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MITTMENTUM!
It occurs to me that I didn't say anything about the return of Mittmentum in yesterday's Michigan primary. So, welcome back, Mittmentum. It's actually worth remembering that for all the scorn heaped on Romney by elites, he's not done poorly in any primaries. He took second in Iowa, second in New Hampshire, first in Wyoming, and first in Michigan. He's so derided by the commentariat that it's often hard to imagine him winning, but it's perfectly possible that with his money and marathon-strategy, he'll pull this out. The media may love John McCain, but watch McCain and Romney on the television and there's really no reason to assume that McCain is the guy voters are going to choose.
Plus, if Romney does win, maybe we can get more victory speeches like the one he offered last night, in which he said "the lobbyists in Washington are worried tonight, because they know things are going to change." Change to what? Are they anxious about whether their office furniture can actually fit in the White House, and fretting over the need to purchase smaller desks?
Also, for more on how Mitt actually won, read Jon Cohn, who lives in Michigan and has been watching the primary.
COMMENTS (4)
The pimping of McCain after Iow and then after New Hampshire, and the shuttling of Romney off into the side margins, really helps to show how campaign coverage is dominated more by the personal likes and dislikes of those doing the coverage than by, well, sanity. McCain did poorly in Iowa and was lionized for it. He then did well in New Hampshire and that lionization reached a fever pitch. But nobody seemed to mention that, just as Iowa was the state Huckabee was born to win, so was New Hampshire the state where McCain could expect to do best. No mention, either, that despite Romney coming in second in those two states, he had won more votes than anybody else AND more delegates--two leads he's only increased.
It'll be interesting to see how this one is spinned for McCain (or if it will). Romney has shown a greater ability to actually competen McCain in all the states that they've competed in so far. Will Wall Street and the CW coalesce around him when the specter of a Huckabee candidacy becomes even more real? Could the world handle the unintentional humor of a Romney/Huckabee ticket?
Posted by: Josh R. | January 16, 2008 9:52 AM
Josh - I think the coverage, especially from conservatives reflects a "pox on all of them" approach - none of these guys has really captured the GOP voting imagination, and each has their fans and detractors. McCain's win in New Hampshire was immediately discounted by his detractors, just as Huckabee's religious fervor was and is dismissed by Republican establishment types. As for Romney, I d say his finishes reflect that he is liked but not loved - people don't see him winning the general, and he comes off - still, even in Michigan - as too smarmy by half. This result may well guarantee Giuliani winning in Florida, making yet more mess, and none of these guys - even Ron Paul - seems likely to vacate the stae while things are in play. If Romney pulls this out by finishing first in a few places and second in some others, it will reflect his money more than his message winning the day, which is a prefect storm to set him up for a huge loss come November.
Ad Ezra, that line about lobbyists is hilarious. I can't believe he actually said that.
Posted by: weboy | January 16, 2008 9:58 AM
but it's perfectly possible that with his money and marathon-strategy, he'll pull this out.
Possible? I'd say likely.
Is there any reason to believe McCain will win over Romney from here on? If so, where? I know Evangelicals don't trust Romney, but Republicans don't trust McCain. And eveyone else doesn't trust Huckabee.
Posted by: Ronnie Pudding | January 16, 2008 10:42 AM
Perhaps the "change" Romney's referring to is his upcoming crushing defeat in November.
Is there anything weirder than watching this guy try to adopt Obama's "change" meme?
Posted by: Ned | January 16, 2008 2:59 PM