going to be rendered irrelevant; it will only get worse from here. . . It seems the only way Romney wins is if thinking people ignore the lies from the left, and the lies from the right, and vote for the one man who can actually DO SOMETHING about this mess we’re in.
But no, people seem hell-bent on voting for the Birth Control Godfather. . . . . yeah. Go rick. WIN that general election. . . . . baheh. . . .
February 19th, 2012 at 10:06 am
9. Bob, I just want to point out that while Palin may be your ‘rock star’ we are electing a president here, not the Beatles.
February 19th, 2012 at 10:12 am
If this party has to bind itself to Sarah Palin to survive, then lets just bury it now and be done.
The woman has no brains, no political maturity, little interest in actually solving problems, and an ego the size of the empire state building.
=====
“Anybody else wondervwhy we haven’t seen any Arizona and Michigan polls lately.”
It is a little strange, but then again, we’ve still got more than a week to go before the actual voting…so its possible the firms were just waiting. PPP is polling Michigan this weekend, so I would expect that one to be released tonight. All they’ve said so far is that its “much closer” with Santorum still leading…but no real numbers.
=====
“Major Garret put it best this morning saying, “Romney is not good at the small talk (connecting with voters) and not good at the big talk (ambitious plans, soaring rhetoric).””
And what you find with the “small talk” is that its pointless drivel designed to rabble rouse – see Sarah Palin. And what you find with the “big talk” is it leads to disappointment and gridlock.
We saw how well “big talk” worked out for Speaker Moonbeam.
There are four candidates in this race. Only one of them has any record of successful leadership. It really shouldn’t even be a contest, but, thanks to the media, it is.
February 19th, 2012 at 10:31 am
The GOP just doesn’t get it at all.The Republican base has never been behind Romney 100%.
Why ????? one word ! ROMNEYCARE and now this crazy talk on FOX about Jeb Bush !
Jeb Bush unelectable ! one word ” BUSH”
When if ever are these fools gonna realize,that Sarah Palin is their only chance at
taking back the white house from OBAMA. I sometimes think we got a bunch of idiots
doing the bidding..Americans are fed-up,they want someone new and fresh with big
ideas. More of the same old same old ;ain’t going to cut it this time.
Govenor Palin 2012.
February 19th, 2012 at 10:49 am
64 – Sorry – Palin is a wackadooodle. We all know that. She makes MOST republicans cringe, and she makes ALL Independents and Dems go screaming into the night. Are you the last to figure this out Jack? The woman is completely unelectable.
February 19th, 2012 at 11:08 am
1. Jack
Thank heavens Reagan didn’t listen to a political wizard like you.
Took him 3 tries to get the nom.
And for the meme that Romney’s not catching on? Nonsense. This is a purposely played out primary schedule. McCain was the quickest nominee in 40 years, effectively taking it on March 8. Reagan took until May of 80.
Sell your ignorance elsewhere bub. Nobody is buying your crap.
February 19th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Oh Jack, I feel so bad that the you really believe that Palin is our saving grace. If this is the messiah that fox and rush are telling us hold out for, then hopefully everyone else can come back to earth and finally put their support behind an actual viable candidate with an actual record of success, not a pretty face with recycled rhetoric in ideology.
February 19th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Why haven’t the Sarah-bots moved on with their lives yet?
February 19th, 2012 at 11:38 am
To all anti Romneys. They predicted a long fight and it’s palying out just as he stated.
The issue is never going to be Romney, it’s the highly emotional voters that are writhing, twisting and contorting to each emotional whim and fashion.
Notice how Gingrich flatly stated he was going to be the nom? Where is he now?
Realize Santo now has delusions of grandeur and is letting his sharp mouth get the better of him. He too will fall.
All the other anti Romney’s have fallen by the wayside while Romney keeps charging on indifferent to the whims, fashion and igrnorance of voters who need time to sort it out.
Romney has a pro growth agenda, will cut budgets, eliminate programs and pass a BBA.
Romney has a solid growth plan in place without trying to play crony capitalist. Santo is dead bc of that issue. Jeez, he has a message tailor made for rust belt states like Mi and Oh, and Romney is within 3 in Mi and will win, and is 7 back in Ohio and will probably win that too.
The issue isn’t that Romney is weak, it’s how strong he is in such a fractured race where 20+% of the GOP voters express strong reservations about his faith.
Romney has an intelligent and workmanlike plan that will take him a winner in to Tampa- who else can say that?
