Romney Skips S.C., Bets On Nevada

Politico: Michigan GOP Primary Winner Cedes Palmetto State To His Rivals

(The Politico)  This story was written by Jonathan Martin and Lisa Lerer.

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Just a day after his big win in Michigan, Mitt Romney ceded South Carolina to his rivals.

“This is a state I’d expect that Sen. [John] McCain has pretty well wrapped up,” Romney told reporters at the Sun City Hilton Head Retirement Center in Bluffton. “It would be an enormous surprise if he were unable to win here.”

Romney’s South Carolina strategy amounts to being politically half-pregnant. He doesn’t want to raise expectations in a state he likely can’t win, so he’s dashing off to Nevada midday Thursday to compete in the lightly contested caucuses there Saturday. But at the same time, he doesn’t want to offend his supporters in South Carolina.

Polls show Romney standing in solid third place in South Carolina, taking anywhere from 13 percent to 17 percent of the vote. But in Bluffton, Romney put himself in fourth place, noting that “even a strong fourth is better than what some of the other guys saw in Michigan last night.”

This tricky expectations game has left his top advisers here in an awkward position. They need to defend their candidate’s decision without downplaying the importance of their own state, a fiercely proud place where locals frequently tout their first-in-the-South primary status and tradition of deciding the GOP nominee.

“It’s always been the gateway, but you know what - the calendar has changed, the cycle is changing,” Warren Tompkins, Romney’s South Carolina strategist and a veteran consultant, said after a rally in Charleston.

“South Carolina is important, but it may end up that Florida is the gateway this time.”

Reminded that he was talking about his own native state, Tompkins argued that he was “not diminishing the primary.”

“We’re going to fight in it,” he promised. But, he reiterated, “the calendar has changed.”

Romney also pledged to fight Wednesday - for new South Carolina jobs.

“You've seen it here, in furniture. You've seen the textile industry, where Washington watched, saw the jobs go and go," he said in Bluffton to a group of retirees.

"I'm not willing to declare defeat on any industry where we can be competitive. I'm going to fight for every job," Romney said.

But his hopeful economic message may resonate less than it did in struggling Michigan, whose 7.4 percent unemployment rate is far above the 5.0 percent national average and the 5.9 percent South Carolina rate.

As such, Romney isn’t counting on much Mitt-mentum in the Palmetto State, which aides describe as both “[Mike] Huckabee territory” and “McCain territory.”

The opt-out strategy, as practiced by all the candidates, sounds a bit like a Zen koan: If the candidate expects a loss, does it still hurt his campaign?

Romney hopes the answer is no. Romney pulled his ads out of South Carolina before the Michigan primary. He planned to go back on the air Wednesday.

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“I frankly don’t think it’s wise at this stage to be trying to advertise in all states at all times,” said Romney. “If someone else is spending massively, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to put a few drops in that bucket.”

This is the same Mitt Romney who has spent tens of millions of his own money on advertising, who was - at one point - airing ads in the first five GOP contests at a total clip of more than $2 million a week.

Romney explains his decision to downplay the South Carolina primary as a simple numbers game. Nevada has 34 delegates up for grabs, while South Carolina has 24.

“I’m playing to get the nomination. I’m not looking for gold stars on my forehead like I was in first grade,” said Romney. “I’m looking to rack up the delegates I need to win the nomination.”

Romney is currently eading the delegate race, but his advantage isn’t much of an edge: 975 delegates are up for grabs on Feb. 5.

Waiting for the delayed Romney caravan to arrive in Charleston on Wednesday, Sen. Jim DeMint, an early Romney supporter, conceded that he would like to have all of Romney’s attention.

“I’d like to have him here,” DeMint said.

But DeMint said Romney’s move to go off the air last week and to downplay expectations was a matter of necessity that he supported.

“No one would have even considered him still in the race if he didn’t win Michigan,” DeMint said. “We told him that.”

Romney’s opt-out strategy also reflects a realistic view of the South Carolina landscape. The population plays more into the natural strengths of McCain and Huckabee than it does for Romney.

So it was no surprise to witness each of Romney’s advisers lowering expectations furiously Wednesday.

“If he does reasonably well here, it will be considered a victory,” DeMint said. “I don’t think he has to win for it to have been a good primary for him.”

