Mitt Romney got his must-win victory today in the Michigan primary. And given his personal fortune, the limited funds in his competitors’ campaigns, and the continued lack of a clear leader in the GOP field, he still has a shot for the nomination. But a significant amount of his support in Michigan likely was associated with Romney’s family ties to the state, and it remains to be seen whether he can attract enough supporters in other states to top John McCain and Mike Huckabee, who are leading him in national polls.
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- DavidB on Huckabee felt costs of campaign
- Monkeyhawk on Huckabee felt costs of campaign
- Monkeyhawk on Goldman Sachs ‘apology’ hollow
- Monkeyhawk on It’s the stupidity about the economy
- DorisKing on Huckabee felt costs of campaign
- Jed on Let immigrants run
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
56 Comments
Romney did NOT have to win.
Romney had the most raw votes, before Michigan.
Romney had the most delegates, before Michigan.
Even so, nice that he won.
Michigan: Gold
Wyoming: Gold
Iowa: Silver
New Hampwhire: Silver
Romney has two WINS, nobody else does.
Romney had never come in less than 2nd. Nobody else can say that.
When it comes to Romney, who the Hell cares? All he is is a Central Casting propped up artificial candidate that flip flops to appeal to MA voters when it is convenient and flips back to appeal to the RR GOP base when it serves his purpose.
Mitt Romney is about as real as his hair color.
yeah paulthecon is a Romney supporter.
Ick. Probably not any help for Willard there. Knowing paulthecon as we all do.
Romney is not electable. This will be his only win.
In addition to his other problems…
Which will become more apparent IF Romney becomes credible?
Americans have to ask themselves if they want elections to be for sale.
Willard outspent his nearest competitor by FAR.
Translation? He got lots of votes from people who heard and saw his name the most.
LOL
I guess Hillary and Obama aren’t spending any money at all, are they?
Good for Mitt. I want to see this thing played out because I’m still undecided between Huckabee and Romney.
The thought of either one of them debating Hillary is so compelling…
Senators Clinton and Obama are indeed spending lots of money.
Interesting side here. The DNC was a great deal more responsible in Michigan than the GOP.
This whole demented primary process. Every state wants to go earlier to have more influence.
Michigan and Florida wanted to get on that bandwagon The DNC said no.
The GOP is NOT so responsible.
Back to Willard?
He has lots of HIS OWN money to buy votes. The other candidates rely more on funding from people who want to see them elected.
It does not surprise me that paulthecon chooses a corporate raider who wants to but the Presidency. It fits his character perfectly.
Enjoy your gimme Willard. Your time in this race is short. Even in its rotten condition, the GOP is better than Willard Romney.
Well MOST of them anyway.
By the time the convention roles around, the Democrats will allow all of Michigan’s delegates to vote.
I hope that I am wrong, though.
It will be fun to tell the people of Michigan that the Democrats don’t care about them.
Considering Michigan is almost his home state that Romney won isn’t a surprise, I would bet that all the top tier candidates win their home states
“It will be fun to tell the people of Michigan that the Democrats don’t care about them.”
Michigan will go blue in the next election, just as 58% of the American public will. The other 42% need therapy.
Tom
McCain won Michigan, in the last Primary.
Republican Primary voters vote, primarily, based on issues.
Republicans made up MOST of the electorate, this time.
McCain is toast.
McCain wins by getting Democrats and Independents to vote in the Primary.
That is how he won Michigan, last time.
That is also how McCain won New Hampshire.
That game is now over.
Paul, you know as well as I do, it’s politics.
Don’t forget: the GOP cut Michigan’s delgates in half for violating their rules.
Political parties are NOT mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. For EITHER party to overrule what states decide for themselves, to me, is bogus.
I would hope some Republicans in the legislature would get some courage and sponsor a bill compelling the Attorney General to sue if EITHER party attempts to penalize Kansas at any point in the future.
That being said, I’m sure a number of Republicans on the blog are smiling at the prospect of Hillary winning 73%…of nothing.
Democrats respect the process paulthecon.
Screwed up as it is.
Republicans just want their guy chosen as fast as possible so they can start defending whoever it is from their lousy record.
