On Fox News Sunday this morning, Karl Rove threw cold water on the murmurings by unnamed “top Republicans” that a new candidate could emerge should Romney lose Michigan.
Host Chris Wallace outlined a scenario in which a new candidate could still get on the ballots of California, New Jersy, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, and possibly Texas, and win enough delegates to contest the convention.
But Rove was skeptical, to say the least.
“This proves mental illness is transmittable by contact, personal contact. You’ve been talking to all these people and — look, let’s go. . . . Let’s take that list that you just threw up, and let’s add in one more big state just for the heck of it, Texas. . . . There are 554 delegates up in those states that you talked about, plus Texas; 222 of them awarded, winner take all; 332 of them awarded proportionately.
“So in other words, even if the candidate gets in and wins the big states with winner take all, and wins half of the states with proportional, wins half of those delegates, we’re talking about 350 out of over 2,000 delegates. And that may be enough to toss it into a convention that gets — that gets decided at the convention, but that is different than . . . brokering a convention.
Rove added, for good measure, that the thought the possibility of the last scenario — a new candidate with enough delegates to see the nomination decided at the convention itself — was as “remote as life on Pluto.”
“We have got a nationwide, at least in the punditry class, a call of premature electionitis,” said Rove. “We have got 54 contest in this thing. And we concluded five of them.”
The full transcript of the exchange is here.
We know Rove is strongly backing Mitt Romney... and Jeb Bush must have already told him "No" in private (again).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNow what does this have to do with birth control? This is the birth control corner right?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo which is it - there are still 49 contests to go or it's too late for somebody else to jump in?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's not really self-contradictory. If there's a primary tomorrow and you've decided today to run, it's too late to get on the ballot. If there's a caucus tomorrow, that's not an issue, but you can't expect to get many delegates when you have no organization, no time to buy advertising, and haven't been making a case for your candidacy until today.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSomeone should ask Chris Christie if he'd be interested in running. I don't think he has ever given a clear answer.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI believe Christie has said "no" very clearly, but if not, my answer for him is "never." And I used to be a great fan. See External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIn that case, call me crazy. This year, of all years, I think a new candidate or a brokered convention would be a good thing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGiven that many of us think a lot of establishment "top Republicans" might very well be mentally ill, it's not that big of a jump...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't know how others feel but I am terrified at the prospect of a Santorum candidacy. He will be tarred and feathered as a religious extremist by Obama and the compliant press corps, helped no doubt by Santorum himself. He completely lacks appeal and comes across as sneering and dour. If Romney loses Michigan, I cannot imagine that the Republican "establishment" won't recognize this and therefore pressure someone else to jump in.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell call me crazy. This year, of all years, a new late candidate or a brokered convention would be a good thing. No RINOs need apply.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseShame on Rove for a gratuitous reference to "mental illness". That's a rookie mistake.
If the primaries yield a candidate with a majority (or near majority) the question is moot. The whole "dark horse" scenario is best left to political thrillers, at least in 2012.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's really pathetic to see Conservatices pinning all their hopes for the survival of freedom, and of America, on the outcome of the 2012 elections. As though simply throwing Obama out of the White House will end 4+ decades of Leftist dominance - in the media, our educational system, and just about everywhere else. I hate to sound like Whittaker Chambers, but it seems that if the communist takeover could have been avoided, it would have been done a long time ago. We must learn to stop worrying and LOVE THE OBAMA - now, before it's too late!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe real question is who to pull off the bench and into the game? Daniels has what some would describe as a troubled personal relationship with his wife, tried to raise taxes on "the rich" during his first term as Governor, and suggested that we call a truce on social issues. Christie has his weight to contend with, repeated claims that he's not ready, and has appointed some judges that will bother social conservatives. Bush has a bad last name (although is practically perfect in every other way), and Ryan is "too young" with no executive experience. I'm not claiming to agree with all of these descriptions but these will be negatives someone will surely hang around their neck.
New suggestions?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe real question is who to pull off the bench and into the game? Daniels has what some would describe as a troubled personal relationship with his wife, tried to raise taxes on "the rich" during his first term as Governor, and suggested that we call a truce on social issues. Christie has his weight to contend with, repeated claims that he's not ready, and has appointed some judges that will bother social conservatives. Bush has a bad last name (although is practically perfect in every other way), and Ryan is "too young" with no executive experience. I'm not claiming to agree with all of these descriptions but these will be negatives someone will surely hang around their neck.
New suggestions?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGenerally, I prefer to see a diagnosis of mental illness from Dr. Krauthammer as compared to Karl Rove, but in this case I have to agree. The neurosis bordering on full psychosis, that has reached epidemic levels in the Republican electorate is remarkably durable. Insanity truly is doing (and wishing for) the same thing over and over and expecting different results. There is not, I repeat NOT going to be some white knight (or Queen from the great white kingdom) who rides in to save the day for those who have some form of political OCD. Usually, we in the stupid party choose to elevate the mediocre, or even insipid over the good...not to mention the perfect (Dutch Reagan being the exception that proves the rule). But in this case, we have a classic case of allowing the perfect to be the enemy of the good. We have a very good candidate in Rick Santorum. And a good (and often bad) candidate in Gingrich. And we have the epitome of insipid in Romney. I hear a great Eagles song in the background...Get Over It!
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"We have a very good candidate in Rick Santorum.....And we have the epitome of insipid in Romney."
Clearly, a prime example of a case of a neurosis bordering on full psychosis reaching epidemic levels. Scary.
Insanity truly is doing (and wishing for) the same thing over and over again & expecting different results. Example: The derangement GOP addiction for Beltway establishment influence peddling hacks i.e., Big Gov't career politicians Dole, McCain, Gingrich & Santorum with their statist agendas & zero executive experience in the private & public sectors--PROVEN LOSERS imploding over and over again.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNever the cure, always the problem. sigh.
PS
Consider "good candidate" Santorum's poll numbers during his best week & prior to his being attack ad thoroughly vetted.
REAL CLEAR AVERAGE, Feb. 19--
Obama: 50.2%
Santorum: 42.2%
Just wait until Team Obama & their MSM outs Santorum's loser record, corruption scams, & extremist baggage.
Ditto, GOP candidate Gingrich--
Obama: 53.0%
Gingrich: 39.1%
Same old story. Women & independents not buying what Gingrich & Santorum are selling.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf no candidate wins the majority of the delegates, isn't the most likely "brokered convention" result that the 2nd or possibly 3rd place candidate throws their support behind the leader in exchange for a job if the republican ticket wins? A Romney/Santorum ticket, for example. I don't see how an outside candidate would bypass the voters.
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