Tompkins said that a Romney victory would amount to a “lightning strike.”

Romney state director Terry Sullivan went even further, saying that not only could they survive a third-place finish but that a bronze medal would be “a good thing.”

Romney’s eleventh-hour effort to diminish a South Carolina loss is reminiscent of Rudy Giuliani’s attempt to pooh-pooh his poor finish in New Hampshire.

In both cases, it amounts to erasing a bit of recent history, acting as though they never spent millions in the two states before they realized that they had little chance to win.

Until last week, Romney had been on the air here nonstop since Labor Day. He’s had a paid staff presence going back to June of 2006. And he and members of his family have visited the state dozens of times in the past year and a half.

Romney aides contend that they, like other campaigns, should get a pass for not being competitive in some states.

Naturally, his rivals aren’t buying it - and they are trying to make the most of it.

“If a Republican nominee can’t compete in the South, say hello to President Clinton or Obama,” quipped Mark Salter, senior adviser to McCain.

Lisa Lerer reported from Bluffton, S.C.; Jonathan Martin reported from Charleston, S.C.

[prinzowhales]

A fraudulent election in New Hampshire and more evidence of private fraud affecting the election process...Here is a story of how DIGG is tossing out stories on some candidates despite their ''fairness'' rules...DIGG=Scum...

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2008/011708_digg_caught.htm

[prinzowhales]

Coming up at infowars.com is the son of E. Howard Hunt and his taped admission of being part of the assassination of JFK, provided to his son as a death bed confession. Listen to how the last half century has been shaped by an assassin''s bullet...

Stolen elections...murdered heros...covered up crimes...

[battyellison]

I am a registered democrat and what worries me about this election is John McCain is considered an American Hero is he deserves it, but to see him as part of the warmoongers league baffles me. To see him with Lieberman ( who i think choose the caandidate most likely to bomb Iran ) ranting a raving about the troop surge that worked when iraq is no further along than before the surge makes me nervous i honestly think he might be re-living the past war with some sort of ptsd i never thought i would say this about a war veteran but John McCain is not fit to be the next president of the united states

[swifthare-2009]

Romney has shown that he has the broadest overall support. He is the best chance we have to get someone in the White House with the intelligence and get-it-done attitude to turn our economy around and make health care more accessible for all (using the same free-market principles that make America''s health care system great).

He is a private sector success, a Washington outsider who cannot be bought by special interest money. He will not embrace the Washington political machine that works on behalf of Washington politicians first, and Americans second.

My vote is for Romney, our last best hope.

[swifthare-2009]

Romney is a class act. He clearly admires and respects his rivals personally, yet engages in legitimate debates over the issues. Romney consistently champions the positions that matter most to America. I wish that his rivals would also stick to the issues instead of resorting to cheap personal attacks. But this is where Romney''''s class act sets him above the rest.

[mediapreachr]

''Romney Skips S.C., Bets On Nevada''
Whoever takes from Giuliani''s book will end up where he is now.

[hwy71so]

Ah!!! Ol'' Mitt is chasing states with a more liberal slant. Hmm, that may be an effective tactic for him.

[ekucrew]

Hmmm. The Official Chauffeur Mitt decided not to promise to FIGHT for the factory workers jobs in SC (as he did in MI) and not stop until the jobs came back afterall......

[lawyertom1]

Not looking good for ol'' Mitt. Kiss off Rudy the guano loser and the two loveable nuts (Huck and Ron), and suddenly the Republican side looks almost rational.

[wendy731]

jmcgilvray you should be ashamed of yourself, but I doubt you are. You have a blind sense of what true character is. Mitt Romney has campaigned in South Carolina for months and has been upfront with people about the challenges facing America and how those challenges should be met. You guys are not listening because you have hard hearts and closed minds. I think it time for Romney to accept the smart votes from South Carolina that will come his way and move on from that State. There is a lot of insults being passed around in South Carolina from McCain and Huckabee and it is not impressive in the least

[susanhelit]

I suspect he knows that in this very conservative religious state, a Mormon, however conservative, however religious, has no chance.

[antoniof123]

So the Republicans vote by religion now let me see who else does that.

