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This is a hard blog to write - it was hard to even type that headline. For anyone who missed Mitt’s final speech, check it out here:
I just watched it again, and I cried as I watched it. I don’t know if it’s my imagination or not, but it seemed as if Mitt had a catch in his voice more than once, as if he was choking back emotions.
Based on this article, it sounds as if Mitt had decided last night to drop out of the race today:
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrenstrom says the decision to withdraw was made last night. Earlier in the day, Romney had held meetings with senior staffers, looking at options. At a later meeting with the entire staff, they enthusiastically encouraged him to stay in the race.
So he went home last night to write his CPAC speech, and Eric says it became a “farewell speech.”
Romney wanted to do what was right for the party. Though he still saw a pathway to nomination, he was concerned about a protracted struggle within the party at a time when the country is at war.
Romney hopes today’s decision unifies the party, his family supported the decision, and he will endorse McCain if he is the nominee.
This shows the class and character of Mitt Romney. “Actions speak louder than words” and here, Mitt showed how ready and willing he is to work towards the good of the country and the party, not just for his own selfish interests.
I admired Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani when they dropped out when it became clear they could not win, because I thought their ability to look objectively at the situation and make a decision that was best for the Republican Party, could not be overestimated. I feel the same way (and then some) about Mitt Romney.
I won’t lie and say I didn’t shed a lot of tears over this. The night of Super Tuesday was one of the hardest that I have ever had to endure. I sobbed that night, because I just couldn’t understand how the Republican Party could reject one of the best candidates they had ever been blessed with. Yesterday I spent most of the day in a real funk. But I’ve come to accept the fact that this simply isn’t the year for Romney. Many candidates have lost in the primaries one year, and then come back to win the primaries the next: John McCain himself ran in 2000 against Bush, then you have Bob Dole, George H.W. Bush, and of course Ronald Reagan.
So yes, Romney is out of the race now. But I have a gut feeling he’ll be back in 2012, at the end of McCain’s promised one term, or at the end of a failed Clinton presidency (c’mon, how could another Clinton presidency be anything but failed?) So I’m going to keep this address, and I’m going to be back, late 2010, early 2011. You can count on it.
God bless,
Hava
PS Sad about Romney’s leaving? Want to spill your guts - laughing, crying, ranting, raving? Go ahead - the comment section is wide open and ready. Hugs and love to you all. Thanks for your support over this last year - I am blessed to have some really great commentors on this site, and I appreciate you all. Mitt in 2012!!!
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5:49 pm on February 7th, 2008 1
All the more reason NOT to vote for McCain in 2008. If he doesn’t win, he won’t be the incumbent and it will make it much easier for Romney to make his way to the White House!
7:24 pm on February 7th, 2008 2
the only way I will vote for McCain is if he selects Mitt as his running mate. I don’t know if he will or not, but that is the only way I can vote for him. I seriously doubt that that McCain will win in November. I only hope that Romney will come back in four years and give the Republican Party a chance to redeem itself and nominate him for 2012. I really believe that we need Mitt Romney!
7:33 pm on February 7th, 2008 3
He said it was about the war, but I had a fleeting thought that he might have also felt for the safety of the rest of the states that might not vote for him. Mormons have a history of miraculous weather related calamities in the Missouri area, but that was a long time ago.
Huckabee once said “Politics aint beanbag, y’know”. I remember a Mitthead saying, “Politics isn’t checkers, it’s chess.” I certainly hope so, but in the meanwhile I am befuddled.
The following from my niece in Provo, UT
I’m just saying hello and checking in to see how you were doing. I bet you are disappointed about Super Tuesday results and then Romney’s announcement today. As I’m sure you saw on the news, Utah did it’s part - I think I heard on the news that it was 90% or better for him here. What they probably didn’t tell you was that the turn out was so huge that people had to wait in long lines. Primaries are usually a walk in and walk out process, but I had to go twice. The first time I had to give up and leave the line because Caleb was getting out of school and I had to pick him up. The second time I was lucky and there weren’t as many from my half of the alphabet - so I was there just a little under an hour. Some people were there for an hour and a half. My favorite was when one of the older and frailer ladies from our ward (let me stress the words “older” and “frailer” here - one of those that every Sunday you wonder if you’ve just seen her for the last time) There she was, standing in line - (though I hope they eventually pushed her to the front) But that’s how strongly everyone felt about it - even though we knew he would take the state, we wanted to be able to say we voted for him.
