Heed McCain's Warning on Immigration
Someone should listen to John McCain. Asked by em> First Read
Seriously, Why Won't Perry Drop Out?
So it looks like the indications are that Rick Perry, former front-runner, last place finisher in the 2011 Republican Debate Tournament, is not hanging up his brush jacket yet. Despite his very melancholy nigh-concession last night, the Texas governor seems to be headed to South Carolina instead …
The Road Ahead
In the wake of the Iowa caucuses, what matters now is not the exact order of Romney, Santorum, and Paul; the numbers are very close. What does matter is the range between the candidates. Iowa gives us basically a tie between Romney and Santorum, with both at around 25%. Ron Paul comes out a strong …
The Expectations Game
Byron York has a tough read on the meaning of the Iowa result for Romney. In the end, Romney escaped humiliation, and he did it at far less cost than in 2007-2008, when he gave Iowa everything he had in his first run for the GOP nomination. "If you look back four years ago, we had 52 paid …
Wargaming The Caucuses
Result 1: Romney wins, Santorum second, Paul third, Gingrich fourth, Perry fifth. This is the result indicated by last day's polling. If it eventuates, this will be a very short nominating contest. Romney will proceed to win in New Hampshire. Perry and Gingrich will try to make a last stand …
Waiting Time in Iowa
I attended Romney's closing rally last night in Des Moines. Very professionally done, introduction by Senator John Thune. Three themes really stood out: * Romney opened with a statement about the danger from Iran. Without mention of Ron Paul, it astutely poked at the top vulnerability of the …
It's Still Romney's Turn
Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich's mutual failure to qualify for the Virginia ballot raises lots of questions about their long term viability, funding, and organization. But it isn't that surprising at all for one simple reason: neither has run for President before while the two candidates who …
Wall Street Ties Won't Sink Romney
Some on the right are concerned that Obama would slam Romney as a denizen of Wall Street and that Romney's wealth would prove a hindrance in the general election. While some worries about Romney's business background are more the product of sympathy for other candidates than anything else, there …
She's Back!
Last night, the most coveted endorsement in the Republican presidential primary was secured by Mitt Romney . Ending months of intense speculation, Tea Party diva and thrice-failed Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell threw her support behind the former Massachusetts Governor’s bid to secure …
Romney Doesn't Carry Small Change
Mitt Romney's proposed $10,000 bet with Rick Perry has earned a lot of criticism for the candidate. Given that it was a rhetorical device (albeit a clumsy one) rather than an actual bet and given that a $10,000 is not really a lot of money for a presidential campaign, I'm personally inclined to …
Why Was the $10,000 Bet Moment so Bad?
Ed Morrissey observes at HotAir.com: If Romney wanted to make himself look rich, arrogant, and clueless, he could hardly have done a better job. When was the last time someone challenged you to a ridiculous bet in order to intimidate you out of an argument? For me, I think it was junior-hig…
Where Was the GOP's Middle Class Agenda?
Saturday night's debate provided a good example of how current GOP orthodoxy thwarts presidential candidates from talking seriously about the economic problems of the American middle class. Mitt Romney wants to offer a middle-class economic agenda. (Or anyway, his consultants have decided he …
I Don't Think Mitt Enjoys that Drink
Ok Axelrod, whatever the Mormon Mitt Romney may be, it's not a member of a Martini Party.
Why I Like (George) Romney
With the race for the Republican Presidential nomination now seemingly down to two candidates – Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney – suddenly Romney is in the uncharacteristic role of underdog. Astonishingly (to me), polls show Gingrich some 10 points ahead of Romney in the upcoming Iowa primary; …
President Romney Won't End Conservatism
In an interview with Laura Ingraham, George Will despairs of the choice between Gingrich and Romney as GOP frontrunners: Ask yourself this: Suppose Gingrich or Romney become president and gets re-elected – suppose you had eight years of this...What would the conservative movement be? How …
I Heart Romneycare
‘Galatea’ is a columnist writing about her experience looking for work after her recent downsizing. Previous entries in her series can be strong> read here
State Legislators Like Romney, A Lot
Scottsdale, AZ--Even as he continues to fight off challenges from an ever-changing troop of "flavor of the week" candidates, Mitt Romney's organization appears to be gaining the type of support it most needs to win primaries--the support of conservative legislators. Here, as the American …
Romney and Huntsman vs. the Rest
In my column for the National Post , I explain why Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman are the best contenders in the GOP presidential field: I'm looking for two chief things in a candidate for 2012: 1) The temperament, judgment, deftness and largeness of spirit required in the presidential …
Romney's Worst Debate
Tuesday was a bad night for Mitt Romney, maybe the very worst of any of these debates. It started badly with the joke about Mitt being his real first name, when it was not--and ended badly with a weak answer about "unexpected threats" that did not play at all to Romney's strengths on international …
Signs of Hope, Part 2
American elections are always hotly contested, and 2012 already conforms to type. Yet Mitt Romney at least is opening the contest by acknowledging the realities faced by President Obama in 2009: {Y]ou were dealt a hard hand. You came into office in the midst of an economic crisis that was not …