Governor Mitt Romney
I’m looking for your thoughts (in comments) to this question: In the history of the United States, has there ever been a Republican candidate, running for POTUS for his first term, to ever win both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary? If so, who are they? [I don't know]. I don’t think any Republican President ever won these first two states in his first election for President. If true, what kind of news would it be if GMR wins New Hampshire next Tuesday? I think that news should be HUGE! I bet the MSM gives it little coverage, if any.
Two days ago I stated, “The more [candidates] that attend the South Carolina barbeques, the better for Romney in my opinion. Romney will continue to rack up the endorsements to the detriment of all the others and they will all fight for the crumbs that fall from the Romney table. I say, go for it.”
Politico’s Martin reports yesterday much of the same, though some are saying the race may be near conclusion. This statement feels like the reporting of a Russian chess match!:
Because of the divided nature of the opposition and Romney’s organizational and financial advantages, GOP elites made the case Wednesday that there was no clear way he could be stopped.
Check mate?…No. Check?…No. And there certainly is no gloating warranted — ever. In fact, Governor Romney’s continued humility as he works hard to secure the support of conservative icons is most impressive — indeed. But to that quote above from Politico, does it get much better than that after one caucus win from a tiny state like Iowa? I don’t think so.
What excites me the most though is that I know for sure Governor Romney will never take anything for granted and his work ethic and integrity will never allow him to let up until he has secured all 1,150 delegates. The 2007-2008 “college try” schooled all of us in this important political journey.
The article continues,
A veteran House Republican who is ostensibly neutral said: “I sort of think it’s over, right?”
“South Carolina and Florida are the nails in the coffin, which is why the right is so mad — they see it coming but the dominoes are falling just right for Mitt as they did for [John] McCain,” said the House member. “The party establishment does not want this intra-warfare much longer so we can focus on just Obama rather than the oddballs on the stage that can’t even remember the DOE or EPA.”
Indeed, Perry’s move was akin to dumping a bucket of cold water on Santorum, who won a significant moral victory in losing to Romney by just eight votes in Iowa and has already raised $1 million since last night.
In announcing that he was going forward with his campaign and heading to South Carolina, Perry ensured that the crucial primary there later this month would feature a third conservative vying to be the Romney alternative — fracturing the vote of the party base.
The entire article shows how nasty big league politics can be. The article describes a planned meeting in Texas in which conspirators would “take down Romney” and the response of Gary Bauer (“a high-profile Christian conservative”) to that possibility:
Bauer said he’d withdraw from participating if it was intended to plot against the former Massachusetts governor.
(emphasis added)
Nice, huh? This is not the bush leagues folks. We are in the majors now — the playoffs heading to the World Series, but with far more serious implications for this nation and the world. Governor Romney will never let up.
Indeed, the race is far from over.
Was President Reagan thinking of Newt Gingrich here?:
Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book. — Ronald Reagan
Victor is a businessman working in the healthcare industry. He and his wife of 33 years have five children and four grandchildren. Vic has been blogging for Mitt Romney since 2007.
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Today, splittered factions within the GOP continue their march towards total destruction by their refusal to face up to the fact that none of the other candidates running for the nomination stand a chance up against BHO. Mitt is it. What a pile-on of Romney there is this morning by pundits on both the right and the left. I’m sure that BHO is very grateful to them. Mitt doesn’t deserve it and there’s going to be a backlash.
Vic,
In answer to your question as posed — Gerald Ford won both the IA and NH primary/caucus in his first run for the Presidency. Yes, Gerald Ford was “an incumbent”, but he became President without having run for President or Vice President. He was appointed Vice President by Nixon on the resignation of Spiro Agnew, and then became President on the resignation of Nixon.
I agree with Marilyn. The anger and the “revenge” attitude of Gingrich especially will cause him to lose respect and support of reasonable-thinking people, and if the media, including Fox pundits and commentators, keeps showing their biases against Romney there truly will be a backlash!
Vic – there has never been a non-incumbent to do it in the modern history of these caucuses/primaries. Next Tuesday will be huge!