Oh and it won’t be Willard there paulie. Only thing he is is king of the rats.
Jeez, Paul, I would absolutely LOVE to see the Mitt as the GOP nominee. That would be flippin’ wonderful.
Romney would get his white bread, country club, flip floppin’ ass kicked by virtually any Democrat.
Sorry, make that any Democrat that is still breathing and a few that ain’t.
Bring it on, Mitt!!!!!
Actually, some guy named “uncommitted” did very well, in Michigan.
Romney has the best chance of winning the Republican Primary.
Romney could have won the primary, even if he had lost Michigan.
“some guy named “uncommitted” did very well, in Michigan.”
………only because most of the Democrats did not participate, Rossell, and you damned well know that, but you try to score your usual bullshit by making statements like that.
Hillary was not well liked, by nearly half of the American people, even before Hillary played the victim card, and the gender card.
Hillary was not well liked, before she played the race card.
By November, Hillary will be hated even more.
I dont know the break down in each state but Michigan isn’t the only state that allows Independents or is open so I wouldn’t count McCain out. My prediction, Huckabee wins South Carolina, Rudy or Mcain win Florida, Thompson drops out. Come super Tuesday the top tier Candidates win their home states the ones that vote that day. On the Dem’s side if Edwards doesn’t win S Carolina hes toast. and obama and Clinton slug it out.
WS
A sitting Senator, and former First Lady, who was expecting a “coronation”
Instead, “uncommited” runs against Hillary, in Michigan, with 39%.
Hillary only gets 56%.
She is in trouble.
As much as Hillary has negative numbers, the GOP is in even worse shape. The likelihood of a Republican being elected in November is about the same as the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl in three weeks.
With you at his side here paul, Willard Romney will be as hated as you are.
What a shill. You post in sound bites. It is like you think just by saying something you can make it so.
Quite the little political operative. And little old me keeps you jumping around like Willard Romney on abortion!
We will choose our nominee carefully. This is why the DNC protected the screwed up primary process from being made even worse.
We are choosing the next President.
The GOP? The only thing they got on fire is Ron Paul. And they treat his supporters like dirt.
Juvenile
Your idiotic comments are useful.
Hated?
Speak for yourself.
I have rarely seen anyone support your childish, racist, bigoted, juvenile and hateful comments.
You represent ONLY yourself.
You don’t even do that very well.
I do it well enough to knock YOU off your game.
Though I must concede, you make it easy. You are so easy to despise. There’s no substance to you at all. You’re a depthless, featureless, PROUD, shill.
You do Willard Romney proud. You being a bigot too.
LOL
Bigot?
I hate no one, not even you.
I regard you with curiosity, at times, like an animal at the Zoo.
I regard you with disgust, when you want to abolish Israel, blow up Mexicans, or when you call me “queer” —
But I hate no one.
I pity you.
Hate is a required quality, in the personality of a bigot.
You admit that you hate.
I state, honestly, that I do not hate.
I, therefore, am not a bigot.
You, therefore, are a bigot.
By the way,
The race war, in the Democrat Party, gets worse, as Hillary supporters try to take the right to vote away from minorities:
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Obama_Angry_with_Clinton_/2008/01/15/64516.html?s=al&promo_code=430F-1
I think Romney will run into problems with some of the documented flopping he’s done….. eventually some one in the GOP will exploit that … and it doesn’t seem a lot of evangelicals particularly care for him
“The race war, in the Democrat Party, gets worse, as Hillary supporters try to take the right to vote away from minorities:”
nThat is a misrepresentation —- you are trying to make it racial. Because of the workers endorsement of OBama Clintons are objecting to an unfair caucus advantage in allowing waiters, servers, to caucus at their casinos — with no one else allowed to participate. Clintons deny having anything to do with the lawsuit — but the law firm doing it are Clinton supporters ….
The twist is members of the law firm were on the committee that created and approved the rules allowing it …..
Another reason not to vote for Hillary — has nothing to do with race or denying any a right to vote or caucus …
Sorry Paulecon, Mitt had to win this race to be considered less than the hopeless candidate that he is.
This will be his only primary win.
