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Mitt Romney backs off rivals, turns his focus to Obama in Reno
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 | 8:27 p.m.
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, his wife Ann and businessman Donald Trump leave a news conference after Trump endorsed Romney's presidential bid at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada February 2, 2012.
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RENO — Four years ago, Reno-area Republicans caucused overwhelmingly for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
On Thursday, hundreds of them packed a Reno convention hall for a speech many saw as key to their decision on whether to caucus for him again.
“Uh, yeah, I’m supporting him,” said Joan Demgen, a Reno Republican. “I guess I haven’t quite decided. I supported him four years ago and I probably will again if he says the right thing tonight and doesn’t go off message.”
Demgen and other voters packed The Grove in South Reno expressed weariness over the bitter turn the GOP primary has taken as Romney has fought to fend off momentum bursts from his rivals, most recently former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
“He needs to go after Obama and not Gingrich,” Demgen said. “They need to stop going after fellow Republicans.”
When he finally took the stage, Romney didn’t disappoint in that regard, immediately aiming his rhetoric at President Barack Obama. He called Obama “extraordinarily naïve” when it comes to dealing with the Taliban, accused him of wanting to lead the country into greater debt and of failing to revive the economy.
“We elected him to lead and he has not done that,” Romney said. “He chose to follow, and now it is time for him to get out of the way.”
In his 20-minute speech, Romney didn’t once mention Gingrich or his other rivals, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Instead, he continued working to position himself as the nominee apparent.
“Go home and turn on the TV,” he told an overflow crowd gathered in the cold of the outside patio once the convention room filled. “I’ll be back when I’m the nominee.”
As the GOP primary heads into its second month, many Republicans are concerned about the toll it will take on the enthusiasm they believe is needed to fuel the campaign against the well-funded incumbent president.
To that end, some at the Romney event chose him as their candidate more out of pragmatism than out of a philosophical affinity.
“I’d say I’m a Romney supporter,” said Connie Willman, of Reno. “He’s probably the best option at this point. We need someone who can win.”
Willman described herself as “very conservative,” but said she’d rather throw her support to “a moderate choice.”
“A more moderate candidate has a better chance in the long run working in D.C.,” Willman said. “We need someone who can work with Congress and bring them together.”
She and her husband expressed some concern about whether Republicans have the energy to see their candidate to victory but were ultimately confident.
“We might not be as excited as we would be if we had a more conservative candidate, but we are still very, very committed to defeating Obama,” said John Willman. “And that will make the difference.”
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In 1976 republicans nominated a moderate Dole. In 2008, they nominated a moderate Mccain. In both cases they lost the presidency. It was reported that Albert Einstein was the one who said "Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result." All other remaining candidates with the exception of Santorum are flawed and compromised. As BHO's policies have failed, it is widely believed that he would use a vicious character assassination of a republican candidate to win his reelection bid.
Let us give him the candidate of an impeccable record so that BHO would not be able or discouraged from using his billion dollar war chest against the republican nominee. Then and only then will BHO and his policies would be an issue of the general election. Giving BHO a candidate who will be an issue (Romney & Newt) is a recipe for a defeat. For the sake of our beloved country, let us take our votes seriously and caucus for Santorum tomorrow. He can and will defeat BHO.
After 4 years experience in the U.S. House and 12 years in the Senate, as a successful writer and Senate floor manager of both the landmark Welfare Reform Act and the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban...and closely observing the consequences of these 2 extraordinary pieces of legislation as well as many other federal lawmaking efforts--I would argue that Senator Santorum does indeed have great expertise in the very sector that our nation requires most in our present economic crisis.
I believe he has a mental keenness and penetration, acumen, on what will and will not work from the standpoint of law and policy. He has seen with his own eyes, after crafting laws himself or with others, what succeeds and what fails, and why. As a result, his own MadeInAmerica Jobs Plan and debt reduction plan are robust and well-targeted, to overcome our present far-too-gradual recovery and jump start jobs multipliers for all economic sectors.
As they say in D.C., his plan has 'teeth,' to make it effective and get done what it intends. Santorum grew up in a steel town. He knows first-hand the pain of families with sudden, but long-lasting, unemployment and loss of income. The urgency of Santorum's jobs and debt reduction plans reflect his compassion for those who cannot find jobs.