Breaking News: Mitt Romney to rejoin GOP race?
Ya gotta love The LA Times, they seem to have some of the best stuff of late on Romney…
Josh Romney, one of former Gov. Mitt Romney’s five sons, says it’s “possible” his father may rejoin the race for the White House, either as a vice presidential candidate or seek to become the Republican Party’s standard bearer if the campaign of Sen. John McCain falters.
The 60-year-old Romney, who “suspended” his campaign for the GOP nomination after a disappointing showing on Super Tuesday and a week later endorsed McCain, was taking a break from politics this weekend on a skiing vacation in Utah with his wife Ann, according to his 32-year-old son.
The elder Romney, who was unable to assemble sufficient conservative support to thwart McCain, has made no public comment since the McCain camp was rocked….
Further into the article:
After a full year of campaigning for his father around the country, Josh Romney, who is the only Romney clan member to reside in Utah, is reported to be considering a race for the House of Representatives as a Republican representing Utah’s 2nd Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democrat Jim Matheson.
In an interview with the Deseret Morning News to be published in Monday’s editions, the younger Romney admits he is considering the House race. “I’m pretty young,” he says, “but I’ve had good experience on the campaign trail.” He campaigned for his father all year and investing the summer visiting all 99 of Iowa’s counties.
Josh Romney said he was gauging the impact of a political life on his career as a real estate developer and on his young family, his wife Jen and their three children, Gracie, who is 5, Wyatt, who’s 3, and Owen, who’s one.
He was asked about speculation that given the McCain troubles his father might re-enter the Republican race either as a candidate for the top spot or as the party nominee’s vice presidential partner and Romney replies it’s “possible.” Then, he adds, “unlikely, but possible.”
It was the first sign from the Romney camp or family that the former Massachusetts governor’s political plans for 2008 were anything but over.
Such a move could provide a possible rallying point for conservatives, who awaited a perfect conservative candidate and held back from supporting Romney all during 2007 while the campaigns of other conservatives including Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and Fred Thompson collapsed.
By the time they began drifting toward Romney, McCain, whose campaign also collapsed earlier in 2007, had assembled a string of wins in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida and went on to win California and build a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.
A Ticket item here Sunday noted Romney’s graceful exit from the Republican race, which was characterized by the unusual absence of a follow-up plea for donations to retire campaign debt. The Romney campaign cost $98 million, $42.3 million of it contributed by the candidate himself.
But don’t look for Josh Romney to lend his name to the McCain campaign. “It’s one thing to campaign for my dad, someone whose principles I line up with almost entirely,” he told Lisa Riley Roche. “I can’t say the same thing for Sen. McCain.”
As of early Monday morning the Romney campaign website remain shuttered, displaying only a photo of the smiling Romney couple and a thank you message extolling the greatness of America.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Sorry Anne Marie, I just posted this on your “memories” post just before you had finished posting this one. It sure would be nice to have him back. I just wish he had stayed in. But then, the NYT wouldn’t have published that “groundbreaking” story on McCain just yet would they?
February 25th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Unlikely, but possible. I don’t think it will happen. If Romney had wanted to re-enter, he should never have endorsed McCain. But maybe VP could possibly be on the horizon? I think Josh may have a real chance in Utah. I think the Utahns are pretty angry about Mitt being overlooked and they may elect Josh just because he is a Romney. He seems to have no political experience at all other than campaigning with Dad.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Wow, great news! Last nght after looking at pictures of Mitt and posting, what felt like a farwell to the Romneys, I was so depressd. Then my computer crashed so I have been up all night fixing it, with a lot of prayer ; ) I just kept thinking with Mitt gone, we will be stuck with 2 dem/liberal candidates. Woooo hooo Romneys….. Just maybe Mitt realized what an incredible impact he had on our country and took a good second look. I hope so. We sure need you Mitt! I’m glad I checked the website before getting some rest. Josh go for it. I never did care much for Matheson, I’m sure I’m not alone on that either. God bless, you are in my prayers
Elizabeth
Utah
February 25th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
If Romney has released all of his delegates to McCain how would this factor into the equation? Technically Mitt can get back in but how would that play in the media and the party?
I would think that gearing up for 2012 would be a much better strategy. I have spoken with friends connected to the DC political scene and they all thought that Mitt’s weakness was in retail politics. He was far better near the end of his campaign and it should not be as much of an issue this the next time around.
February 25th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Stephen, Romney can’t give his delegates away, the people decided and he can’t just hand them over even though he endorsed McCain. Iti s up to the delegtes. My understanding anyway……..: )
February 25th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Leslie, “He seems to have no political experience at all,” so were many of our Congressmen and women when they first run for this position. You only need your convictions and principles for this position and nothing else, as it can be hard to work with over 430 men and women! There is no executive experience requirements, and as long as you know how to gather comments/data and reaching out to your constituents, you will be great for this job. Josh would be great for this job.