Truthfully, he is less of a bad candidate than his friend, GW Bush was several years ago. I’ll confess though, I love when you cons stomp all over each other. It makes me smile, several times per day. Thank you.
Paul, time for you to jump on the H_bee wagon; shakey as it is…
ken don’t take econ (paulthecon) seriously.
I tend to get him ranting.
I’m sort of his keeper here. I keep his lies focused on me. Well mostly anyway.
paulthecon? YOUR guy Willard Romney is a Mormon.
Now…I am still learning the facts about this faith. And I will not affford you the chance to accuse me of religious persecution.
There are some very troubling aspects of Willard Romney’s faith as to black people.
Now since Willard is your guy? Can you explain better on the Church of Latter Day saints and their attitudes as to race? You know, so I don’t need to?
Or…
Would you being the bigot you are prefer to continue to incite division in the party that 95% of black Americans embrace?
Here is your chance to be good proactive instead of negative reactive.
outlander
Posted January 15, 2008 at 9:40 pm | Permalink
Good for Mitt. I want to see this thing played out because I’m still undecided between Huckabee and Romney.
The thought of either one of them debating Hillary is so compelling
For Romney sake I hope it would not be him. Huckabe has some outward real intelligence. Though either one against a Washington insider like Hillary who knows the game will wipe them out!
Of all the GOP Candidates Romney and Giuliani do not have a chance of being elected in a fair election.
To shallow and too plastic, we have come quite a ways since 2000 I hate repeating it but the only way that the next President will not be a Democrat is if the Democrats somehow blow it. Even my Boy Paul really does not have a chance with the “R” beside his name. The only other hope for a Republican to get the election would be Mc Cain. But then it all depends on how little people know and have learned about Politics. Hell before 2004 I might have voted for Romney or Giuliani against Hillary.
The real winner is RUDY. It looks like Rudy’s plan to skip the early states and wait down the road in Florida paid off. Now we have no clear front runner and Rudy can join in.
Hee hee hee. Like Steven, I love the smell of republicon blood in the morning. Yep, bring on the mittster. Hell, Kucinich could beat mitty.
Yep. The democrats should be picking out their inaugeration outfits soon…
Juvenile
The Democrat Party changed its official views on race.
The Democrat Party used to be the pro-slavery Party.
Later, the Democrat Party was the pro Jim Crow Party.
The Mormon faith has changed its views, as well.
You are again attacking someone based on Faith.
You are a bigot to do so.
The Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, is a Democrat and a Mormon. The Democrats in the US Senate made him their leader. Are the Senate Democrats “racist”?
You are ignorant and hateful, as always.
Another thing, Juvenile
As you are on the thug side of the American Labor Movement —
Do you realize that Organized Labor was very, very racist until just recently?
Of course, as racist as you are towards Mexicans, today, you probably understand and support the racism of trade unionism towars Blacks, a few decades ago.
Gosh get all defensive paul!
Why?
It isn’t folks like ME will have issues with Romney’s faith. That would be your side of things.
I’m making an honest political assessment based on years of observation of the party of legislating morality. I’m sorry if it hurts!
Uh no. In fact I’m not sorry a bit. Seems like kharma to me!
Why I think you might THINK you know when you see a racist there paulie.
You being one and all?
Maybe you can ghetto the desperate Mexicans you exploit for cheap labor in those “Black areas” you were telling us about.
And aren’t you a Catholic?
What would be the Catholic take on Willard Romney’s faith?
You are getting QUITE the list of adjectives!
I guess we get to add heretic?
Oh that’s right. I left the party of marginalizing others. That too would be your department.
Kharma?
I think Kharma is the “race card” and the
“feminist card” comming back to bite the Dems on the ass.
Hillary, First Lady in charge of “Bimbo Eruptions” — a role that made her claim to “feminism” look just as empty as it is.
Hillary now plays the “race card” in hopes that she will get most of the White vote, in the process.
Oh quit worrying about our nominees paul.
Ya got your own problems.
Romney is your guy. Save me some research?
Does HE want to write religion into the Constitution like Mike Huckabee says he wants too?
Can we better understand Willard’s faith before he legislates it?
Juvenile
You are a kook.
You marginalized yourself.
