How Romney lost North Carolina
Polls in North Carolina already show potential Republican primary voters showing more love to Arizona Sen. John McCain than to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
If, however, by some quirk of fate, the state were to be in play come May 6, our primary day, Romney probably just sealed his fate here. Now, my bet is things will be decided before then, but if Tar Heels do get a say Romney will be wishing for the genie to get back in the bottle.
Here's what happened:
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been bashing McCain for not leaning enough to the right. Former Sen. Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, sent Limbaugh a letter essentially asking Limbaugh to lay off McCain.
Romney was asked about this on the Fox & Friends show this morning. Romney's response, according to the USA Today On Politics blog, was:
He is "the last person I would want to write a letter for me. ... McCain's (campaign) is a lot like Bob's campaign (was)."
Yeah, why would you want a war hero, long-time senator and respected elder of your party on your side in a primary fight?
Here are the additional complicating factors in North Carolina:
- * Bob Dole won North Carolina in 1996. Handily. In a year when almost anywhere else you cared to look was breaking for Clinton.
- * N.C. Sen. Richard Burr has already been stumping for McCain and has some affinity for Dole. He sent out a statement this morning slamming Romney:
"Bob Dole's commitment to the country and to the party is unparalleled. He has spent decades working for conservative causes and trying to build the Republican Party. Governor Romney's comments only work to continue to divide Republicans. It is one thing to attack your campaign opponent, but it is another to insult a well respected American hero like Bob Dole. Governor Romney should apologize."
- * North Carolina's other senator is Elizabeth Dole, wife of Bob Dole. She has, thus far, stayed out of the primary fray but one might think neutrality has just been breached.
Okay. So, who can tell me what other statewide Republican figure is out there with the kind of personal loyalty of supporters and statewide organization it takes to win a high profile political contest?
Were this 16 years ago, you might say Jim Martin, the still-popular former governor. But I think that might be it.
And because North Carolina is so late on the primary calendar, campaigns haven't really invested here so statewide allies would count for more than usual. And while Congressman Howard Coble and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx have endorsed Romney, I don't see them delivering the kind of votes that Burr and Dole can bring to bear.
It's something to watch if the GOP primary is legitimately in play past today.
