Can Anything Stop Mitt Romney?
After a narrow victory in the Iowa caucuses, former Massachusetts Gov. Romney won the New Hampshire primary decisively, making him two-for-two in the GOP presidential nomination process. Romney, who ran for president in 2008, has long been a top-tier candidate. However, his front-runner status has been threatened multiple times by the rise and fall of a series of “non-Romneys” throughout the campaign, as the Republican’s Party’s conservative wing resists backing the moderate candidate. Winning in both Iowa and New Hampshire has boosted Romney’s momentum into South Carolina’s January 21 primary, but his rivals refuse to back down yet. Here is Debate Club’s take: Can anything stop Mitt Romney?
The Arguments
No — None of the other GOP candidates is likely to make it past Florida
DAVID CROCKETT, Author of 'Running Against the Grain: How Opposition Candidates Win Presidential Elections' Comment (3)
Yes — If S.C. knocks out Perry, Santorum, or Gingrich, conservatives could coalesce behind a Non-Romney
MATTHEW DICKINSON, Professor at Middlebury College Comment (6)
No — With steady campaign, Romney limits foes' chances to rally against him
ROB COLLINS, Former Chief of Staff for Majority Leader Eric Cantor Comment (1)
Yes — Nothing can stop him in the primaries, but GOP issues with race will not go away
SIMON ROSENBERG, President and Founder of NDN Comment
Yes — The damage Romney's GOP rivals do in the primary will only bloody him to be defeated in the general election
KRYSTAL BALL, Former Democratic Nominee for Congress Comment (9)
No — As his New Hampshire speech shows, Mitt Romney knows the nomination contest is over
FERGUS CULLEN, Former Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party Comment
No — It is unlikely other GOP candidates have organization or money to stop Romney
RON BONJEAN, Former Chief of Staff for the Senate Republican Conference Comment (2)
Yes — United base must remind Republican voters of Mitt Romney's liberal past
JUDSON PHILLIPS, Founder of Tea Party Nation Comment (14)
