Mitt Romney's supporters latest slogan and rallying cry is now: "A vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain!"
I beg to differ--a vote for Huckabee is a vote for... *gasp* HUCKABEE. Romney is making a habit of calling this a "two-man race", referring to himself and McCain, of course, but there are some of us who would like to think otherwise. As of Wednesday, Romney had not bought any Super Tuesday advertising--it is now certain, however, that he has bought $1 million in advertising in California, including running an old anti-Hillary campaign ad. Right, because that makes so much sense in a primary.
Why wait so long to buy any significant Super Duper Tuesday advertising? Is Mitt unsure of his outcome on Super Tuesday? Maybe he's nervous that Mike Huckabee is going to carry the South--a must for a presidential candidate: it's nearly impossible to win in a general without carrying the South. Out of the four remaining GOP candidates (yes, there are FOUR), Gov. Huckabee is the only one likely to carry the South. So why is he getting ignored?
My explanation is that Mitt Romney is getting nervous, and he is using rather sleazy tactics to trick Super Tuesday voters into thinking this is a two-man race. By doing that, some voters may assume that Gov. Huckabee has dropped out or that he's no longer a real contender in the race, and those who may have been leaning in Gov. Huckabee's direction (especially after Fred Thompson's drop) will, Mitt hopes, naturally swing in Romney's direction because well, he thinks he's the only conservative left, and he has been claiming so; and McCain is evil and a liar and a liberal, so chant Romney supporters ad nauseam.
Jonathan Martin, of Politico.Com, reports on another Romney distortion tactic:
Huckabee supporter Susan Brooks of Colorado Springs, CO, sends over a robocall she got last night from Mitt that wipes Huck out of the picture:Hello, This is Governor Mitt Romney. The race for the Republican nomination for president is now a two person race. Our party, I believe, is at a critical crossroads, and the future of conservatism is very much at stake. I believe the choice before us is quite clear: Do we support the liberal policies of the Washington D.C. crowd, or do we want to fight for the conservative principles that have defined our party for more than a century? I believe that our policies have to remain rooted in conservative thought. Together, you and I can begin to change Washington. That's why I need your vote on Tuesday.And my call today is being paid for by Romney for President, Inc., 857-XXX-XXXX
According to FEC rules, this is a violation of the following:
ยง 1001. Statements of entries generally (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States knowingly and willfully-- (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fi ctitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 233i [of 18 U.S.C.]), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.(emphasis mine)
Granted, it takes months to process an FEC violation, but that's not the point. Gov. Mitt Romney has been distorting the truth and using sleazy tactics from the beginning, and just because we're so close to Super Tuesday and Mitt thinks it's just him versus McCain, he's got another thing coming.
-Cydney
UPDATE: The Real Clear Politics national average has Huckabee just 1.5% behind Romney, who is 7.8% behind McCain. This looks like more than a two-man race to me, friends. Romney needs to stop pretending that Huckabee is down in the single digits.
Cross-posted on The Celebrity.
Just because Romney said that doesn't make him
a sleaze ball or a criminal. I know you want Huckabee
to win but your going way overboard here.Do you know
who it was that first said it was a two man race? It wasn't
Mitt Romney.It was Rush Limbaugh and then Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.
Just because you don't agree with it doesn't make it
a distortion or sleazy or criminal. Its the way
they see it. It took me a little while but I think
I know why it is some of you really don't like
Romney. Having read a lot of the claims of his
flip flops and then researched it personally.
I consider most of those claims to be nit picking.
So I can only conclude that it has to do with his
religion. Maybe its not the only reason but I think its the biggest.
Everyone knows why Huckabee is staying in the race. He knows it will hurt Romney's chances
of winning and he thinks he has a chance of
becoming McCain's running mate.As much as it pains
me to say this Huckabee has no chance of winning.
Before you start throwing stone's at Romney again
because of his supposed dirty tactics.Just remember Huckabee isn't exactly clean himself
when it comes to that.
You are getting played Cydney. Huckabee is staying in to take votes from Romney, so his buddy wins.
Even the illustrious Tim Russert has figured it out.
A vote for Huck is a vote for McCain, the Democrat.
Well, we do have till the 19th for us to get you to see the light. Please don't vote early, but vote often.
Posted by: swatter on February 1, 2008 01:02 PMDude, there is no way you can convince me. And honestly, cut the crap about the "vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain". Why? Because McCain is my second choice, believe it or not, and he is actually the second choice for most Huckabee supporters I know.
Also, Huckabee is NOT staying in to take votes from Romney (he's actually probably "taking votes from" McCain, like I said). Huckabee has said, again and again, that he does NOT want a VP spot. He is in this for the gold. How many times does this have to be pounded into everyone's brain? Huckabee is not done. Feb. 5th is not here yet. That will surely be the tell-all day. Until then, please...shut up and stop trying to convert me Romney.
Just because the pundits said so doesn't mean it it's true.
Phil @ 1:
I did not call him a "sleaze ball", and it doesn't matter who said "two-man race" first. Don't tell me that the whole "taxes whisper" thing wasn't sleazy, though. Romney's got issues with some of his campaign strategies.
It is not about Romney's religion for me. It may be for some people, but most Huckabee supporters I've run into couldn't care less if he was a Mormon. The problem with Romney is that he is F-A-K-E. Yes. I don't know about you, but my generation is sick of plastic people. We're rising up and saying that we don't want phonies leading us. We believe we and the rest of America deserves better. Romney is a conservative "convert", and a recent one at that. If he had converted say, 12 years ago, I might be more inclined to trust what he says, but I can't. I just can't. Mitt Romney gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Posted by: Cydney on February 1, 2008 02:41 PM So that makes Romney a fake? Yet its ok for
Huckabee and McCain to change positions on issues.
Then to your way of thinking that must make
Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Hugh Hewitt,Laura
Ingraham,Rick Santorum,Bay Buchanan,Ann Coulter
and Glenn Beck all dupes and idiots. If that's
what you think then your a much better judge of
character than I. Because you see they all support Romney.
Posted by: phil spackman on February 1, 2008 03:31 PM
What exactly are you talking about that makes me think he's a fake?
He's got a fake personality--that's what makes him fake, and he's also quite the flip-flopper. He's got a weird vibe, and he's rude, too. All those hosts aren't dupes and idiots because they support Romney. They have a right to support whomever they choose. Those hosts are actually incredibly intelligent people. I think they are supporting him because they honestly believe he's the only one who can beat Hillary. They support him because he's business-savvy. Stefan Sharkansky supports him, too, and the Shark is in NO way a dumb guy.
For me, there are way too many negatives with Romney for his positive to shine through even a bit. In a general, wouldn't be voting FOR him, I'd be voting AGAINST the democrat.
Posted by: Cydney on February 1, 2008 03:46 PMHuckabee is on the TV today spreading the gospel by going after Romney when his buddy, McCain is the one he needs to convince voters of. Talk about phony.
Anyways, the today's polls show a McCain sweep, and if so, it's all over. And the points are not within the margin of error.
Anyways again, I am glad you aren't afraid to state your opinions and you back them up with other than standard rhetoric.
Posted by: swatter on February 1, 2008 04:26 PM