Political Hotsheet
By

Sarah Huisenga /

CBS News/ March 31, 2012, 9:19 PM

Romney predicts Wisconsin victory

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks with supporters of Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker at a phone bank during a campaign stop in Fitchburg, Wis., Saturday, March 31, 2012. The phone bank is used in support of Walker who is facing a recall election in June 2012.

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks with supporters of Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker at a phone bank during a campaign stop in Fitchburg, Wis., Saturday, March 31, 2012. The phone bank is used in support of Walker who is facing a recall election in June 2012. / AP Photo/Steven Senne

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks with supporters of Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker at a phone bank during a campaign stop in Fitchburg, Wis., March 31, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Steven Senne

(CBS News) Mitt Romney on Saturday predicted he would win Wisconsin's primary on Tuesday, while acknowledging that until recently, his fortunes hadn't looked so certain. The former Massachusetts governor also picked up the endorsement of the state's largest circulation newspaper, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

"This was an uphill battle for me if you look back three or four weeks ago," Romney told phone bank volunteers making calls on behalf of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who faces a recall election in June. "And now we're looking like we're going to win this thing on Tuesday. But I gotta have you guys get out and vote."

The most recent NBC News/Marist poll shows Romney with a comfortable, 7-percentage-point lead over his closest rival, former Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum, a swing from polling in February which showed a tighter race. Since then, Romney posted a solid win in delegate-rich Illinois, swept Hawaii and Puerto Rico, and picked up endorsements from several popular Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former President George H.W. Bush.

Santorum, while landing victories in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, has not been able to close the gap with Romney in the all-important race to 1,144 delegates, the magic number needed to clinch the nomination. Santorum views Wisconsin as one of his remaining chances to upset the front-runner, a view shared by many leading fellow Republicans. He has spent most of the past week campaigning across the state.

In endorsing Romney, the Milwaukee newspaper said his "pragmatism" made him the best choice, and called him a "hard worker, a pragmatic problem-solver, a good manager." But the Journal-Sentinel's recommendation was tempered with a description of Romney as a "flawed front-runner."

"He is the clear choice in an uninspired -- and now dwindling - field," the editors wrote, and argued that Romney had shifted some of his positions too far to the right during the primary season, citing shifts on taxes, climate change and immigration.

Although he predicted victory, Romney also noted that his path to the nomination is not assured. "I've got a ways to go before I get 1,144 delegates, so I'm not counting the delegates before they hatch," Romney said during his stop at the phone bank. "But I'm going to keep working very hard and hope I get a good strong send off from Wisconsin. I got a good boost from the folks in Illinois, and if I can get that boost also from Wisconsin, I think we'll be on a path that will get me the nomination well before the convention. Sure hope so."

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
27 Comments Add a Comment
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magnumdr says:
Wisconsin is a working mans State. All of you Republicans should get out because the voter turnout here will be minimul for any Republican running for any office here!
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A-Hick says:
Of course he will get a win in Wisconsin. He paid for it.

MUTTS FOR MITT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jump on the station wagon (on it's ride up the elevator), and join Mitt's "Poop on America 2012" campaign today!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ScottRyan-TableOfWisdom says:
I like the pic of Mitt. He looks lie Elmer Gantry. It really captures his essence.

Romney Rents Supporters - Many who may be as Legal as his Lawn Maintenance. http://www.TableOfWisdom.com
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poyman-2009 says:
Looks like you have a problem dealing with Reality... In fact, you sound like the sniveling cry baby himself, Santorum.

Truth is that Romney is uniquely qualifies for what this country is facing and perhaps better qualified than any other candidate in the past 50 years... At least that is what Jack Welch thinks (the best CEO this country has had in 50 years)...

There is a reason why all the elected Conservatives are coalescing around Romney right now. He gives the Reeps the best chance of winning the White House and he has the best skill set to deal with what this country is facing right now...