Juvenile
You are also an idiot.
Every pollster looks at how candidates do in “Evangelical Areas” “Catholic Areas” “Black Areas” “White Areas”
They might call them precints, rather than areas.
They might call them counties, rather than areas.
However, every serious student of politics looks at culture and race and gender to see how a candidate plays, with different groups.
I already stated that I like Obama, though he is way too liberal for me.
You have already stated that you don’t like Obama.
Isn’t Obama the Black guy? How am I a “racist”?
You are a school yard bully, a kid in a sand box called out on your bad behavior.
Hate is your guiding principle, the only thing that seems to motivate you.
You are a bigot.
Your “bounces off me and sticks to you” routine doesnt work. There are Black kids that call me “Unc” or even “Pops” because of what their cousins call me. You are ridiculous.
I’m having fun paul.
Why are you so stirred up? Did I hit a sore spot?
Oh and you yourself have some issues with Romney’s faith paul.
Didn’t you say you were uneasy about his church baptizing dead people? I seem to remember that.
And you are one of his flacks. Imagine how much harder that is gonna be to square with real type Christians.
Paul is Catholic and supports Romeny?
Paul, what are your viewpoints on the following?
For safe, legal abortion since relative’s death from illegal. (Oct 1994)
Endorsed legalization of RU-486. (Mar 2002)
Personally against abortion, but pro-choice as governor. (Mar 2002)
Defining mistake: supported abortion law despite opposing it. (Aug 2007)
***How can you support that which you oppose? ***
Was effectively pro-choice until cloning changed his opinion. (May 2007)
No punishment for women who have partial birth abortions. (Dec 2007)
***Classic double speak follows***
I took action as governor to preserve the sanctity of life. (Dec 2007)
Personally against abortion, but pro-choice as governor. (Mar 2002)
http://www.ontheissues.org/Mitt_Romney.htm
Can this guy flip flop any more? As the wind blows, so does Mitt. Great choice Paul. This guy couldn’t make a solid decision and stick with it to save his own ass, but he’ll sure change his mind to match a poll or situation. THAT’S who should be running the country.
Ya better not poke at paulie’s guy there sol.
He’ll call you an un American again.
I agree with Ron Paul ONLY as to some aspects of foreign policy. But at least Ron Paul is honest about what he believes. Romney’s like a Ken doll. You can put him in any outfit.
Bill Clinton used to be prolife.
Bill Clinton once wrote a letter, to an Arkansas prolife group, claiming to be prolife.
Actually, Gore, Bill Clinton, Jackson and many other Democrats USED to be “pro life” until they took a look at national politics and changed their minds:
http://www.gargaro.com/lifequotes.html
Juvenile
You do not understand faith.
I am not voting on religion, I am voting on the ability and the character and the policy goals of the candidate.
You might try that.
Your only faith is hate.
Never thought I’d say this.
BILL CLINTON BILL CLINTON !!!
Wait, Al Gore too!!!
So Paul, you are cool with Romney flip flopping?
Romney on taxes
Romney’s tax record gets a closer look
By Alexander Bolton
Posted: 03/27/07 07:32 PM [ET]
“Anti-tax advocates are scrutinizing Mitt Romney’s (R) record as governor of Massachusetts and focusing on the fact that he increased fees in the state by $500 million and proposed nearly $400 million in business tax increases. “
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/romneys-tax-record-gets-a-closer-look-2007-03-27.html
“Tax rates on many corporations almost doubled because of legislation supported by Romney,” Boston Science Corporation Chairman Peter Nicholas wrote in the Jan. 6 Boston Herald. Romney boosted taxes on subchapter S corporations owned by business trusts from 5.3 percent to 9.8 percent, a four-fifths increase. Nicholas called this “an important disincentive to investment, growth and job creation.”
“Corporate taxes went up $210 million under Romney,” the Herald editorialized. “And we wonder why companies look north, south, east and west, anywhere but Massachusetts, to expand?”
“Imposing business-tax increases is wrong for the people of Massachusetts,” Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Guzzi complained to State House News Service last year: “We’re down 140,000 jobs since 2001.”
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/29751
Oooohhhh Econ, this is your undoing. The Kos is backing your guy.
