Shortly after winning the endorsement of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney gave a shout-out to another Bush. Sure, the economy is looking rosier, Mitt said, but don't thank President Obama. It's really former President George W. Bush who deserves the credit for staving off another Great Depression; after all, he's the one who signed the Wall Street bailout. Though Romney seems assured of the Republican nomination, some pundits questioned his decision to show support for a president whom many voters still blame for the weak economy. Is Romney risking a backlash?
He should beware of aligning himself with George W. Bush: In a general election match-up with Mitt, President Obama would likely portray Romney as someone who'll continue "the failed policies of the Bush administration," says Jonathan Chait at New York Magazine. And that might be a winning plan: A February survey by Quinnipiac University found that 51 percent of voters still blame Bush for the current condition of the economy. So praising George W. Bush's "economic stewardship is probably not the wisest strategy." Romney just gave Obama a big assist.
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