Texas Governor Rick Perry's signature gesture...
Now that Rick Perry’s debate vetting is divorcing him from some disgruntled conservatives, voters are taking a new look at Mitt Romney:
Thanks to Perry, Romney Phones “Ringing off the Hook”
By Emily Friedman
Sept 27, 2011
Several sources close to the [Romney] campaign told ABC News that there has been a noticeable peak in interest since last week’s debate in Orlando, during which GOP frontrunner Rick Perry garnered an onslaught of criticism for his floundering performance.
One top fundraiser said his phone has been “ringing off the hook” in the past few days.
But in addition to rallying the enthusiasm of their base, Romney sources say that donors are opening their pocketbooks in the wake of Perry’s debate performance.
“I think that one of the things that’s pretty remarkable is the change that really took place after [the debate],” said Ambassador John Rood, Romney’s Florida finance co-chair. “I’ve never seen such a change in fortune like I saw after the debate.”
“There were obviously many people watching closely to determine where they were going to go this election,” Rood added. ”The debate had a big influence on who these people were going to support.”
Revival comes as Mitt Romney shows ol’ pluck
By Joe Battenfeld
Monday, September 26, 2011
Remember what the pundits were saying about Mitt Romney a few weeks ago? Too wishy-washy. Too boring. Tea Party hates him. Take a shovel and bury him.
Well, guess what? Mitt’s not dead. In fact, he’s back on track to win the GOP nomination. And the guy who was supposed to be beating him, Rick Perry, is about to get the nap time he so obviously needs. The only organization that’s choked worse than the Perry campaign this September is the Red Sox [team stats].
Romney’s revival should not come as a surprise to Massachusetts voters who knew him before he decided to run for president. In the 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney was engaged, forceful and a very tough debater who held his own under grilling by the late Tim Russert. And who can forget then-Gov. Romney publicly dressing down Turnpike chief Matt Amorello after the Big Dig tunnel collapse? Romney was so mad his hair actually fell out of place.
Now Republican voters are finally seeing the old Mitt again, thanks to Perry. The Texas governor has turned Romney from cautious front-runner to scrappy underdog. After Perry’s self-destruction in the last debate, Romney should demand nightly debates — preferably after 9 p.m., when the Texas governor gets sleepy.
Romney has also turned around his campaign with some good strategic moves, such as ignoring — or at least pretending to ignore — those silly straw polls. Anyone who thinks that Herman Cain’s “stunning” victory in Florida proves anything must have grapefruit on the brain. Many of those Cain supporters were obviously expecting free pizza.
Romney’s re-emergence — and Perry’s rapid decline — is also bad news for President Obama, who now faces the prospect of running against a Republican who can win over moderate and independent voters.[...]
(emphasis added to articles)
► Jayde Wyatt
I’d never really bought the idea that Romney was the “establishment candidate”, simply because the establishment has kept looking for someone, anyone, other than Romney to run, Rick Perry only being the latest “alternative”. Well, it looks like the establishment is finally waking up.
RE: Conservatives Mustn’t Let Media Pick The Candidate
By DOUGLAS MACKINNON
He thinks that Romney is the “John McCain” of 2011 and that conservatives will just stay home and not vote if the nominee isn’t Rick Perry. There’s one big difference this time around, Romney is not going to choose Sarah Palin, or Michele Bachmann as his running mate, and Romney isn’t following the Great Conservative Society president George W. Bush.
I came pretty close to voting republican anyway in 2008, in 2012, I’ve made up my mind that if Romney makes it through, I’m voting for him. I think the rest of my family will as well.
Stephen, exactly! It’s been funny hearing ppl call him the establishment candidate while also saying the establishment isn’t happy with him. Makes no sense at all. And in 2008 he was the conservative alternative to McCain. Somehow perception did a 180 and he’s the moderate candidate? People are sheep. Hate to be so cynical, but how else can I explain it to myself?
Happy to see his support growing wider and deeper all the time. He’s always been the one to beat, but it’s looking more and more like he won’t be. Mitt 2012!
haha……I’ve thought that, too! HOW is Romney the “establishment” candidate??
The “spinmiesters” have labeled him the “establishment” candidate just as they have labeled him a “flip flopper”. Both are intentional manipulation as perhaps “lazy” analysis.
We all know conservative democrats that will vote for Romney if (when) he is the candidate no matter the work of the so-called conservative media and their labels.
Listen here I think you are not really trying to help the people. All you care about is yourself. I hope that this message gets through to you. You need to understand that the people matter. Mitt you are a nice guy and all but you need to do some kind of change. Thanks Stewie Griffen