Seven Reasons Mitt Romney will Win the Nomination
by James Norton
Ladies and gentlemen of the American electorate: Say hello to your 2008 GOP presidential nominee: Mitt Romney. Sure he's a Mormon — and that'll turn people off in the primaries — but not nearly as quickly as being a New York City liberal or Straight Talk Express maverick will. Romney's got this thing bagged, and here's why.
1. He has a pedigree that suggests a new start from George W. Bush. As a governor of Massachusetts with Western, Mormon roots, he seems utterly unconnected to the mostly failed and failing policies of the current incumbent.
2. He has many of George W. Bush's people in his pocket. At the same time that he might suggest a fresh start to many, those in the know understand that many of the president's people have given him their service, blessing and/or financial support. Bush may have lost the country, but hasn't lost his party.
3. He's young, confident and fresh. The nearly superannuated McCain is one bad bump away from a medical event that takes him off the playing field. Giuliani is burdened by a string of wives and scandals — and that 9/11 halo won't last forever.
4. His flip-flopping indicates (to conservative primary voters) a sheep who donned and removed wolf's clothing. Romney can (and essentially will) say that his liberal stances in Massachusetts were a tissue of lies used to successfully blind the local electorate. This means a) he's a true conservative and b) he can pull the same trick on the national electorate during the general election.
5. The flip-flopping of McCain and Giuliani indicates (to conservative primary voters) wolves who have donned sheep's clothing. When McCain and Giuliani talk tough to the red-meat right wingers, their own history of straight talkin' and livin' with the New York City gays linger in the background.
6. He's a former governor. Governors seem to rise far more naturally to the highest office in the land than Senators or former mayors.
7. He'll say whatever it takes to win. This certainly appears to be true of his major competitors, too, so it's not a unique gift. But it seems to be a particularly valuable one in presidential politics.
And voila — your new/old tricky/honest young/politically seasoned almost totally sure-thing Republican nominee for 2008. And if he wins, it'll likely remain morning in America... for another eight exciting years.
A version of this piece originally appeared on CultureCloud.
E-mail James Norton at jim@flakmag.com.
