Romney Leads in Ill Will Among G.O.P. Candidates
By MICHAEL LUO
TAMPA, Fla. — At the end of the Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire this month, when the Democrats joined the candidates on stage, Mitt Romney found himself momentarily alone as his counterparts mingled, looking around a bit stiffly for a companion.
The moment was emblematic of a broader reality that has helped shape the Republican contest and could take center stage again on Thursday at a debate in Florida. Within the small circle of contenders, Mr. Romney has become the most disliked.
With so much attention recently on the sniping between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama on the Democratic side, the almost visceral scorn directed at Mr. Romney by his rivals has been overshadowed.
“Never get into a wrestling match with a pig,” Senator John McCain said in New Hampshire this month after reporters asked him about Mr. Romney. “You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”
Mike Huckabee’s pugilistic campaign chairman, Ed Rollins, appeared to stop just short of threatening Mr. Romney with physical violence at one point.
“What I have to do is make sure that my anger with a guy like Romney, whose teeth I want to knock out, doesn’t get in the way of my thought process,” Mr. Rollins said.
Campaign insiders and outside strategists point to several factors driving the ill will, most notably, Mr. Romney’s attacks on opponents in television commercials, the perception of him as an ideological panderer and resentment about his seemingly unlimited resources as others have struggled to raise cash.
Mr. Romney’s campaign contends that the hostility is driven by the fact that he has aggressively sought to win the early primaries, setting himself up as the chief antagonist, first, to Mr. Huckabee in Iowa and then to Mr. McCain in New Hampshire.
Mr. Romney continues to be a mountain in the paths of both men, as well as Rudolph W. Giuliani, to the nomination.
A spokesman for the Romney campaign, Kevin Madden, said, “I think it’s largely driven by the fact that everybody’s taught to tackle the guy on the field with the ball.”
But the New Hampshire debate was striking in that it amounted to a gang tackle of Mr. Romney, even though Mr. McCain was leading in polls in the state.
“The glee the other candidates go after Romney with is really unique,” said Dan Schnur, a Republican strategist who worked on Mr. McCain’s presidential campaign bid in 2000 but is not affiliated with any campaign now.
A senior adviser to Mr. Romney, Ronald C. Kaufman, pointed to his vast personal fortune and upstart status in the political world as breeding resentment.
“They think he didn’t pay his dues,” said Mr. Kaufman, who argued that Mr. Romney had done so by working tirelessly in his campaign.
In stark contrast to Mr. Romney, Mr. McCain seems to be universally liked and respected by the other Republican contenders, even if they disagree with him.
Mr. Schnur used a schoolyard analogy to compare Mr. Romney, the ever-proper Harvard Law School and Business School graduate, to Mr. McCain, the gregarious rebel who racked up demerits and friends at the Naval Academy.
“John McCain and his friends used to beat up Mitt Romney at recess,” Mr. Schnur said.
Although Mr. McCain has now started to draw some cautious challenges from Mr. Giuliani in Florida, he has a longstanding friendship with him, dating from 1998, when they first met.
Mr. McCain also seems to have fallen into a mutual nonaggression pact with Mr. Huckabee, who has been almost fawning in his compliments for Mr. McCain and dripping with contempt when discussing Mr. Romney.
Mr. McCain has drawn criticism as being excessively personal in striking back at Mr. Romney. So he has tried to play down any notion that he harbors special animosity toward him, saying he simply does not know him well.
But Mr. McCain’s advisers, whose distaste for Mr. Romney is vivid, say Mr. McCain has been irked by what they perceive as misleading attacks and Mr. Romney’s willingness to say anything to be elected.
“He doesn’t play by the same rules the rest of us do,” said Charlie Black, a senior McCain strategist.
McCain aides were positively gleeful last week as they watched replays aboard their campaign bus of a heated back and forth between Mr. Romney and an Associated Press reporter who challenged an assertion about the influence of lobbyists in his campaign.
Nevertheless, before he criticizes rivals, Mr. Romney often pauses to say that the man is a “friend,” and he seems to believe it.
Mr. Giuliani endorsed Mr. Romney in his race for Massachusetts governor in 2002 and campaigned for him. Mr. Romney got to know Mr. McCain while running the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and went to Washington to seek federal money.
Mr. Romney probably knows Mr. Huckabee the best, aides said, as the two were governors at the same time and ran into each other often through the Republican Governors Association and the National Governors Association.
Paradoxically, sometimes the enmity between them appears to be the sharpest.
Aides to Mr. Huckabee say he did not get to know Mr. Romney very well as a governor, finding him distant at meetings. The aides said they were also irritated that Mr. Romney did not call after Mr. Huckabee’s victory in Iowa.
Mr. Romney shrugged off any tension with his rivals when asked about it.
“You know,” he said, “in this process, people have a real battle for success. But I consider these guys friends.”
