# Mitt Romney, presidential bid as a democrat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 14, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129 "2023-09-14T23:17:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/121 "2023-09-15T02:01:16Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Would I vote for Romney over Trump? Sure, and I’m a Democrat. But it would have to be a very dark day if those are our only two choices. I’d vote for Romney over Trump if that was somehow the choice on Election Day. But I wouldn’t vote for Romney over Biden in the primaries. Republicans need to give up on the idea that they can somehow trick Democrats into voting for a Republican. We’re not going to vote for Romney if he pretends to be a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/122 "2023-09-15T02:07:45Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > Well, besides the fact that lots of them voted for him when they elected him governor of Massachusetts? I think it’s likely that it was the Republican voters in Massachusetts who elected him. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/123 "2023-09-15T02:21:48Z")
Moderating: > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Does anyone see any possibilities here? This would certainly be his last shot at it and he is motivated. he has been laying the groundwork for a party switch that wouldn’t seem a surprise if it happened. You started a thread on this previously in April of this year. Do not open threads on the same subject multiple times. I’ve combined the 2 threads this time, but I won’t do it again. One thread on this topic is sufficient for P&E. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/124 "2023-09-15T02:23:12Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > You started a thread on this previously in April of this year. Do not open threads on the same subject multiple times. I’ve combined the 2 threads this time, but I won’t do it again. One thread on this topic is sufficient for P&E. I had forgotten about it, until about 30 minutes ago. I was waiting for this. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/125 "2023-09-15T02:24:19Z")
Were I you, I wouldn’t forget again. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/126 "2023-09-15T02:28:24Z")
Given that he announced he’s not seeking re-election so that younger candidates can come forward (and encouraging both Biden and Trump to do the same thing), might it not be a tad _hypocritical_ for him to announce his candidacy for the presidency? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/127 "2023-09-15T02:33:38Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Romney has done a pretty good job of staying out of the fray and I think he is one of the few who could get away with a blatant attack on Biden. Both Biden and Trump are undesirable for about 70% of the population. Biden earned 81 million votes in 2020. He’s plenty desirable. Mitt earned just under 61 million in 2012. He’s less desirable than Joe Biden. He was then, when he lost to the Obama/Biden ticket, and he is now. **You** don’t like Joe Biden because you believe a lot of nonsense about him. Plenty of people do. More than enough to win in 2024. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/128 "2023-09-15T02:38:08Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Both Biden and Trump are undesirable for about 70% of the population. Anything to back that number up with? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/129 "2023-09-15T03:13:24Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Anything to back that number up with? Biden’s approval rating in 538’s aggregation of various polls has been around 40%, +/- a couple of percentage points, with his disapproval rating around 55% (again, +/- a few points) since late 2021. His chart looks _remarkably_ like Trump’s did at the same points in Trump’s presidency. Yes, a majority of Americans disapprove of Biden (and disapprove of Trump), but it’s a bare majority, and nowhere near 70%. It’s not exactly the “are undesirable” that the OP mentioned, but it’s rather unlikely that a quarter of the ~40% of people who “approve” of Biden (or Trump) also feel that they are “undesirable,” which is what it would take to get to that 70%. > **[ABC News – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos](https://abcnews.go.com/politics)** > > ABC News is your trusted source on political news stories and videos. Get the latest coverage and analysis on everything from the Trump presidency, Senate, House and Supreme Court. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/130 "2023-09-15T03:18:21Z")
I’m just hoping that someone isn’t concluding that both Biden and Trump are undesirable for about 70% of the population because they both have a ~35% disapproval rating and that obviously adds up to 70%! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/131 "2023-09-15T03:30:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > His chart looks _remarkably_ like Trump’s did at the same points in Trump’s presidency. Bidens approval rating looks very much like last _three_ presidents’ approval ratings at this point in their term. [![](https://jabberwocking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/blog_gallup_biden_approval_september_2023.jpg) ](https://jabberwocking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/blog_gallup_biden_approval_september_2023.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/132 "2023-09-15T03:31:57Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Bidens approval rating looks very much like last _three_ presidents approval ratings at this point in their term. Well, three of the last four, anyway – that chart doesn’t include GW Bush’s ratings. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/133 "2023-09-15T03:37:07Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > that chart doesn’t include GW Bush’s ratings GWB was an outlier, both directions. 90% after 9/11, left office at 34% after bottoming at 25%. [![](https://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/iinbqpz4mu27out2e9mlqq.png) ](https://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/iinbqpz4mu27out2e9mlqq.png) ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/134 "2023-09-15T04:52:23Z")
