Leading conservative magazine makes its pick

This may not have an immediate impact in Iowa, where Mike Huckabee has gotten hotter as the weather has gotten colder, but Mitt Romney rightfully will revel in an embrace today from a tried-and-true conservative voice: the National Review.

In its endorsement editorial, the magazine offers powerful phrasing that Romney's presidential campaign can -- and probably will -- use to rebut those on the right still disturbed by his conversion from liberal positions on several social issues. The editorial terms him "a full-spectrum conservative: a supporter of free-market economics and limited government, moral causes such as the right to life and the preservation of marriage, and a foreign policy based on the national interest."

As recently as last month, one of the magazine's best-known staffers, Kate O'Beirne, wrote a piece touting John McCain as well worth a "second look" from Republicans who have rebuffed him. And the endorsement editorial praises him as "a hero with a record that is far more good than bad."

But it zings him, as well as Fred Thompson, for running poor campaigns. Rudy Giuliani and Huckabee, meanwhile, are rejected because, the magazine opines, they would rend the conservative coalition "from opposite ends: Giuliani alienating the social conservatives, and Huckabee the economic (and foreign-policy) conservatives."

Romney, in other words, is the last viable Republican standing, in the view of the those now running the biweekly publication that William F. Buckley Jr. started in 1955.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Elke]

National Review's endorsement is a great disappointment. Fred Thompson is the only true conservative in all areas. To criticize his method of campaigning is a copout. I wonder how much pressure Mitt Romney put on them to get the endorsement. To tell you the truth, I don't care what endorsements a candidate receives. I go by what he stands for as an individual, and I hope everyone else will too.

[Tony]

Mitt Romney weathered the McCain surge last year, he weathered the Giuliani surge earlier this year, he weathered the Thompson surge this past summer, and he has weathered the short-lived Huckabee surge that is quickly fading into a puff a smoke. This should be no surprise given the mighty challenges that Mitt Romney has weathered in the past, including the Olympics and the Massachusetts budget crisis. I'm voting for Mitt Romney on February 5th because he weathers the storm when others get swept out to sea.

[mwthatch]

Mitt has received more garbage from the DNC then any Republican by about 40%. Dems are afraid of Mitt and have good reason to be. He is by far the smartest and best hope that we have to beat Obama and Clinton.

[Martin]

The triumph of Mitt over Mike will be a triumph of substance over style.
What I did was imagine what the government would look like after each left office. While it is an abstract exercise, I was realistic that Mitt would leave the executive branch in the best shape.
That may not matter to most people, but when you talk about improving government, I think Mitt is the clear choice.
So who would make the best running mate?

[Richard Teraci]

The "Bigot" card will only play out so long. What matters to me is who is most capable of handling the serious issues facing us as a nation.

It's more than completely obvious, Romney is currently the best candidate. Facts don't lie. Look at all their records. I am Christian too as Romney and Huckabee, but it certainly doesn't make me the best candidate either because I think I am more.

Look at their political positions and accomplishments, not time spent at the pulpit!