Did Romney Predict McCain Defeat to Obama?

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Did Romney Predict McCain Defeat to Obama?

July 16, 2008 3:49 PM

ABC News' Matt Stuart Reports: Since dropping out of the presidential race in February, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has made a nearly seamless transition from party rival to prolific supporter of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

But will the attacks of a contentious primary season come back to haunt Romney, whose star is rising the Republican veepstakes after aggressive fundraising and surrogate appearances on McCain's behalf? After all, Romney and McCain battled repeatedly through the primary season, most notably leading up to the critical New Hampshire and Florida contests in January of this year.

Campaigning in New Hampshire in January, Romney painted a bleak picture of McCain's chances in the general election against Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., when Romney was asked if Republicans should fear the Illinois senator's ability to resonate with voters.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

"I think Barack Obama would be able to do to John McCain exactly what he was able to do to the other senators who are running on the Democratic side," Romney said at the time, describing McCain as "not the best match-up" against Obama.

"I frankly don't think that Senator McCain, despite his service and his length of experience, that that's going to be able to stand up to the message that Barack Obama has brought forward," Romney argued.

When asked for clarification of his comments, Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom stated, "Every candidate is entitled to the conceit that he or she is the most qualified person for the office they seek and to vigorously make that case to the voters. Mitt Romney is no different in that regard. Now that the primary is over, Mitt Romney is doing everything he can to help elect John McCain."

Now a surrogate for McCain on cable television and on the stump, Romney has touted the Arizona senator as an experienced contender who is best prepared to lead the nation. McCain has been similarly cordial, saying that Romney "has earned a great place in our Republican Party," and that he's "very grateful" for his support. McCain even joked recently that Romney "does a better job for me than he did for himself".

Appearing on the FOX News' "Hannity & Colmes" earlier this month, Romney stated that he often acknowledged during the primary campaign that McCain was "a person of great capability who's been tested and proven and someone who I respect enormously." And, in fact, Romney often went out of his way to preface his comments on Sen. McCain, calling him "a good man," and "a national hero."

While Romney has gone to great lengths to bridge the divide that once separated the campaigns -- throwing his support behind McCain a week after he left the presidential race -- these comments, and others like it, could prove most damaging to his chances at becoming McCain's second-in-command on the November ticket.

July 16, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Palin, Sarah, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (43)

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Who cares? Did Clinton predict defeat for Obama?

Posted by: geevill | Jul 16, 2008 4:06:00 PM

For once I agree with Romney, and here I always thought republicans incapable of telling the truth.

Posted by: JR | Jul 16, 2008 4:09:14 PM

New war (general vs. primary) = new enemy = new friends

DNC will pull video from republican ex-candidates

RNC will pull video from democratic ex-candidates

In the end, voter looses war

Posted by: X marks the spot | Jul 16, 2008 4:11:41 PM

George W McCain should definitely pick Mitt "Corporate Raider" Romney as his VP.

I can already see the Obama ads now, with Mitt on videotape saying basically the same thing Gen. Wes Clark was saying about McCain two weeks ago...PRICELESS.

Posted by: wilderrr | Jul 16, 2008 4:11:49 PM

Can this be any easier for Obama?

He's got POTUS locked. Even Romney knows it.

OBAMA 08

Posted by: Nat Turner | Jul 16, 2008 4:34:25 PM

Romney is an agressive campaigner, but he's also a team player. Obama, what has Hillary done for you lately?

Posted by: Aaron | Jul 16, 2008 4:51:51 PM

John McCain: going down in flames.

Posted by: Tom in California | Jul 16, 2008 4:55:59 PM

The same idiots who come up with most of the topics.

Posted by: Some One | Jul 16, 2008 5:09:43 PM

Obama is not fit to be President...Anyone should be able to beat him. Hillary was my first choice but I will take McCain as second. Down with Obama!

Posted by: Former Democrat | Jul 16, 2008 5:10:59 PM

Lexi - That is an incorrect quote, and Cone is not running for President. I htink you need to re-visit the meaning of the word "proof."

Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 16, 2008 5:13:34 PM

Finally Romney say something thats true, Now if he gets on that VP ticket with McCain.. he too will face the double faith come November.

he will be a 2 times LOSER losing to Mccain and losing to Obama .

This stuff is just priceless you cant make it up.

Posted by: michael | Jul 16, 2008 5:23:02 PM

I hope McSame pick Romney ,then the DEMS just have to run this video along with the other many FLIP-FLOPS of Romney in the past, And they will just have to put their feet up and watch those 2 go down further in flames.

Its so funny Mitt Romeny abuse McCain in the primary, now he may have to go in bed with him. poor McSame.he is all daze and confuse

Posted by: area42 | Jul 16, 2008 5:30:00 PM

Clinton said Obama could not defeat McCain so WTF over?

Posted by: MARK | Jul 16, 2008 5:35:39 PM

Obama was ahead folks by 15 points just 30 short days ago. Newsweek reports today its a virtual tie!

Posted by: MARK | Jul 16, 2008 5:37:53 PM

MARK: You must not read much. There are 3 polls out today that have Obama up by 3,4, & 8 points.

Posted by: FullDisclosure | Jul 16, 2008 5:56:15 PM

Mark,

The newsweek polls are not what's important. It's the electoral map. As seen in the 200 election, Al Gore won the popular vote and lost the presidency.

Based on polls Obama leads on the electoral map by 317-221

Also, if you watched the abc debate Clinton was asked "Can Obama defeat McCain" and Clinton replied "YES YES YES"

Posted by: Vanessa | Jul 16, 2008 6:03:49 PM

This is the stupidest headline ever? It just doesn't make sense. Someone fire the editor.

Posted by: TJ | Jul 16, 2008 6:06:02 PM

Of course candidates are going to say their competitor is a worse match up against the opposite political party; that's one of the ways they ask for your vote. Regardless of which candidate said this I wouldn't think it was a big deal. Was he supposed to say "pick me even though McCain will be better against Obama/Hillary?

I feel sorry for Obama supporters as they are having to change their position and opinions more and more often to justify Obama's constantly changing positions.

I also find it amusing Obama runs on a platform on unity and bipartisanship when he votes party line 97%+ of the time. Can an Obama supporter please point out one time Obama has upset his party rocking the boat to vote across the aisle? McCain has done this several times so it looks like McCain walks the walk that Obama just talks.

Posted by: Cryos | Jul 16, 2008 6:15:56 PM

Leave Lexi alone...she is part of the 12% of Americans who believe Obama is a Muslim. Many Muslims around the world will think Obama is a Muslim because he was born of a Muslim father. Like if your mother is Jewish, you're a Jew.
Anyway this is a non story....every candidate in the primary was in it to win it and said things they have to say to be competitive. Hillary more than anybody, and BO may even end up having to pick her as VP, if he wants to win this thing. I supported/voted Hillary and now am backing McCain all the way.
They are both centrists and I trust them more, even tho BO is trying to move his way to the middle now. Too little too late. He has no cred with me, and millions of other Americans. That is why McCain is within 3 points of him in the polls now.
Romney has great fiscal experience and I think he'd be a great VP with McCain.
Doesn't matter what tape they have on them running against each other...Americans are smart enough to know they were both fighting for the nom.

Posted by: Deb | Jul 16, 2008 6:31:35 PM

Deb,

Obama may have no "cred" with you, but I find it funny that the US is now going to talk directly with Iran. Bush and McCain had a field day bashing Obama about talking to our enemies and now we are doing that. Plus Isarel is talking to Hamas. And all the generals agree with Obama that the real threat is and alwasy has been Afghanistan and that we lew it by going in Iraq. Now McCain is just parroting what Obama has said all along.

So while he may have no "cred" with you, he certainly seems to with tons of others.

Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 16, 2008 6:42:23 PM

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