Elisabeth Bumiller contributed reporting from Orlando, Fla.
Sorry, I don't have any Paulspam today.
Mitt Romney...you can't see it?
Hillary vs McCain, an election made in .
Neither will do all about Iraq, esp not Macho Man Gung-Ho McCain.
Fixed.“What I have to do is make sure that my anger with a guy like Romney, who ruined it for my man Huckabee, doesn’t get in the way of my thought process,” Mr. Rollins said.
Well, some say, if it ends up like you say: Billary/McCain
they will vote for Billary. Cause if the country is going
to get screwed up, let it be on her watch.
I like McCain's straight talk. He said it himself that republicans are to blame for all the spending.
What I don't like about McCain is that he comes off as a little touched in the head at times...I'm just not quite sure he's all there.
Sadly, Romney came off very well in the debate last night. I say "sadly" because for those who've been paying attention to this race for some time it's clear that Romney IS full of and really WILL say anything to get elected. I'll admit that he's gotten much better at being a politician since the beginning of his campaign...but I'm not sure that's a compliment either.
I can understand why he's despised....
Wow...I think I actually agree with Boutons.
Let's go ahead and add Romney to that list too.
I'm so astonished by the lack of intellegence within the Republican Party.
I said if Giuliani didn't get my vote, it'd be Obama.
It isn't about Policy so much as it is getting people to work together.
I agreed with this administrations policies on a base principle from WT to Immigration. ((I do not agree with how they tried to excute those policies)) However, you can't exclude a party when creating effective policy. Everyone's opinions must be taken into consideration. But it seems party hardliners on both sides want to bypass the suggestions of the other party. That's what really disapointed me about the Republican party. At least some of the Democratic voters get it. I know why Bush didn't succeed. The ideas founded within his policies were great, but the Republican party screwed him over. Maybe even more than democratic party. People want to in line up with parties. Why not just try and get done. I don't care anymore who's what and what they stand for and all this . I just want stuff to get done.
Really, we're paying taxes to have a bunch stiffs sit up in D.C. and do jack all day. I'm tired of it.
Romney won Republican govt in Massachusets, so yeah he had to change his policy there to stay elected. In fact, that should show that Romney is willing to work with the opposition, and has a good track record at that.
Also Mitt Romney was exec of Staples and help bring that company to where it now is, he chaired the olympics and made it profitable.
I don't see how Romney symbolizes Rick Perry.
Also unless your talking about gulliani or paul, all of these candidates have been changing positions. Especially Huckabee, who recently said he will deport all illegal aliens, a complete 180. SO i don't see where all this hate for Romney comes from.
Romney has been Govt in a hostile state,
and has a stellar buisiness exec record.
If you're looking for executive and administrative skills, Romney has the best qualifications of all candidates still running demo or repug.
How is it that you go from Giuliani to Obama as your second choice...that's a QAUNTUM LEAP in political stances and on leadership styles. Giuliani was notorious for his tough, almost dictatorial, stances on many of the issues he addressed and policies he enacted while Mayor of New York.
And I haven't even gotten into how he has the most aggressive foreign policy of any candidate in this race....a STARK contrast to Obama's message opposing the Iraq war and his general "bring everyone to the table" approach.
I'm really asking this question in all serious and not meaning to make fun. I just find it an interesting jump from one to the next.
even that is better than in mccain
Did you just use the "Hillary Clinton" excuse to defend Mitt Romney?
You know, the one where she says that Obama says he's against the war but then votes for a $300M war package...WHEN SHE DID THE EXACT SAME THING?!?!
Sure, every politician has voted one way or the other and then had their record exposed if they later contradicted that vote or statement. It's a fact of politics. But that doesn't make it right...and every politician that attempts it should be held accountable.
The best physical evidence we have is their voting record, but sadly what it comes down to is how much of their bull are you willing to buy.
For me, when McCain speaks I think it's 90% real and 10% bull ....which is more than any other candidate. Ya boy Romney is on about a 10/90 ratio for me.
It
Well if you wiped the out of your eyes...you might.
Forget Willard, forget the preacher, forget America's Asshole.
It's gonna be McCain - Hillary, the Dems giving themselves the best possible chance to lose.
People don't consider you to have closet tendencies despite the erotic you spew. But that's only becuase everyone knows re s don't know any better.
Listen BackwoodsWhot , if i ever need your oppinion on 'rastlin or how to impress my perty cousin, i'll dial to the nearest toll booth around your gated mobile home community in the everglades for advice.
Otherwise, take a shower and use some real shampoo instead of the catfish bait you call soap and shuttt the k upp.
