Looks like Romney is pulling out, with a speech at CPAC today. It’s probably looking pretty futile to him about now, and he probably doesn’t want to squander any more of the family fortune, at least this cycle. I think that the party is going to have to come to terms with the fact that McCain is the candidate, and at least be thankful that it is settled this early, while the Dems may go fighting all the way to Denver.
I also wonder if part of Romney’s thinking is that, if he gets out now, he can forestall a deal between McCain and Huckabee to put the latter on the ticket? If so, he is doing an immense favor to the Republican party and conservative movement. I would find it hard enough to vote for McCain. I’d find it impossible to vote for McCain-Huckabee. And I suspect that there are a lot of other people who would feel the same way. I think that McCain’s only real hope of shoring up the base at this point is to balance the ticket ideologically (and to make the appropriate conciliatory gestures at CPAC today). I think that a Fred Thompson in the number two spot would be very appealing to a lot of people, and he’d tear up whoever the Dems have as veep candidate in a debate.
[Update at 1:30 PM EST]
It’s official:
“This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters… many of you right here in this room… have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country,” Romney said.
No word about preempting Huckabee but, then, there’s no reason to say anything about it. Let’s just hope that it happens.
McCain/Rudy
I’d go for that
I don’t see McCain picking Huckabee as his running mate. McCain’s a major disappointment, but we have to support him now because the alternative is a disaster.
McCain is the lesser of the evils, although I have little faith in his ability to beat Hillary! and less faith in his ability to beat Obama.
I mean, not only are Obama’s fans treating him like Jesus, he’s reuniting the Grateful Dead, which I presume means he’s laying hands on the corpse of Jerry Garcia and raising him from the dead.
Next, he’ll do the loaves and fishes and Huckabee’s voters will drop their rattlesnakes and rally to him.
In all seriousness, Obama with his youth and empty platitudes will ride a crest of media adulation right over McCain, who comes across as a cranky old man, well, because he’s a cranky old man.
I expect McCain will choose someone younger and more conservative as his veep pick — a governor or short-time Congressman or Senator. He won’t pick Romney or Huckabee. I don’t know if it will matter.
There is a clear line between McCain and the two Democrats on the war and on spending reform (where he’s better than Bush by far, unless you’re a K Street pimp). On social issues the differences are nugatory — and that does include guns. I expect the 2nd Amendment groups will not endorse in this race, although a McCain presidency is probably worse for them than Obama or Clinton (the Dems would draw Republican opposition. McCain won’t).
The war against Islamic terrorism is the one big issue of our day, and I will be supporting Sen. McCain for that reason alone, although I certainly welcome his strong attitude on spending. If either of those two issues matters to you, you’d be well advised to back Mac.
Supporting the lesser of evils usually means that less evil gets done in the end; that’s why we ultimately quit bitching and do it. All the candidates have deep flaws — you pick from the menu, so do your best.
On the plus side, the nation has survived extremely bad governance before. I personally survived Carter in the Army (despite his best efforts). The Republic is more resilient than doomsayers ever think.