The odds that Republicans will be able to take back the White House seem slimmer by the day. But is it getting to the point where the GOP would be better off giving up on the presidential race to fully focus on taking back the Senate, and maintaining its grip on the House? That’s what George Will argues in his Sunday column this week, according to an advanced copy obtained by POLITICO:
“Romney and Rick Santorum… are conservatives, although of strikingly different stripes. Neither, however, seems likely to be elected… If either is nominated, conservatives should vote for him,” Will writes in his upcoming Sunday column, obtained in advance by POLITICO Playbook by Mike Allen.
However, Will argues, that control of both house of Congress is more attainable and more important.
“[T]here would come a point when… conservatives turn their energies to a goal much more attainable than… electing Romney or Santorum president. It is the goal of retaining control of the House and winning control of the Senate.. [C]onservatives this year should have as their primary goal making sure Republicans wield all the gavels in Congress in 2013,” writes Will.
Without having access to Will’s full column yet, it’s hard to judge the persuasiveness of his argument. But two problems immediately jump out:
1.) Will Republicans be able to draw enough conservative voters to the polls if they prematurely resign themselves to losing the presidential race? This seems like a recipe for low GOP turnout, which would decrease the possibility of winning control of the Senate. If voters don’t believe there’s at least a fighting chance of taking back the White House, many might not even bother to come out.
2.) Today, Romney is leading the Republican field nationally. Two weeks ago, it was Santorum. A little over a month ago, Gingrich was surging. Public opinion has turned so quickly and dramatically it’s impossible to predict what the race will look like next month, let alone next November. Toss in the wild cards of rising gas prices, the economy, Iran and the Supreme Court’s look at ObamaCare, and the GOP would be selling itself short if it surrendered so prematurely. Remember last summer when all the pundits pronounced Tim Pawlenty’s campaign dead? He listened to them – and that turned out to be one of the dumbest political moves of the race.
The Republican Party would be crazy to make a similar mistake. As depressing as the current field may be for conservatives, winning the White House isn’t impossible – unless, of course, the GOP gives up before it even begins.
Why are the odds for defeating Obama getting slimmer each day? Why? Is the economy really improving, beyond tiny fluctuations upward? Hardly. The only place where the economhy has really improved is inside the Beltway, where money is collected from the nation's population used by politicians and their hangers-on. n nThe campaign against Obama has not even begun. It's far too early for fashionable pessimism. n n
It is only March,give it a rest. Gas and Food plus right-wrong direction will settle this. Wait till this August to make a prediction
This is crazy! It's only March. Ok, we need todetermine the candidate and everyone get behind him and focus on BHO's record. He can be beaten.
If Obama is re-elected and the Republicans take the Senate and hold onto the House, which of course isn't guaranteed if Republicans don't turn out to vote, with the MSM behind him explaining why it's all legal, he will start writing laws or disband Congress and declare himself President for life. And, yeah, maybe he won't, but they're not going to impeach him either right after he wins re-election, so he can go right on ruling through the EPA. George Will has spent too much time with the MSM — oh, wait … he is one.
Yeah, I dismiss the premise that Obama will prevail, George. Further, how would giving up on a Republican President help the Republican effort to win the Congress ? Republicans can do both, or either don'tcha think? George Will lives in the Washington/N.E.Coast bubble. Try getting out more.
The base really doesn't want Romney. The primary has been "someone-not-Mitt" rising and then being shot down by the Team Mitt Attack Machine, and then another rising and again being shot down. And what George Will is really realizing is that (a) Romney will get the nomination (by destroying everyone else) but (b) will loose in a landslide because Romney has shown his true self and disgusted the base in the process. n nThe truly sleeping story that everyone has missed is Senator Olympia Snowe's decision to retire. "Olympia!" has run as a feminist — as a woman for women's issues and the wild card in this fall's election is that a referendum on gay marriage is on the ballot. But I wonder if it is this, or if she read the tea leaves about the Tea Party coalition that holds the Blane house and realized she lacked the support of her base. n nIn announcing so late, she has essentially given the nomination to her former chief of staff, and with neither then name nor the gender (he is male), nor the conservative credentials, he won't win. n nThe gay marriage referendum on the ballot is a wild card — far left and far right will vote in large numbers – and that may make this story more local than national. But I think not — and why Olympia Snowe (wife of former RINO Governor John McKernan who spent like a drunken sailor), decided to "retire" bears watching. Also interesting is the fact that current Tea Party/Republican Governor LaPage (a) did not endorse Romney and (b) the returns from the City of Waterville (where LePage is from, 40 miles from Augusta) indicated a total of ZERO votes cast in the Republican Caucus. Right…. n nBarney Frank. Olympia Snowe. Two people very good at knowing where the electorate is going. n nMaybe we should listen to the politician and not the pundits. I think the GOP is splintering. nI think that the Tea Party has a chance to (a) take over the GOP and (b) win everything in the fall. nBut as Ms. Goodman notes, we need a good candidate at the top of the ticket. Romney ain't it.
Agree with everyone here. Let's not forget that 32 years ago, Mr. Will was in a similar despair over Republican prospects for the presidency. But of course he got to personally know Nancy & Ronnie & all was good. Time for our punditry's feet to be held to the fire a little more.