I find it amusing that the people who think that they are conservatives have formed a tight coalition with Obama... Makes me think that you are actually more Liberal than Conservative... And probably more of a Bigot than an Equal Opportunity individual.
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greco99-2009 replies:
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Mitt is a failed one term governor, who will never be elected to any office in Massachusetts. Ever. He will also lose his home state. The people of Mass know that he is a liar and that Mitt will sellout anyone.

Mitt's foreign experience is limited to knocking on doors in France for three years without making a single convert.

It is well known that Mitt was a draft dodger, and he said his kids 'had better things to do' than serve. Yet this hypocrite engages in clueless, uninformed and irresponsible saber rattling.

Santorum was right - Obama is better !


Strong evidence that Romney was also involved in Medicaid fraud...

While one the board (as financial oversight committee chair) one of his companies (Damon) engaged in medicaid fraud.

Mitt is the ultimate welfare queen.

Check out the spot 'Blood Money' produced by Gingrich...

Romney has zero foreign policy experience. Zero.

He spent three years knocking on doors in France with zero converts. Zero.

Mitt spent his life moving American jobs overseas and looting pension plans.

Mitt invested in a technology company that supplies monitoring technologies to the Chinese government.

Mitt does not really care about what happens to most Americans. He has another motive and agenda. Don't be fooled by this huckster.


Mitt is a lunatic fringe candidate who has cleverly capitalized on (1) an early financial advantage, (2) a divided field with no other good candidates.

Many Republicans will not support Mitt, and even Santorum came out and said that Obama is better. Those Republicans who endorse Mitt, and especially those who actively campaign for him, are likely to see their credibility eroded.

Mitt Romney has been shown to be an out-of-touch liar who will sell out any of his 'core convictions' or supporters on a dime.

Romney has zero Federal experience and is failed one term governor who will never be reelected to any office in Massachusetts (or elsewhere).

His claim to fame with the winter Olympics is a massive Federal and state subsidy and handout - then outright lies about it (see the videos on youtube of Romney saying how much gvt money he got and how he used insider connections and lobbiests). This guy is pathetic and shameful...

He dodged the draft, and when none of his sons served he said they 'had better things to do' like staying in posh hotels and spending a few hours per day supporting his campaign.

Ask yourself why and how Mitt dodged the draft - if he took a religious exemption because he did not want to kill then why is he engaging in so much saber-rattling jingoism in this campaign? Is he a hypocrite or just a coward? Why does he think others should fight but not him or his clan?
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poyman-2009 says:
Romney is the only Presidential Candidate on either side of the aisle that has the skills and the credentials to fix this financially broken Economy... And, he is the only GOP candidate that can take out Obama... If you think that the last 4 years has been bad with Obama Policies, give him 4 more years and your will see "Bad Policies" on steroids (we got to see a little bit of that when Obama was chatting off camera with Medvedev (Putin's pupet)...

Those of you who want to make his Success as an LBO Specialist and a VC something that is bad are simply laughable... Do you really think that people can relate better to Obama or Santorum because they only make $1M to $5M a year instead of $20M a year (like Romney)?

Personally, when I am looking for a Lawyer or a Doctor I look for someone who has been the most successful because I want to win or because I want to get cured... If the desire of the voter is to fix a broken Economy and return our country to a land of Opportunity and Prosperity it's stupid to hold success against a candidate... I want my children and grand children to have the same opportunities that we had growing up, and Romney is the only one out there with the skills and knowledge to make that happen.
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greco99-2009 replies:
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Mitt is a failed one term governor, who will never be elected to any office in Massachusetts. Ever. He will also lose his home state. The people of Mass know that he is a liar and that Mitt will sell out anyone. Look at Mitt's lies when he from his time in Mass. Stunning.

Maybe Mitt can't see the difference between the parties. Maybe he's not lying o that one. Maybe he will support Obama or join his cabinet after he loses this election.

