As goes Sarah Palin, so goes Mitt Romney

As goes Sarah Palin, so goes Mitt Romney -- book-wise, at least. The former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate has followed in the footsteps of the former Alaska governor and GOP vice-presidential candidate. His book, "No Apology: The Case for American Greatness," hits shelves Tuesday, and Romney will follow up with a massive book tour. Just like Sarah Palin!

 The Swamp reports:

The Republican's new book carries a critique of the president voiced by others: That Obama has been too willing to apologize around the world for American actions. It lays out a vision for U.S. economic and foreign policy, maintaining that the current course is leading toward weakness and decline.

Romney's 19-state book-promoting tour is carrying him from one cable news network to the others ...and ends with an appearance at the "Late Show with David Letterman" -- where Romney will be up against another author whose designs for 2012 remain less clear than Romney's own intentions, Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican nominee for vice president, who has a date with Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show."

Romney seems to be setting his book up in opposition to Palin. "I don't pretend this is going to be a bestseller," he told the Boston Globe.

“I think Sarah Palin, they printed 2 million books. We’re printing like 100,000 books," said Romney. (An aide later corrected him: the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, has already committed to print twice that number.)

“Frankly, if I were wanting to simply sell copies of books and get the highest number sold, describing a personal history would be a more interesting read for most folks," he continued. “But for those that are very interested in geopolitics and the way our economy works, this is going to be a more interesting book."

Sounds like a preview of rhetoric in the race for the 2012 Republican nomination for president. But so far, nobody's running -- it's just a friendly competition between politicians and their books.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Photo: Mitt Romney in January. Credit: Robert Giroux / Getty Images

Comments

[Ben]

Does publishing a political biography/memoir now constitute following in Sarah Palin's footsteps? Was she the first person to do such a thing? Didn't that Obama guy publish a book or two in a similar vein?

[Harold]

Romney is a has been. His last affair at center stage was not well received. That hidden camera video showed who Romney truly is. He is nothing more than a snake in Mormon clothing.

[JL]

IF Romney believes he can position himself as the "intellectual" of the two ...try pulling that off over a campaign against a woman candidate WITHOUT sounding sexist at some point.....its a loser strategy for Romney...he better stick to the issues and how his own record as governor fits the current needs in Washignton. Whoever wins the GOP nomination and beats Obama is going to have to convince the American people that he can do a better job as President with real examples of accomplishment as an executive in government or the private sector..not just personal attacks or belittling the opponent.

[bryan Townsend]

I love this guy. He is the intelectual heavy-weight and business leadership powerhouse we need in the White House. So glad to see him back.

Go Romeny, and PLEASE run for president before there's nothing left of our federal financial stability.