Romney's 2008 Quest
A strategic analysis of Mitt Romney's bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
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Campaign Overview
Launch and Ambition
Mitt Romney formally announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on February 13, 2007, in Dearborn, Michigan. His campaign aimed to leverage his experience as Governor of Massachusetts and his business background, positioning him as a strong contender within the Republican field. Despite initial hurdles like lower name recognition and questions surrounding his Mormon faith, Romney invested significantly in his campaign, including substantial personal funds.
Financial Strategy
Romney's campaign was notable for its robust fundraising efforts. He personally contributed over $35 million to his campaign, demonstrating a significant personal financial commitment. Overall, the campaign raised approximately $90 million, leading the Republican field in total funds raised, underscoring a well-resourced strategy to compete effectively in the primaries.
Key Personnel
The campaign was managed by a team of experienced political operatives. Key figures included Beth Myers as Manager, Carl Forti as Political Director, Matt Rhoades overseeing Communications, and Alex Castellanos serving as a Senior Advisor. This team was instrumental in shaping the campaign's strategy and messaging across various states.
Announcement
Venue and Symbolism
Romney chose The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, for his official campaign announcement on February 13, 2007. This location was symbolic, chosen to represent American ingenuity. The stage featured a Nash Rambler, a car associated with his father, George W. Romney, who had also pursued the presidency.
Family and Message
Romney's announcement speech emphasized his diverse experiences across the private, public, and voluntary sectors. He highlighted lessons learned from both successes and failures, aiming to present himself as a pragmatic leader ready for the challenges of the presidency. His wife, Ann Romney, also spoke at the event, underscoring the family's support for his candidacy.
Campaign Trail
"Ask Mitt Anything"
A distinctive feature of Romney's campaign was the "Ask Mitt Anything" town hall sessions. These events, held across key primary states like New Hampshire and Iowa, provided direct engagement with voters, allowing them to question Romney on his views and policies. These sessions were conducted in various settings, including universities, restaurants, and town halls, fostering a sense of accessibility.
The "Mitt Mobile"
The campaign utilized a distinctive RV, dubbed the "Mitt Mobile," as part of its outreach efforts, particularly in Iowa. This vehicle, featuring a large map of Iowa and a Romney family portrait, was used to visit all ninety-nine counties, symbolizing a commitment to grassroots engagement and visibility in crucial early states.
The "Seamus" Incident
During the campaign, media attention focused on an incident from 1983 where Romney transported his dog, Seamus, on the roof of his station wagon during a family trip. While presented by the campaign as an example of handling difficult circumstances, the practice drew criticism from animal activists and journalists, becoming a notable, albeit controversial, talking point.
Debates and Policy
Key Exchanges
Romney participated in numerous Republican presidential debates. Notable moments included discussions on national security, counter-terrorism, and foreign policy. In one exchange, he advocated for doubling the size of Guantanamo Bay and using enhanced interrogation techniques, while also addressing the role of religion in public life in his "Faith in America" address.
Foreign Policy Stance
Romney's foreign policy positions included strong stances on national security. He addressed the global jihadist movement, listing various groups and ideologies involved. His comments on the Iraq War and the use of interrogation techniques became points of discussion and scrutiny during the campaign.
Media and Public Discourse
The campaign engaged with various media platforms, including early television and radio advertising. Romney's campaign also participated in debates hosted by organizations like MSNBC and Fox News, and notably, a YouTube debate. His public statements, such as those regarding his father's civil rights activities and his own religious faith, were subject to significant media analysis and public debate.
Financial Landscape
Fundraising Totals
By September 30, 2007, Romney's campaign had raised over $62.8 million. The majority of this funding, approximately $44.5 million, came from private donors, with smaller amounts from PACs. His personal contributions, totaling over $17.4 million by the same date, were crucial in seeding the campaign and enabling extensive advertising efforts.
Spending and Debt
The campaign spent heavily, particularly on advertising in early primary states. As of September 30, 2007, expenditures exceeded $62.8 million. The campaign reported having $9.2 million on hand and approximately $17.3 million in debts, reflecting the significant financial investment required for a national presidential campaign.
Wall Street Support
Romney garnered substantial financial support from Wall Street, raising $1.9 million from the financial sector during the first quarter of fundraising alone. This support, coupled with endorsements from figures like eBay CEO Meg Whitman, highlighted his appeal within the business community.
Endorsements
Congressional Support
Romney secured endorsements from a significant number of Republican members of Congress. By November 5, 2007, he led the field in congressional endorsements, with figures like Senators Wayne Allard, Bob Bennett, and Orrin Hatch among his supporters. This indicated a strong base of support within the party establishment.
Media and Influencers
Prominent conservative media figures and talk radio hosts, including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham, endorsed Romney. This support was often framed as an anti-McCain sentiment and aimed to rally conservative voters around Romney's candidacy, particularly after key primary results.
Newspaper Backing
Several newspapers across key states endorsed Romney's campaign. Publications such as The Daily Nonpareil, The Times-Republican, Sioux City Journal (Iowa), The Grand Rapids Press, The Oakland Press (Michigan), and the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada) lent their support, reflecting regional backing for his platform.