There’s an excellent article over at the Atlantic about Romney’s struggles to stay relevant and his decision not to run for re-election to the Senate. > **[What Mitt Romney Saw in the Senate](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/11/mitt-romney-retiring-senate-trump-mcconnell/675306/)** > > In an exclusive excerpt from my biography of the senator, Romney: A Reckoning, he reveals what drove him to retire. He wasn’t exactly a pariah in the GOP, but he was pretty isolated. For some reason, this section left me a little chilled: > The senator hadn’t told anyone he was talking to a biographer, and we kept our interviews discreet…most weeks, I drove to a stately brick townhouse with perpetually drawn blinds on a quiet street a mile from the Capitol. … He tried to make it nice, so that Ann would be comfortable when she visited. A decorator filled the rooms with tasteful furniture and calming abstract art. He planted a garden on the small backyard patio. But his wife rarely came to Washington, and his sons didn’t come either, and gradually the house took on an unkempt bachelor-pad quality. Crumbs littered the kitchen counter; soda and seltzer occupied the otherwise-empty fridge. Old campaign paraphernalia appeared on the mantel, clashing with the decorator’s mid-tone color scheme, and a bar of “Trump’s Small Hand Soap” (a gag gift from one of his sons) was placed in the powder room alongside the monogrammed towels. > In the “dining room,” a 98-inch TV went up on the wall and a leather recliner landed in front of it. Romney, who didn’t have many real friends in Washington, ate dinner alone there most nights, watching _Ted Lasso_ or _Better Call Saul_ as he leafed through briefing materials. On the day of my first visit, he showed me his freezer, which was full of salmon fillets that had been given to him by Lisa Murkowski, the senator from Alaska. He didn’t especially like salmon but found that if he put it on a hamburger bun and smothered it in ketchup, it made for a serviceable meal. This doesn’t sound like a guy ready to make another try at the brass ring. The article has few shockers, but did provide me with some insight into Washington. Mitch McConnell is good at taking temperatures and telling his GOP colleagues what they want to hear. GOP senators were concerned about voting for Trump’s impeachment, because they feared for their family’s safety. Mitt distinguished between GOP Senators who were sincerely crazy and those who were faking it for votes. He preferred to work with the crazies on legislation, because at least you could rely on their good faith. Ron Jon was in; Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, and J.D. Vance were out. No great loss: one colleague told him, "There are about 20 senators here who do all the work, and there are about 80 who go along for the ride.” Romney wanted to be among the 20. Book coming out next month. [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/101025305-romney?from\_search=true&from\_srp=true&qid=wlOkfxpIeZ&rank=1](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/101025305-romney?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=wlOkfxpIeZ&rank=1) ETA: And… this link was posted in another Romney thread. [Mitt Romney is not running for reelection next year - #13 by Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-is-not-running-for-reelection-next-year/990066/13) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/135 "2023-09-15T11:11:13Z")
It is a tremendous indication of what happened to the Republican party that I wasn’t all that against Mitt Romney being president in 2012. I didn’t vote for him, but would have expected him to, you know, try to do his best for the country. Now they have Desantis and Trump. Both just huge losers. No hope for any change over there. We went from, “I hope my candidate wins,” to “Oh my God, the nation is losing its mind,” in just a few years. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/136 "2023-09-15T11:17:29Z")
It’s fairly amazing to me that Romney has gone from being a monster in 2012 to being a reasonable candidate without changing a single thing. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/137 "2023-09-15T11:37:42Z")
it’s because our versions of “monster” and “reasonable” have shifted so much in those years. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/138 "2023-09-15T11:39:41Z")
Can we say that “Romney was a monster within normal parameters”? Sad but true. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/139 "2023-09-15T12:22:06Z")
Can’t speak for all Democrats, but I am not looking for a reasonable Republican to vote for. I’m looking for reasonable Republicans to provide the loyal opposition to a Democratic majority. I’m not about to vote for someone who is anti-abortion and thinks corporations are people or believes in tax cuts for the wealthy. You can be all these things and still be a reasonable person and loyal American, but you can’t be all these things and expect to get elected as a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129/140 "2023-09-15T13:01:07Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I’d rather encourage him to run as an Independent. He’d surely siphon-off enough R votes in key states to assure a Biden victory, without pulling too many D votes. In fact, if Christie is determined to keep Trump out of the White House, they should team up for a Christie/Romney Independent ticket to split the R vote and his goal will likely be accomplished. I heartily endorse this idea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-presidential-bid-as-a-democrat/990129.md?page=8)