Last updated on 2011.11.25
Senator John Thune, number four man (aspiring for number three!) on the GOP totem pole, is endorsing Mitt Romney.
At least we now no for absolute certain that Thune isn't running.
South Dakota Democratic Party chairman Ben Nesselhuf issues this assessment of what Thune is endorsing:
"Senator John Thune's endorsement of Mitt Romney raises serious questions about the direction Republicans want to take our country. Romney made his fortune by closing American businesses, laying off workers, and slashing wages - even as his own company was rescued by a federal bailout. Why Senator Thune would endorse this kind of activity really astounds me" [Ben Nesselhuf, SDDP press release, 2011.11.23].
The bailout to which Nesselhuf refers is $10 million in debt forgiveness granted by the FDIC to Romney's Bain & Company in 1993. The Ron Paul campaign has called this bailout evidence that Romney is just part of "the status quo that American voters are tired of—people who benefit from government bailouts on the taxpayers' dime and seek office to help their buddies do the same." But then Ron Paul is an apologist for terrorists, so we can just ignore anything he says, right?
Thune's endorsement is likely a blow to social conservatives, who might count Thune among their ranks but who desperately want to find a fundie alternative to Romney. Thune is likely signaling to his fellow fundies that they need to give up their childish fantasies about divinely ordained President Bachmann, President Cain, or President Perry. The grown-ups in the party are telling primary voters (before the primary) that they've had their fun entertaining nincompoops and that it's now time to get serious about beating President Obama with a credible candidate.
Or maybe Thune was just worried about a Hunstman surge....
Update 2011.11.25 20:14 MST: Nate Silver finds Romney with a strong lead in endorsements that does not correlate with popular polls. Those numbers usually align better by now; are different forces shaping the 2012 election?
Conservative is a meaningless term.
Careful, Sibby: you're going to render the entire language meaningless.
"it’s now time to get serious about beating President Obama with a credible candidate"
With someone who will also implement Obama's Big Government agenda? What would be the point of that?
I'm voting Gingrich. Thune is not as conservative as people give him credit for. Thune is mostly a personality like Noem only more intelligent. Thune is a smart guy he just doesn't rock the boat.
The economy and fed budget is so bad that no one really likes what Washington is doing. But with congress opinion poll at 9% and Obama at 40%, it is obvious that he is not the main problem. The republicans need someone who is five times better than a congressman to beat Obama. They simply are showing that is not possible. If the only one they can come up with is a past state healthcare and prochoicer, then they really are going to shoot their base in the foot. Being a republican strategist now would be a real hard job. I am not saying that the dems have it figured out real well either because they are included in that congress at 9% number.
Good for John for wearing his beliefs on his sleeve. So did I by making a contribution to Gingrich. In any case I'll straight ticket vote with the GOP in the General and I suspect John will too.
No, good for you Bruce. So do you think this might strain John's standing with the Tea Party and the far right groups? Or does it matter since they are all voting for a letter and not an individual leader?
Well, this is interesting:
Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) -- "Representatives for leading social conservative groups in Iowa held a secret meeting Monday as part of an effort with one main goal: find and support a Republican presidential candidate who can stop Mitt Romney in Iowa....While the concerns have been voiced before, what appears to be new is the meeting itself and organizers' hope for like-minded groups to come together against Romney, at least in Iowa."
These guys are heavy weights in Iowa politics and include: "In attendance were representatives from the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, The Family Leader, the group Iowa Right to Life, and a representative for the Iowa chapter of Concerned Women for America. Some pastors from prominent Iowa churches also attended the meeting."
Pass the popcorn.
Of course John's timing on the announcement is interesting as well. He could have announced the day of the last debate, but instead chose the day before Thanksgiving and Black Friday to make sure that the announcement got as little play as possible.
Wasn't Mitt John's guest in Sioux Falls for their Chamber Dinner?
Jana - Are you suggesting that Obama is a leader or any member of congress that voted for Obama Care?
Bruce: I'll suggest that. Passing ObamaCare required leadership and guts... though Obama loses points for taking the public option off the table.
Jana, I'm not sure Thune and Romney wanted to keep this endorsement quiet. This endorsement wasn't just a press release; it was a joint appearance in Des Moines, wasn't it? Romney would want as much press as he could get. Maybe this was the first day that Thune's and Romney's schedules clicked. I'll buy your hypothesis if this endorsement is a one-off event. But let's watch to see if Thune makes further statements and appearances in Iowa on Romney's behalf.
Related: KELO reports that Thune is taking an active and ongoing role in the Romney campaign.
Caheidelberger: Are you counting passing Obama-Care first before we know what's in it as leadership? Giggle, I suppose.
Lol, why are you and Jan building a conspiracy about John's endorsement of Romney. Was it extra suspicious because both men weren't wearing ties during press conference.
John said endorsements don't mean anything and in this case he is correct. The endorsement doesn't move Romney to the right of his well know record. In any case I will vote for the GOP nominee against Obama.
Bruce, Obama showed leadership in expending a great deal of political capital to tackle a serious, complicated issue. He knew health care reform would give Republicans ammo against him. He made the effort to get us talking about that serious issue and make important changes. I fault his leadership in that he did not lead us far enough, i.e., to the much better solution of single-payer.
On the issue at hand: endorsements do matter somewhat, in that they signal where the establishment is placing its chips. And smart politicians don't do anything as if it didn't matter. They think through the implications of their public actions. They do things for reasons. You can bet Thune has reasons for endorsing whom he did when he did and where he did. We may not be able to read his mind, but we can have a lot of fun trying.
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