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Reports

Romney Steals the Spotlight

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Posted on Aug 7, 2007

By E.J. Dionne, Jr.

WASHINGTON—Watch out, Fred Thompson: By the time you get into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney may have run away with your constituency.

    And while Rudy Giuliani and John McCain have decided not to compete in next Saturday’s Republican straw poll in Iowa, they now have a powerful interest in preventing Romney from turning what they had hoped would be a nonevent into a meaningful victory. Look for maneuvering from Romney’s top rivals to strengthen former Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Sam Brownback so they can dilute Romney’s share of the vote—and of the news.

    Sunday’s Republican debate on ABC’s “This Week” suggested what has been obvious to many of the party’s professionals: Of all the candidates, Romney has the most comprehensive strategy not only to win the Republican presidential nomination, but also to position himself for next year’s election.

    Romney has managed to become a favorite of the Republican establishment, including members of the Bush family—Doro Bush Koch, the current president’s sister, has raised money for him, while both Jeb Bush and former President Bush are favorably disposed. At the same time, Romney has distanced himself from the unpopular incumbent.

    “I can tell you I’m not a carbon copy of President Bush,” Romney declared in the ABC debate. Yet he went out of his way to defend the administration when the candidates were asked their view of Dick Cheney’s role as vice president. “I know they make mistakes,” Romney said of Bush and Cheney, “but they have kept us safe these last six years. Let’s not forget that.” The two answers taken together were a form of triangulation worthy of Bill Clinton.

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    In the meantime, Thompson’s decision to delay his entry into the race until the fall is looking like a mistake. His hope had been that he could escape serious scrutiny until he jumped into the contest, allowing him to build his image as a party savior for the sorts of conservatives Romney is appealing to.

    But scrutiny has come to Thompson anyway—notably of a shake-up within his noncampaign and his work as a lobbyist for a pro-choice group. “He missed his optimal timing,” a relieved senior Romney adviser said of Thompson. “He played the kabuki dance just long enough—and then too long.”

    Money has been the single most important factor in Romney’s rise. Understanding that opinion among Republican voters is unsettled and that the political calendar would not permit tarrying, Romney has invested an estimated $8.85 million of his own money in his campaign. He has spent millions on advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire. Romney is counting on the first two contests to propel him to recognition against the better-known Giuliani and McCain.

    The fruits of Romney’s strategy were visible in the Washington Post/ABC News poll released over the weekend, which showed him leading the pack among likely Iowa caucus-goers with 26 percent. Giuliani had 14 percent; Thompson, 13 percent.

    “Romney is playing it completely differently from the other candidates,” says David Winston, a Republican pollster who is neutral in the contest. Noting that Romney’s ads were largely unchallenged by commercials from his competitors, Winston added: “He figured out a way to engage when there was not a lot of clutter.”

    Significantly, the Post/ABC poll found McCain tied with Huckabee for fourth place at 8 percent—a problem for the once front-running McCain and a triumph for Huckabee, whose low-budget campaign needs a strong showing in Iowa.

    Both McCain and Giuliani have an interest in seeing Huckabee and Brownback, Huckabee’s rival for votes of social conservatives, do well in the straw poll at Romney’s expense. Brownback has been doing his part to dent Romney’s standing by strongly challenging the former Massachusetts governor’s flip-flopping on abortion.

    The one moment in the ABC debate when Romney seemed agitated came when Brownback attacked his anti-abortion credentials, and Romney went out of his way to say that his previous support for abortion rights was his “greatest mistake.” Romney knows that his very skill at political positioning could also be his undoing.

    Still, when he was asked about healthcare, Romney rebuked conservative orthodoxy: He insisted that “tax exemptions” were not enough to cover the uninsured because “the people that don’t have insurance aren’t paying taxes.”

    As a rule, Republicans don’t think much about people too poor to pay a lot in taxes. It’s another reason why Romney could pose a serious danger not only to Giuliani, McCain and Thompson, but also to the Democrats.   

    E.J. Dionne’s e-mail address is postchat(at)aol.com.  

    © 2007, Washington Post Writers Group


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By DetainThis, August 10, 2007 at 3:22 am Link to this comment

#92914 by John on 8/07 at 2:08 pm:

You all are joking right? Romney? It’s Ron Paul all the way. Interesting that Truthdig nor Huffington Post EVER mention him.

No doubt. There is a reason, John.

Truthdig is a great site, but it is also a rather partisan (Democrat/liberal) site. Not only is Ron Paul the biggest threat to the Mainstream Mafia, the neocons, and the other Republican candidates; he is also the only Republican candidate with a snowball’s chance in hell of defeating any Democrat you put him up against.

No other Republican candidate brings so many people from so many social and political backgrounds together under the same umbrella (that is to say, the huge majority of Americans opposed to perpetual war, corporatism, big brother statism, and the death of the Constitution). Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Truthdig, Huffington Post, The Daily Kommunist, et al., to give Dr. Paul the MSM-esque shaft.

Ron Paul should actually be named Truthdigger of the Millennium for his adamantly expressed willingness to abolish the IRS and the Federal Reserve, and for exposing the neocons, MIC, and other inconvenient truths at every turn; yet unfortunately for us Truthdiggers who are also Ron Paul supporters, he’s not a Democrat or liberal. And Truthdig is not about to roll out the red carpet for a conservative Republican — even the one who is the strongest on individual liberty and the most constitutionally ethical, humble, and peace-loving statesman of our time.

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By nonsequitor, August 9, 2007 at 1:44 am Link to this comment

” perhaps its because its a ratings game for both of these blog sites?