February 19th, 2012 at 11:39 am
Alaska Caucus (Romney 14, Santorum 6, Ron Paul 7)
Georgia Primary (Newt 60, Romney 6)
Idaho Caucus (Romney 28, Santorum 4)
Massachusetts Primary (Romney 38)
North Dakota Caucus (Romney 14, Santorum 6, Ron Paul
Ohio Primary (Santorum 40, Romney 26)
Oklahoma Primary (Newt 20, Romney 16, Santorum 4)
Tennessee Primary (Santorum 25, Newt 19, Romney
Vermont Primary (Romney 14)
Virginia Primary (Romney 46)
===============================================
A lot of this depends on what happens in Michigan and Arizona. If Santorum wins 1 of them then Gingrich is marginalized even further.
Georgia and Tennessee are WTA if a candidate gets 50% or more. As to Alaska and ND, these are states that Romney won because no one focused on them but Romney. That was also the case in Colorado and Minnesota which Romney lost to Santorum. Also would be willing to bet Santorum ios probably ahead of Gingrich in Oklahoma. Vermont is WTA at CD level and proportional statewide unless a candidate gets 50% or more of the statewide totals. 15% in Massachusetts means 6 delegates not 1. Idaho is also proportional unless the winner gets 50% or more.
The fact that Santorum has not filed any delegates in Tennessee does not matter.
“The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania recruited no committed delegates to appear on the Tennessee’s March 6 ballot, though if he wins the state primary, he will have delegates assigned by the state Republican Party in consultation with his campaign.”
February 19th, 2012 at 11:46 am
Reagan did not officially get enough delegates to win until May 80, but the race was over far sooner. Reagan knocked out Connally and SC. He knocked George Bush down in NH and finished him off in Florida in March 1980. When Ford decided against a late challenge to Reagan, Reagan was home free.
February 19th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Great article in Politico about how much Fox viewership is down.
Look ay Brett Baier’s pgm specifically, down almost 20% in one year!
Rush is down over 50% over his heyday in the Clinton years.
They don’t penetrate and dominate markets anymore.
I was so sick of Fox I got Brett Baier’s person work email and laid out just how, where and why Fox was markedly unfair and unbalanced. To give him credit he responded and we had at each other over a couple of emails.
I told him how much I missed Britt Hume in the position and that Fox had a huge credibility problem with conservatives. Reminded him I was a key target demo for them, 28-46, great disposible income, very loyal to conservative causes…and I was finished with Fox for good.
That was 4 months ago and I haven’t watched since.
In summary, email them and then leave them. Don’t feed traffic or page views to crap sites.
It is no wonder Fox is falling so much, and as we email and leave them they’ll know exactly what the cause was for the poor end effect they find themselves under now.
Romney will win the nom and the general in a wicked fight, and by his not kissing the ring talk radio knows it’s a death knell for them. Look, it happened to the dinosaurs, and now it will happen to conservative talk radio – extinction
February 19th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Franklin….you are quoting the Santorum campaign. The Tennessee state Republican party does not have to award a single delegate to a candidate who has no delegates on ballot. Otherwise, why go to the trouble of finding delegates and alternates ?? What would be the purpose. By the way, the state GOP is pretty much in Romneys corner.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Here is Romneys debate questions to Santorum:
1. Senator, what Olympic Games have you headed up ?
2. Senator, what state have you ever led as Governor?
3. Senator, what businesses have you ever started up and run successfully?
4. Senator, how many jobs have you created directly?
5. Senator, after Pennsylvania voters cancelled your contract in record numbers, exactly what have you done of any significance other than involve yourself with K Street lobbyists?
6. Senator, you endorsed me in 2008 and said I was the most conservative candidate, running against Huckabee and Thompson and McCain.I appreciated your endorsement , but what did you find troubling about Mike Huckabee? I kinda like him.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Hey, just wanted to let you all know that I am a pathetic loser who lives in my parents basement and has no friends. Therefore, I sit around on the internet all day and comment on a blog from which I have been banned and am not wanted. Going so far as to find ways around my banning and forgoing things like personal hygiene, making friends or talking to girls.
And I will continue to make this site the center of my life, instead of say, family, friends, a career, or a girlfriend.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
This Reason magazine article does a good job of summarizing my concerns with Romney, and probably the concerns that many other have with him:
http://reason.com/archives/2012/02/08/consultant-in-chief
Excerpts:
“In No Apology, Romney allows that the United States is “not perfect” and that “America will remain the leading nation in the world only if we overcome our challenges.” But his strategic vision seems tailored to flatter the client. It is inspirational rather than radical, highlighting strengths rather than attacking weaknesses.
