Mitt Romney on Saturday addressed a Republican convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, his former stomping grounds as king of the 2002 Winter Olympics. But Romney's message urging support for Senator Bob Bennett fell on deaf ears.
In the end, the GOP faithful in deep-red Utah rejected their incumbent Senator, ousting Bennet from the primary and ending his hopes of re-election in the fall. Political pundits are saying the tea party insurgency on the right has claimed another scalp.
But what about Romney? Why would the likely presidential candidate go out on a limb for a political ally he likely knew was going to fail?
On the The Corner blog at the website of the conservative National Review, writer Robert Costa comes up with several reasons, including because Bennett voted for the Wall Street bailout (which Romney supported) and has defended the individual mandate at the heart of RomneyCare.
But Costa speculates that Romney, who in his 2008 campaign for president was considered "a little too calculating, a little too cool," is sticking his neck out to show that, heck, he stands for something.
Costa writes:
With Saturday's speech, Romney's hoping that voters will remember a man who stood up for a friend, not the easy political option. It's a gamble that comes with a twist. While he gets a hat tip from some for backing a loser out of principle, he also showed that he has little sway with the group that ousted Bennett, folks who seemingly could care less about Romney's stand. For a probable presidential candidate, that's disquieting.
Costa goes on to state that Romney's standing up for Bennett was "refreshing," and shows "he can lead."
That weak endorsement sounds a little flat after admitting that the "too calculating" Romney is also "a flip-flopper" on policy. Coming from the usually Romney-friendly National Review, that's gotta hurt.
Comments
neocon mittens
for sale or rent
Romney was not sticking out his neck. Romney and Bennett are tight, Romney wanting to be president, Bennett would have been the 'stick' the 'hammer' to beat both sides of the political aisle into Mitts bidding. Romney, Bennett and Hatch ( yes, even Harry Reid) would become a choakhold on the nation.
Sorry John but only two comments in 8 hours. Nobody cares what you have to say. The NRA backed Bennett also and they still do. Bennett will probably run as a write in and still win another term in the senate. Mike Lee and Tom Bridgewater will have to go moderate or they won't make it, Bennett has a lot of pull in this state.
Bennett is need by the LDS Church and by Romney if he runs as a write in that is why.
Mitt Romney president
Bob Bennett first counselor
Orrin Hatch Second counselor
Harry Reid Second counselor
direct line to SLC
"Sorry John but only two comments in 8 hours. Nobody cares what you have to say"
Read that wrong Stan --- two comment in 8 hours - no one cares about Romney!
Romeny can not be trusted.
Love the Romney haters.
Cause Obama is really on fire as of, well since he was sworn in.
You mean seeing Romney as he is, is hating him?
Spoiled Mitt cannot come up with anything else than Romney haters, instead of looking inside himself for the man he is...
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