^^ RACK THAT!!
the first "debate" i saw was a couple days ago...the repub florida show on cnn.
a couple years ago, I was all about guliani...
but now, i like the way romney came across, but i'm not sure if i can trust the guy...
and I really liked huckabee...although i don't know anything about any of these guys...
mc cain? the guys like 72?! i can't vote for a guy that should be retired by now...he looks like he's got one foot in the grave and we all saw how clinton's and bush's hair turned white in the blink.
i haven't paid much attention to the demo debates, but i'd never vote for hillary. never.
i'd have to actually listen to what obama is saying to consider him, but i'd listen...
i'm conservative at heart, but i want the best candidate in there...
i don't think the dems have a chance. people are anti-hillary. and Godbless obama, but the nation won't vote a brutha into office. even if he is whiter than tiger woods.
may the best candidate for the country win.
It's complicated, but I'll try to explain the best way I can.
IF Giuliani were to be eliminated from the process, I feel that the remaining nominees would only be valuable as a glorified statesman. I don't feel any of the canidates would proactive continue the War on Terror. Secondly, without the support of both parties, it is incredibly difficult to achieve anything in D.C. I believe Giuliani's record proved he was capable of doing this. I also believe Obama is capable of doing this. While I don't agree with his policies, he appears to be geniune, and that is a quality which I admire very much. Part of me is angered with the majority of Republicans and the direction they appear to be traveling. I feel GOP has abandoned the concepts of Compasionate Conservistism, in exchange for political power. It's rediculous. I'm not about the party. I just want things to get accomplished, to move foward. The only two canidates I see doing such is Giuliani and Obama. I feel both are capable of effectively persuading others to work for the common good. I think Obama would be very a influencial president. Again, I agree with some of his policies, but I see the man's heart, and it is good. His healthcare plan is alright.
I feel Giuliani would be more effective in sustaining the continual growth of our economy. How can the RNC not see this. Our economy is much more than a tax cut, or balancing the budget. We are the center of the Global Economy. The War on Terror is tied to this economy. I don't know why people don't see that. If we spread democracy, that broadens the global economy which is good. But I guess American's would rather have a tax cut. I don't know...I'm just very discouraged with the RNC right now.
"in sustaining the continual growth of our economy."
... which is at risk of contraction, or the silly "negative growth", over the next couple years, no matter who wins, thanks to the financial ups of the US finanicial crowd who run the world financial system. I recommend that we let them continue ing up the world and pass no regulations to restrict or even monitor their activities. "Just trust me" works fine with these ers.
"If we spread democracy"
... which is working out just great in the M/E.
Where exactly has dubya's "spreading freedom and democracy" paid any dividends to anybody? His TX buddy signed illegal some oil contracts with Kurdihs Irag, and the Saudis are considering letting their woman ... drive cars! And the opium production. aka "free market", is way up in Afghanistan and has begun for the first time seriously in Iraq
Apart from that, "spreading freedom and demorcracy" is for naive suckers.
Hey boutons. Why are such a head? Why can't I have my opinion w/o having to deal with some irrational rant? By your comments it appears you spend more time with George than his own wife. IMHO, (I'm not trying to instigate an argument), your comments are bitter and offer no intellectual input to the conversation. Again, I would love to have an honest and intellectual debate with you, but I can't if you continue to spew hatred towards those with differing opinions."in sustaining the continual growth of our economy."
... which is at risk of contraction, or the silly "negative growth", over the next couple years, no matter who wins, thanks to the financial ups of the US finanicial crowd who run the world financial system. I recommend that we let them continue ing up the world and pass no regulations to restrict or even monitor their activities. "Just trust me" works fine with these ers.
"If we spread democracy"
... which is working out just great in the M/E.
Where exactly has dubya's "spreading freedom and democracy" paid any dividends to anybody? His TX buddy signed illegal some oil contracts with Kurdihs Irag, and the Saudis are considering letting their woman ... drive cars! And the opium production. aka "free market", is way up in Afghanistan and has begun for the first time seriously in Iraq
Apart from that, "spreading freedom and demorcracy" is for naive suckers.
I'm not arguing that there are problems in the M.E., as you have described. However, doing nothing (retreating) wouldn't bring any resolution in the near future. I wouldn't mind letting them DUKE IT OUT on their own if Nuclear Weapons and Mass Genocide wasn't involved. I agree with the intial idea of going into the M.E. (Afganastan and Iraq). I don't agree with military statagey which was set in place. I do believe we botched that. We completely underestimated our opponent and overestimated the will of a people which had been surpressed for quite sometime. However, I believe this is only the beginning, and we finally we're progressing in a positive direction. By having allies in Iran and Afganastan, it puts more pressure on IRAN. I don't know. I could really go on. As for the economy, adding more nations to global economy strengthens it. The issues you noted are micro in a sense. They need to be resolved. A foundation, or plan needs to be in place in order to create an enviroment in which these noted issues can be resolved. I don't think the American public realized what we we're getting into when we went over there. We are essentially helping build a region (not just a nation) from the ground up. And what better model to use than democracy. Really, would you rather use the Marxist model? (Suggestive question).
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