Primary Performance
Early Contests
Romney's campaign began with a second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, followed by a win in the Wyoming caucus. He secured second place in the New Hampshire primary and won in Michigan and Nevada. However, a fourth-place finish in South Carolina and a second-place finish in Florida, while competitive, ultimately positioned John McCain as the frontrunner.
Super Tuesday and Withdrawal
Despite winning several states on Super Tuesday (February 5, 2008), Romney's delegate count lagged significantly behind John McCain. Recognizing the diminishing path to victory and aiming to prevent further party division, Romney announced the suspension of his campaign on February 7, 2008, subsequently endorsing McCain.
Delegate Count
By the end of the primaries, Romney had secured 148 actual pledged delegates and an estimated total of 271 delegates. This was considerably less than John McCain, who had amassed 1,378 pledged delegates and an estimated 1,575, effectively clinching the Republican nomination.
Faith and Image
Mormon Faith
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Romney's faith was a significant topic of discussion. While polls indicated a majority of Americans were not deterred by a candidate's Mormonism, concerns were raised about potential external religious influence. Romney addressed this directly in his "Faith in America" speech, asserting his primary allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and his oath of office.
Addressing Concerns
Romney emphasized that his religious beliefs would not dictate presidential decisions, drawing parallels to John F. Kennedy's assurances regarding Catholicism. He stated, "America has a political religion, which is to place the oath of office... above all others." This proactive approach aimed to mitigate potential prejudice, particularly from evangelical Christian voters.
Media Scrutiny
Rival candidates and media outlets scrutinized Romney's faith. Mike Huckabee's comments questioning LDS doctrine and the nature of the faith, though later apologized for, highlighted the sensitivity surrounding the issue. Political commentators noted that prejudice against Mormonism may have impacted Romney's performance in certain states, particularly in the South.
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References
References
- Crowley, Candy "Romney kicks off White House bid" CNN, February 13, 2007; retrieved March 29, 2007.
- Electability seen as key to McCain's rising support Reuters, February 1, 2008.
- Commonwealth Political Action Committee
- Governor Mitt Romney To Hold "Ask Mitt Anything" Town Hall Events
- Former Gov. Mitt Romney: New Hampshire Visits, George Washington University. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- Romney Brings 'Ask Anything' Tour to County Tipton Conservative. August 15, 2007.
- Quad-Cities Online
- Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney Wins Iowa Straw Poll
- Mitt Romney Wins Iowa Poll; Huckabee Finishes Surprising Second
- David S. Bernstein, "Was it all a dream", The Phoenix, December 19, 2007.
- Romney fields questions on King
- Michael D. Shear, In Search of Romney's Silver Lining WashingtonPost.com, January 4, 2008.
- Huckabee wins GOP caucus in Iowa NBC News, Jan 3, 2008.
- Elizabeth Holmes, Behind the Iowa Results Wall Street Journal, January 4, 2008.
- Adam Clymer, First G.O.P. Delegate Goes to Romney NYTimes.com, January 5, 2008.
- NPR: Election 2008
- Clinton, Romney win in Nevada NBC News, January 19, 2008.
- Primary Results: South Carolina CNN.com.
- Results: Florida CNN.com
- Romney declared to be victor in Maine - Jonathan Martin's Blog - Politico.com
- CBS News- Huckabee: Romney is "arrogant"
- 2008 Republican Popular Vote
- Romney Abandons '08 Bid
- In 2008, Will It Be Mormon in America?
- Government/Politics
- NPR: Faith Could Be Hurdle in Romney's White House Bid
- Evangelicals for Romney: a major question of the coming period. - Free Online Library
- Jonathan Martin's Blog - Politico.com
- "The Huckabee Factor", New York Times Magazine, December 12, 2007.
- NYT op ed piece quoting Larry J. Sabato
- "Wash. Post uncritically reported Romney's attack on Pelosi's "partisan" trip", Media Matters, April 12, 2007.
- "Vote on the California Republican Debate" NBC News
- (Video is available via YouTube)
- Anderson Cooper 360, CNN: Transcript from June 5, 2007.
- Coble Endorses Romney For President WXII February 4, 2008.
- Tancredo drops out, endorses Romney Des Moines Register December 20, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
- Talent backs Romney for President, February 2, 2007.
- There's Something About McCain
- Townhall.com::The Elephant In The Room::By Ann Coulter
- Bob Jones III endorses Mitt Romney The Washington Times October 16, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
- Perot backs Romney, attacks McCain - UPI.com
- Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Announces Personal Endorsement of Governor Romney for President of the United States
- Commentary From Bruce Wilson: Unintended Consequences Of A Vote For Huckabee
- Robert Wolgemuth Endorses Governor Mitt Romney
- Romney has proven record of leadership, plan for change | Times Republican
- ReviewJournal.com - Opinion - EDITORIAL: Romney best pick for state Republicans
- Elko Daily Free Press
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not political advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional political analysis or consultation. Always refer to official campaign documentation and consult with qualified political scientists or historians for in-depth understanding. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.
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