Give outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney credit, the liberal Republican from Utah seems to understand that when it comes to the GOP he’s a round peg trying to fit into a square hole.
Romney told the UK-based Independent that he will not be endorsing a candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential primary because his stamp of approval amounts to little more than a “kiss of death.”
“I can’t imagine endorsing anybody,” he said. “And my endorsement would be the kiss of death.”
Effectively yielding to Donald Trump’s dominance in the polls, Romney has no confidence in the other candidates challenging the former president.
“I’ve said from the beginning, he was odds-on favorite to become the nominee, he’s very likely to be the nominee,” Romney said. “He’s very, very likely to be the nominee. Hard to imagine someone passing him, I think.”
No surprise, if Romney had a leaning in the race it would be for the more moderate candidate, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.
“I think Nikki Haley has a shot, but it’s a long shot,” he said. “But other than that, I think it’s pretty clear sailing.”
For what it’s worth, Haley endorsed Romney in his failed 2012 presidential run.
Romney let it be known during an appearance Sunday on Meet the Press that if the 2024 election comes down to a choice between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump he would consider voting for geriatric 81-year-old geriatric president while regurgitating Democratic talking points about Trump being a dictator.
“I think we agree that we have looked at his behavior, and his behavior suggests that this is a person who will impose his will if he can, on the judicial system, on the legislative branch and on the entire nation,” Romney said.
Fittingly, he told NBC moderator Kristin Welker that he’d prefer to back Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrat from West Virginia who is reportedly mulling a potential run for president.
This being a disqualifier for at least one social media user… here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
ANY Republican Senator who says he wants to vote for a Democrat President should be immediately expelled from the GOP and recalled by his constituents.
— Jack Diddly (@UdonoJackDiddly) December 10, 2023
He’s one of the big reasons we have obama and all this mess he is complicit.
— Ginny Mobley (@MobleyGinny) December 10, 2023
At least he’s self-aware that his endorsement does the opposite
— Genevieve (@GenevieveBayer) December 11, 2023
So he does realize people hate him
— Island Life (@StevenDominic7) December 10, 2023
He’s just the senate version of Kevin McCarthy. I’m glad they both are leaving.
— Chad Hendrickson (@Chadrickson69) December 10, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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