Beginning in January we will begin to see the results of various caucuses and primaries that will give concrete information about voter's preferences for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. Up until that point we will mostly be inundated with the media's preference for the job. That explains the reason that network news coverage and the front page of AOL always have some tasty tidbit about Hillary or Barack.
The Hillary /Barack media train has been slowed a bit this weekend as the media relishes the McCain campaign implosion. For awhile it appeared as though McCain might be a viable general election candidate against Hillary and many polls a few months ago had him besting her. The problem of course for McCain is that some of the party regulars suspect that the man is a Republican in name only (RINO) and his recent support of the failed immigration bill had independents running from him like he had the plague.
With his campaign cash dwindling and the recent firing of his top campaign staff, McCain is all but washed up. Nothing short of a miracle will re-establish him as a viable candidate. He has won in the past in New Hampshire, shocking George Bush in 2000 but with Mitt Romney a close by favorite son, McCain will not finish with any result to brag about.
When the early result come in the media will have to shift to the winners and the focus will stay directly on them until they falter. Just such a shift is likely to occur for our own former Governor Mitt Romney.
To date Romney has escaped major national focus but with a sure win in the Iowa caucuses, a likely big New Hampshire win and the demise of McCain, Romney is sure to rise higher in the Republican pecking order.
Once that happens and as the would be contenders begin to fall by the wayside (Gilmore out today), Romney will get a chance to demonstrate why he will be a very attractive candidate for the nomination. It is true that in some conservative circles a former governor of Massachusetts would be considered a pox on the party, however once the nomination is secured it is the middle of the road moderate Republicans, independents and the anybody but Hillary Democrats that will decide this election.
As the numbers pare down and Romney gets more national face time and print coverage his strengths are going to be more evident. Let's get the most important item out of the way, the guy is really handsome. With the fixation that American voters have with appearance, it is important that Romney win the swimsuit competition.
For those who care about what a candidate would bring top the table from a credentials stand point it is difficult to find anyone that equals his resume. His academic credentials are impeccable having graduated from BYU, an MBA from the Harvard Business School and finally a JD from Harvard Law.
On the business front he is one of the few national politicians that actually has accomplished something major in the business world. He founded Bain capital in 1984 and the firm has been a significant player in the venture capital and private equity business ever since. Romney understands the efficient application of capital in the business world.
His management acumen was clearly on display with his assumption of the leadership role in 2002 olympics as President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. At the time the operation was nearly 400 million dollars in the red and by most accounts Romney engineered a successful turn around. If Romney is elected president it won't be the highest paying job he ever had. That is more than most of the candidates from both parties can say.
His resume in government is a little thinner however he has experience as a governor which when compared to that of a senator is major plus. A governor is responsible for day to day management of a sizable operation from the creation and submission of a budget, labor negotiations, individual appointments and to the creation of and implementation of policy.
More importantly than his resume or his looks is his ability to raise money. In the American system no candidate is worthy unless he can raise the necessary money to wage a battle in every competing state. This is another area in which Romney will not be left behind. No matter who the candidate, the source of funds will come from various special interest groups. Romney has been in the money business for a long time. When he calls for money it will come.
We are mid summer and items of interest are popping up here and there, but come the end of August the campaign will heat up dramatically. We shall see how Romney does when the temperature does rise.
