Romney’s Surprise is no Surprise

In a Financial Times article today  – “Romney exploits Democratic tensions” possible McCain VP choice Mitt Romney is quoted as saying he was surprised Mr. Obama had not picked Mrs. Clinton as running mate while talking to reporters on the fringe of the DNC in Denver.

Thats no surprise that he is surprised. He is so entrenched in a party that would do ANYTHING to keep the presidency even if it was a bad idea in the long term the way an Obama/Clinton ticket would be.

Having watched the Republican primary debates, I know that Romney, McCain, and Guilliani would all do anything and say anything that they believe would help them win in November. The idea that a politician like Obama would not take the easy path and pick a running mate just because her selection would placate a block of voters is simply foreign to them.

This whole thing – well known Republicans camping out in Denver at the DNC to grab media attention – seems really creepy to me.  I knew it was coming.  The PR Newswire for Journalists releases over the last week or two have included many press releases about RNC events in Denver and press events revolving around Republican celebrities.

I’ve been watching closely, and I haven’t seen a similar barrage of press releases from Democratic groups that plan to make appearances in Minneapolis at the Republican National Convention.

Romney exploits Democratic tensions

By Andrew Ward in Denver
Published: August 26 2008 23:14 | Last updated: August 26 2008 23:14

Mitt Romney on Tuesday sought to exploit lingering tensions between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as he entered enemy territory to launch a fierce attack on the Democrats.

The former Massachusetts governor, who is among the favourites for the Republican vice-presidential nomination, said he was surprised Mr Obama had not picked Mrs Clinton as running mate.

Speaking to reporters on the fringe of the Democratic convention in Denver, Mr Romney said an Obama-Clinton ticket would have posed the biggest threat to the Republicans and predicted her absence would alienate Clinton supporters.

Recent polls have shown up to 30 per cent of Clinton supporters plan to vote for John McCain, the Republican candidate, or stay at home.

Mr Romney said Mr Obama’s attempt to add foreign policy heft by picking Joe Biden as running mate would backfire when voters learned more about the Delaware senator’s views.

“His record of being wrong on foreign policy is as long as his number of years in foreign policy,” he said, citing Mr Biden’s opposition to the cold war arms build-up against the Soviet Union, the first Gulf war and the surge strategy in Iraq.

Mr Romney said the presence of two senators on the Democratic ticket undermined Mr Obama’s promise to change Washington, drawing a contrast with Mr McCain’s years of military service before entering politics.

He declined to comment on his own vice-presidential prospects but highlighted his experience outside Washington both as governor and in business.

He said Mr Obama miscalculated last week by attacking Mr McCain for owning several homes and dismissed suggestions that the issue could hurt his own vice-presidential chances.

Mr Romney, a wealthy former private equity executive, said he owned three homes – “one less than John Kerry” – but predicted voters would reject Democratic efforts to stoke the “politics of envy”.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008