Romney gave filmmaker Greg Whiteley and Netflix permission to release the docudrama, MITT, this year-- rather than in 2009-- because in 2009 he wanted to run for president again… and after the 2012 drubbing, he knew he wouldn't ever be running for anything again. As you can see in the discussion on Fox "News" above, Romney-die hards see the release of the film as the beginning of a third presidential campaign. More likely, it's the beginning of a promotion and marketing campaign by Netflix to sell this dog of a film.Yesterday, the Boston Globe concotted a narrative that has Romney running again in 2016. They don't mention that that would immediately presage a permanent split in the Republican Party-- the party of Rove vs the party of Cruz… presumably with the Koch brothers able to exercise effective control over both! "[I]n recent weeks," they tease, "a strange thing has happened: Some supporters and donors, pollsters and pundits are starting to suggest-- without irony-- that the former Massachusetts governor run for president in 2016." Perhaps Establishment-oriented donors are so eager for Romney to run again because-- with the political demise of Chris Christie and House Republicans sabotaging immigration reform-- they see the catastrophe called Ted Cruz waiting at the end of the long dark Valley of Death. And not just an historic defeat for the GOP in the presidential election-- they know that if Hillary runs, that's coming anyway-- but a massive defeat of Republican senators, Republican House Members, Republican governors, Republican state legislators and Republican everything else on the same day. Among the senators least likely to survive a Hillary landslide against Cruz in 2016 are Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Chuck Grassely (R-IA), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Rob Portman (R-OH), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). All those seats are up and vulnerable-- and a Hillary sweep would be so devastating to the Republican Party that it would take decades to recover. Romney would lose to Hillary too, but not with the kind of devastation to down-ticket races Ted Cruz would bring.
Romney is planning to host another policy retreat this June, where he invites top business and political leaders to spend several days with him in Park City, Utah. Former Romney advisers expect his potential candidacy could be a major topic if a more mainstream presidential candidate has not emerged.But Romney would face major hurdles. He struggled with the Tea Party, a movement that remains a potent force in Republican politics. And while he has appeared far more comfortable in recent public appearances, it has come at a time when he has not felt the pressure of running for office and making a gaffe that can dominate several news cycles.One of the biggest hurdles would be convincing party officials and donors that he deserves yet another chance.“He could not win the nomination. There’s no way,” said Henry Barbour, a Republican National Committee member from Mississippi. “Look, he had his shot. But the party has to move on. I can’t imagine that we would renominate Governor Romney when he lost in the general election last time.”The last candidate to win his party’s nomination a second time was Richard M. Nixon, who after losing the 1960 election to John F. Kennedy was nominated again in 1968 and defeated Hubert Humphrey to win the White House. Romney supporters have pointed to another historical example: Ronald Reagan ran three times (though he was not the party’s nominee until his third try).…The buzz around Romney running was sufficient enough that Purple Strategies, a Virginia-based firm, included Romney in a poll of New Hampshire voters three weeks ago. He came out on top, with 25 percent, among Republican primary voters.
Of course, that speaks more to how dreadful the Republican bench is than to any real enthusiasm for another Mitt Romney campaign. He's made it clear that he is dying to run again-- but only if he's allowed to appear reluctant and give in to a "draft." No doubt there will be a well-orchestrated Draft Romney movement. But it won't save the Party from Ted Cruz. They earned him and deserve him.
