Democrats ready to jump on Mitt Romney, which may hurt his VP chances

DENVER -- Throughout this week, the chatter in both Democratic and Republican camps was that Mitt Romney would emerge as John McCain's choice for a running mate -- a feeling intensified by the presence here of the former Massachusetts governor as a lead Republican attack dog.

One could also sense that, as many leading Democrats previewed the attack lines that would be used against him, they couldn't wait for McCain to pick Romney, And perhaps, if Romney doesn't make the final cut, the focus in Denver on his potential vulnerabilities would help explain why.

At a briefing earlier this week, Barack Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, was asked about the possible heft Romney could add to the GOP ticket on the economic front (one of McCain's weak points).

Plouffe, referring to business decisions by Romney that included worker layoffs, called him "a job-killing machine." One could already envision that phrase anchoring a TV ad.

Ace political observer Charlie Cook writes in the National Journal that James Carville, holding forth Wednesday, said that his goal in selecting a running mate would be to "make the opposing campaign manager throw up. I don't think if they pick Romney, [Obama campaign strategist] David Axelrod will reach for the trash can."

Cook himself opines that the chances of Obama's vice presidential pick, Joe Biden, "mopping up the floor with Romney on national security issues would seem to be high enough to send McCain strategists back to the drawing board if Romney was the preferred choice. "

And just as Republicans have eagerly used Hillary Clinton's words against Obama, there was a wealth of harsh, dismissive statements about McCain emanating from the Romney camp during the GOP primary fight that the Democrats will relish recycling.

You can bet that all those e-mails have been carefully saved by Obama aides.

-- Don Frederick

Join those receiving every Ticket item -- plus special offline tweets from The Ticket's writers -- sent directly to your cellphone. To register for free instant Twitter updates from The Ticket, go here to "follow" us.

Comments

[alan Hahn]

When will someone in Obama's camp respond to any questions of character, eliteism, rock star status and other groped for weaknesses of the best hope America has had for true leadership and vision for decades by reminding those who vote of McCain's direct involvement with the Keating Five. Has everyone forgotten Columbia S&L? That Keating went to jail? That tens of millions were lost by honest depositors? That McCain not only counted this felon among his friends, but helped him "succeed.

[John Peabody]

Well, now, someone said with McCain's age he has to select someone who is really ready to take over the presidency. All I have to say is the the Democrats picked Obama to run for president, and he definitely is not ready to take over the presidency. Even Obama knows that; he picked Biden to answer that 3 a.m. phone call. Can you just see Obama meeting with Putin, Castro, Iran's leader, etc. What a joke.

[thinkforyourselfyoudolts]

andy: I don't care if my candidate worships the six-headed rat god Wamparampalumpaumpa and neither should you. You have no more proof of being correct about the "One God" thing (which, I'll have all you religion freaks out there know, is an idea that EVOLVED--bad word in some camps, I know--from earlier religions) than anyone. Did God tell you, I mean, really TELL you that he/she/it existed and THIS is the way (whatever way you hold to be true) to worship? You're a dolt, dude. Think for yourself. Instead of making comments like that, why don't you ask yourself who'd RUN THE COUNTRY better. What are his or her policies like? I'd be a little more concerned with that.

[Joe Lolstein, omnipotent]

Pro-choice Romney and the Osmonds will be fun to make fun of!

[Heather]

Why not just dig up Spiro T. Agnew and be done with it?

[Kim]

"As a Democrat, you attack what you fear most....this Democrat will be voting for McCain if he chooses Romney as his VP. " ************************ How true!

[dontcallmedan]

Before old John McCain names Mitt, he had better get his abacus out had figure out exactly how many houses total that the two of them own.

[mike johnson]

RJ3P:As a Christian I can not vote for a member of a non-Christian cult for VP - or potential PRESIDENT.
What is wrong with you that you believe only Christians have moral values. That is what is wrong with this country to be president you have to pander to idiots who vote based on two issues 1-gay people getting married 2-abortion. There are much more important issues. Then people talk about Democrats wanting to take away our rights. It looks to me like it is the other way around.

[Joe Lolstein, omnipotent]

Pro-Choice Mitt and the Osmonds ! versus incompotent rookies like Pawlenty !!

[Cal]

A Romney choice would be a gift to the Democrats. Romney and McCain hate each other and Romney has flip-flopped so many times he makes John Kerry look stable.

