Barbour: Romney's "moderately conservative" views will help in the fall

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney greets supporters during a campaign stop in Metairie, La., Friday, March 23, 2012. / AP Photo/Steven Senne

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney greets supporters during a campaign stop in Metairie, La., March 23, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Steven Senne

(CBS News) Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney may have scored the endorsement of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush this week, and enjoyed some positive encouragement from tea party favorite Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, but GOP stalwart Haley Barbour is not yet toeing the line.

Barbour said in an interview with Al Hunt airing on Bloomberg TV Friday night that he is unimpressed with Romney's inability to lock up the nomination. "(Romney) wins and then turns around and loses the next week," Barbour said. "Whether it's South Carolina, and probably Santorum is going to win Louisiana tomorrow. But what do we know about all that is that Mitt hasn't been able to get the party coalesced behind him."

A major Republican fundraiser and a former Mississippi governor, Barbour called Romney "moderately conservative," and said he is not the ideal choice for many conservative Republicans. But he added that conservatives will be with him in the fall, and that Romney's moderation on issues will help him against President Obama.

"I think he needs to stay right where he is. I think where he is, he's moderately conservative. I think that's very in tune with the American people," Barbour said. "But this election should be a referendum on Obama, on Obama's policies, and the results of those policies, whether it's all the spending, whether it's 'Obamacare,' whether it's this terrible energy policy."

Barbour has said that he voted for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the Mississippi primary on March 13. Romney came in third in that contest, behind Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Barbour said that Romney's Mormon religion could have been a factor in his defeat.

"The fact that Santorum and Gingrich, but Santorum particularly, is very religious and he spoke on election night in Mississippi about his faith, and he campaigned on that, and (in) my state, that probably makes more difference than it does in Maryland," he said.

However, Barbour predicted Romney's religion would not be much of a factor in the fall campaign. "There are 25,000 Southern Baptist preachers that'll vote for a Mormon before they vote for Obama," he told Hunt.

Barbour is a key player in American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, the influential Republican Super PAC and affiliated non-profit group, which are raising millions of dollars for the 2012 election. The two groups were founded by Republican strategists Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie.

His comments run counter to Romney's efforts to portray himself as a conservative in the primaries. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, is also battling criticism from his rivals that he is an "Etch A Sketch" conservative who will reset his image in the fall.

[prohb]

Barbour - a Republican establishment, big corporation, and Romney shill true and true.

He's trying to play both ends against the middle for the media message...saying the word 'conservative' to get the vote of the tea partiers and using the word 'moderate' to get the vote of other Republicans and (especially) independents. He really is just like Romney - a flip-flop, flimflam artist. He, and the Repub establishment, just want to get complete power in this country and will bob, and shift, and weave any way and say anything to get it. And their well-financed Republican Messaging Machine has done such a good job of scaring, fooling and manipulating good, common Americans they could bring it off.

Barbour and DeMint said the following to the tea-partiers and other far-right politicians:
'Don't worry, he may be a flip-flopping moderate, but he knows its' only with our money and your tea party shock troops that he'll gain the Presidency. Remember - WE MUST JUST GET RID OF OBAMA.... everything will fall into place after that. And we'll make sure he gives youall a lot of choice positions in his administration. Then all Republicans, conservative, moderate, and tea party will really take control AND TAKE THIS COUNTRY WHERE WE WANT.'

Scary.

Remember - we never voted for those hidden fanatics that Romney will appoint or be forced to appoint who will actually run things.

[prohb]

Barbour and Demint - Probably something like it

and remember the 'Etch-A-Sketch' comment from Romney's Advisor.

[ProgressNow]

I'm really happy the way this has worked out. No matter what happens, we get Obama back for a second term as a seasoned President who is a true moderate or we get Mittens Robme, who is a left of left leaning liberal. Robme has made it all too clear that once he fools the retard-repubs into nominating him, he'll swing way back to his root liberalism. It's a win, win for progressives. Thanks GOP...you folks are the gift that keep on giving!!!!!

[nearl451]

In reality Romney is at most right leaning, Conservatively Liberal.

Depends on the year or the election, but there is no position that he doesn't defend/oppose at the convenient time.

[RobAla]

I think Barbour is correct in his assessment of Romney. Romney is not as conservative as I would like, but I think he will win the nomination. Romney understands how business works, and we certainly need a healthier business environment to create jobs. I will hold my nose and vote for him come November, because the failed policies of President Obama need to be stopped. It may take the nation several years to recover from the damage President Obama has done.

[erich_1-2009]

The facts:
2000-2008 National Debt increased 4.5 Trillion in 8 years.
2009-Now National Debt increased 5.4 Trillion in 3 1/2 years, to 15.4 Trillion.
42% GDP vs. Spending last two years is the highest in the History of the United States, except for WWII. Under President Clinton and President Bush it was always at 36%.
2008-Now - Federal Deficit increase from 400 Million to 1,400 Million.
National Unemployment Rate - Fact every month under President Bush for 8 years was lower than ANY MONTH under President Obama for 3 1/2 years. 8.3% now is higher than any month under President Bush.

We all know that Mormons understand money, and one with experience being a Governor of a large State knows how to negotiate.

As a Christian I have no problem voting for Governor Romney, and I won't have to hold my nose. I will be happy to vote for him!

[esq777]

Wait a minute, I thought Willard Romney was a "severe" conservative. Oh, that's right, he'll just be Etch A Sketching himself into a moderate or liberal or libertarian or anarchist or whatever it takes to pander and win votes.

[italianro]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=7_cNk85R9Q0

[Quivley]

We are a diverse nation with a vast array of strengths, weaknesses, problems and solutions. Our president must lead the Entire nation, be mindful of all, and respectful of all. Our president cannot lead justly from one narrow corner and ignore the rest. If we are so solve problems, make progress, we must have a leader who can build coalitions and draw from the talents and abilities of many. We need someone Closer to the Center, Not and extremist from either end. Romney, although a strong fiscal conservative and a person who has lived conservative values all his life, is sufficiently open minded and respectful of other to become a great American president.

[Hutterite]

Of course he's moderately conservative. He's mormon. That means he can't have fun, and if he gets his way, you can't either. Out here, we call it utah.

[naksuthin]

No such thing as a Moderate Conservative. If you are an "Olympia Snow" republican....your best bet is to quit.

[nearl451]

I particularly like Utah's Wasatch Beers. Polygamy Porter and Provo Girl Pilsner are favorites.

http://www.utahbeers.com/beers.html

[bajajohn1]

Romney should have had the lead role in "Me, Myself and Irene"

[bajajohn1]

Milton Romney is a boring man, a man who the paint watches dry..he lies, he twists and turns while flop-flopping. The guy is an empty suit.