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| Romney-Thompson Looks Like the Ticket to Beat |
| By Rob Graham |
Published
01/21/2008
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Top Stories , Religion , Publisher's Notes , Political
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Unrated
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Romney-Thompson Looks Like the Ticket to Beat
 | (Las Vegas, NV) -- Save the laughs, we need to talk politics. Last summer, we cast and predicted a Romney-Thompson ticket. Later, as Mike Huckabee stepped up and became the Evangelical vote, and Fred Thompson never seemed to launch into the campaign, we recast our prediction of a ticket as being Romney-Huckabee.
At the time, it made clear sense that Romney would win the north and Huckabee would then deliver the south. Together, this ticket would have been dynamic and very tough to beat. Then Huckabee got an attitude and an ego and surrounded himself with people who told him that he could win it all.
He could have recovered from the ego after New Hampshire, but insisted on using Romney's religion against him. You may have heard the term "flip-flop," but that was really code-speak to far right-wing Evangelicals. It really means "you can't really vote for a Mormon can you?"
That brings us to South Carolina. Thompson suddenly started attacking Huckabee and started looking like the political player many thought he should have been months earlier. The pundits said that he was doing his buddy McCain a favor, but the truth perhaps lies deeper.
Voters first noted that Thompson was apparently light on the attacks on Romney during the New Hampshire debates. He had a few defining words against Romney, but did little damage and saved most of his attacks for Governor Huckabee and even Sen. McCain. Recognizing that his vote numbers were too low and his fund raising inadequate, Thompson was figuratively attaching his dingy to a larger boat. In political terms, he was doing some other candidate a favor by openly and aggressively attacking Huckabee. The question was, which candidate?
For Thompson, it was a no lose proposition. If McCain ultimately won or Romney did better, Thompson would be seen as making a pivotal move to help either McCain or Romney. In New Hampshire, McCain benefited, but Romney also received a push up in Michigan.
Then came Nevada/South Carolina. For Thompson this was simply his last breath, but he knew he didn't have the momentum going in, so he needed to stick with his strategy of benefiting one candidate or the other to stay in consideration for the overall ticket.
His attacks were seen as helping McCain, but in truth, McCain didn't need his help as he was strong enough in the state and was already drawing Evangelicals to his side. Indeed, a Huckabee win in South Carolina would have arguably been better for Thompson going into Florida as a strengthened McCain would mean certain defeat for Thompson in that state. A Huckabee win, however, could not be repeated by the former Arkansas governor in Florida as the later is far from a unified religious block of voters.
Thompson purposefully fell on the sword for one candidate, and it wasn't McCain. The only other values candidate in the race is Mitt Romney and it was necessary to finish Huckabee off in South Carolina to boost Romney's presence in Florida for the Evangelicals. In order to survive, Thompson knows that Huckabee must come out strongly against McCain in Florida -- so goes friendships formed in Iowa.
With Giuliani, Huckabee, Thompson and Romney all on the attack against McCain in Florida, and with Florida being a Republican-only primary, Romney has all the help he needs to finish off McCain going into Super-Duper Tuesday. The prize for Thompson is a spot back on the ticket.
Thompson's ability to garner the southern vote, as well as the California vote, helps Romney deliver key states, while it will be Romney's job to cover the north, northeast, mid-west and southwestern states.
Thompson has done what Huckabee should have been doing had he wanted a spot on the ticket. Romney is in need of a southern gentleman and Thompson appears best suited to unify the southern conservatives for Romney while Romney brings in the values and economic conservatives for the party.
Whether this is the ultimate brokered deal, we shall see, but to the eyes of Republicans who want a unifying ticket, this is the best bet of all.
Note: Mr. Giuliani is also playing along, but as he cannot deliver the south like Thompson his reward will become clear later. Perhaps a senate seat uncontested. He is clearly still in the race, but he seems to be playing for the benefit of Romney. The ink is still wet, but the deals have been struck. Republicans leave little if anything to chance. Giuliani and Thompson are stacking up against McCain and Huckabee.
The only one who can win at this juncture is the one with the largest purse and the most delegates. That would be Mitt Romney. His choice for vice-president will be Thompson and Giuliani will have his pick of responsibilities. All will be at the table leading the country and helping America return to her former greatness.
