Mitt Romney is paying his dues on behalf of John McCain

The buzz these days in the Republican vice presidential sweepstakes may surround Condoleezza Rice, but Mitt Romney is doing the type of grit work that will keep his name in the mix -- as well as potentially pay long-term political dividends for himself.

John McCain's campaign just announced that the former Massachusetts governor -- who, having failed in his own White house bid, must have time on his hands -- will travel to southeastern Pennsylvania to make a speech Thursday evening touting the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

We can't imagine they'll be turning them away at the doors of the Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center in Lancaster (a city that boasts of the Dutch Wonderland theme park). The state's GOP primary on April 22 will be simply a rubber-stamp event, and for most normal folks it's still a little early to get fired up for the general election campaign.

Romney's appearance, however, signals that the McCain camp sees Pennsylvania as a "blue" state that it can win come November, despite the much-publicized bump in the number of registered Democrats there.

Indeed, a poll released today by Strategic Vision shows McCain barely trailing Hillary Clinton in a fall matchup, 45% to 42%, and running ahead of Barack Obama, 48% to 41%. (In the impending Democratic primary, the survey, in line with most other recent polls, shows Clinton with a shrinking lead over Obama, 47% to 42%).

Romney is speaking at an event sponsored by local Republicans -- the folks ...

the McCain campaign need to get fully on board before launching an all-out fight in a battleground state such as Pennsylvania. Romney's willingness to play the good soldier in communing with the GOP base can't hurt his veep prospects.

And even if he gets passed over (as recommended by an ad campaign recently begun by a group of social conservatives), such efforts obviously serve Romney's purposes of one day again seeking his party's presidential nod.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Getty Images   

Comments

[marv]

Romney strenthens McCain's image. My only concern for McCain is his strength when it comes to the economy. I have a biggger concern and that is an Obama presidency. So I for one am following Romney's lead and supporting McCain. Maybe some of the other GOP candidates need to do like wise. United we will do great, divided we will fall.

[David Anderson]

Could be a bad move. Lots of people will not vote for McCain if Romney is the running mate, and may be less inclined if they think McCain and Romney think alike. People associate Romney with Republican establishment economics that is ruining this country. That and not the Iraq war is why Barack Obama is so popular. He promises to end the kind of big-business philosophy that Romney stands for. And they need to be ended.

[Carol]

I used to be a Romney supporter till I read more about Ron Paul's positions. Even though Romney shared some of Paul's positions (such as on abortion) it doesn't personally matter to me whether Romney is on the ticket or not. I'll be voting for whomever the Libertarians run -- and that is likely to be Bob Barr of Clinton Impeachment Hearing fame.

For the Republicans though, I remain convinced that Romney will be a better choice than Huckabee, as Huckabee is more of a statist than a conservative. Ie, Huckabee advocates government intrusion in both your economic and personal decisions. Romney definitley gets higher marks for preferring agency and liberty.

[MK in Arizona]

I would love to see a McCain/Romney ticket and am so glad to see Romney in the spotlight again. It hopefully shows that he will have a high position in McCain's presidency if not the VP. If this is not Romney's year than all the work he is doing will put him in a great place to run again in 4 years. I can't wait to see him put his skills to work helping our country. Everything he touches seems to excell. He is a problem solver and that is what we need. Go Romney!

[Tominellay]

Romney's behavior was shameful in this campaign. It was disgraceful that he asked other candidates to step aside in favor of his own candidacy, presumably because only he could stop McCain; then he himself endorsed McCain when he bailed out...No character, no principles.

[Jeff Christensen]

Romney is shameful for endorsing McCain because he campaigned against him in the primary??? Wow! That can only come from a Huckabee supporter. In one of the GOP debates, everyone was asked if they would support the GOP nominee, and Romney answered YES!

Huck should have dropped out like EVERYONE was telling him. He fought on long after Romney, but still never reached him in delegate count. What a joker!

[Giant Robot]

*** B R E A K I N G N E W S ***

Reliable sources say that on April 15th at exactly 12:00pm Mike Huckabee's web site and John McCain's web site will merge into one. This will be the official announcement that John McCain and Mike Huckabee are running on the same Republican ticket as President and Vice President of America.

The Gold star in the center of Mike Huckabee's countdown timer is the same star John McCain uses. It is said McCain's name will scroll to the top of the star and Huckabee's name below the star to form the alliance.

Sources say McCain's admiration of Huckabee's Honor and Integrity sold him on the fact to choose Mike as his running mate. In the military, John McCain's is the military, and Honor and Integrity are the most desireable character traits one can achieve.

In particular John McCain was impressed of Mike Huckabee honor and integrity during the primaries. Back in late December McCain and Huckabee formed an alliance against Romney to force him out of the race. McCain has lauded Huckabee as "a man of integrity, honesty, and decency." And Huckabee has praised McCain as "a true, honest-to-God American hero."

April 15th was choosen to symbolize the new alliance between McCain and Huckabee of taking on the Financial Recession which parallels to the Financial Tax due date in America.

Mike Huckabee is scheduled to be in NY city during this announcement on April 15th to again symbolize the Financial Recession and Wall Street Financial activity.

*** B R E A K I N G N E W S ***

[tammy]

Romney's behavior was disgraceful during the campaign? Romney runs contrast ads pointing out the records of the candidates and for this he's shameful? Huckabee can pretend to know nothing about the Mormon faith (though he attended and spoke at a anti Mormon convention in SLC years ago). Under the guise of innocence he makes a statement set out to delibrately scare the evangelicals into thinking that Romney and Mormons somehow believe Satan is on the same level as Jesus? I'd call smearing a man's religion days before a primary election pretty shameful! I'd call teaming up with another candidate in order to get the frontrunner out of the game pretty shameful. Huckabee never caught up with Romney in the delegate count even though he went through 2 or 3 more primaries that Romney didn't! Good grief - have a clue Huckabee - your only appeal is to the evangelicals who will vote for the guy their pastor tells them to! Romney did what he said he would do - back the nominee. The Evangelicals gave us McCain and we'll have to deal with it - hopefully those of us who actually did our homework will get Romney as the VP.

