The primary race keeps getting crazier and crazier. Not only did Democratic candidates Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards almost engage in a full-fledged brawl during last night's (Jan. 21) televised debate but things are completely askew for the GOP as well. With every primary election revealing a new winner, it seems that Republicans have no idea who they want to represent them in the White House.
Romney's absence in South Carolina on Saturday (Jan. 19) was hardly noticed. The primary election held there was essentially a race between McCain and Huckabee, and a close one at that. McCain secured a victory by earning 33 percent of the vote, while Huckabee won 30 percent of the vote, losing by just 3 percent.
So where was Romney? Taking a much-needed vacation in Las Vegas? Not quite, but almost. The senator was in Nevada but not to hit the casinos in Sin City. He was campaigning to win votes in Nevada's primary election. The former Massachusetts governor won easily in the largely uncontested caucus, ignorning his defeat in South Carolina and the gains his competitors made on the East coast.
With one win and one loss in the same week, simple math indicates that Romney adds up right back to where he started: Zero. But looking past the numbers may allow voters to understand how Romney is attempting to define himself. It seems that he is trying to establish himself as an outsider. One would think that Romney would focus on larger states that award winners large numbers of delegates, which is a tactic McCain and Huckabee are employing. But Romney says that he's trying to set himself apart from the others by targeting a variety of states and regions.
"I'm not looking just to get a couple high-profile victories," he said in an interview with WTOPnews.com. "I want to get delegates and I want to win this nomination."
But what's the real reason behind Romney's separation from the other frontrunners? Is he truly trying out a new technique? Or does he fear that he can't win the "big" primaries, like the most recent one in South Carolina?
It's possible that Romney's tactics may be working. Though he hasn't won any of the "major" caucuses (Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina), he has accrued a significant amount of delegates from winning Wyoming and Nevada and placing well in the other primaries. Unbeknownst to most, Nevada's caucus actually awards more delegates (31)to the winner than the more publicized South Carolina's primary (only 24).
Political analysts say that the breaking point for the candidates will be Florida. Romney's unique tactic of securing wins in small primaries seems to be working: He has won the most votes and the most delegates to date. Romney's wealth also affords (no pun intended) him the opportunity to continue writing checks to promote himself through events and advertising campaigns, which is an advantage he has over the other candidates.
Fred Thompson is out of the Republican race and as money dwindles and support wanes, other candidates are sure to follow suit. Romney's win in Nevada undoubtedly gives him a boost, as does his positive financial situation. But Republican Presidential Nomination polls pit him at third, with only 15.2 percent of the public's support, despite leading in delegate votes. Florida will be the ultimate test for Romney, revealing whether or not his trek to the White House should continue.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hometown Proves Allegiance
Tuesday was an exhilarating day for Mitt Romney. Despite initially having high hopes for the Michigan primary, seeing that his father, George Romney, had earned the respect of many locals while serving as a three-term governor, Romney said last week that he feared that a win in his home state could be nearly impossible. He implied that nothing seemed certain in this election and he didn't know if he was able to depend on his hometown for support.
Even political analysts and journalists called the Michigan primary Romney's "last stand:"
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us
Romney's former neighbors proved him wrong and erased his fears by showing their support at the polls. He easily defeated Republican competitors John McCain and Mike Huckabee in the Michigan primary, giving him a renewed sense of hope. He jubilantly proclaimed that, "Tonight [Jan. 15] proves that you can't tell an American that there's something they just can't do...and tonight is a victory of optimism over Washington-style pessimism."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2008/01/15/VI2008011503541.html?sid=ST2008011504575
A groomed, well-rested Romney spoke with "Today Show" correspondent Meredith Viera this morning (Thursday, Jan. 17) about how Michigan residents "resuscitated" the election for him:
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us
Romney won 39 percent of the vote in the Michigan primary. McCain came in second with 30 percent of the vote and Huckabee made a feeble performance with just 16 percent of the vote.
Romney appealed to voters not only through his home-state ties but through speeches dedicated to improving Michigan's struggling economy. Michigan currently has the highest unemployment rate in the country, which was the topic upon which most of Romney's presentations focused. While traveling throughout the state, Romney also targeted the auto industry, one of Michigan's main sources of revenue. He rallied their support by proposing solutions, including increased flexibility regarding fuel-economy standards in Detroit.
Romney is now leading in the total number of delegates and the total number of votes for the Republican nomination. But the race is still wide open and Republican voters seem to have no idea who they want to represent their party. Republican voters haven't identified with a single candidate yet, signifying that anything can happen in the primaries to come.
Most political analysts agree that Romney's win is a deciding factor in prohibiting him from dropping out of the presidential race. His positive financial situation (a result from notably successful fund-raising events and tactics throughout 2007) is another reason that voters are sure to see Romney press on in the scramble towards the White House.
The South Carolina primary will be held on January 19 and, with 24 delegates at stake, will undoubtedly be a defining moment in Romney's political campaign.
Even political analysts and journalists called the Michigan primary Romney's "last stand:"
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us
Romney's former neighbors proved him wrong and erased his fears by showing their support at the polls. He easily defeated Republican competitors John McCain and Mike Huckabee in the Michigan primary, giving him a renewed sense of hope. He jubilantly proclaimed that, "Tonight [Jan. 15] proves that you can't tell an American that there's something they just can't do...and tonight is a victory of optimism over Washington-style pessimism."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2008/01/15/VI2008011503541.html?sid=ST2008011504575
A groomed, well-rested Romney spoke with "Today Show" correspondent Meredith Viera this morning (Thursday, Jan. 17) about how Michigan residents "resuscitated" the election for him:
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us
Romney won 39 percent of the vote in the Michigan primary. McCain came in second with 30 percent of the vote and Huckabee made a feeble performance with just 16 percent of the vote.
