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What was said: On CNN Mitt Romney Communications Director Eric Fehrnstrom was asked whether or not Romney had been forced to move too far to the right. His response implied that Romney will be able to just reset his positions for the general. (via Think Progress)
HOST: Is there a concern that Santorum and Gingrich might force the governor to tack so far to the right it would hurt him with moderate voters in the general election?
FEHRNSTROM: Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again.
Whom the statement is for: Fehrnstrom’s statement seems to be directed primarily at the media and moderate voters. The implication is that once the general election starts the media should treat Romney as though he is a moderate, despite some of the more extreme positions he’s taken during the primary. He didn’t really mean them.
This statement was definitely not directed at the conservative base, which has always been concerned about whether Romney is truly committed to their cause.
Did they really mean it/The record: Romney certainly didn’t earn the nickname ‘flip flop Mitt’ because of his love of casual beach attire. On many important issues from abortion to health care Romney has clearly changed his position based on the electorate he is trying to win over.
Likelihood it will ever actually happen: 90%. If Romney does win the nomination it seems very likely he will at least modify some of his positions to appeal to the broader electorate. The practice of tacking to the center has become so common in American politics, it’s practically expected and almost unavoidable.
Romney still needs the GOP base to turn out for him in the general election, so he will probably remain true to a decent amount of what he ran on in the primary. But a few positions he has taken are probably just too unpopular to stick to. Romney has proven he is all about winning, and if he needs to flip or flop to do that, I expect that he will.
(note: I’m trying a new format to systematically judge/analyze politicians’ statements during the campaign. Please share your thoughts about it.)
15 Comments
However you present your formats, you always quench a thirst and sate a hunger.
The practice of tacking to the center has become so common in American politics, it’s practically expected and almost unavoidable.
That sounds true, though I think the underlying principle applies to campaigning in one direction while governing in another direction after.
The guy has reinvented himself more often than Madonna.
George Will said it best, “Romney has a flexibility of conviction”.
I swear there was a “Star Tek” episode where these aliens could be ANYBODY you wanted to be.
THAT alien invasion would be welcomed with open arms.
Is Romney the Republican Obama?
Mitt can’t communicate and neither can his Communication Director! No one could possibly write this comedy – people would say “it couldn’t happen.” By all means, analyze their comments, which you do very well. You made need brain bleach after about a week.
Willard has been chronically unemployed for the last five years and counting.
Would anyone hire someone for an important job with those credentials?
Oh wait, it’s a government job, never mind.
Eh? Whaddaya know? Fernstrom was actually more or less telling the truth! Is that a first?
Isn’t this what most/all pol candidates do? Admittedly, it’s become much more of a ridiculous Kabuki Show than in some more recent past years.
And what does Rick do for a living?
This doesn’t sound any different than what Obama did but in the opposite direction. Personally, I think Romney might be to the left of Obama on many issues and I hope I get to see him in the White House. At least then there is a possibility progressive ideals may be championed. With Obama we already know that progressive ideals will only be mocked and abused.
Oh, I think Willard’s on his way to the nom. By the time he gets to Tampa, he’ll have morphed into a very statesmanlike Reagan, and all of the farting and tap-dancing with the peckerheads will be diminished to the point that he can throw them a bone/plank in the platform and that will be that.
And, Figaro:
“With Obama we already know that progressive ideals will only be mocked and abused.”
Roger that.
i like the format jon — thank you
The media has totally misreported the import of Romney’s Illinois win. The fact is that this primary was not a turning point in his campaign. Romney has previously won all of the Northern, blue or purple states (Illinois is solidly blue) while losing badly in red states of the South and conservative West. The Illinois results merely continue this trend. Indeed, Santorum’s 37% showing was quite strong in a state where, until recently, moderate Republicans predominated, and where, even today, moderate Republicanism is alive and kicking (e.g., Senator Mark Kirk). Romney’s public “etch-a-sketching” may reflect acknowledgment on the part of his campaign strategists that he will never win over the Republican right, and must start tacking to the center if he is to have any hope in November.
Geez, and here all this time I thought Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign was more like a Comedy Sketch, a really, really bad Comedy Sketch, including three other Republican jokers as his stooge side-kicks.
That is the question Republican voters must face.