Romney's In, But How Far Can He Go This Time?

Posted on 06-03-2011 by Wes Studer (wstuder)
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Whether you think he's homely and earnest or just another flip-flopping, slick-haired use car salesman or robot husband prototype, you better get used to Mitt Romney because he's not fading into political obscurity anytime soon. The former Massachusetts governor is once again tossing his hat into the ever-expanding GOP presidential ring, where most polls place him as the steady frontrunner.

Like some of his fellow contenders, he made the Thursday announcement in New Hampshire, where the first primary will be held next year. Seeing as how stabilizing the country's finances rightfully remains a top priority in the minds of most Americans, Romney sidestepped the domestic, international, and social issues that helped derail his bid three years ago. He attacked President Obama instead for his "European answers" that "are not the solution to America's challenges." He added that "in the campaign to come, the American ideals of economic freedom and opportunity need a clear and unapologetic defense, and I intend to make it because I have lived it!"

Will voters see any distinction between 2008 Mitt and 2012 Mitt?

Romney went on to emphasize his business experience, his reviving of the memorable 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and his record as governor. Speaking of which, the buzz-saw that "Captain Buzz-Kill" (to borrow a Romney nickname from Jon Stewart) continues to run into and will most likely do so throughout the campaign is the universal health care legislation that he signed into law in 2006, that helped lay the groundwork for last year's national health care act that he's vehemently criticized. His main argument regarding their difference: his "experiment" in Massachusetts was never meant to be "forced" upon the country like Obama's.

We'll see how that explanation holds up in the coming months, as the campaign season progresses. However, as long as Romney understands that "it's (still) the economy, stupid" and the nation's fiscal woes continue, his Presidential prospects should be decent. Then again, he could get "flip-flopped" to death.