Romney Positions Himself As McCain Alternative

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Mitt Romney

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

HUDSONVILLE, MICH. -- Arguing that the Republican Party needs to nominate someone "consistent with the Reagan coalition," Mitt Romney slammed John McCain tonight for the Arizona senator's record on a series of high-profile issues.

"I simply don't believe that Senator McCain will be the nominee if he continues, as he does, to support an amnesty-type program for illegal aliens [or] if he stands behind McCain-Feingold, which has been very difficult for our party, and I think it's just harmful to the process of campaign finance," Romney said to reporters before speaking at the Ottawa County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. "An individual who voted against the Bush tax cuts and continues to feel that his vote against the Bush tax cuts was right."

The former Massachusetts governor said that he would stay in the race to ensure that the GOP would have "an alternative" to McCain.

Romney shrugged off recent polls showing him trailing McCain in Michigan and said that polls have already proven to be fluid this campaign.

Amid growing chatter that his campaign will effectively be over if he doesn't win here, Romney would not speculate about what another "silver" finish would mean for him.

"I anticipate I'm going to win here in Michigan," Romney said. "But I'm not going to tell you what happens if that doesn't happen. I don't want to forecast anything other than success."

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by dvilt January 14, 2008 3:53 AM EST: Mitt Romney won Wyoming and leads in the current GOP delegate count, but all we hear is Romney is slipping or is all but out of the race. Mitt Romney has the finest qualifications of all the presidential candidates: brains, success record, leadership, organization, patriotism, and drive. He could become president today and America could rest assured Romney will get the job done with flair, integrity, and success. Sabotage him and you risk a fatal blow to the beloved conservative America we may well lose forever.

We need Mitt Romney as President. McCain would be a good Sec of Defense. Giuliani a great Attorney General. Thompson an effective VP. Huckabee as a great Cabinet member and spiritual advisor to the President.; Reply to this comment


by dvilt January 14, 2008 3:48 AM EST: Mitt Romney won Wyoming and leads in the current GOP delegate count, but all we hear is Romney is slipping or is all but out of the race. Mitt Romney has the finest qualifications of all the presidential candidates: brains, success record, leadership, organization, patriotism, and drive. He could become president today and America could rest assured Romney will get the job done with flair, integrity, and success. Sabotage him and you risk a fatal blow to the beloved conservative America we way well lose forever. We need Mitt as President, especially as we face looming severe economic times.

With Romney as President, McCain would be a good Sec of Defense. Giuliani a great Attorney General. Thompson an effective VP. Huckabee as a great Cabinet member and spiritual advisor to the President.; Reply to this comment


by lone-star5 January 12, 2008 9:33 PM EST: Romney graduated at the top of his class, while McCain graduated at the bottom. Guess that''s one way he''s an alternative; Reply to this comment


by peterfromnh January 12, 2008 9:24 PM EST: Oh, I forgot. He is an honest to God American hero too.; Reply to this comment


by peterfromnh January 12, 2008 9:22 PM EST: McCain''s lifetime voting record in Congress is rated a solid 82 percent by the American Conservative Union. He''s a fierce fiscal conservative, unwaveringly pro-life on abortion issues, staunchly free-market on trade and economic matters, favors making the Bush tax cuts permanent, supports nuclear power as a clean-energy alternative, champions school choice as the vital lever for education reform, advocates smaller and more accountable government, and, of course, is a lifelong proponent of a strong national defense and an assertive foreign policy.

The "real conservatives" should realize that McCain is their best chance at keeping the WH and they should shut up and support him.; Reply to this comment


by giantrobot2 January 12, 2008 3:39 PM EST: ALERT! *** ALERT! *** ALERT!

$75,000 = $375 per week / $19,500yr
$50,000 = $250 per week / $13,000yr
$35,000 = $175 per week / $9,100yr
$25,000 = $125 per week / $6,500yr

Yrly salary left = Savings right

Vote for HUCKABEE and get richer with the "Fair tax" law he will implement. He is the ONLY candidate committed to doing this for all Americans.

Just imagine how fast you can buy that new high defintion 60" LCD Flat screen TV with huge speakers on it. A relaxing reclining chair with cup holder for your nice cold beverage of your choice...ONLY if you vote for HUCKABEE!

Vote HUCKABEE and become RICHER! :); Reply to this comment


by gumbystretch January 12, 2008 2:50 PM EST: McCain continues to be the most viable candidate and best hope for the GOP to win the upcoming election, as backed up by the polls. Romney consistently loses against any Democratic nominee, so a vote for him is a vote for the liberals in the general election. I continue to support a man of principle over a man of constant pandering like Mitt Romney, and it''s nice to see that voters are starting to agree.; Reply to this comment


by lnardozi January 12, 2008 2:00 PM EST: Frankly, I think the Democrats would rather run against ANYONE but Dr. Ron Paul. Much as we''d like politics to be positive, it is in fact ruled almost entirely by negatives. For instance, what''s the biggest negative the Republican Party is facing in 2008? Iraq - a staggering 70% of people favor IMMEDIATE withdrawl from Iraq. Who is the only candidate that doesn''t have that negative? Dr. Paul, who advocates using those trillions of dollars to secure our border (perhaps against Saudis who were 20 of the 24 terrorists in 9/11) and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure which is far more worrying than the loss of Social Security. Hm, full employment, withdrawl from Iraq and a huge boost to our economy from rebuilding our infrastructure - what Democrat wants to run against that? They''d look like the Republican in the group! Republican party used to be real good once upon a time - Dr. Paul wants to return it to its roots!; Reply to this comment


by dlounsbury1 January 12, 2008 5:08 AM EST: A word out to evangelicals in Michigan: a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain. He was a war hero by being a prisoner of war, but couldn''t tough out a bad marriage. He had an affair on the woman who waited years for him and married a very rich woman who bought his senate seat. He votes with Dems more than any other Republican, if you really can call him one.; Reply to this comment


by cardston1980 January 12, 2008 3:20 AM EST: I therefore, implore you, especially evangelicals who are swayed by your friendly Baptist minister...resist the temptation to blindly support him. BY BLINDLY SUPPORTING THE GUY YOU THINK REPRESENTS YOU THE MOST YOU ARE CONDEMNING EVERYONE.

Think about it. You folks are in the best position (in the Coalition) and you%u2019re about to screw it up. You don''t need someone who is committed to your issue above all others. Pretty much the only way to screw your issue up is to not get ANY of the republicans elected, because anyone they appoint will be better than Ginsberg or Stevens%u2014and with even a middle of the road justice, Roe Vs. Wade is gone.

Same argument goes for John McCain. The issue is not "who''s better, McCain or (republican X)?" It''s "Who''s better McCain or (democrat X)" because the Coalition breaks if McCain is nominated, and the party looses.

Anyway, I''ve rambled on long enough. Do what you think is right. Just know that the Coalition wasn''t just convenient, it was essential, and still is.; Reply to this comment