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Comments
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Comment #1
(Posted by Chad)
I hope Mitt wins the nomination. However I doubt Thompson gets on the ticket, I'd be suprised if Thompson throws his support to Romney. Romney's dream choice is Gov. Crist of Florida. If the republican nominee wins Florida they have a great shot at the presidency. No Florida, no win that simple
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Comment #2
(Posted by an unknown user)
The National Debt has continued to increase an average of
1.43 billion per day since September 29, 2006!
In Fiscal Year 2006, the U. S. Government spent 406 Billion of your money on interest payments to the holders of the National Debt. Compare that to NASA at 15 Billion, Education at 61 Billion, and Department of Transportation at 56 Billion.
US is facing economic collapse if we do not have the economic genius Romney to fix it.
"When your neighbor lost job, it's called recession. When you lost job, it's called depression"
Remember who said that and remember what happen to the Soviet Union when their economic collapse.
Wake up American people!
If anyone can rescue the economy at this point, it would have to be Mitt. The US is 53 trillion in debt, that is 400K per household. The dollar is becoming useless and the Euro is now becoming the credible currency. Along with the national debt, most citizens are also deeply in debt. Tommorow the market is likely going to take a dump. If we don't have a good economy you can forget foreign policy, fighting wars, or healthcare, funding for top education. The economy needs to be front and center, not religion, steriotypes and other trivial things.
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Comment #3
(Posted by an unknown user)
Mitt Romney's successful business experience, successful Olympic experience, and successful state governing success
set him above all other candidates. His vision of using economic strength to combat terrorist and his Apollo plan for energy independence are also set him above all other candidates.
He is a real leader who can lead American to build a strong economic and therefore a strong nation!
Hope American people will elect Mitt Romney, the only competent candidate, to be our president.
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Comment #4
(Posted by Bill Mitchell)
It is a matter of GRAVITAS:
Romney brings the EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE gravitas and Thompson brings the CONSISTENT CONSERVATIVE gravitas.
They each add to the other the one thing the other was missing. It is ideal.
If Thompson steps down today, let's see who, if anyone he endorses. If he endorses Mccain I would be shocked as his bases DESPISES McCain.
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Comment #5
(Posted by cprince)
I agree its the perfect ticket, because boudless-energy-Mitt won't need any help, and Fred won't want to work. He can get his hounds in shape and spend his time out of the way hunting birds and playing with his kids, which appears to be what he wants to do anyway.
I agree with the concept that Mitt needs to pick a conservative, Southern running mate if he wants to beat the Dems.
On the other hand, maybe Hillary or Obama could choose the Huckster as their running mate...?
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Comment #6
(Posted by diligentdave)
I have thought since Thompson entered the race that the two might be good in attracting votes. Whether Thompson would be very helpful as a VP otherwise, to me, seems less probable.
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Comment #7
(Posted by savvyconsumer7)
Mitt Romney governed pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage in MA. He single-handedly brought gay marriage to that state, w/o any requirement to do so.
When it became politically expedient, Romney flip-flopped and said he is a moral conservative. I do not believe him.
Romney is duping moral Conservatives. He's no better than Giuliani on the moral issues ... Romney just lies about it.
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Comment #8
(Posted by pd)
don't believe savvy...I used to live in MA when Romney was governor. he opposed abortion and same-sex marriage.but that's a liberal state and they never tell the truth. the sense I got is that MA economy improved under his leadership. he also help fix up the big dig mess that liberals created. I truly believe that he's a problem solver. I don't care if he's Mormon. so what? somebody this smart doesn't come around too often to run for President. he has my vote. Thomson is a true conservative. Romney can do a lot worse than running with him.
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Comment #9
(Posted by charles davidson)
Romney/Thompson
Sounds like a lazy/liberal ticket
The only difference between them and Hillary is that Hillary wears a skirt
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Comment #10
(Posted by Barney Sicliano)
I lived in Winthrop, up until about a year ago..
Mitt along with the LT Gov. sent self serving letters of support for Gay Pride day. His policy of socialized medicine and his backhanded support for public funded elective abortion makes him a better democratic candidate. Mitt never was a conservative...I don't believe he has changed...Were seing the actions of a tried and true liberal, not the family values of Donnie and Marie
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