Oh yea, the Iraqi Muslims do.

The Republicans are so good at fighting terror maybe because one of there''s is funding it.

[hillaryin08]

Hey Liberal Jihadist

Just to let you know because you wont get this on CBS News, The Culinary Workers Union is going to be allowed to caucus at work in Vegas on Saturday despite the efforts of the Clintons to prevent it.

Instead of "Rock the Vote" the Clintons should use "Stop the Vote" with Obamma being the undertone.

[denn034]

Makes sense for Romney to do that. This argues for sound decision making like his successful Bain Capital company and saving the 2002 Winter Olympics indicates.

[beachroses]

Romney has spent plenty of time and money in SC, more than any of the candidates will be spending here, because we have a late primary. If that''s not good enough for some people, considering the tight schedule, than I don''t know what to say, except you must need to be spoon fed to respond. And nice try with that magic underwear ***, you KKK''ers.

[beachroses]

People making money off illegals at the rest of our expense and in defiance of our laws, national security and sovereignty of nation are voting for McCain and Democrats around here.

And I totally agree with Wendy''s statements, their bullying Romney makes them look like a bunch of punks. Not fit for this office they are running for.

[beachroses]

I don''t think Romney supporters need to be "spoon fed," that''s just the way the media is making it sound. I should have clarified that in my post. All this nonsense they keep dishing out trying to thwart his campaign is trying to undermine our Democratic process. Maybe he won''t win there and MAYBE HE WILL. He still has more support across the board, so far, than anyone else.

[johnfrost-2009]

OPEN BORDERS CANDIDATES:

1.- "Si se puede" Muslim Obama
2.- "No Mexican woman is illegal" Hillary Clinton
3.- "All Illegal children must receive free education"Mc Cain
4.- %u201CCome to New York%u2019s sanctuary%u201D Giuliani.

"Breaking and entering is a felony and all illegals are felons"

Mitt Romney has been the toughest on Illegals, I''ll vote for him to protect my job.

[culturechang]

(f Hillary really said that, it points to her vision of a total double standard in the law between men and women. That is what she wants more than anything and she wont say it....now. That is very scary and my big beef with her.

[smpf38]

"Romney was pro-choice"

Not personally. He has always been pro-life as a person but has not felt that his personal convictions should be forced on others. The people and the courts of Massachusetts were pro-choice. Romney couldn''t have changed that even if he wanted to. He explained his position very well and publicly to us in Mass.

"Romney raised taxes"

Not true. He cut taxes, but he raised fees for services. Some of those service fees had not been changed in decades and it was a very reasonable move on his part. The fees were not broad based. An example would be like those signs by the exit ramps that advertise food/gas/lodging. Yes, those businesses are charged fees in order to have that advertisement on the sign. Most importantly, Romney cut government spending, made a smaller government, and ran a balanced budget.

[smpf38]

"Romney supported gun controls"

He only supported background checks before you can buy a gun. A long time ago that took a few days. Now, by computer background checks can be done the same day. Technology changed, not Romney''s position.

"Romney supported healthcare mandates"

Everyone is this country has a mandate to buy car insurance. That is because if somebody wrecks into your car, if they don''t happen to have insurance the victim would be hosed. A similar principle applies to healthcare. If somebody doesn''t have health insurance, they don''t get regular check-ups and preventative care. Eventually they end up in the emergency room and everybody else pays. I am glad that Romney is willing to do something about health care. Better yet, he plans on allowing each state to do it in a way that will work best for that particular state.

I''ll vote for Romney no problem.

[johnfrost-2009]

OPEN BORDERS CANDIDATES:

1.- "Si se puede" Muslim Obama
2.- "No Mexican woman is illegal" Hillary Clinton
3.- "All Illegal children must receive free education"Mc Cain
4.- %u201CCome to New York%u2019s sanctuary%u201D Giuliani.

"Breaking and entering is a felony and all illegals are felons"
Who is the toughest Candidate with Mexico, Islam and Illegals?
A.- Mitt Romney, I respect this man greatly to save our Jobs and our Nation.

