Is Mitt Romney a serious contender for President in 2012?

[fezzyfestoon]

lol @ the posts in this thread.

[Bo]

Yes (D). He is probably the GOP's best shot at beating Obama, especially if the economy remains sluggish in 2012.

[Bo]

Even though I do not want a Repub to win in 2012, isn't it best for the GOP to nominate someone who was NOT affiliated in any way shape or form with the presidential election of 2008?

I mean, how can someone vote for Romney, Huckabee, or Palin without being tied to the major loss of 2008? Why isn't the GOP looking for candidates such as Thune, Pence, Cantor, Crist, etc.

Naw. Compare to Reagan in 1976 and 1980.

1976 was much closer than 2008. Besides, many Republicans thought Reagan would have won in 1976, while I seriously doubt any Republicans think any of their 2008 candidates could have won that year.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The point of this poll should be self explanatory, and that is to find out, at this point in time, from the members of this forum their view on this subject.

So far 9 out of 12 believe Romney to be a serious contender for President in 2012.

We'd have to be fools not to think he's a contender for the Pub nominations.  The other thread was one of your best Willard love-crush ones.

[ARescan]

If you have a chance at the party nomination doesn't that automatically make you a serious contender for the presidency?

[Psychic Octopus]

No duh.

[Conservative frontier]

No (R).

I don't believe he will run ; if he runs, he'll lead but then meet the fate of Rudy 2008

[Jensen]

No (R).

I don't believe he will run ; if he runs, he'll lead but then meet the fate of Rudy 2008

He's already shown he could do well in 2008. I don't think he will do worse in 2012, but he still isn't guaranteed the nomination and might face stiff competition depending on dark horses and who decides to run or not. Really, a lot could happen.

[Conservative frontier]

No (R).

I don't believe he will run ; if he runs, he'll lead but then meet the fate of Rudy 2008

He's already shown he could do well in 2008. I don't think he will do worse in 2012, but he still isn't guaranteed the nomination and might face stiff competition depending on dark horses and who decides to run or not. Really, a lot could happen.

Well, since the Tea Party (Me included) control the GOP by the throat, I doubt he'd win.

[Mr. Morden]

No (R).

I don't believe he will run ;

You do realize that his current PAC has just five state affiliates, three of which are Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina?  I mean, how much more of a clue could he drop that he's preparing for another run?

[California8429]

yes

[TheGreatOne]

Yes is the answer.  He's basically leading the field at the moment.  I don't know how anyone could outright say he has no chance with a straight face.

[milhouse24]

I don't think he did that well in the 2008 primaries.  He lost to Huckabee, McCain, and Fred Thompson, in Iowa, NH, and SC. 

In 2012, he might win NH, but definitely never Iowa or SC.  I just don't think the Christian base primarily voters will embrace him, and if he ends up the nominee, he will potentially lose by a wide margin in the general due to christian voter complacency.

I don't think he's that bad of a manager, I just don't think voters will embrace him.  He would be a decent VP candidate.

[ShadowRocket]

For the primaries, I think he is. But not so much for general election.

[milhouse24]

I think one of Romney's problems in my view is that he is a flashy candidate who seems like a good politician, but there's not enough substance to connect with regular folks.  I don't think it has to do with his religion, but more so that he doesn't have many political accomplishments besides universal health care in mass.