The endorsement of Mitt Romney’s presidential bid by John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, was the latest indication that Romney is the GOP establishment’s heir apparent.
As Romney, who picked up McCain’s endorsement last week, appears to be gliding to a comfortable victory in New Hampshire’s primary Tuesday, the next major campaign stop, and the GOP establishment begins to rally behind him, he has still yet to capture the trust, energy, and esteem of many rank-and-file Republicans, let alone the Tea Party activists.
The prevailing wisdom among GOP establishmentarians and Romney backers may be: “Take it or leave it, it’s going to be Romney versus Barack Obama.” But if Romney is unable to energize his party’s base, he will suffer the same fate as McCain, a clear defeat.
McCain’s 2000 and 2008 bids for the Republican presidential nomination in many ways mirror the candidacy of Romney. In 2000 McCain was labeled the moderate or liberal candidate against George W. Bush. Some went so far to label him a RINO – Republican in Name Only.
In 2008, McCain had experience competing in early primary states and better understood the various constituencies. As such, he pivoted, campaigning as a conservative-ish choice for Republicans. But he still received backlash, especially by the most conservative primary voters who resisted the Arizona senator because they believed he was soft on issues of great importance to conservatives such as campaign finance reform. He suffered a dismal fourth-place finish in conservative Iowa but rebounded in New Hampshire and elsewhere.
McCain’s 2008 campaign pivot was not what won him the nomination though, He essentially prevailed through attrition, an attitude prevailed that McCain was the best of a lackluster lineup – the safe pick with the best chance of beating the Democrats. McCain perhaps also benefited from a GOP loyalty factor, that is, the belief that he paid his dues and was next in line (a perception that benefited the successful candidacies Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush).
Romney is still viewed as a RINO by many Republicans and is not popular among Tea Party activists. In fact, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley prompted blowback from Tea Partiers in her state because she….
Read more from Brian Calle, California Political Review.
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Hmmm, Mitt like John McRino? Well, you know what they say about them birds of a feather
Not no, but heck yes! Romney is nothing more than a white, water down version of Obama. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
If you want an Obama revisited for 2012, go right ahead and be stupid for another 4 years. Stupid is as stupid does.
Can't believe you dumb down masses out there haven't learned your lesson yet! Are you that dumb out there? Pay attention, read, research, make up your own mind and use your brain, instead of listening to the leftist commie propaganda. Think for yourself. Romney is a professional flip flopper, he loves the Obama "take over America Health Care Plain." He is Obama's other white brother. Wake Up America. Think, use your common sense.
If I must hold my nose and vote in November for the lesser of the evils, consider this: Obama is a liberal and honest enough to admit it. Romney is a liberal but dishonest by lying about it, The lesser of the evils is obviously obama who is the most honest of the two.
Not NO but HELL NO!! But if that's the best these baffoons can come up with better him than Odumba. But again we would have to vote for the "lesser of the two evils"
The whole thing is fixed! They have us thinking we're actually doing something that will help the country, but all they want us to do is vote Democrat for a couple terms, then Republican for a couple terms, and nothing ever really changes. When McCain endorsed Romney, the red flag really started waving for me. They don't want us to vote for Ginghrich, so I think he's our candidate. He'll really take it to Obama in the debates, and he will definitely start putting the country back on the right track. Yes, he's a little quirky and over-the-top, but a better choice than Romney. Ginghrich is very impressive in the debates.
If you want to know who NOT to vote for listen to the advice of the liberal media pundits.
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How nice of the Republicans to force such a worthless "candidate" on us.
They have made my choice for me. I either vote for Ron Paul, writing him in if necessary, or don't vote at all.
I REFUSE to vote for the lesser of two evils.
Oblameo or Romney, doesn't make a difference who is sitting in the chair, it will be SSDD. At least I will know I am not responsible for which one finishes off America.
I stuck to my morals and values.
Ron Paul 2012