GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
With Romney’s rise in early states and his strong organization coupled with strong resume, Romney has become the “betters” choice among Senators and Congressman it appears. John from Powerline blogs that many Senators are regrouping to Mitt:
I was in Washington today for a combination of business, politics and pleasure. I met with a number of Republican Congressmen and Senators, attended a press conference, and followed events on the Senate floor. Here are a few random thoughts on the day’s events…
* The Fred Thompson campaign recently set up an event for 60 of Congress’s most solid conservatives. Many of them were hoping to be able to endorse Thompson. Unfortunately, Thompson did not impress the Congressmen. He did not appear to be ready for a tough Presidential campaign. One of his aides explained that Thompson was “rusty,” which, as one Congressman told me, did not inspire much confidence in this YouTube era. Some of those who attended are now looking at Mitt Romney as the most viable conservative in the race.
On the Senatorial side we have two solid senators (DeMint and Bennett) making the same claim. Granted, both of the Senators are Romney supporters, yet both are solid Conservatives with a reputation among the party faithful. One participant at Monday’s fundraising event in Boston, who is very close to the campaign, sent me this in an email and gave me permission to quote:
I had a similar discussion with Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, also a passionate supporter. He told me that the vast majority of his Senate colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, feel that Mitt will be the Republican nominee. He also said that a majority of his Democrat associates in the Senate feel that Mitt would be the toughest opponent for their nominee based on his skills, message and personality.
And we all remember from a few days ago my interview with Bob Bennett:
It should also be noted that a man at the table I sat with in Boston spoke to Bennett and the Senator told him that Bill Clinton himself expressed that the Clinton’s are planning on a Hillary v. Romney match up. I also find it interesting that with several Senators and Former Senators in the running, we see that majority still looks to Romney.
Now this begs the question, do endorsements from Congress matter? Of course they do. Evidence number 1: All the candidates are working to woo the support of Congress. Congressman and Senators have long lists of supporters, contributors and networks from their own campaigns. Generally congressman and senators enjoy some degree of popularity within their districts/states and generally have the support and sway of their state party.
Bennett alludes to Senators who are endorsing other candidates but their hearts are in Boston. This isn’t a surprise. As we saw with Blackburn, sometimes state party politics and future political aspirations trump your own personal preferences. That’s not criticism, just reality.
So it will be interesting to see how many Senators decide to get in the fray and when. Then we will see how correct this information I have gleaned is.
June 30th, 2007 at 9:33 am
This behind the scenes chatter is interesting. You’ve got to recall though that the Senate and House contain Republicans primarily from red states or red districts.
The moderate and liberal candidates are getting most of their support from blue states and blue districts. Those districts are the ones that have the moderate Republicans who support the moderates in the race.
June 30th, 2007 at 10:09 am
After conservatives in both parties vehemently doubted their senator’s wisdom on immigration, do you really believe that American voters will blindly follow their recommendations, as well as that of the Clintons, and obediently march into the polls to vote for whom those senators want to be president when the polls show them to truly want someone else?
June 30th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Jason,
Jim Talent is a former one-term senator from Missouri who was defeated last November by Claire McCaskill.
June 30th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Sorry, Don’t know why I put Talent, as you can tell from the quote it was Demint.
June 30th, 2007 at 11:02 am
con Grad Student,
Good point.
The question you are raising, essentially, is whether a more conservative candidate like Romney can in fact reach out to the centrist in the wing as much as a Giuliani. I of course think he does. Here are my reasons:
1. Romney record on health care already appeals to Dems that I know. Despite what others come up with, Romney will still be the first out of any party to successfuly pass a major reform in the health care coverage.
2. Romney’s message on issues such as families will speak to working class Dems, such as hispanics and union working families in the Bread Belt.
3. Romney’s ability to articulate so clearly and effectively will be a breath of fresh for moderate republicans and cnetrist who are tired of the Bush days.
Of course, this is my spin.
As violist it was kind of an odd spot to bea at the fundraiser. I was sitting with Venture capitilist, and corporate lawyers. When you asked them why Romney, they all responded they have never seen a campaign as organized and well ran as the Romney campaign, down to the smallest detail.
One guy I talked to went to meeting in Boston a year and half ago and wads undecided. When he saw the financial world heavy weights (I’m talking top CEO’s) in the room he said there was no doubting. He told me this after the wife of the CEO of Proctor and Gamble walked away from our table. It’s going to be a tough act to beat when it comes down to get out the vote. These people know how to run an organization, have made their livings off of this.
June 30th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Nice Romneyspin on a meeting that actually took place back in April. Strangely, news reports at the time had no mention of a failure on Fred’s part to “impress the Congressmen,” nor that FDT did not “appear to be ready for a tough Presidential campaign,” of Fred being “rusty,” nor that Thompson “did not inspire much confidence,” and especially not mention that some of the attendees “are now looking at Mitt Romney as the most viable conservative in the race.”
The Associated Press is not known for being GOP-friendly or fair to conservatives. Yet the actual AP news report of the meeting at the time carried the headline “House GOP Gush Over Actor Fred Thompson.�
Here’s an excerpt from the story:
“WASHINGTON — The welcome for Fred Thompson wasn’t just warm, it was effusive. The former Tennessee senator and actor is still weighing whether to run for the GOP presidential nomination but House Republicans who met with him Wednesday gushed over the prospects of Thompson candidacy.�
“They called him presidential, a leader, a proven conservative, an exciting prospect and ‘a breath of fresh air.’�
-snip-
“Even those congressmen who wouldn’t yet commit offered praise.�
“’Very impressive,’ said Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla. ‘He has the charisma and the fortitude to lead our nation at what is a very difficult time.’ And Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., called Thompson a straight shooter, and said: ‘I’m looking for somebody that can excite America again.’�
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/18/AR2007041801976.html
Truth is, The Romneyites are trying to rewrite history. A look at Mitt’s numbers in the national polls explains why:
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics (6/27) - 8%
Rasmussen Reports (6/26) - 12%
CNN/Opinion Research (6/25) - 9%
Newsweek (6/23) - 12%
Cook/RT Strategies (6/19) - 7%
USA Today/Gallup - (6/18) - 7%
Harris (6/14) - 11%
American Research Group (6/13) - 10%
NBCNews/WSJ (6/13) - 14%
Quinnipiac (6/13) - 10%
LA Times/Bloomberg (6/11) - 10%
Associated Press/Ipsos (6/9) - 10%
McLaughlin & Associates (6/5) - 8%
Average across all polls: 8.3%
No wonder the Mittites are engaging in acts of pure desperation.
June 30th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Jason,
The powerline story was a plant. It’s been debunked. Check the hotair article on it.
June 30th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Tommy, you should know by now that people would like to have the link. So, if you may, please?
June 30th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I suppose this is the link you (Tommy) are referring to? http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/29/powerline-congressional-republicans-less-than-impressed-with-fred/