[justinthame]

This article sets up a double standard! Romney has been in the race for the gold in every state except South Carolina. He has broad appeal to Republicans and Americans everywhere. Maybe South Carolina Republicans have forgotten what a true conservative is like, but come general election time they''ll be embarrassed they voted for those liberals in conservative clothing, and they''ll come around to Romney.

[prinzowhales]

If you want the same financial forces that are driving the US towards recession to be in charge as a reward for their treachery and greed...Romney is the man to vote for!...He represents the personable side of corruption...the front man who maintains the squeaky clean facade that all of the crooks can hide behind...and, best of all, he''s going to continue Bush''s criminal foreign policy...you just can''t get any better than that!...Don''t you have just one more little goose-step in you, America?...Vote for Mitt...its the Neo-Con...Neo-Liberal...thing to do.

[undermyboot]

Romney is creepy. Just look in his empty eyes. You have NO idea what this guy is really thinking. What he might do in the White House is truly unknown and frightening. Romney = Antichrist?

[dkaw1]

May I just say to UnderMyBoot, you will one day meet your maker and then you will know who the antichrist is. I''ll give you a hint though, it isn''t Mitt. Check out 1 Corinthians 9:16-19. Tell me who in the race has abused his power in the gospel?

I''m voting for Mitt. He will be the best President this country has had since Reagan.

[bdrlnt4rl]

dkaw1

wow, i read it and all the way down to verse 25, it says hucks name all over it!!!!! that is scary!!!!!! look at this and look how huck campains!!!!! HOLY COW!!!!

[dkaw1]

Romney was an extremely successful business man. Who better to lead the country than someone who could do it in the private sector. I vote Mitt 2008.

[jasonroiz]

Go Mitt Romney! Family Values, Honesty and Integrity, top 5% of Harvard! He was selected to change the scandal plagued Olympics and from a $300,000,000 deficit to a $100,000,000 profit and bring its reputation back and therefore its sponsors.

[brendam509]

Your headline is a little misleading and typical of the dramatics of news stories. Romney did not SKIP South Carolina. He was in South Carolina on Wednesday then he moved on to Nevada. How foolish would it be for him to stay only in South Carolina when he has a better chance in Nevada and more delegates are up for grabs? With numerous changes in moving up primary dates this election year, the campaigning landscape has dramatically changed. He hasn''t skipped out anywhere. He is a smart business man and knows where to put his resources to get the best possible result. This is the kind of leadership he will provide for America. Go Mitt!

[bdrlnt4rl]

BrendaM509

how true of a statement you have made!!!!!

[jasonroiz]

The old main stream media wants to hold on to their power and the claimed tradition of South Carolina determining the president - especially since it is 64% Evangelical (unique among states), 47% Baptist, and 25% Southern Baptist (especially the latter being taught from childhood in Sunday school to avoid Mormons). No other state has more Mormon haters in it than SC.

To the extent the MSM holds to SC in coverage will be the extent to which they want Romney''s rivals to win the nomination even though Republicans and conservatives prefer Romney overwhelmingly in polls. NV has 34 delegates to 24 for SC. NV is more relevant in this country now - things have changed.

The MSM wants to challenge the man who is the least reliant on them - Romney. They want to prove they are still relevant and that the new media (AM radio and conservative books and internet), who support Romney, cannot challenge their authority.

[bdrlnt4rl]

i read last night that using the gospel to gain glory is wrong, a sin, yet huck is using the gospel to gain glory, and he claims to be a preacher. hummmm makes me wonder.

[johnfrost-2009]

OPEN BORDERS CANDIDATES:

1.- "Si se puede" ,suspected drug user-seller,Muslim Obama
2.- "No Mexican woman is illegal" Hillary Clinton
3.- "All Illegal children must receive free education"Mc Cain
4.-%u201CCome to New York%u2019s sanctuary%u201D Giuliani.

"Breaking and entering is a felony and all illegals are felons"
Who is the toughest Candidate with Mexico, Islam%u2019s terror and Illegals?
1.- Mitt Romney, I respect this man greatly.
A.- Romney%u2019s family strong and functional, 5 Married children solid Americans.
B.- Mitt%u2019s a good solid patriotic American, no felonies in his record.
C.- Extremely good record as Governor
D.- Tough on Mexico, Islam%u2019s terror and Illegals.

Mitt Romney will be the best President ever and will restore America to its former greatness.

