Another Nevada Endorsement for Romney

Filed under: 2008 elections, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Polls — Michael van der Galien, Editor-in-Chief on January 18, 2008 @ 6:00 pm CET

I think that Mitt Romney can feel increasingly confident about his chances in Nevada. The race in South Carolina is a two-men race - Romney has withdrawn - which can develop into a three-men race if Thompson surges, but in Nevada, Romney has surged well ahead of his opponents, at least according to the polls. Not only that, he has also been endorsed by Nevada newspapers, yesterday or two days ago by one and today by yet another one.

The best candidate — and the one who would give the party its strongest chance in the fall — is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Romney is a successful businessman who showed his ability to get voters to cross party lines when he won the governor’s office in Massachusetts, home of the Kennedys, Michael Dukakis and John Kerry. He left that office with his reputation and his relationships intact.

Romney’s most remarkable feat, however, was his stewardship of the Salt Lake City Olympics. He showed that he could bring disparate groups together, clean up a mess left by his predecessor, and to put on possibly the most successful games ever.

Romney’s No. 1 opponent since the New Hampshire primary is Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain. McCain is a genuine war hero. But he’s also a government insider who has outlived scandal. But McCain is no friend to Nevada. In 2000, he joined with the NCAA to scapegoat Nevada sportsbooks for a point-shaving scandal in Arizona and was chief sponsor of a bill that would have banned betting on college sports, a business legal in Nevada. He also is a supporter of the Yucca Mountain project.

In short: McCain isn’t right for Nevada, whereas Romney is.

I agree with Patrick Ruffini that it’s fascinating to see that in this election cycle, at least among Republicans, what seems to matter most are local or state issues, and not national issues as such. McCain won in New Hampshire because of local appeal, same goes for Huckabee in Iowa. Romney won in Michigan because of local issues and local appeal, and he’s leading in Nevada again because of local issues.

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1 Clackey

January 18, 2008 @ 6:49 pm CET

Great endorsement for a Great candidate!!!

2 BEB

January 18, 2008 @ 6:52 pm CET

Look, this is all about delegates. If Mr. Romney wins NV, as he should, and Mr. McCain wins SC, as he should, Romeny still remains ahead in delegate count. And come Saturday, but candidates can claim a 1st place victory. It is very smart for Romney to focus on NV and a 1st place win. Otherwise, the media would be focusing on a 3rd or 4th place victory in SC. The difference in perception is significant. NV is smart to give victory to a man who knows fiscal responsibility. This country is going to need a very strong dose of it–and then some!

3 C Stanley

January 18, 2008 @ 6:54 pm CET

what seems to matter most are local or state issues, and not national issues as such

I think that’s actually a great problem, though probably one with no solution. People ought to vote for a president who’ll be concerned with what’s best for the country as a whole, and then look to their congressional reps and senators to address state concerns.