7:40 pm on February 7th, 2008 4
Thanks for the great responses, you guys. Leon, what your niece said was so sweet and wonderful. It makes me REALLY wish that Idaho had moved up its Republican primaries like it had its Democrat primaries. I feel cheated.
Anyway, I don’t know if anyone has seen it or not, but for the Facebook fans out there, Heather, a huge Mitt supporter, has started up a Facebook group for Mitt for 2012. You’ll notice that yours truly is on the list.
Feel free to join. We’ll need your support in about 3 years or so.
Hava
7:48 pm on February 7th, 2008 5
Everyone, this had originally been a pro-Huckabee comment made by a Huckabee supporter. Although I fully support Huckabee’s right to stay in the race (after all, this is a free country!) I don’t feel that this is a good thread for comments like this to be made. In a way, I feel as if we were saying goodbye to Mitt today, and I don’t feel that it is right for other candidates to intrude into it.
Others may disagree with my decision, but since this is a personal blog run solely by me, I am lucky enough to be able to override that.
I am sorry that I did not make it clear in my blog what I would accept and not accept in the comment section for this particular blog, and for that I apologize. I rarely delete comments - even ones that are rude and crude I don’t delete. This one was neither. But it simply isn’t the right place or the right time.
Thank you for coming by, Josh, and good luck to you and your candidate.
Hava
8:24 pm on February 7th, 2008 6
Josh, Mike Huckabee is coming out the worst in all this, in my opinion.
I see two possibilities. The most likely one is that he has been running interference for John McCain, hoping for the vice-presidency. There’s a line between diplomacy–a must in politics–and dishonesty. And that would be crossing it.
The other possibility is that he’s completely delusional, unaware that he has no money, little support, and few delegates. The Republicans are the incumbents, the economy is poor, and we’re at war. Does he really think that America will vote in another evangelical Southern white male governor from a Southern state?
Sam (one of Hava’s brother)
8:35 pm on February 7th, 2008 7
Sam »
Hey, it’s my brother! Everyone, this is my brother. Brother, this is everyone.
Now that we got that out of the way…
I think it would be fairly difficult to say that Mike has been running for anything but VP. This is what I think his strategy will be going forward, and we’ll see if I’m right:
He’s going to continue to campaign hard, even though the numbers (darn cold facts!) say that in order to win the presidency, he would have to win 90 - 100% of the delegates from here forward. The chances of that happening are zero. Unfortunately for McCain, it costs him time and money to campaign in states when he really needs to be able to focus on the general election from here forward if he’s going to have any chance of winning this thing. Backed into a corner and not wanting to continue to fight, McCain is going to give in and offer Mike a spot on his ticket as VP. Mike will accept, since this is what he’s been fighting for since day one, and in the fall, we’re going to see a match up between McCain and Mike vs Hillary and Obama (I think those two will eventually form one ticket, after they also realize that it isn’t feasible to go all the way to a brokered convention, when they really need to be focusing on the general election.)
As for what happens from there, I concur to my brother’s analysis above. I’m trying to get myself used to the name “President Clinton” and am finding it strangely familiar…
Havs
1:57 pm on February 8th, 2008 8
I was too very saddened and cried yesterday as Mitt gave that speech. As Im sure many of you have, I spent so much time and feelings and thoughts on this whole election.. at the beginning I like so many candidates, and I did not want to like Mitt just because he is Mormon (as am I), but slowly he grew on me, and now I just cant imagine us having someone else as our president.
I feel like we have lost a great person, even though hes not really gone, just postponed, but its still terrible heartbreaking, you know?
I have so many other thoughts, but I wont get into them.. except… now what do we do??? I dont like McCain as a person, its not just his stance on issues, its his attitude and they way he portrays himself better than everyone else because hes a war hero… just like how John Kerry did 4 years ago.
