Even the MSM couldn’t ignore Governor Romney’s win in the Michigan Primary last night. Unlike Romney’s Wyoming victory, the cameras were rolling in Michigan for days before the contest. They recorded Romney’s positive messages about turning around the Michigan economy, protecting our borders and defeating our enemies abroad. These issues won Romney 39% of the Michigan vote, fully 9% more than the McCain, who finished second.
This win gives the Romney campaign the only thing it had been lacking up to this point–a first place win that even opponents couldn’t explain away. Since January 4, various media pundits and backers of other candidates have valiantly ignored the strong second place showings, the tremendous nation-wide support, the win in Wyoming, and the fact that Romney had a majority of the popular vote and of pledged delegates. Instead, they focused on the fact that in Iowa and New Hampshire Romney’s name was not in the number one slot.
However, this race is shaping up to be one that will be unique in the history of Presidential politics. Prominent wins by Huckabee and McCain have brought strong conservative voices into the race to actively campaign against them. Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh had even declared that to nominate either of these candidates would mean the end of the Republican party. Should either of these liberal men be nominated, conservatives would have to find, or form, another party to represent the values of small government and individual freedom.
I think that the same thing would be true of a Giuliani nomination. Giuliani does not represent the social conservative values that so many Americans hold dear to them. Nor is it clear that he would respect promises at fiscal and judicial conservatism. This leaves us to decide between Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson. (Ron Paul would be an ideal president–in 1824. If only we could get the rest of the world to limit their weapons to the technology of that era then he would be a logical choice for conservatives.)
Fred Thompson seems to be a good person with a desire to do what is best for his country. Romney, however, has a resume that is unique among the candidates. He has spent his life learning to find new and innovative solutions to common problems. The problems of Washington are as common as it gets, but epic in scale and with no one willing to stick out their political neck to solve them. Romney is not a career politician and he has the drive to solve even the most difficult problems. Romney also has the business head to understand and analyze the waves of numbers that describe our nation’s current economic status and the options for altering government involvement.
If Romney has one failing it is that he sometimes seems to view the government as the head of a large business interest. Corporations sometimes offer benefits for the good of the employee and the good of the company at large. Government does not have this responsibility to the people of this nation. When government “offers” benefits such as welfare and health care to the people the price is a portion of our freedom. Romney, in my estimation, is the most conservative candidate in this race. But he can be much more conservative. It is my hope that as the campaign progresses he will move in that direction.
In the meantime, Congratulations to Governor Romney and his family. Congratulations to all of his supporters. And God Bless America.
It has been common knowledge for some time that Romney’s strategy for winning the nomination hinged on doing well in Iowa and New Hampshire. With his second place finish in Iowa, the MSM has been quick to proclaim that if Romney comes in behind McCain in New Hampshire his campaign is over.
On the Rush Limbaugh radio program today, Limbaugh pointed out that a second place finish for Romeny, far from being the death nell for his campaign, would actually put him in a good situation. It would mean that Romney was the one candidate who has finished strong in both Iowa AND New Hampshire. In addition, these strong showings would be in spite of years of negative press by the MSM and lots of attacks by at least four other candidates who have each been considered “front runners” in turn.
The bottom line is that Romney is in good place to win the nomination. Through his various battles with other “front-runners,” Romney’s national name recognition has increased dramatically. Through the advertising and campaigning in the various states, Romney’s message has resonated more consistently with conservatives across the nation.
There are 47 more states to select delegates after the New Hampshire primary. These states are still to be fought and won. Whether Romney finishes first or second in New Hampshire, it is simply one more step on the path to victory.