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Here We Lose Again
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ShareJanuary 08, 2008 11:18 PM
ABC News' John Berman, Ursula Fahy, and Matt Stuart report: “Is it what we planned? No. Can we do it? Yes.” Those were the words from a top adviser to Mitt Romney, vowing to fight on, after the former Massachusetts governor suffered his second deflating defeat in just 5 days.
What they had planned was nicknamed the “kindling strategy.” Wins in Iowa and New Hampshire were supposed to light a fire that would help Romney march across the nation.
In order to secure those wins, Romney spent more money on advertising than all of his opponents combined, in both Iowa and New Hampshire. He dumped $17 million of his own fortune into the race before Sept. 30, and unknown, but, most likely, very large amounts after that. Yet, he still lost in both Iowa and New Hampshire, and fairly decisively in both places.
So, what happened? Aides were pitching a number of explanations. They have long liked to say that “John McCain was practically an incumbent in New Hampshire. He was running for governor here.”
They say that Romney was mauled by scathing articles and anti-endorsements in New Hampshire newspapers. They are even spinning that many independent voters, who might have been for Barack Obama, might have mistakenly thought that he was comfortably ahead, and, therefore, shifted their vote to independent favorite John McCain.
One New Hampshire Romney adviser described the problem as “authenticity.” He says that Romney could simply not shake the flip-flop charge. It is hard to argue that voters did not know him, after his advertising barrage, after more than 150 events in the state, and after serving as governor next door in Massachusetts for four years. Romney even has a second home in New Hampshire (though he said he has a second home in Utah, too, whatever that means).
Now, Romney turns his attention to yet another home state, Michigan, where he was born, and where his father was elected to three terms as governor. It is a good state for Romney, aides say, because his business credentials might be attractive to those suffering from a faulty economy. But it is also a state that McCain won in 2000.
Romney advisers see this as a wide open race now, and a race that McCain might not necessarily be best positioned to win. One top strategist said, “Republicans are about to remember why they had huge reservations about McCain. This is a year when, in both parties, when someone is in the spotlight as the inevitable winner, they get knocked off.”
So, Romney advisers say it makes sense to stand and fight. They swear he will not drop out before Jan. 15. One reason? He can keep dipping into his deep pockets. “We will not lose because of lack of resources,” says national spokesman Kevin Madden.
But from here on out, it will be tough. “It will be a war of attrition,” says one adviser. “How do we do in a war of attrition? Pretty good.”
The governor watched the returns in his room at the Hampton Inn in Bedford, N.H., with his wife Ann and family, as his grandchildren romped and jumped on the beds. Dinner was pizza. All five sons and their wives were there. The staff present included spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom, longtime friend Bob White, and media advisers Stuart Stevens and Russ Schriefer.
January 8, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (24)
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OBAMA OR CLINTON COMES IN SECOND PLACE THEY GET AN INTERVIEW. ROMNEY HAS DONE WELL COMING IN SECOND PLACE BOTH TIMES. GMA DOESNT SAY MUCH ABOUT ROMNEY OR INTERVIEWS HIM. I DONT KNOW WHO THEY ARE FOR BUT I KNOW WHO THEY ARE NOT FOR
Posted by: p griggs | Jan 9, 2008 11:42:55 AM
MITT ROMNEY is the man we need to lead America NOW.
Mitt is the most qualified to change the way things are done in Washington.
He is a man of integrity who gets things done. He will strengthen our economy and enhance relations with the world.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!
We are so lucky this man wants the job.
Posted by: jill ensminger | Jan 9, 2008 11:49:43 AM
I am an observer from Canada with roots in America back to John Hancock the signer. I have a keen interest in the US elections. Overall I think Romney has the greatest talent and innovative skills and executive experience to make get the job done as opposed to other candidates. He may not be the greatest at articulating but he has the raw enthusiasm, energy and competency.
I think Romney's enthusiasm has unfairly been labeled as a one who shifts - when really he has retooled and refined his message. I think all candidates have retooled or refined their messages, but they don't get the same label. I hope Romney can more effectively articulate his message about his skills in addressing the economy.
CH
Posted by: C. Hancock | Jan 9, 2008 8:05:49 PM
ABC News is the same as every other news outfit, lazy. Romney's father was a one term governor not a three term governor as the post states. If they can even get a simple fact like that correct how can we believe anything they report. I grew up in Michigan so I already knew the answer but looked it on the net and found the correct information in about 5 seconds.
Posted by: T.Miller | Jan 9, 2008 11:25:33 PM
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