I mean winning a Webby is pretty darn important.  ;o) “


...well it’s our votes that win them their webbies.

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By mas, August 8, 2007 at 4:21 pm Link to this comment

#92914 by John on 8/07 at 2:08 pm
(Unregistered commenter)

You all are joking right?  Romney?  It’s Ron Paul all the way.  Interesting that Truthdig nor Huffington Post EVER mention him.

I totally agree with John…
I have asked both Huffy and Truthdig to cover Ron Paul, the North American Union, the Amero and such but I get the same response as I do from all the local news channels and radio talk shows here in Portland….
I get NOTHING.

perhaps its because its a ratings game for both of these blog sites?

I mean winning a Webby is pretty darn important.  ;o)

Just the way Romneys several supporters were photographed to make it look like he had a huge following, and how Ron Pauls 100’s of supporters were projected to be one guy in the rain…shows us how blatant people can be.

Its ridiculess.

The Neo-Cons are in a position of power…

http://www.newamericancentury.org/

They are not afraid to brag about who they are and what their plans are for this great country

http://www.eagleforum.org/topics/NAU/

We need to WAKE up !!

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By rage, August 8, 2007 at 9:28 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

What?!!

I didn’t think Ugly Freddy had that many Mormon wishy-washy vacationing dog killers who loathed Rotten Rudy the brain-dead dress-wearing infidel in his constituency!

Boy, ain’t that good news!

Better warn Slimfast Huckabee and Pope Brownback, as I am sure this John Smith vision, coupled with Big Love popularity, greatly cuts in on the god-hold the Papacy and the fascistly megachurched once boasted.

The good news is that the good Mr. Ron Paul is safe as the only GOP candidate worthy of a space on the ticket.

Whew! I had begun to worry!

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By Outraged, August 7, 2007 at 4:05 pm Link to this comment

Romney is about as concerned a citizen of those without as GW.  Did you like the way he “slipped” it in, that people without insurance don’t pay taxes!  Really Mitt! Prove that! I didn’t hear him even MENTION the large corporations and degenerate RICH that don’t pay their fair share of taxes and many times none at ALL, undercut workers wages and don’t offer their lower wage” employees insurance.

Mitt and others like him use “social programs, i.e. W2 & Foodstamps” to force down the wages of EVERYONE but the very top executives by requiring those at the very bottom to accept positions which do nothing to lift those at the bottom up, but in fact, ensure that they will stay there forever.  The trickle up effect is already being seen with the pay of middle class positions growing stagnant.  Yet, these corps. make record profits.  Of course, they’ve ensured themselves a never ending supply of low wage workers by undercutting the safety net.

The article quotes:
“Still, when he was asked about healthcare, Romney rebuked conservative orthodoxy: He insisted that “tax exemptions” were not enough to cover the uninsured because “the people that don’t have insurance aren’t paying taxes.”

As a rule, Republicans don’t think much about people too poor to pay a lot in taxes. It’s another reason why Romney could pose a serious danger not only to Giuliani, McCain and Thompson, but also to the Democrats.”


While the middle class do pay an unfair portion of INCOME TAXES (remember that’s just one tax), it isn’t because of the POOR sucking the system dry, it’s because the RICH are scheming at every level to make sure they don’t pay AT ALL and then convieniently blaming the poor. It’s a facist tactic.

Sure, vote republican, and throw your raise and your paycheck out the windowon your way home from work.  As for Ron Paul, NO WAY, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

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By John, August 7, 2007 at 3:08 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

You all are joking right?  Romney?  It’s Ron Paul all the way.  Interesting that Truthdig nor Huffington Post EVER mention him.

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By THOMAS BILLIS, August 7, 2007 at 11:35 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

EJ alcohol before you writea column is not a good idea.The only problem the Democrats have is the Democrats.When the TV ads start showing the many sides of Romney’s positions flip flopper will be something he will look forward to being called.If he changes parties and goes back to his previous positions I guess he will coin a new word flip flopper flip.The only ones who can screw it up for democrats in 08 are the democrats and I am sure they will try.

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By Louise, August 7, 2007 at 10:20 am Link to this comment

My impression was quite different, but then I tend to favor things with real flavor.

Overall impression was a mixture of mirth and embarrassment. How on earth can there still be people in this country who take any of these “candidates” observations seriously?

Someday I suspect those people will feel a twinge of embarrassment too.

Like the folks who apologize now, because they voted for Bush.

However, in the unlikely event that Romney actually does become our next president, I hope he will return to his roots long enough to remember some of the teachings of his prophet Joseph Smith. Like, in the “last days” when the “Elders of the Church” will rise up and save the Constitution.

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By Skruff, August 7, 2007 at 8:51 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

So the pundints tell me it’s shaping up to be a Rommney/Clinton match up!

As if either of these two yahoos could face, honestly,  the challenges presented today.

I’m getting my Canadian citizenship papers in order… I figure I’ll have about 2 months after the election to get my ass the hell outta here!

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By mike, August 7, 2007 at 8:50 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I still think is kind of weird that the necons are running toward a mormon.  these are the people that say other “main stream ” churchs are not real christians.  Most conservative christians I have meet will tell you mormons are a cult at best and satans offsprings at worst.  But I have said it before You could rip the head off a baby and drink its blood but if you are agianst gay marriage and abortions the evangelicals will vote for you

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By nonsequitor, August 7, 2007 at 8:42 am Link to this comment

‘Romney Steals the Spotlight’

...and everything else that wasn’t nailed down.

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