Has the Drawn-out Primary Crippled Romney's Chances Against Obama? >
Mitt Romney Was Bruised, Not Broken in the GOP Primaries
President Obama still has a lot to worry about
April 4, 2012
About Ron Bonjean:
Ron Bonjean is a partner with Singer Bonjean Strategies and the owner of the Bonjean Company, both full service public affairs firms. He was chief of staff for the Senate Republican Conference under Sen. Jon Kyl.
The long drawn out primary battle between GOP candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum left many Republicans wondering if it would ever end. And would it hurt the chances of our nominee going into the general election now that it has gone on for so long. While he has not secured the GOP nomination officially, Romney is now the unofficial Republican flagbearer against President Obama.
[See a collection of political cartoons on Mitt Romney.]
While Romney was bruised during the primaries, he is not broken. One only has to look at the Obama campaign TV ad this week attacking the former governor on high gasoline prices. The president also made the attempt to link Romney to the House Republican budget in the same week. If Romney is so incredibly damaged beyond repair, why would the Obama machine spend $1 million in advertising and deploy the president with a hatchet attack against him?
[See pictures of Mitt Romney.]
Romney has a great chance to become president and the Democratic Party is rushing to define him before Republicans can make it referendum on the Obama's leadership. Obama's support can fold like a house of cards. Battleground states are still up for grabs and independents haven't made up their minds. Romney must make the case that he has a better plan on tackling the economy, lowering gas prices and growing jobs. The voters will then decide whether they feel better off than they did four years ago. Obama has a lot to worry about before November.
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- Other Arguments
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#15416
No — Primary process proves Mitt Romney can move previously unfriendly voters into his column
FORD O'CONNELL, Republican Strategist, Conservative Activist, and Political Analyst
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#24612
No — Mitt Romney has learned important lessons that will be pivotal against Obama
JAMIE CHANDLER, Political Scientist at Hunter College
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#31611
No — Romney has become stronger, and the GOP is not as divided as it seems
LARA BROWN, Author of 'Jockeying for the American Presidency: The Political Opportunism of Aspirants'
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#41111
No — The GOP nomination battle will have little or no effect on Romney's race against the president
MICHAEL MARSHALL, Policy Adviser and Communications Director to former Sen. Bob Dole
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#61618
Yes — The drawn-out primary has forced Mitt Romney to take extreme positions
KRYSTAL BALL, MSNBC Contributor and former Democratic nominee for Congress