[BillyBob]

Tominellay ---

You are just a sore Huckabee looser.

[BillyBob]

Giant Robot --

What have you been smoking? Typical Mike huckabee supporter. Has to make up a lie to try to make it look like a press release.

[Sal D'Alessandro]

Romney was never the front runner. Beat fair and square by Huckabee in Iowa and by McCain in New Hampshire. Next, he has a deep character problem, turning 180 degrees against personally held convictions that didn't mean a thing to him, but betraying family values in Massachusetts. Then the shady dealings of Bain Capital, stripping assets and laying off families - all for tax free accounts in the Cayman Islands. Then he's Pro-Torture, with Blackwater mercenary leaders supporting him. and mormonism holds beliefs - an agenda - about America - that it will take over America in 'the latter days.' In the South, Romney's obvious insincerity is known as only one thing - carpetbagging. He's a slick suit - a snake-oil salesman...
If McCain was smart, he'd stay far away from Varmitt Romney - the Dems will make mincemeat out of Bain Capital.
Who'd be good? Not Condi Rice. There's another bad past - she failed over Iraq and caved into the Neocons.
Chuck Hagel, Powell, Huckabee, Crist, Kemp, Dole, Hutchison, Cox, Portman, Thompson - now we're talkin...

[Michael Willette]

After cpac speech, the conservatives stated Governor
Romney's the man to look at, others were sorry we didn't
have him as our President!!!! This was explained by Karl Rove on Hannity talk America. Folks , I don't want to bad mouth anyone here to elevate Mitt, I surely could, but enough of that has been already done. AS Karl said, you
will not find anyone that is perfect, but Romney adds the
American role model look and could certainly be an effective president, as well he's been vetted. Just remember, Romney came in second to Mccain with delegates, won 11 states to Mccain's 13, won last two debates,and Mccain said himself, he learned alot from Gov.Romney during primaries, interesting???????
Let's not forget Mccain's good old boy network has been around the horn, and came out against Romney. Also, when Huckerbee said he was told it was Mccain's turn!!!!!!!that told me the true story. We need a private sector business man . It's alot harder to put your life on the line in the real world and be successful, than to have all the support and aid that a President has. He's a financial genious, according to Rove. He's a great family
man, he left the primary because he's a team player, not
into his personal gain's, knowing the stats, if I were Romney, I'd feel I'd had earned V.P., but Mccain makes that choice. M&M SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sebastian]

Sal D'Alessandro

Was West Virginia won fair and square?

Just wanted to know your thoughts.

[Kaleo]

I am so glad to see Romney on the ticket. McCain has absolutely nothing to lead this country but with Romney he will succeed. Not only Romney is an experienced politician and through him God will restore America again.

Huckabuster will never stand, he failed miserably during his term as a Gov and he will fail the American people. He is a Monster who cares only for himself and followers of that EVIL Christian religion of his.

[perception5]

A McCain and Mitt tickett, M & M , would be the strongest GOP tickett in November, no question about it.

Slick Huck needs to go back to Hope, Arkansas and sell some "used cars" with Slick Willie joins him in a couple of months.

Slick Huck is extremely selfish and hasn't done anthing to help John McCain yet.

Some folks might be fooled by Slick Huck but I put in him in the exact same category as Slick Willie............NEXT!

[John Quimby]

I don't think Mitt Romney will fly as VP.

McCain needs support from the Christian Right and social Conservatives.

Romney is a Mormon from Massachusetts.

In the southern flavored conservative Protestant culture that makes a distinction between being Christian and Catholic, Romney is a tough sell.

[AW]

I agree that Romney has the financial prowess to give us some great leadership in terms of the economy. I actually like him, even though his stances have wavered. He might have a great place as the SecTreas.

That said, I completely disagree with Perception5. As a registered GOP, I'm so damn sick of the Christian Right- and I consider myself a Christian. I wish that we could tell them to royally kiss off and bring the party more to the center so that moderates can have some sort a representation.

[hoser]

So, John Quimby, are you saying that the Southern Evangelicals (Baptists) practice just as much bigotry against Catholics from Massachusetts as they do Mormons? That says a lot about Huckabigot, doesn't it.

McCain can't raise cash. Gomer can't raise cash. Put the two together and they will be sharing a single at Motel 6 during the convention. (I know, they already sleep together, as they demonstrated in West Virginia).

[Bill Braskey]

Romney is the only choice for Mccain if he truly wants to win the White House.

Romney brings an understanding of the economy that Mccain doesn't possess to the ticket. Neither Obama nor Clinton can match Mitt's economic skills either.

I find it amusing that a bunch of idiot liberals are claiming that Romney lacks in integrity or chracted when they voted for Bill Clinton twice.

We all know that Romney and Bill Clinton are going to separate places when they die and I for one would rather be sharing the trip with Romney than Clinton.

Based on recent events it looks like Mccain has decided to stop being a dumbass and is poised to name Romney as his VP. I for one look forward with much anticipation to Romney/Mccain dismantling Obama this November. Watching all of the heartbreaking anguish and disappointment of the millions of moronic minions that supported Obama and his trite empty platitudes will be the icing on the cake! Yes we can? Oh wait I guess we can't.

[George Roberts]

Romney is clearly the best choice. He will, in a few years become the best president we have had in a generation. VP is the next step on his meteoric rise. Here is a candidate that truly believes in America and will help Americans express the optimism and spirit that defines our exceptional country.