Romney speech: Still trying to win 2012?
Mitt Romney's speech in Mississippi Wednesday night was full of the expected swipes at Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. But he may have a harder time winning over the GOP electorate this time.
Mitt Romney's speech in Mississippi Wednesday night was full of the expected swipes at Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. But he may have a harder time winning over the GOP electorate this time.
Is Mitt Romney fighting the wrong political war?
That question is apropos because the 2012 GOP presidential nominee gave a substance-heavy speech in Mississippi Wednesday night that laid out themes and approaches for a Romney re-redux. Thus the US political world has some hard data on which to rely as it mulls Mitt鈥檚 surprising decision to (probably) launch a third try for the presidency.
The speech showed 鈥渁 hunger to step back into the ring," writes Washington Post political reporter Philip Rucker. As Romney aides hinted beforehand, it was full of direct swipes at Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Mr. Romney questioned Ms. Clinton鈥檚 economic worldview, wondering whether she could provide opportunity for all 鈥渋f she doesn鈥檛 know where all the jobs come from in the first place.鈥� He described the former secretary of State as 鈥渢imid鈥� in foreign policy, wrong about Russia, wrong about the Middle East, and wrong about the chaos facing Libya and other North African nations.
鈥淐hina grows more assertive and builds a navy that will be larger than ours in five years,鈥� said Romney. 鈥淲e shrink our nuclear capabilities as Russia upgrades theirs.鈥�
During his appearance, Romney said that the Republican Party needs to improve its outreach to minorities. And the rich businessman, known in 2012 for his comments dismissing the 鈥�47 percent鈥� of lower-income voters, stressed the need to lift needy Americans out of poverty.
鈥淔ailed liberal policies鈥� haven鈥檛 helped the poorest in the nation, Romney said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 finally time to apply conservative politics that improve America鈥檚 education system, promote family formation, and create good-paying jobs,鈥� Romney said.
This all meshes with what Romney aides say will be the focus of Romney 2016. He鈥檒l run on a platform of foreign policy competence, poverty eradication, and economic competence. He鈥檒l talk about his Mormon roots and try to let his real personality shine.
These are all things he was urged to do when he faced Barack Obama in 2012. Pundits said he needed to show more empathy for the downtrodden and appear less robotic in person. Lessons learned, apparently.
鈥淭he new Mitt brand: 鈥楴ot the guy obsessing about 2012, well just a little,鈥� " tweeted right-leaning Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin on Thursday.
The problem, of course, is that it is four years on, and Romney needs to win another primary campaign before he can face off in the general election. It鈥檚 not at all clear that focusing on poverty and Mormonism will win over the GOP electorate this time.
There鈥檚 a military clich茅 that generals always prepare to fight the last war. Perhaps Romney鈥檚 preparing to re-fight the 2012 vote.
This time he鈥檚 facing a stronger primary field. An open presidential election, as opposed to an incumbent reelection, usually draws stronger candidates, and 2016 seems no exception. Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, et al. will fight Romney for the designation of the electable GOP establishment choice. Conservatives such as Ted Cruz will box him out of the rightward part of the candidate spectrum.
His problem with the GOP electorate isn鈥檛 that he鈥檚 not compassionate enough. It鈥檚 that many believe he鈥檚 a closet Massachusetts moderate who鈥檒l support Obamacare if he鈥檚 elected.
鈥淲hat effect will a new and improved heartwarmingly 鈥榬eal鈥� Romney 3.0 have on the primaries?鈥� wrote the right-leaning Allahpundit at Hot Air earlier this week. 鈥淕OPers aren鈥檛 going to reject him because they think he鈥檚 a jerk, they鈥檙e going to reject him because he鈥檚 an aging two-time loser up against a field of more talented politicians.鈥