So avowedly anti-radical is Romney’s blueprint that he advocates continuing programs he believes do not work. He concedes that Medicare will go bankrupt but promises to preserve and protect it. He insists that government is generally not the “source of new ideas” or “where innovation is commercially developed,” but also stresses that NASA and the military provide “frequent exceptions” to the rule. When American industry is challenged by foreign competition, Romney says he doesn’t “look for protectionist policies as an answer to the company’s problems,” yet he also avers that there may be “occasions when government properly should protect a domestic industry from foreign competition.” It is a consultant’s tap dance, hedged into strategic vision oblivion. ”
“Pick any political issue, and there’s a good chance Romney has taken more than one position on it. He has been both ardently pro-life and staunchly pro-choice. He has described immigration reform proposals that create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants as both “reasonable” and an intolerable form of amnesty. He supported caps on campaign spending and new taxes designed to create a public funding source for elections, then denounced the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act for “hurt[ing] First Amendment Rights.” In 1994 he proudly noted his lack of alignment with the National Rifle Association while supporting waiting periods for gun purchases and bans on the sale of assault weapons; in 2006 he joined the NRA, praising its work in defense of the Second Amendment. ”
“If flip-flopping is Romney’s greatest weakness, his business experience is probably his greatest strength. But can the two be separated? Consultants don’t have ideology; they have strategy. Their job is to take their current client’s side, whatever it is, and put a good polish on it while restoring whatever’s underneath. ”
“In this, his second primary campaign, the problem that consultant Romney has chosen to solve is not the Medicare crisis, the federal debt burden, or sluggish economic growth. Instead, it is how to appeal to a Republican Party torn between Tea Party activists and Beltway moderates. Romney’s insistence on having it both ways at every opportunity reveals not just his own incoherence but a party with irreconcilable goals: a leaner federal government that cuts no major programs, a balanced budget with a beefed-up defense budget, entitlements that are reformed and reduced but never cut or changed. What does Mitt Romney believe? Like the PDF says, he believes in America—and anything America wants him to believe. “
February 19th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Kavon,
Are you going to do something about comment #73 by NoMoreModerates (who is also PabloZed)? That’s disgusting and appalling garbage. If I ran this site, this clown would have been banned long ago.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
February 19th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Sorry to thread steal, but why havent we gotten out daily gallup graphs the last 3 days? Santorum is up EIGHT points and no one is posting on it!!!!
February 19th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
78
Get a clue, troll. That kind of garbage doesn’t belong on any dignified site, and doesn’t come out of the mouth of any decent human being. Your behavior is repugnant.
I have never questioned Santorum’s religious beliefs (which I do not share with him or Romney), and I have never questioned his children or wife, or anything. It’s because I respect the process and myself, and I am unwilling to stoop to the gutter.
You see, the crap you are spewing doesn’t hurt Romney. It hurts you and bothers the readers.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Kavon: Shouldn’t #73 be bannable? (I’ll email it to you as well).
February 19th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Why you all continue to feed the trolls…I’ll never know.
You know what I do when I see NoMoreModerates’s comments? I don’t read then, and I certainly would never reply to one.
If you want No More Moderates/Pablo Zed go away, just do as I suggested above.
February 19th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Hey, this article articulates what we here in NZ feel as well. He seems like the right candidate to win the nomination.
We did notice however, on tv, mainly Fox (we wish there was a channel less agin Romney, but beggars here can’t be chosers, I guess, so we take what we get!) that at a recent rally in Michigan somewhere, although MR acknowledged friends from his past and cracked a joke about any girlfriends, we felt a few things:
1. He could have spent more one-on-one time with the people as he approached the podium; like being seen to actually engage in a brief exchange with one or two of them. He seemed to be almost rushing to the podium to get his speech undereway.
Also, he could have said something like … ‘Oh, hi there Jack Smith,from high school days’, or ‘Hi, Joan Janssen – bio class?’ or something brief and personal like that as he recognized folk in the audience from the podium. We felt that a few intimate moments with the crowd, would have probably touched the hearts of people watching the coverage more than even some of the political points he mentioned in his speech.
2. Does he always speak so fast? We’re no experts, but we thought he kinda rushed through his main points and there didn’t seem enough time to absorb what he was saying. Jmho! I know he has expert advisors, if he needed them, but, just wanted to share what I, and a few friends, thought. Slowing down his speech, not being too long-winded in his explanations, punching out briefly and strongly what he wants to say, and allowing the people to absorb what he is saying, I guess is what we’re saying.
3. Finally, so many times we’ve heard him set out what Obama hasn’t done and what he (MR) will do, and actually wondered if he needed to focus a little more on the republican race now and not repeat the same ol’ same ol’ generalizations at rallies.
During this crucial period before the Michigan people votes in a few days’ time, are there SPECIFIC things that MR can do that will resonate with the local (as in Michigan) voters? Is it possible for him to articulate to the voters somethings that are of interest to the whole country perhaps, but that he can say in such a way that the Michigan voters can ‘make it their own’, as the American Idol judges would say?
I’m rambling, but we really have gotten quite excited about your elections. It’s fascinating stuff.
Can’t wait for when your general elections begin. How exciting to see the two candidates going head to head.
February 19th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
71. Nice try. WSJ Saturday, front section. Get off the net and learn something:)