Ok anyway, any suggestions on what to do about voting now? I have yet to vote in a primary, and probably wont be voting now in it to keep my options open for a possible vote for the dumb democrats if Romney isnt teamed up with McCain..
Ok Im done now
Mitt Romney 2012!!!
4:55 pm on February 8th, 2008 9
(Note: The following is the text of a letter I am sending to the Mitt Romney campaign following the former Massachusetts governor’s withdrawal from seeking the 2008 Republican nomination for President on February 7, 2008. I have posted it on several blogs and websites so I can share my respect for him.)
Dear Governor Romney:
For the past year or so, the American people have really gotten to know the names of those seeking the Republican nomination for President. And chances are no matter who one person supported, there was always the odd feeling when all of the sudden the name of a perspective nominee was no longer heard - all of the sudden someone we had all watched grow was out of the race. But while there’s a sort of collective remembrance for those who have tried and ultimately left the race, it never truly affects you until the person you supported has withdrawn.
While it took me a few months to finally decide who to support, I selected you, Governor, and your vision for America. You rose to become the conservative candidate, bringing into the race your conviction, belief in America, and strategy to improve Washington. And for that I thank you. While the majority of Connecticut Republicans voted for John McCain on Super Tuesday, know this: While McCain may have won Connecticut, he did not win me. You did, sir, and I am proud to have supported your candidacy.
No matter who the American people eventually select to be our next President, it is clear that the conservative movement is going to need representatives in the political arena to hold and promote the ideals which we hold dear. I’m sure that I speak on behalf of all of your supporters in encouraging you to remain one of those representatives. Please consider your victories among the conservative voters as a nomination to champion our values into the future.
In the past year, you have succeeded in taking a campaign to the national level, become a household name throughout America, and became a strong contender at receiving our party’s nomination for the White House. The fact that the nomination will not be yours is hard to accept for your supporters, but I for one believe it does not mark the end of your presidential future. In truth, the 2008 election will be but one election in our nation’s history, and nothing is to say the race couldn’t be yours in 2012 or beyond. (After all, you can only be President for eight years - your term just won’t begin as soon as we had hoped.)
Yes, while you have withdrawn from this race, you have not withdrawn from your values, and for that, I thank you for your contributions to conservatism and America.
Best Wishes and God Bless.
8:45 pm on February 8th, 2008 10
Hey Jessica, I would say that if you haven’t voted in the primaries yet, to go ahead and vote for Mitt. He is most likely on your state’s ballot, and even if he isn’t, you can write him in. In the primaries, you can vote your conscience at this point without worrying about the consequences, because despite what Huckabee followers want to think, there is no way for Huckabee to win. McCain has won the Republican primary. It may not be official yet, but it has happened.
I was wrong above when I said that Huckabee would need 90 - 100% of the remaining delegates to win. Here are some cold, hard numbers that no Huckabee supporter will look at: You need 1,191 delegates to win the primary, and Huckabee has a grand total of 181. Unfortunately, there is only 1,008 delegates left on the table. 181 + 1008 = 1189 delegates.
So even if by some absolute miracle Huckabee gets all 1008 remaining delegates (and I am saying it would be a miracle on par with the parting of the Red Sea AND the raising of the dead at the same time!!!) he still would not win the nomination. At that point, I’m guessing it would go to the brokered convention and they would fight it out there.
But since there is zero chance that Huckabee is going to get every single delegate from every single state that is left in the nation, I think it’s fair to say that McCain has won. So Jessica, go ahead and vote for Mitt in the primaries - it will show your disgruntlement with McCain, a liberal, being our party’s nominee. We get enough of that happening, and it will be guaranteed that Mitt will be back, and winning, in 2012.
The real question is the general election in November. Mitt says to vote for McCain. The Republican party says to vote for McCain. I quite frankly don’t know if I can. He has done enough to hurt the conservative movement that I simply cannot fathom my supporting him in any way, shape, or form. So I’m just going to say vote your conscience. I may end up crossing over and voting Dem for the first time in my life in November, just because I have such a hard time with McCain. :-/ I guess we’ll see what he does.