[johnfrost-2009]

OBAMA COULDN''T BECOME A POLICEMAN IN ANY CITY OF AMERICA DUE TO HIS DRUG USE.
WHY WOULD WE ELECT THIS FELON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?
HAS OBAMA DONE REHAB?
A.- NO, THERE IS NO PROOF OF IT AND OBAMA REFUSES TO ANSWER WHEN QUESTIONED.

WHY WOULD WE EVEN CONSIDER THIS DRUG USER-FELON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

[marinepatriot]

We like Mike!

It''s funny, after losing Mike Huckabee in Iowa, Romney likes to pretend Mike is not a threat, the truth is Romney knows Mike is the biggest threat.

I think Romney is done now though after getting into the scuffle with the associated press reporter. The reporter exposed Romney for who he is.

[candide777]

"Nevada, A Roll of The Dice"

"Romney Bets on Nevada"

Wow, CBS has some clever people writing their headlines! Now if only they could hire one smart journalist to actually investigate a story instead of just regurgitating someone else''s spin.

[bdrlnt4rl]

firstceb

if you really watch the video, romney handled himself very well to the attacks and explained every aspect of the reporters attacks in a very presidential way.

i read last night that using the gospel to gain glory is wrong, a sin, yet huck is using the gospel to gain glory, and he claims to be a preacher. hummmm makes me wonder

[candide777]

I think Romney is done now though after getting into the scuffle with the associated press reporter. The reporter exposed Romney for who he is.
Posted by firstceb at 11:05 AM : Jan 18, 2008

I don''t know, I thought Romney was Very slick in the face of a blatant lie. Like a typical republican, he stood his ground when confronted with the facts, kept his cool, and kept right on lying. This strategy has been working for them for years, and if I were a republican, Romney''s the guy I''d want lying for me.

[bdrlnt4rl]

I don''t know, romney is the only person in a government office that i have every heard to tell his staff to right down all of the promises he made while running for governor and worked like crazy to keep them and then successful at it. that does not sound like a lier to me.

[lone-star5]

Romney will get us out of our current economic mess. He will strengthen our military, our borders, our reputation with other nations, and our physical and moral environment. I truly believe he is the best candidate for the job we need done right now in America. Vote for Romney!!

[funuvit]

The only way in which Mike Huckabee is a threat to Mitt Romney is in that he will throw whatever lie he has to out there to occupy the media. Huck can''t make a speak without verbally man-***, back-hand slapping Romney. Huckabee is a classic "weenie" when it comes to rules of political engagement.

[funuvit]

....the word bleeped was "man-beeawtch"

[bdrlnt4rl]

i read last night that using the gospel to gain glory is wrong, a sin, yet huck is using the gospel to gain glory, and he claims to be a preacher. hummmm makes me wonder

[bdrlnt4rl]

if you look back on the history of nv, you will see that the mormons are really liked there because they were called in to show nv how to build its city and sustain life in the desert, because the mormons can build a city out of anything and it will thrive because of the knowledge of endurance and economics that they have. i think mitt will do quite well.

i read last night that using the gospel to gain glory is wrong, a sin, yet huck is using the gospel to gain glory, and he claims to be a preacher. hummmm makes me wonder

[anarchristia]

Bill Whittaker''s report on Romney tonight implied that he''s been campaigning in Nevada this week all by himself. In fact, Ron Paul has been there, and this has been covered by the local press. Any surprise Nevada voters deliver tomorrow, e.g., Paul''s coming in first or second, will be inexplicable in the light of the story CBS News decided NOT to cover.

[almanojodo]

Romney will be strong all across the west. He is solidly ahead in delegates and popular votes. His base is very broad in the west. Here are reasons I support Romney. He has the economic expertise we need. He has turned failing companies into productive, profitable businesses. Romney knows how to create and hold jobs! He has a history of asking the right questions, listening intently, analyzing and evaluating carefully, and LEADING in strength. Romney will bring new vision, fresh voices, robust energy, and efficiency to Washington. Romney will bring integrity, respect, and dignity to the office of President.
Romney is a family man of high standards who has personally lived conservative social values all his life. He is absolutely trustworthy. An intelligent vote is a vote for Romney!