Romney appealed to voters not only through his home-state ties but through speeches dedicated to improving Michigan's struggling economy. Michigan currently has the highest unemployment rate in the country, which was the topic upon which most of Romney's presentations focused. While traveling throughout the state, Romney also targeted the auto industry, one of Michigan's main sources of revenue. He rallied their support by proposing solutions, including increased flexibility regarding fuel-economy standards in Detroit.
Romney is now leading in the total number of delegates and the total number of votes for the Republican nomination. But the race is still wide open and Republican voters seem to have no idea who they want to represent their party. Republican voters haven't identified with a single candidate yet, signifying that anything can happen in the primaries to come.
Most political analysts agree that Romney's win is a deciding factor in prohibiting him from dropping out of the presidential race. His positive financial situation (a result from notably successful fund-raising events and tactics throughout 2007) is another reason that voters are sure to see Romney press on in the scramble towards the White House.
The South Carolina primary will be held on January 19 and, with 24 delegates at stake, will undoubtedly be a defining moment in Romney's political campaign.
A Confession and Some Romney Review
I couldn’t have asked for a better time to be enrolled in a public affairs reporting journalism class. With the upcoming presidential elections, there is so much information to absorb and report regarding candidates, debates and issues. This blog serves as my attempt to closely follow and document the 2008 campaign and, along the way, defy the stereotypes associated with my generation that claim that most of us are tech-savvy, uninformed and politically disinclined members of the fondly dubbed “Gen Y.”
As an assignment for my capstone journalism class, I have been asked to write a blog detailing Mitt Romney’s political campaign for the 2008 presidential elections. Because I attend a conservative university and grew up in an equally right-winged town, I am partial to Republican ideals but I don’t align myself with either party. I’m more interested in the specific presidential contenders, not the parties they represent. I’m excited to explore the ideals and values upheld (or not upheld) by this specific candidate, and, while I’m to remain unbiased in my writings, to explore his political platform along with his competitors so that I can make an informed choice come November.
Enough about me; on to the good stuff. Mitt Romney, as I’m sure the politically savvy know, is a Republican candidate who calls both Michigan and Massachusetts home. Originally a businessman, Romney was the former CEO of management consulting firm Bain & Company. Before he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Romney served as the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Now he’s moved on to bigger and better things by seeking election to the White House.
Romney’s political views are consistent with stereotypical Republican values. He is pro-life, against gay marriage, pro-Iraq, pro-death penalty and anti-estate tax, amongst others. His voting record indicates his alliance to the GOP, minus a costly mistake when in August 2007 he supported an abortion law despite claiming to be against it.
The test of Romney’s character came with the Iowa Caucus, the first real assessment of how his campaigning strategy was working (or not working) thus far. Romney took second as Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee won easily over the rest of the candidates. Romney earned 12% more votes than third-place candidate John McCain. He also took second in New Hampshire, this time behind McCain, who essentially switched places with Huckabee. Romney won voters’ hearts in Wyoming, though, and the combination of the victory and his two second-place awards put him at the top of the Republican scorecard with 30 total delegates.
Primary season continues to be jam-packed, with the next big vote coming up in Michigan. Romney’s supporters hope his hometown and familial ties (he is the son of former Michigan Governor George W. Romney) will give him favor and the edge he needs to win (and avoid a third loss) on Jan. 15.
As an assignment for my capstone journalism class, I have been asked to write a blog detailing Mitt Romney’s political campaign for the 2008 presidential elections. Because I attend a conservative university and grew up in an equally right-winged town, I am partial to Republican ideals but I don’t align myself with either party. I’m more interested in the specific presidential contenders, not the parties they represent. I’m excited to explore the ideals and values upheld (or not upheld) by this specific candidate, and, while I’m to remain unbiased in my writings, to explore his political platform along with his competitors so that I can make an informed choice come November.
Enough about me; on to the good stuff. Mitt Romney, as I’m sure the politically savvy know, is a Republican candidate who calls both Michigan and Massachusetts home. Originally a businessman, Romney was the former CEO of management consulting firm Bain & Company. Before he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Romney served as the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Now he’s moved on to bigger and better things by seeking election to the White House.
Romney’s political views are consistent with stereotypical Republican values. He is pro-life, against gay marriage, pro-Iraq, pro-death penalty and anti-estate tax, amongst others. His voting record indicates his alliance to the GOP, minus a costly mistake when in August 2007 he supported an abortion law despite claiming to be against it.
The test of Romney’s character came with the Iowa Caucus, the first real assessment of how his campaigning strategy was working (or not working) thus far. Romney took second as Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee won easily over the rest of the candidates. Romney earned 12% more votes than third-place candidate John McCain. He also took second in New Hampshire, this time behind McCain, who essentially switched places with Huckabee. Romney won voters’ hearts in Wyoming, though, and the combination of the victory and his two second-place awards put him at the top of the Republican scorecard with 30 total delegates.
Primary season continues to be jam-packed, with the next big vote coming up in Michigan. Romney’s supporters hope his hometown and familial ties (he is the son of former Michigan Governor George W. Romney) will give him favor and the edge he needs to win (and avoid a third loss) on Jan. 15.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