Havs
11:33 pm on February 8th, 2008 11
Like many I am still in a funk about Romney standing aside for the primary. I keep trying to figure out why and I accept his explanation even the liberal pundits are calling it BS and proclaiming he didnt have a chance, that is, he tallied the numbers, knew he ouldnt win and decided to fold his deck of cards. Okay liberals state what you want, but I take MItt at his word.
You see now we are destined to deal with McCain, he’s a thorn to the GOP and I will have to hold my nose when I vote for him. And if Huckabee, a ruinous man, is his side kick, two timer, tag team VP, I must just write Mitt in.
Clearly, we have missed a chance with greatness. Mitt Romney could have been one of our greatest presidents when we need him most. Can you imagine how the demographics will change in 4 years: more voter fraud, more independents, more Latinos, more illegal voters - and fewer conservatives unless we rise up and meet the challenge and build our core conservative base.
We have had our chance and President Bush has helped to widdle away that base. Yes, I admire him. Yes, I still do. But when it comes to border security and illegal immigration he’s out to lunch. Romney would have done the right thing in this regard were he elcted, but McCain may not. But McCain is better than voting in a socialist who is committed to universal travesty health care and who will keep the borders open. God help us all.
11:35 pm on February 8th, 2008 12
Is there a way I can type differently so that
my sentences arent cut off here? I can stop short
of the margin, is that the way to do it?
11:37 pm on February 8th, 2008 13
If we want a conservative in the White House…
back Romney when he runs again for 2012. It is a
long way off, but it worth it. He is talented
enough to undo the damage and move America
forward. God bless all those who supported Mitt
and God bless Mitt and his family!
8:09 pm on February 9th, 2008 14
Thank you, Hava, for your kind response. I will take your words into deep consideration.
And I dont understand what is up with Huckabee… just dumb or ignorant? I just dont get it. maybe just feels like he put his heart and soul into it and wants to fight it out to the end, regardless of the fact that he can not possibly win. Oh well. Silly politicians.
11:13 am on February 14th, 2008 15
I will never vote for McCain. He doesn’t seem to be able to think for himself. It seems to me his views are the views of others in the party, rather than his own!
I will vote for Huckabee! But if he doesn’t win, then it will vote for a demacrat. Her name is Hillary.
Races should be ran to the end. No one should drop out early. When the runners are lined up and the gun goes off. They run and they don’t stop. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the last person in the race stop and say forget it, I give up. I just can win! But of course this isn’t high school track, I know.
3:51 pm on February 15th, 2008 16
First, I want to say thank you to you, Hava. I’m new to your Blog site and have just found it by accident because the “Contact Us” page of mittromney.com is currently not working. I have so enjoyed reading this page relating to Mitt dropping out of the race and look forward to reading more pages later.
This is the first primary I’ve ever followed and am surprised at all the chaos that’s going on. I agree with Teresa about races being run to the end. I don’t think that Campaigns should just be about winning, but also about the spread of ideas. Campaigning offers valuable Media Coverage.
Since I don’t usually study Candidates until relatively close to the scheduled election in my state, I know very little about the candidates that dropped out prior to the time in which I voted. When Mitt dropped out of the race half way through the election, I was wondering if a lot of people in 50% on the country never bothered to study about Romney because he had already dropped out before their state voted.
Even though I voted for Romney and will do so again, I’m glad in a way that Huckabee stayed in the race because I feel that it’s important to make as strong of a statement as possible about how many of us in the Republican Party believe strongly in Conservative Values and do not want to keep compromising.
I guess when Romney dropped out he was hoping that that decision would help to unify the party, but that hasn’t worked. Romney’s campaign was never responsible for creating or even contributing to the division in our party. The division was already there. When conservative candidates like Romney drop out, it does not create more support for a less conservative candidates, it only creates a void.
