Mitt Romney in 2016?
Renewed affection for Mittens could point to deeper problems within the GOP
To truly understand the seismic impact of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) fall from grace, look no further than Mitt Romney.
The twice-failed presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor is back on the public stage to promote a new film — one that offers a humanizing portrait of a politician best remembered for being robotic and out of touch — prompting chatter about another White House bid. Further fueling the "Romney 2016" buzz, a Purple Strategies poll released last week found Romney leading a pack of potential GOP contenders in a hypothetical New Hampshire primary.
Does any of this mean Romney is seriously considering running in 2016?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Oh, no, no, no," he told The New York Times' Ashley Parker.
"No, no, no, no, no," he added. "No, no, no."
It's important to remember how Romney won the 2012 nomination in the first place: By being the only sane choice among a buffet of ridiculous candidates like Herman Cain. Base voters never really liked or trusted him — remember all the flip-flopping accusations and the RomneyCare bashing? — but settled on him because they really had no better option. None of that has changed.
Come 2016, there are a number of never-rans with more robust conservative cred who could steal the base's heart, while also boasting a plausible resume, such as Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Ted Cruz (Texas). Which is to say, Romney will be an afterthought by then.
"We get swept up in these moments," said former Obama adviser David Plouffe in a segment for Bloomberg. "Two months from now, I don't think anyone will be talking about Mitt Romney."
So why all the Romney hype? For that, you can blame Christie.
Though it's way too soon to crown a legitimate front-runner, the Republican nominating contest typically does have an early favorite, someone seen as being the "next in line." Though there were — and still are — genuine questions about whether Christie could play well outside the Northeast and win over a conservative primary electorate, he was nonetheless considered the early establishment favorite due to his resounding re-election in a deep blue state.
Then Bridgegate broke. Then state investigators began probing the scandal. Then Christie botched his damage control. As a result, Christie's once-enviable popularity has taken a hit. One month ago, he edged past Hillary Clinton in a hypothetical 2016 matchup, 48 percent to 46 percent; he now trails the former secretary of state by a yawning 16-point margin, according to a new CNN poll.
With Christie's political career on life support, the party is again casting about for a savior. And they aren't coming up with much.
"You know what a lot of them say to me?" one GOP operative told BuzzFeed of his talks with party donors. "'I think we need Mitt back.'"
That's not a good sign for the party. The vacuum Christie has created has caused such turmoil that virtually any Republican with a pulse is now in the mix to replace him — even one who lost to President Obama despite an ailing economy and an unpopular health-care law.
Even Romney thinks it's someone else's chance to represent the party, telling the Times that he wants "to make sure that we take the country in a different direction" and that a host of other GOPers "have a much better chance of doing that."
He's right. To move forward, the GOP would be crazy to look back.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
How is aid getting into Gaza right now?
Today's Big Question The international effort to provide Palestinians with essentials during wartime has become a Gordian knot of logistics
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The lows of an unregulated high: Teens are using marijuana alternative delta-8
In the Spotlight More than 1 in 10 high school seniors have reported using the substance, which contains concentrated THC
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Michigan shooter's dad guilty of manslaughter
speed read James Crumbley failed to prevent his son from killing four students at Oxford High School in 2021
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will North Korea take advantage of Israel-Hamas conflict?
Today's Big Question Pyongyang's ties with Russia are 'growing and dangerous' amid reports it sent weapons to Gaza
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published