Mitt is one of the least experienced candidates in decades. Consider, Mitt's foreign experience is limited to knocking on doors in France for three years without making a single convert.

It is well known that Mitt was a draft dodger, and he said his kids 'had better things to do' than serve. Yet this hypocrite engages in clueless, uninformed and irresponsible saber rattling.

Santorum was right - Obama is better !

Once Mitt realizes this he will surely shift his positions once again...
greco99-2009 replies:
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Strong evidence that Romney was also involved in Medicaid fraud...

While one the board (as financial oversight committee chair) one of his companies (Damon) engaged in medicaid fraud.

Mitt is the ultimate welfare queen.

Check out the spot 'Blood Money' produced by Gingrich...
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irreverentasever says:
What Romney and Santorum have proven so far and Gingrich wish he could get some is that they are owned by the Koch brothers and Alec. Their model is "Corporations First" and then "Who Cares About Anyone Else". Wisconsin like Florida is already showing the fruits of Republicans "Shoot First" and questions later legislation. Just ask the parents of Bo Morrison. Ok, you know your son or daughter could get into a little trouble if they were caught at an underage drinking party but did you ever think they would be coming home in a coffin because he tried to hide from the police and the homeowner blew him away outside his house.
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josephp5 says:
Wisconsin was to be the first test state in mega-billionaire David Koch's evil plan to take over the United States.

It's a good first state for Koch---it has a lot of rubes that were fooled into voting in his pet dog Gov. Scott Walker and his pet cat Rep. Paul Ryan. Also, Wisconsin is cold in winter, so it has lots of coal burning plants in its government facilities that Koch, being a coal man, could secretly take over (with the help of his pet dog Gov. Walker).

But I'll bet old David never expected the ferocious backlash he got from the people of Wisconsin! Huge protests in the middle of a Wisconsin January! An historic recall petition of his pet dog Governor! Ridicule from a shock jock DJ that pretended to be him!---the billionaire puppeteer!---and fooled his idiot pet dog into taking what he thought was his master's call!

David Koch's billions can pay for a whole lot of Tea Party buses and Cato Institutes. So this fight of the people against the hostile takeover of a super rich egotistical control freak is far from over.

But we've got your number, Dave.
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greco99-2009 says:
Mitt Romney has been shown to be an out-of-touch liar who will sell out any of his 'core convictions' or supporters on a dime.

Romney has zero Federal experience and is failed one term governor who will never be reelected to any office in Massachusetts (or elsewhere).

His claim to fame with the winter Olympics is a massive Federal and state subsidy and handout - then outright lies about it (see the videos on youtube of Romney saying how much gvt money he got and how he used insider connections and lobbiests). This guy is pathetic and shameful...

He dodged the draft, and when none of his sons served he said they 'had better things to do' like staying in posh hotels and spending a few hours per day supporting his campaign.

Ask yourself why and how Mitt dodged the draft - if he took a religious exemption because he did not want to kill then why is he engaging in so much saber-rattling jingoism in this campaign? Is he a hypocrite or just a coward? Why does he think others should fight but not him or his clan?
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kevjustice says:
mitt is another goldwater-lol. all polls show he is very unlikeable. as mass gov he was one of the worst in job creation. tons of bad statements. "don't care about poor people", etc. face of the 1%. supports very unpopular ryan budget which is offensive to seniors who are big voting block. offensive to latin vote, women, etc . but he has conservative middle aged white voters-THAT'S IT! LOL!
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jimbom121 says:
He is up by only 7 pts in the polls right now in Wisconsin over Santorum. Even with the nomination practically over, Romney still can't pull in 50% of the GOP vote.
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greco99-2009 replies:
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Mitt is a lunatic fringe candidate who has cleverly capitalized on (1) an early financial advantage, (2) a divided field with no other good candidates.

Many Republicans will not support Mitt, and even Santorum came out and said that Obama is better. Those Republicans who endorse Mitt, and especially those who actively campaign for him, are likely to see their credibility eroded.
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