[mike]

Andy, please consider Acts 5:38. "And now I say unto you, Refrain yourselves from these men and let them alone; for if this counsel or work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, ye cannot destroy it lest ye be found fighters even against God.", and this quote from Thomas Jefferson: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions."

[DD]

What the Democrats/Unions are afraid of is someone who will make the tough decisions to fix our deficit. Mitt has a track record of doing it, if some bloated union or government jobs are lost........welcome to the real world where we have to earn your job everyday through performance not protectionism.

As a Christian I have no problem with Mitt, and neither does any of the hundreds of Christians I talk to. That cult stuff is a bunch of BS by a hypocrite or a liberal trying to sound Christian.

[plankbob]

Jan. 5, 2008, Boston Herald
Less than 48 hours after proclaiming he would never get personal with another Republican, Mitt Romney’s latest campaign missive focuses on the temper of Arizona Sen. John McCain.
The Romney camp frames the memo as a Top 10 list of McCain’s “attacks” on Republicans. It could also be called “10 instances over the last eight years when McCain got angry or lost his cool.”

1. Defending His Amnesty Bill, Sen. McCain Lost His Temper And Screamed, "F*ck You!" At Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
2. In 2000, Sen. McCain Ran An Attack Ad Comparing Then-Gov. George W. Bush To Bill Clinton.
3. Sen. McCain Repeatedly Called Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) an "A**hole," Causing A Fellow GOP Senator To Say, "I Didn't Want This Guy Anywhere Near A Trigger."
4. Sen. McCain Had A Heated Exchange With Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) And Called Him A "F*cking Jerk."
5. In 1995, Sen. McCain Had A "Scuffle" With 92-Year-Old Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) On The Senate Floor.
6. Sen. McCain Accused Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Of the "Most Egregious Incident" Of Corruption He Had Seen In The Senate.
7. Sen. McCain Attacked Christian Leaders And Republicans In A Blistering Speech During The 2000 Campaign.
8. Sen. McCain Attacked Vice President Cheney.
9. Celebrating His First Senate Election In 1986, Sen. McCain Screamed At And Harassed A Young Republican Volunteer.
10. Sen. McCain "Publicly Abused" Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL).

[Jen Thalmann]

Why are we all carrying on like there's some difference between any these two tickets? These candidates are on the same team people. And their job is to promote the power of the wealthy and the suppression of the working class.

Wake up America!

Jen

[Brian]

RJP3 - You do realize that the same 'leader of character' you are saying will 'bring much needed strength to this nation' was the governor of the state of Massachussetts from 200 to 2006...the same state you are citiing as having 'taxed its middle class right out of the state'. I don't have any information to support or refute the claim that state has overtaxed its middle class, but your choice of anecdotes to back your claim was unfortunate to say the least.

[RaySkittles]

someone wrote: At least OBAMA is a CHRISTIAN who believes in ONE GOD.

Yeah, he believes in Allah.

[mike johnson]

John Peabody: Can you just see Obama meeting with Putin, Castro, Iran's leader, etc. What a joke.
I has to be better than what we have now. We send a guy who has the intelligence of a potted plant to deal with them and that has worked out so well. At least Obama can speak without putting his foot in his mouth constantly or repeating the same thing over and over. "agree with me or the terrorist win" George Bush

[Jake]

Evangelical RJP3 - Don't knock Mitt's religion when you don't understand it. Pull back from following a group for a moment, and open your mind to following truth...regardless of the source. Also, would you trust your eyes to a foot doctor? Doubtful. I therefore recommend getting your facts AND background on Mitt's faith from an active member of his church...not an anti.

It's unfortunate that so many blocked the best man for the job because of religious bigotry. Hopefully now we can at least give him the 2nd position.

[ralph j]

Go Mitt, we love you in the South....The Democrats fear you more than McCain. You are exactly what we need to take on the huge challenges of our country.

A Christian Man that lives each day by example, an extremely smart person who has done something with his life and problem solved successfully numerous very challenging efforts. What have our two Democrats done I ask you? Nothing, absolutely nothing. With the Democrats in charge in Congress, what have we got done.

Go Mit! We need you in Sen McCain's corner more than ever.

