"Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a recent secret Washington meeting with national political operatives signaled he probably will forego seeking re-election in 2006 in order to pursue the 2008 Republican presidential nomination." This quote comes from a piece written today in the Chicago Sun Times by Robert Novak posted here http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-5_7_05_RN.html Apparently Governor Romney feels it would be difficult to concentrate on a presidential run if he were spending money on getting re-elected governor of Massachusetts and then actually having to serve in the post.
Let me give you a little amateur political operative advice Governor, forget it. A recent Marist College poll found the Republican contenders for the 2008 nomination for president in this order, Rudy Giuliani 24%, Senator John McCain 20% and Governor Jeb Bush 10%. Our Governor Romney barely shows up on the radar screen.
Given the realities of Governor Romney's situation it would make a good deal more sense for him to make a much more realistic run at the vice presidential nomination. In that scenario he brings a lot more to a Republican ticket and it takes much less effort both physically and financially to accomplish. By waiting on the sidelines and perhaps siding with someone like McCain he could be a good campaign soldier and if McCain should win he would offer a nice geographic balance to the ticket. The other option would be to continue his national efforts to raise money for the party in general and wait out the primary process and see who is left standing.
Either of these two strategies works out much better if Governor Romney plays it out while still the governor of an overwhelmingly Democratic state. Most national nominations are of politicians who are actively serving in one arena or another that offers an opportunity to be in the lime light. If Romney doesn't run for re-election you can bet your life he will appear on the pages of the Boston Globe about as often Ray Flynn.
A Romney re-election as governor would serve a number of positives for the voters of Massachusetts as well. Having at least one nationally known Republican in state government along with Andy Card would give us some weight in Washington and at the white house. On the state level a Romney run would almost guarantee a continued balance between the competing branches of government and prevent and almost assured Democratic victory if Romney bows out. It is hard to imagine that Lieutenant Governor Healey could mount an effective campaign against any potential Democratic party opponent. An additional benefit to a Romney run would be to put an end to the career ambitions of ever politically opportunistic Tom Reilly. It would also allow any number of would be candidates to run up the ladder for attorney general, Middlesex County DA and other domino positions depending who wins in those races.
Perhaps the governor is just sending up a trial balloon. Perhaps he is getting a bit antsy playing on the small stage of Massachusetts politics. In either case giving up the governorship of this state without a fight diminishes his political star on the national stage and in his own party.He should forego any such thoughts and get the word out early and often that he is committed to his re-election effort and he looks forward to ending the ambitions of any potential challengers. This is a path which is far more likely to elevate Mitt Romney in the eyes of the national party leadership which is far more conservative than our governor. He is far more deserving of party attention by vanquishing Democrats in the bluest of blue states than he is sitting on the sidelines harboring pipe dreams of winning the Republican primaries.
