BETWEEN THE LINES
Jonathan Alter
Money Power
Romney's persona shift from panderer to outsider may have helped him win Michigan. But it's really his wealth that matters.
After his surprisingly strong 9-point victory in Michigan, Mitt Romney now has a small leg up in the Republican presidential campaign. The GOP race is still so chaotic that it would be folly to call him the front runner, but somebody has to win this thing. Romney, the chameleon candidate, has the money and, finally, the message that could carry him to some big wins on Super Tuesday.
Of course the big winner in Michigan is the Democratic Party. If Romney had lost, he would have been finished. But now he'll be spending millions of dollars pounding his fellow Republicans on-the-air in more than 20 states, further eroding the GOP brand when it's already in trouble. And should he beat John McCain for the nomination, his lack of appeal to independents will make it easier for the Democratic nominee in November.
So just as many Republican strategists are rooting for Hillary Clinton, who is also weak among independents, Democrats want to square off with Romney.
It's his money that gives him the advantage. In many Super Tuesday states, he'll be the only Republican with deep enough pockets to get any notice. The candidate who can afford to run nationally will, not surprisingly, rack up more delegates than the competition.
While Romney benefited greatly from his family ties to Michigan (he was raised there, the son of a popular governor), McCain won't be able to discount Romney's success as a home-state victory. After two "silver medals," in Romney's words, in Iowa and New Hampshire, and an overlooked victory in Wyoming, Michigan was must-win. It's a big enough state with a big enough cross-section of voters to be meaningful.
And Michigan, where the economy is suffering, is representative of American middle-class anxieties. Romney's success in business and more responsive answers to the trauma of the auto industry trumped McCain, who admitted that he knows little about the economy and relies on Alan Greenspan, a comment that would haunt him in the general election should he be the nominee.
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Member Comments
Posted By: zzyzx @ 02/05/2008 12:01:25 AM
Comment: As a temple Mormon, knowing the covenents that Romney has made, he can't lead this nation. My vote in Utah tomorrow will go to Dr. Ron Paul. Adnerence to the United States Constitution, non-interventionist policy, fiscal responsibility, and self reliance makes Dr. Ron Paul the candidate capable of leading my country.
Posted By: NECritic @ 01/31/2008 4:20:35 AM
Comment: Newsweek wake up, take a breath of fresh air. . The clear choice is Romney. We get so tired of McCain war stories. Every response that he has no answer he defaults to his military service, who he served with side by side. With all due respect Sen McCain ENOUGH! Lot's of us have served, but don't pound our chest all day.
There is more to being president than just fighting the war on terror, which is basically MCain's platform.
McCain is what Washington is all about today, an "old" bogged down piece of machinery.
It is time for a fresh look; new, young ideas, with someone who has optimism and vision.
Now a Romney-McCain ticket would be the best of it all.....
Posted By: Chrimturn @ 01/27/2008 5:08:17 PM
Comment: This is the beauty of Newseek....(quote)... "But in the big casino on Super Tuesday, Mitt Romney will almost certainly have more chips on more states than anyone else. He'll spend anything and say anything to win, and probably will.
He'll spend anything and say anything to win.....SAY ANYTHING?
Sounds more like your typical Newsweek column to me. One that will...."Say Anything"....to try and sway readers away from the candidate they fear the most.
Newsweek cracks me up.
I mean, let's face it. Deep within the mysterious fourth dimension, there are card games being played in a heavily secluded, smoke filled room. These games attract some of the most influential voices of todays media. At this new aged, so called "Round Table", you will find co-hosts Hill and Billary engaged in humorous activity along with comrades Ed Schultz, Alan Colmes and Stephanie Miller.
And to top it all off, as they take turns swapping blindfolds and throwing darts at a corkboard covered with todays political issues to decide which one they will embrace next, John Edwards is serving them drinks and passing out the latest editions of Newsweek and Rolling Stone.
Time to wake up Newsweek. The country is on to you!