Mitt Romney 2012?

[Trilobyte]

Since 1980 the Republicans have tended to nominate the runner-up from the previous nomination contest. In 2008, it looks like that runner-up will be Mitt Romney. If McCain loses to the Democrat this year, does it give Romney a good shot at the nomination in 2012?

[AndrewTX]

No

[J. J.]

I hope not.

[MODU]

I'm sure he'll try to run, but I doubt that he would be nominated... at least, if you follow Rush Limbaughs logic.

[Erc]

The Republicans have done so in the past, but generally for respected party leaders (Dole), Vice-Presidents (Bush), or respected leaders of a party faction (Reagan, arguably McCain).

Romney's where he is at the moment because he has money and is the only viable candidate who isn't McCain.  Reagan wasn't "not Ford," McCain wasn't "not Bush," they stood for something.  You can't really say that about Romney.  He'll be forgotten by 2012 (unless the economy's still in the pits).

[Keystone Phil]

A primary challenge to President McCain by this joke? Excellent.

[M]

Maybe he'll be eaten alive by rats or fall into a vat of sulphuric acid by then.

[HappyWarrior]

No, if anyone were to it would be Huckabee, as the leader of the more populist faction of the party.

[Mr. Morden]

In every election going back to 1972, the GOP has nominated either the incumbent president, the son of a former president, or the runner up from the last seriously contested nomination fight.  (I don't consider the 1992 GOP nomination to have been "seriously contested".)  That means that if the Dems win this year, the 2012 GOP nominee will be either Mitt Romney or Jeb Bush. 

But seriously, I think Romney would struggle if running against a field that wasn't dominated by people who looked so flawed in the eyes of most conservatives.  However, he'll probably be considered one of the early frontrunners, just based on name recognition.  If McCain loses the GE in 2008, then the super early polls for 2012 will probably be led by Huckabee, Romney, (maybe) Jeb Bush, and McCain's '08 running mate, whoever that is.  (I don't think there's much chance of Giuliani or Thompson trying again.)  Name recognition will at least make people believe that Romney's doing well early on, even if he ultimately ends up crashing and burning as badly as Giuliani.

[Democratic Hawk]

Hopefully, in so far as a Democrat wins in 2008 but I doubt Romney gets another serious shot at it

Dave

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

McCain will serve one term in 2008 and then his VP, Rudy Giuliani, will run in 2012 against Romney and whoever else. I wonder if Jeb will run and whether his name would hurt him. Otherwise, I'd say he'd win.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

This is Mitt Romney's only chance to run for the White House and thankfully it will be the one and only time, in which he'll embark on such a run. Expect him to venture back into the Corporate world in late 2008. And he won't become a Cabinet member in a McCain Administration!

[M]

This is Mitt Romney's only chance to run for the White House and thankfully it will be the one and only time, in which he'll embark on such a run. Expect him to venture back into the Corporate world in late 2008. And he won't become a Cabinet member in a McCain Administration!

[Reaganfan]

If McCain loses, 2012 is the year of fresh faces, unless Jeb Bush runs. Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee (a second run for the White House), and Charlie Crist.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I hope not.

[perdedor]

I hope not.