Mitt Romney's new strategy: Wait for Rick Perry to implode?
The Texan has knocked Romney out of the GOP frontrunner's spot, but the ex-Massachusetts governor still isn't attacking Perry
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has surged past Mitt Romney to become the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, but the Romney campaign apparently sees no need to attack Perry... yet. The Democratic National Committee is already going after Perry, as are critics in the media, and other GOP rivals, including Michele Bachmann. Romney's strategy is to wait out the Perry storm, then hit him hard after he's weakened by attacks and his own mistakes, says Marc A. Thiessen in The Washington Post. Will that work?
Romney is setting himself up to lose: There's a reason "outspoken outliers like Perry and Bachmann" are doing so well, says Ana Marie Cox in Britain's Guardian. Today's GOP voter wants a "hellraiser," not someone with Romney's "soothing, wet-blanket anti-charisma." Sitting back passively and relying on name recognition and the notion that you're the "next in line" to be the party's nominee is a losing strategy.
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.
Actually, his strategy is as sound as ever: Prematurely picking a fight with a hot new candidate is a formula for disaster, says Rich Lowry at National Review. Just ask Tim Pawlenty, who unsuccessfully attacked Michele Bachmann. Sure, "Perry has weak spots" in his record as governor and a number of policy flip-flops, but Romney can't call attention to them "without exposing more serious vulnerabilities of his own." So his best bet is staying above the fray while Perry is "dinged up" by everyone else.
"Romney desperately needs the same old strategy"
Make no mistake — Romney has an attack plan: Romney is keeping his powder dry now, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, but the former Massachusetts governor is planning to hammer Perry mercilessly when the time comes. He'll go after him on a number of issues — "immigration, career politician, cronyism, etc." But the real "electric-shock effect" will come when he criticizes Perry for opposing Social Security and Medicare. That would really put Perry on the defensive, especially in retiree-heavy states such as Florida.
"Romney's attack strategy against Perry: Mediscaring?"
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
-
Today's political cartoons - September 7, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - football widows, meddling kids, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Smoking ban: the return of the nanny state?
Talking Point Starmer's plan to revive Sunak-era war on tobacco has struck an unsettling chord even with some non-smokers
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: September 7, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
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