“With a history of meddling in our primaries, why don’t we try and return the favor. Next Tuesday, January 15th, Michigan will hold its primary. Michigan Democrats should vote for Mitt Romney, because if Mitt wins, Democrats win.”
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/10/2713/87225/55/434206
Holy crap. The DailyKos is asking dems to vote for Romney. If you needed ANY OTHER to vote for anyone BUT Romney…
Well I think Willard spent a couple hundred bucks per vote in New Hampshire and Iowa.
I don’t know how much he had to lay down per voter in Michigan.
Hey Kansas might actually matter this year. If Romney is still staggering by then, I wonder how much he’d give me for my vote?
I support Hillary in the primary, because Hillary is the best thing that the Republicans have going for us.
The country does not like Hillary.
Today’s editorial from the Iola Register –
Falsehoods fueled Romney’s ride to victory
Mitt Romney rode his family background to victory in Michigan Tuesday. Four out of 10 voters said they favored him because he was born there and his father was a popular governor and head of American Motors.
Romney desperately needed the win after losing in Iowa where he outspent the field by millions, and in New Hampshire, which neighbors Massachusetts where he was a highly acclaimed governor.
Romney thinks he won because he promised to revive the automobile industry and said he “would not sleep” until every lost job had been recovered. Perhaps there were some who bought that hyperbole. Romney, after all, is a Harvard MBA graduate who piled up $250 million or more with successful business ventures. Maybe he could do something to bring new jobs to Michigan, where the unemployment rate at 7.5 percent is the nation’s highest.
But John McCain told the truth when he said many of the lost jobs aren’t coming back.
What the Michigan campaign proved beyond question is that Romney is an unvarnished hypocrite. He told Michiganers what he thought they wanted to hear to win votes; an insult to them — and to all Republicans everywhere.
In addition to making promises he can’t keep, Romney pandered to their recession fears by lambasting Congress for passing an energy bill that raises mileage requirements for cars and jumped on Senator McCain for proposing a cap and trade bill to reduce carbon emissions. Romney rejected taking responsible positions on energy policy and climate change to pick up an extra vote or two.
He knows that neither he nor any other U.S. president could bring back the automobile jobs lost over the past quarter century. He knows that the United States, the world’s primary polluter, must lead if carbon dioxide emissions are to be reduced. He knows more fuel efficient cars must be made if U.S. de- pendence on foreign oil is to be reduced.
Romney started pandering when he got the presidential bug. A strong supporter of abortion and gay rights in Massachusetts, he reversed himself 180 degrees to win support from the social conservatives that dominate the Republican Party in many states. As the first governor to advocate and achieve mandatory health insurance, he now appears to favor voluntary health insurance and labels the programs being proposed by Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barak Obama “socialized medicine.”
He now seems as keen for social conservative “values” and economic populism as Mike Huckabee. He is content to leave the truth-telling to McCain.
These hypocrisies might very well explain his defeats in Iowa and New Hampshire. He won Tuesday, despite his inconsistencies, because he was a hometown boy — a strength without value in the other 49 states. If he makes it through South Carolina and Florida it will come as a disappointing surprise to those who want a president they can trust.
— Emerson Lynn, jr.
The Iola Register
MonkeyHawk,
Amen to that. Ashamed to tell you I live in Michigan. I told as many as would listen that he was pandering. Wish I could have reached a few more.
Outright liar. BTW, did he sleep last night? Just wondering exactly how soon he would break that promise.
He left Michigan in like 1968 and NEVER looked back. His daddy DID do a good job here. Too bad so many folks looked at mitt and saw his daddy. Too bad more folks didn’t see through the blatant lies.
Emerson Lynn of the Iola register?
He is a New York Times wannabe.
I could have guessed at what he would have to say about Romney and I would have been very close.
Lynn hated Reagan too, if I recall.
Emerson
The New York Times is going DOWN in circulation.
But, you are correct, the Romney win is a sign that Michigan will vote against the “global warming” alarmists.
Huck and McCain were punished, this time.
The Dems, in the general.
The United Auto Workers should endorse Romney!
One Trackback
Jack…
Hello. Very good article…