Should Mitt Romney stop debating?

With his GOP rivals determined to use the debates to attack the undisputed frontrunner, staying in the mix may do Mitt more harm than good

GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney
(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney will clash with his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination once again on Thursday, in South Carolina's second debate ahead of its Saturday primary. But Romney has yet to sign on for the two debates after that, to be held next week in Florida. Enough is enough, suggests Romney strategist Stuart Stevens: "There have been too many of these," he said after Monday's forum, in which Mitt's GOP rivals fiercely attacked him, and Romney gave what was branded as an "intelligence-insultingly bad" performance. With a commanding poll lead, should Romney just play it safe and bow out of future debates?

Romney might be wise to quit debating: "The debates have basically become a contest over which not-Romney candidate can draw the most blood from the frontrunner," says Alana Goodman at Commentary. That gives other candidates "a chance to try to knock him down a peg. But there's not much of a benefit there for Romney." Floridians might feel snubbed if Romney sits out the next debates, but "if voters are just as tired of [the forums] as Romney is, then it might not make a difference."

"Will Romney unilaterally end the debates?"

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

Sign up

But Romney can't quit if the others keep debating: Romney "might not like getting beat up on stage," says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, "but at least he's there to defend himself." He can't afford to simply step out of the spotlight and let his rivals gang up on him, turning the debates into free anti-Romney commercials. As long as Romney's rivals keep showing up, he has to be there to push back.

"Romney wavering on Florida debates?"

And Mitt shouldn't count his chickens yet: Romney must figure that with his huge polling lead in Florida, he "can afford to coast," says Ace of Spades. "The problem with that rationale is that the field may not be five-strong when he gets to Florida. Perry or Gingrich or Santorum may drop out by then, and the remaining candidates will get a bump from that." If Romney skips debates, he'll be giving a single anti-Romney candidate a prime opportunity to break away from the shrinking pack.

"Romney may skip one or both Florida debates"