8:52 pm on February 17th, 2008 17
It’s been a week & 1/2 now since Romney dropped out of the Race & I’m still troubled about his decision. His staff would not have “Enthusiastically encouraged him to stay in the race” if there was not a valid reason for doing so. It should have been Huckabee, not Romney, that quit, because Romney was in the lead. I respect his decision, but I don’t think that Quitting is “what’s right for the party”. I’m greatly concerned over irreparable moral damage that may be done in the next 4 to 8 years, no matter which of the parties wins the Presidency, yet the Democrats are even worse than McCain.
I’m afraid I agree with Romney that pulling out of the war too soon could have very serious Consequences. Like “Republican Dog”, I too take Romney at his word & feel that his concern about the war is very real & that is why I’m going to do just as he has suggested & reluctantly vote for McCain. Others should do the same.
There is still one more issue that I’d like to comment on. I’m a little confused about this idea of needing 191 Delegates to “Win the Nomination”. Huckabee has said his goal is more to prevent McCain from winning 191 Delegates, than to try and win that many himself. The Democrats do not appear to be taking the necessity of either of them winning 191 Delegates too seriously. Their race is so neck and neck, that neither of them can at this point “Win the Nomination”. What does that mean, though?! Obviously there will still be a Republican and a Democratic Candidate running in the Fall.
There’s a benefit to causing someone to win BY A NARROW MARGIN, whether than a Landslide. Elections are not just Contests, they also measure Public Opinion & how much support a Candidate does, or does not have. In close races, the winning Candidate can not claim a strong Mandate to do all his unpopular ideas. Mitt Romney’s attempts to give McCain his Delegates, does not change the reality of how popular, or unpopular, McCain actually is to the public.
Nice try, Mitt, but I’m betting that McCain’s actual Margin of Victory in the Primaries, based on actual Public Opinion, is more Narrow than we know and persuading Delegates to vote differently than the way the people voted is not going to change that. Maybe Huckabee’s continuation in the race is communicating McCain’s lack of Landslide support. If Mitt had stayed in too, this would have been even more obvious. More than likely, McCain’s total Delegates would not have even equaled 50%.
If I’m understanding this incorrectly, than I hope someone will respond & educate me. Thanks.
10:18 pm on April 4th, 2008 18
Hi Hava,
I don’t know if you’re still watching your blog or not, but if you are, I would like to invite you to visit my new blog. My first entry is an Allegory and so far I’ve got people stumped as to it’s meaning. Come join the fun and see if you can figure out the answer.
11:30 am on April 16th, 2008 19
You know, when Mitt did drop out of the race, I felt a little bad for not being nicer to him.
As I said in another blog entry, I mock because I love. I do hope he runs again and I think he will run a better campaign next time. I think he was “handled” a little too much with this one. I really think he’s best when he’s being himself, not trying to be what people expect him to be.
FWIW, I think I did write a blog once where I defended him on the flip-flopping charge. Hm, maybe that was just a comment on another blog. (heh) I’ve always said he was a flipper, not a flip-flopper.
See you in 2011!
12:11 pm on May 21st, 2008 20
has this caused you to stop posting on this blog. I am just curious cause it has been a while and we have not heard from you.
2:58 pm on May 23rd, 2008 21
as unlikely as it is, i hope mccain chooses him as his running mate… then this country might have a chance for redemption :/
11:49 pm on July 4th, 2008 22
It’s too bad it didn’t work out this election year for Mitt, but I think if things work out right, he could make a stronger run in 2012!
7:31 am on July 16th, 2008 23
It is a real pity for the entire nation. I hope we do see him running for VP at least. Hope to see him come out stronger in 2012
6:45 pm on July 24th, 2008 24
It would be hard to write a blog about Romney for president…but I don’t think that should be complete discouragement for blogging. You could post updates to the current political news or even go completely different direction - Just noticed there was no blog post here since February & thought I would offer some blogger encouragement
8:32 pm on July 24th, 2008 25
I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted - I will put up a post tonight telling everyone where I’ve been and what I think will happen in the future. Be sure to check back then.
9:36 pm on July 24th, 2008 26
For those of you who are interested, here’s the post as promised.
I am opening up the comment section on that post too, and hope to get quite a lively discussion going on there, so please, stop by and leave your thoughts. I’m excited to hear them.
Hava
http://nonfictionlover.today.com