A few talking heads are saying the time has come for the first real test of Romney's campaign organization.
Since Newt Gingrich (pronounced "Ging-rick", not "Ging-rich") has taken the lead in polls,
Romney's attention is on bringing down this next contender. But how could that happen ?
Have you noticed that in the recent GOP presidential candidate debates, Romney and
Paul are strikingly friendly and supportive of the other's attacks on Gingrich ?
Mitt's calvary-to-the-rescue may be lurking among his opponents and their supporters.
ABC News
Matt Negrin
Dec 9, 2011
In Texas, Romney’s Rich Fans Wait for Perry to Bow Out
Quote:
Friends and associates of the Texas governor who want to support Mitt Romney for president
are living by a certain credo: Don’t mess with Rick Perry.
Major fundraisers for Romney’s campaign in the Lone Star State say that even though Perry
has fallen in national polls since entering the GOP primary, prominent lawmakers,
businesspeople and other Texans are afraid to sign a check for Romney
out of fear that Perry will turn on them when he returns as governor.
For these major donors, say the fundraisers, it’s a waiting game until Perry loses the contest
for the nomination — then they’ll be free to give to Romney without fear of repercussion.<snip>
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There is a common thread of remarks among the fund-raisers who spoke to the reporter:
Quote:
Leticia Van de Putte, a Democratic state senator, said Perry
has a “solid track record of finding disfavor with those who support his opponents” in elections.
“What is not tolerated, and he does exercise selective enforcement,
is when they give to another candidate who he’s running against,” she said.
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And then there are the Ron Paul supporters...
San Francisco Chronicle
KASIE HUNT, Associated Press
December 9, 2011
Paul strength may help Romney in Iowa
Quote:
The Texas congressman's allies and others say that he drains support from the rising Newt Gingrich,
and, if that turns out to be the case during the Jan. 3 caucuses and Paul manages to triumph here,
the theory is that Romney would benefit in the long-run.
"If Ron Paul can chip away at Gingrich just enough, he could conceivably win the caucuses,
but he doesn't have the longevity of Gingrich" because Paul has trouble expanding his support
beyond his libertarian-leaning base, said Tim Albrecht, an Iowa operative who worked for Romney
during his failed presidential bid four years ago.
Some Republicans say a victory by Paul — who many Republican operatives doubt can win the race
— could help curb the perception of a crushing loss for Romney, who has tried to tamp down expectations
that he'll do well here even as aides operate an under-the-radar Iowa campaign and TV ads
intended to help him are starting to flood the Iowa airwaves.<snip>
"The reality," said Steve Schmidt, who ran Sen. John McCain's campaign in 2008, "is that candidates
who are not going to win the nomination play a very important role in determining who does."
Paul, to be sure, is a factor in the race.
He raised $5 million between July and September, and supporters say Paul will be able to stay in the contest
as long as he wants because of a loyal following that sends him cash when he asks and new GOP rules
that award convention delegates proportionally.
And he's not being shy about trying to bloody his rivals
— particularly Romney's chief challenger.
This week, Paul's on the air with a blistering commercial hitting Gingrich for "serial hypocrisy."
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And besides all that:
If anything, the TV show "Survivor" has shown
is that coalitions are two-headed snakes...
When Romney believes he is in control but holds only one head,
the other can turn to bite him, just when he least expects it or needs it most.
.