When it comes to second acts in national politics, few have been as successful as failed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney who parlayed his vendetta against former President Donald J. Trump into a U.S. Senate seat which he clearly feels is his until he decides otherwise.
Romney, who joined with Democrats on the unsuccessful impeachment efforts against Trump, will be up for reelection to the Utah Senate seat that he won in 2018, and with establishment Republicans riding a wave of newfound momentum, he expressed confidence that he will easily be reelected if he chooses to run for a second term.
The former governor of ultra-liberal Massachusetts who has found much in common with his Democrat colleagues – especially when it comes to sticking it to Trump – discussed his future with Politico, telling the outlet that he will win if he runs.
According to Romney, winning reelection is “frankly, not a question in my mind,” he told the outlet.
“I’ve faced long odds: Getting the nomination in 2012 was a long shot, becoming a Republican governor in one of the most liberal states in America, Massachusetts. … So I’m convinced that if I run, I win. But that’s a decision I’ll make,” he added.
Romney who was the only GOP senator voting to convict Trump in the first impeachment and one of a group of seven who did so in the sequel has taken heavy criticism from the conservative base while, at the same time, enjoying a rehabilitated image with the media and Democrats who vilified him during his White House run against Barack Obama in 2012.
One powerful Republican who is an ally of Romney’s could be a key factor in whether he is able to fend off any potential primary challenges from more conservative candidates.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he would “absolutely” be willing to spend millions of dollars to help Romney fend off America first opponents as he did in the midterms when he saved Alaska RINO Lisa Murkowski, ensuring that a key anti-Trump ally would remain in the Senate.
“He’s been a really important part of our conference. People respect his intelligence, his assessment of the era we find ourselves in. And I think his running for reelection would be very important,” the Kentucky Republican told Politico. “It’s important for the Republican Party and the country that he runs again.”
“I hope by the time Mitt really gets into full swing on the campaign, we’re not talking about the influence of Donald Trump,” Murkowski said of “Pierre Delecto” who she is encouraging to run for reelection.
The establishment struck back in the midterms, largely thanks to McConnell whose refusal to adequately support Trump-backed candidates like Blake Masters in Arizona and Herschel Walker in Georgia cost the GOP any hopes of retaking the Senate but preserved the power of himself and his loyal cadre of like-minded RINOs.
A vindicated Romney seemed to take much pleasure in Walker’s runoff election loss to anti-white racist, pro-abortion radical preacher Raphael Warnock, relishing another opportunity to take a shot at his nemesis.
“Well President Trump lost again,” Mitt told reporters. “And I know a lot of people in our party love the president but he’s, if you will, the kiss of death for somebody who wants to win a general election and at some point, we’ve got to move on and look for new leaders that will lead us to win.”
.@MittRomney on Herschel Walker's Senate loss: "President Trump lost again. […] He's, if you will, the kiss of death for somebody who wants to win a general election. And at some point, we've got to move on and look for new leaders that will lead us to win." pic.twitter.com/ubJRZQnyb9
— The Hill (@thehill) December 12, 2022
“It’s like, what should I do in the time I have left? You know, I’m 75,” Romney told Politico. “ I’ve spent 25 years now in public service. and so what comes next? What do I want to accomplish? And, what can be accomplished?”
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