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Romney explains '92 vote for Tsongas
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ShareFebruary 16, 2007 5:07 PM
ABC News' Jonathan Greenberger Reports: Republican presidential candididate Mitt Romney offered a new explanation today for why he supported a Democrat in 1992.
That year, Romney, then a registered independent, voted for former Sen. Paul Tsongas in the 1992 Democratic presidential primary. He told ABC's George Stephanopoulos, in an interview that will air Sunday on "This Week," that his vote was meant as a tactical maneuver aimed at finding the weakest opponent for incumbent President George H.W. Bush.
"In Massachusetts, if you register as an independent, you can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary," said Romney, who until he made an unsuccessful run for Senate in 1994 had spent his adult life as a registered independent. "When there was no real contest in the Republican primary, I'd vote in the Democrat primary, vote for the person who I thought would be the weakest opponent for the Republican."
But 12 years ago, the Boston Globe reported that Romney was giving a different explanation for his vote for Tsongas.
"Romney confirmed he voted for former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas in the state's 1992 Democratic presidential primary, saying he did so both because Tsongas was from Massachusetts and because he favored his ideas over those of Bill Clinton," the Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips wrote on Feb. 3, 1994. "He added he had been sure the G.O.P. would renominate George Bush, for whom he voted in the fall election."
Romney's contention that his vote for Tsongas was a vote for the weakest opponent for Bush - a phenomenon that political scientists refer to as "raiding" - surprised Professor William Mayer of Northeastern University in Boston.
"That would have been a strange election to have done that in, in the sense that Paul Tsongas was obviously going to carry his home state" of Massachusetts, said Mayer. Tsongas won the Massachusetts primary with 66 percent of the vote.
While statistical evidence of "raiding" is hard to come by, Mayer said most political scientists believe it is rare, since typically only 3 to 4 percent of voters in a Republican primary are actually Democrats, and vice versa. It is rarer still, he said, for an independent, as Romney was, to "raid": "If you're so determined to help George Bush in 92 that you’re willing to vote for Paul Tsongas, it probably means you weren’t an independent."
Romney has previously come under fire for donating to a series of Democratic candidates in the 1992 election, including then-Congressmen Dick Swett, D-N.H., and John LaFalce, D-N.Y.
For the full interview with Romney, tune in to "This Week" on Sunday.
February 16, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (64)
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Does Romney actually think anybody's going to believe this? More evasions and re-writing of history...
Posted by: Chris Jones | Feb 16, 2007 5:58:17 PM
Frist!
Posted by: UMF | Feb 16, 2007 6:55:19 PM
I don't think that the past is going to change anything.
Posted by: political forum | Feb 16, 2007 6:57:24 PM
So Romney gave money for Dick Swett? Was that a lot of money for Dick Swett? Do you really need to give money for Dick Swett? Why did Romney like Dick Swett so much? Did he just have a thing for Dick Swett? Would the Mormon Church condone giving money for Dick Swett?
Posted by: steve ex-expat | Feb 16, 2007 7:20:02 PM
So in other words... Romney was FOR Democrats before he was AGAINST them.
Yet another Romney flipflop. Not that it matters: God himself couldn't win in 2008 if he ran as a Republican.
Posted by: Random | Feb 16, 2007 7:22:44 PM
I never cease to be amazed at what Romney will say or do to get elected. This is laughable and pathetic.
Posted by: Larry | Feb 16, 2007 7:49:25 PM
note to Professor William Mayer:
check the 04 and john kerry.
how many unenrolled(independents
in ma) raided to vote against him?
the number was far higher that 3-4%
tell the globe to keep their eye
on their new hero deval patrick.
their silence speaks volumes.
joe costa
Posted by: joe costa | Feb 16, 2007 8:19:04 PM
This is actually considered news-worthy?
Posted by: Rest and Trust | Feb 16, 2007 8:59:53 PM
Tsongas...gahh!!! Could you imagine him talking about today's issues? He'd be like the priest in The Princess Bride: "GAY MAWWIAGE IS WHAT DIVIDES US IN THIS PWESIDENTIAL DEBATE...."
Posted by: Beez | Feb 16, 2007 9:30:54 PM
Although I dismiss the media foolishness about Romney's religion, tge man disgusts me the way he seems to be trying to suggest his religion is well- not his religion.
In one interview he actually used the words "the religion one grew up in" to distance himself from the Mormon label somewhat.
In another he said he wasn't going to quibble over what about the religion to believe. Obviously Mitt realizes that some of the more troublesome views of Mormonism can be hard to explain.
Personally the man's religion is of no consequence to me...but to dance around the issue like that raises questions of integrity-or lack--about Mitt.
Posted by: Koop | Feb 16, 2007 10:13:56 PM
It's a year away from any elections and we are talking about who Romney voted for in a primary 15 years ago? There has got to be something better than this... Tell me he had a DUI or something. Didn't he get a speeding ticket back in '85?
Posted by: Andrew | Feb 16, 2007 10:35:34 PM
Note to Random at 7:22--Clinton was ripe for defeat after 1994, also. Mitt Romney has an absolutely superb record of private and public service. This Texas Republican is proud to stand behind him 100% (and no, I am not Mormon...one can be non-Mormon and support an excellent leader who happens to be Mormon).
Posted by: Trevor B. Hall | Feb 16, 2007 11:47:18 PM
There's nothing to see here--keep moving!
I see no conflict between what was said 12 years ago, and what is being said this week.
He voted for Bush in '92 and voted for the weaker Tsongas in the primaries. He didn't want Tsongas simply to win, he wanted him to make a strong showing because that would carry over into other states and potentially lead to a nomination.
He ultimately disliked Bill Clinton and was in a position (as an independent) to make a statement against him--that's what he did.
This article is basically another hatchet-job attack at a very attractive conservative candidate the left would hate to face off against in the general election. In essence, the left-leaning media is doing the same thing to Romney that they claim he did in '92.
Posted by: SC Conservative | Feb 16, 2007 11:50:36 PM
I think if you are digging this deep to try and find "dirt" on Romney you are showing you fear his potential more than you let on. First of all...the dude has built and run several successful companies and operations....find me another candidate who has made real money outside of the practice of law or medicine....because those businesses are "easy" by comparrison...and whose closet has so few skeletons that you toss this limp noodle onto the net....you're just funny!!
Posted by: CHRIS | Feb 17, 2007 12:13:03 AM
Rudy or McCain will win in 08. Besides Kerry has to support McCain, remember? McCain was his first choice as running mate. Sorry, Edwards.
Posted by: jim friel | Feb 17, 2007 12:47:23 AM
I think that romney is full of it. That being said I "raided" for Howard Dean in the open 2004 Va primary. It didn't work.
Posted by: Falling Panda | Feb 17, 2007 12:51:16 AM
I'm as conservative as they come but I registered online as a dem and voted for Howard Dean in the Michigan 2004 Presidential Primary.
Sorry liberals...we've been doing this for years.
Big Daddy
Registered Democrat
Posted by: Big Daddy | Feb 17, 2007 1:00:16 AM
Dick Swett is Mormon, which would explain why Romney donated to him. Most likely personal friendship. Who wouldn't donate to a friend, even if one doesn't agree with his or her politics?
Posted by: Scott Crowley | Feb 17, 2007 1:12:58 AM
Truly, one of the dumbest stories I have read in awhile.
Who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Doug | Feb 17, 2007 2:25:16 AM
Take a look at the Michigan republican primary in 2000 too. Democrats raided against George W. Bush in the primary election, pushing McCain to victory in the race.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 17, 2007 2:43:51 AM
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