[Ruth]

I cannot believe the ignorant remartks I am reading here!!! Doesn't it say in the bible "You who are not without sin shall cast the first stone?" Why , do people have the right to castize a man strictly because he was born into a mormon family.....You should read his bio and also hear his speech he gave at the end of his run for president. I too was disappointed when he droped out and hav heard from a lot of friends who wished he hadn't as they would have voted for Mitt. Now look at the choices we have....I know prople personally who have know Romney for several years and they say and see the faith he has, the love for his family and this country so I truly believe he would be the best choice for McCain.....

[Bryan]

I love Romney. He's one of the very few out there with enough of a spine to tell the media about the issues for what they really are. Romney is difficult to compete with from so many angles; you can't bribe him, he already has money and is as clean as a whistle as far as his life and family goes, you can't discredit him, he's educated and speaks his mind regardless of what others think, you can't play him down because he's a proven success in the free market economy, management, and government. When he took office as Governor he inherited a $3 Billion deficit left over from his democratic predecessor. In 4 years he translated that into a $1 Billion surplus. You can’t fool with him: When socialists at Harvard University invited Iranian terrorist Mohammed Khatami to speak at graduation, Romney denied state security and strongly spoke out. When William Bulger (a powerful government figure in Massachusetts) refused to assist the FBI in disclosing the whereabouts of his brother Whitey Bulger, a mobster on the FBI’s "10 Most Wanted" list, sought in connection with 21 murders, Romney publically spoke out and forced him from office in 2003. When the Big Dig began to collapse, killing 38 year old Milena Del Valle (the most expensive and expansive urban development project in the history of the Untied States) – Within 72 hours of the accident, Gov. Romney had won emergency permission from the legislature to seize direct control of safety inspections of the tunnel system, ousting Mass Transit Authority CEO Matthew Amorello in 2004.
Utelizing free-market principles, Romney constructed and implemented a groundbreaking free-market healthcare system that in two years realized a decline of 37 percent of individuals seeking state-funded free-care at the ER. State payments for treating those people fell from $166 million to $98 million - a drop of 41 percent (Forbes ).
He lead the fight against gay marriage in Massachusetts without apology. Romney reformed the state's corrupt auto insurance industry, effectively breaking up the tight cartel, refusing to give-in to ring-leader pressures. And on and on. And yet, Romney NEVER once collected a paycheck for his public service. He is a Statesman.
I'm beginning to more fully understand why evangelical leaders hate him (he won't be bought, bullied, or forced into their political interests), media hates him because he highlights the truth for what it really is, and Democrats hate him because he a legitimate, charismatic threat to their political agenda. We need more men like Romney in Washington.

[jamesincalifornia]

"And I really can't wait for the debates! Obama's gonna run circles around McBush."

---------------------------------------------

Yeah, unless McCain hears the questions and all of Obama's answers in advance (as he did at Saddleback).

[Gary M]

John Peabody, give us a break!!!! I can see Obama meeting with Putin... "W" looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul.... and trusts this ex KGB stooge! Raul Castro is slowly evolving Cuba toward better relations and as for Iran, Bush wouldn't meet or talk with the Iranians AT ALL! So much for diplomacy, Bush/Republican style! One thing about these Repubs.... they're just too dense, insecure and misinformed to even understand the complexities involved here. If they can't figure it out, they just blow it up!

[rose]

How hilarious. I thought this was America!? I don't care if Romney is a Christian or not! Look at the guy's integrity and economic prowess. By the way, changing your mind to represent your 'liberal' constituency (hmmm elected officials are supposed to reflect the views of the people who vote for them) is not flip flopping. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind once. Romney has always been a true conservative. He has pulled both the state of Massachusetts and the Winter Olympics out of serious debt... and given them a surplus... Hmmm has anyone else done that since Reagan was governor of California? There isn't anyone else of any party to can do what Romney can.
By the way, I haven't finished on the "America" statement. I personally think this would serve a great opportunity for McCain to stand up and say there isn't room in America today for bigotry. There is no litmus test for religion, race, creed, sex or any other background of difference.
GO MCCAIN/ROMNEY AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Rose
Dallas
I

[Edward Linkletter]

McCain should pick an Colin Powell as his running mate. Powell has some very unique qualities that could very well change the face of this election. The GOP could make history of their own, and charge into their convention with a wave of momentum that could take them straight to the White House.