February 25th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Elizabeth, it depends on each state. They have their own rules on how delegates are to be reallocated. Some of them do permit the candidate to endore. I am not sure Mitt won any of those states, though.
And Stephan, nothing is final until the national party convention. Yes, these delegates are pledged to McCain, but if McCain did something horribly between now and then, they could switch to other candidate.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I don’t think Mitt will re-announce an actual campaign, but if, by some strange miracle, Huckabee manages to keep McCain under 1191, I think there is a chance Mitt would re-enter the race on the second ballot. Huckabee has lost favor with most of the establishment, and if McCain can’t clinch between now and then, he would deffinately be damaged.
VP is another possibility, and Romney has to be on the list - McCain is a fool if he isn’t. That would be ideal, since McCain is likely a one-term guy, and Romney would be able to run as the favorite in four years. But lets face it, McCain and Romney don’t seem to like each other, and despite the love-fest during the endorsement, I haven’t heared of any major contact between the two.
It will probably be 2012 before we see Mitt on the ballot again.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I first noticed Mitt Romney at the 2004 RNC. I enjoyed his speech. He left a very good impression with me. When I learned that he may run for president, I began to research his record. After doing my research, I concluded that this man was the GOP’s best candidate. I supported him since he announced.
Romney was able to rise from about 2% in the polls to about 30%. That was quite a feat. When he lost in California, Romney rightfully bowed out of the race.
I now miss reading about Romney on the campaign trail. I appreciate the enthusiasm this site has for Romney but facts are facts, it is over for Romney in 2008. I do not think he will re-enter the race and I do not think he will be picked for VP. Romney’s future is bright though. He has eight years to solidify himself as a conservative candidate.
It is time to get behind John McCain as Romney has. We cannot allow Obama or Clinton picking the next four Supreme Court Justices. Country is more important than personal feelings for a particular candidate. Our candidate lost. It is time to get behind the candidate that won.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
This idea that McCain is in trouble and may leave an opening in the Republican nomination is liberal MSM nonsense. The lobbyist allegations have fallen flat, strengthened the general view that the NYT is nothing more than leftist toilet paper, and if anything has encouraged some conservatives to rally to McCain’s defense. These past few days that the McCain campaign has been faltering have seen him strengthen his showing against Obama in most polls.
McCain will be - is our nominee. Whether we support him doesn’t change that; it only changes how he performs in November. The way I see it, is that Romney himself exited this race for the one purpose of unifying our party behind McCain, so that somebody worse doesn’t enter the White House and undermine our troops overseas. It was an amazing patriotic gesture, so much so that I am considering voting for McCain so that Romney’s sacrifice will not be in vain.
The point is that Mitt Romney will not rejoin the race this year, at least not as a Presidential candidate. If McCain does get weakened by one circumstance or another, then he’ll lose in November and Romney will be frontrunner, run, and win in 2012. If McCain wins, there will be questions of whether he seeks a second term, and that will give Romney an opportunity in 2012, or if not, 2016 (if McCain could be reelected at 76, Romney could be elected at a young looking 68.)
Maybe, though not too likely, Romney will be VP candidate, but there is no point for Romney to reenter the race for the Presidency and he won’t. It would undermine his patriotic reason for leaving after Feb. 5. It would cause divisiveness and confusion that would excite the liberal press that is promoting the possibility. All that would emerge is a weakened candidate that would leave Obama smiling. Mitt Romney has based his career and his candidacy on thinking positively and thinking forward. He’s thinking about 2012 now, as should we.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Paulie, I suppose you are right….but it was nice to be able to think about a re-entry for a few moments….(heavy sigh)….
February 26th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Yes Karen, I agree with you. (A very heavy sigh from me!)
February 26th, 2008 at 2:32 am
The world is too important to wait for 2012, we need Mitt now in 2008!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I need a few more votes to get this posted on Realclearpolitics.com - Please go to the website below and vote for the article.
Why Mitt as VP helps McCain more than Huckabee
A state by state look at the numbers shows that Gov. Romney would be a significantly better choice than Gov. Hukabee as Sen. McCain’s VP. Even considering the GOP’s need to do well in the South, the numbers show that Gov. Romney is a better choice than Gov. Huckabee.
Submitted By BuckeyeGOP - Feb 26, 10:02 am 9 votes | VOTE
http://realclearpolitics.com/readerarticles/?period=all
February 26th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
If Huckabee keeps McCain from the magic number…then maybe a Brokered Convention would be in line. Romney could then stand before the convention, as could anyone else, and make their case for being President. That is the conservatives only hope…McCain is never going to win, never.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:07 am
Jebreel, I agree!! Mitt is fit to be VP