Thursday, November 12, 2009

Opinion

Michael Barone

John McCain Was One Lucky Guy in Primary Race With Romney

April 07, 2008 03:18 PM ET | Michael Barone | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

yo

I think that John McCain wasn't so lucky beacause he was kind of slow compared to Barrack Obama. Yea so yea okay. yea bye.

Where there's smoke...

I find it interesting that most of the people posting against Romney seem only able to spew out emotional out bursts of knee-jerk innuendo and trash talk.

Even the abundant use of debunked talking points belies a hinden agenda.

The more I looked at the guy the more a saw a brilliant, squeaky clean, talented, successful man.

What's so wrong with American that we can't stomach having a real can-do person as president even if he might not be the most fun guy at a beer party or on a hunting trip???

Democrat VP

If McCain wants Huckabee so bad, Obama should take Romney as his VP. It sounds crazy but that would certainly show an ability to cross party lines. Besides, Romney knows money. He should be nearby to offer solutions to the current economic quagmire. An Obama / Romney or "Obamaroma" ticket might be a great thing. Also before all the republicans chime in and call me stupid, think about this. If Romney goes as an Obama VP, no matter what a Republican gets the presidency or veep spot. That's a win/win.

Okay, feel free to lambast me now.

Romney is...

Romney is to Republican Politics what Obama is becoming to Democratic politics... divisive and elitist.

Romney's support was strongest among what one might typically refer to as the "Rockefeller" wing of the Republican party. They are the "buy the company, export the jobs and pocket the profits" wing of the Republican party, aka Wall Street wing of the party.

Its not what Romney stands for that cost him so much of his support from the other segments of the Republican party (neo and social cons), but rather the fact that he ran a hideously negative campaign against both McCain and Huckabee. Its possible that the neo-cons that rallied early around McCain will kiss and make up with Romney, but the social cons most likely won't, at least for a while.

Most social conservatives that I know are holding their nose at the prospect of voting for McCain. But if you throw Romney in the mix as the VP, then there's a real possibility that Social Conservatives will either stay home, vote for Hillary or Obama or cast their vote for a 3rd party candidate. Romney poisoned the well in his scorched earth run for the nomination and I hope that McCain has the common sense to realize that Romney as VP will cost him his last shot at the White House.

Romney

Absolutely agree with Steven Rinehart , CO. Huckabee was a spoiler, and the dirtiest fighter of the season with his pastoral innuendo people mistook for sincerity and charm. And he cost us one who would have been the best President easily of 2008 lot. Two other faces emerge on the VP short list this week: Lindsey Graham, SC who could be a blockbuster even for Obama; and Gen. David Petraeus, who is likely far too busy elsewhere to consider or to accept.

Romney

Ugh. Huckabee and his inbred cronies caused Romney to lose the nomination. They will also cause the GOP to lose the Presidency, and the country as a whole to lose a man (Romney) who would have been the best President the US has ever had.

Mitt Romney made a huge donation to American Politics

Great article,.

Dems and GOP suck about as much as electronic voting machines. In the past three decades, what polititian on either side has actually solved a single top 5 issue? None.

Romney is compotent and goverment accountabilty office will see his influence

meaningless discussion

And if Green Bay would have scored three more points in regulation, the New York Giants wouldn't have won the Super Bowl. And if Memphis would have scored one more point in regulation they would be NCAA champs today instead of Kansas. And if the Pittsburgh Penguins score one more goal in regulation in 1982 the New York Islanders have no dynasty. Shoulda, woulda, coulda-who cares? The GOP elite tried to jam Mitt Romney down our throats but every time he really, really needed a win-he couldn't deliver. No matter how much money he spent. McCain was not my first choice but at least he has a chance to capitalize on the Dems current chaos. Mitt wouldn't carry ten states.

David Anderson

Only two kinds of people support Romney. One is Mormons. The other is the dog-eat-dog Republican right wing that has destroyed America's economy with their greedy, short-sighted view of the world. There is a big difference between being good at exploiting other people to enrich yourself, and administering a large budget in a judicious and effective way. Romney may be good at making himself rich, but he would be clueless in Washington. If you doubt that, look at who is supporting him (Rove and Hannity!).

Mike Huckabee was unlucky

Another way to consider the Republican primary season is to wonder what would have happened if bad weather had not cost Mike Huckabee many votes in northwest South Carolina, and he had defeated McCain there. Also, bad weather in areas where he was popular probably cost Mike Huckabee the victory in winner-take-all Missouri. Mike Huckabee also won the Louisiana popular vote but got zero delegates because he did not have more than 50% of all the votes there.

Those are real events. The calculation about Romney is mythical, based on nothing. Romney was lucky that Michigan was early where he won on the strength of his father's name. But the biggest factor is that the media were determined to elect Romney and defeat Huckabee. Next time Huckabee will not be an unknown and next time Romney may think twice about spending $100 million not to be nominated. Justice may yet prevail.

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Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report and principal coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics. He has written for many publications—including the Economist and the New York Times.

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