# What if Romney Quits? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 14, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197 "2012-07-14T13:13:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/21 "2012-07-14T17:18:44Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > IMO McCain was actually a pretty strong candidate until he made his VP pick. I think your comparison with Dole is more to the point. Yes, this is Bob Dole all over again, (in fact, even worse for the GOP, because Dole was an injured war veteran, instead of corporate bigwig), and I think the Obama campaign has been deliberately positioning the narrative to align with 1996. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/22 "2012-07-14T17:33:31Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Yes, this is Bob Dole all over again, (in fact, even worse for the GOP, because Dole was an injured war veteran, instead of corporate bigwig), and I think the Obama campaign has been deliberately positioning the narrative to align with 1996. Are you comparing them just because they are less than charismatic and “next in line” candidates against an incumbent? Or is there a deeper similarity? I don’t really see anything deeper, though I’ll be honest that I don’t remember Bob Dole all that well. He is filed in my head as someone basically decent and extremely boring. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/23 "2012-07-14T18:38:30Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Maybe I am wrong, but Mitt seems to be a very weak candidate, on a par with John McCain or even Bob Dole. I think he’s worse than either. He’s a Michael Dukakis. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/24 "2012-07-14T18:45:28Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Are you comparing them just because they are less than charismatic and “next in line” candidates against an incumbent? Or is there a deeper similarity? Yes and no. The similarity isn’t so much about either Dole or McCain, but rather about the circumstances of Obama’s first term and those of Clinton in 1996. It seems that both sides are responding in similar ways. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/25 "2012-07-14T19:03:28Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Has any presidential candidate ever backed out at this point? If he were to withdraw, the obvious comparison would be to Thomas Eagleton, though he was a VP nominee. I agree with others that this is extremely unlikely barring something new and dramatic. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/26 "2012-07-14T19:08:05Z")
I’m having trouble link into it on my phone, by there is a new Obama ad going up in swing states right now that’s pretty devastating. Its Mitt singing Aleric the Beautiful (off key) with text listing the Swiss bank accounts, the Caymens, Bermuda, outsourcing, etc. Its very powerful, and will definitely have an effect. Obama is unleashing the kitchen sink on him. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/27 "2012-07-14T19:15:52Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > I think he’s worse than either. He’s a Michael Dukakis. Can we get him to wear a silly hat? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/28 "2012-07-14T19:17:10Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Can we get him to wear a silly hat? And ride in a tank? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/29 "2012-07-14T19:46:41Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’m having trouble link into it on my phone, by there is a new Obama ad going up in swing states right now that’s pretty devastating. Its Mitt singing Aleric the Beautiful (off key) with text listing the Swiss bank accounts, the Caymens, Bermuda, outsourcing, etc. Its very powerful, and will definitely have an effect. Obama is unleashing the kitchen sink on him. Much as I’d love if there was a song about King Alaric, it’s ‘America the Beautiful’ - [http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/07/obamas-latest-ad-hits-romney----as-romney-sings/1#.UAHMZJFRAvE](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/07/obamas-latest-ad-hits-romney----as-romney-sings/1#.UAHMZJFRAvE) ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/30 "2012-07-14T20:41:47Z")
Lol - I sat there for at least five minutes trying to remeber which [Alaric](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaric) was called “the Beautiful”. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/31 "2012-07-14T20:55:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Ross Perot announced his withdrawal in the July before the election and subsequently re-entered the race in October. Yeah, but… I should have specified non-third party candidates for president. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/32 "2012-07-14T20:57:23Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > He’s far too arrogant to quit That’s true of all politicians. They never quit unless they are sure they have no choice. Romney has been running for president for most of the last five years. He’s not going to quit now. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/33 "2012-07-14T21:08:55Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Much as I’d love if there was a song about King Alaric, it’s ‘America the Beautiful’ - [http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/07/obamas-latest-ad-hits-romney----as-romney-sings/1#.UAHMZJFRAvE](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/07/obamas-latest-ad-hits-romney----as-romney-sings/1#.UAHMZJFRAvE) > [@Merneith](#): > > Lol - I sat there for at least five minutes trying to remeber which [Alaric](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaric) was called “the Beautiful”. Wow, that was a hell of an autocorrect. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/34 "2012-07-14T23:03:16Z")
After Mitt gets his ass handed to him this November, I can’t wait to see all the republicans turn on him and tell him what a weak candidate he was. Just like they turned on McCain. It’s actually quite hilarious. If there were a graph of how much the republican base OPENLY disliked Mitt Romney, it would be very high up until about february or march, then dipping down slowly as he sealed the nomination. Then it would be close to 0 (except for Boehner’s ‘I can’t make you love him’ comment, that was priceless), and then November 7th the open dislike will go through the roof. Gonna be legendary! ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/35 "2012-07-14T23:24:08Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Wow, that was a hell of an autocorrect. I thought it was the work of Vandals. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/36 "2012-07-14T23:25:12Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > After Mitt gets his ass handed to him this November, I can’t wait to see all the republicans turn on him and tell him what a weak candidate he was. Just like they turned on McCain. It’s actually quite hilarious. > > If there were a graph of how much the republican base OPENLY disliked Mitt Romney, it would be very high up until about february or march, then dipping down slowly as he sealed the nomination. Then it would be close to 0 (except for Boehner’s ‘I can’t make you love him’ comment, that was priceless), and then November 7th the open dislike will go through the roof. > > Gonna be legendary! The thing is it isn’t in anybody’s interest to talk publicly about how terrible a candidate either McCain was or Romney is. Fellow republican elected officials and Repubican pundits certainly aren’t being sincere but they’re not all that hypocritical… why would they admit he’s a loser thus reinforcing that reality to the large majority of the country that doesn’t pay close attention? Likewise the more neutral members of the media are incentivized against pointing out what a weak candidate Romney is because it’s in their interest to make it look close. It’s not even really a question of them trying to remain neutral. The media could completely objectively point out how daunting it would be for Romney to win in the electoral college but it sounds very close if they just report they’re very close in nationwide polling. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/37 "2012-07-15T00:37:13Z")
From the link above: There is absolutely **no evidence** that I had any role whatsoever in the management of Bain Capital after February 1999," Romney told ABC News’ Jon Karl. The bolding is mine. Isn’t that an odd way to claim innocence? “There is absolutely no evidence…” He didn’t say it was not true. He didn’t say it was a lie. He said _there is absolutely no evidence._ Did he personally destroy the evidence? I just find it an odd choice of words. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/38 "2012-07-15T01:14:36Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Right now he’s coming across as a whiny bitch. Maybe he \*should \*step down before he really gets his feelings hurt. Asking for apologies from your political opponent this early in the campaign? [Very presidential, Mittens](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-calls-obama-apologize-bain-attacks-221652801.html). I would pay good money to hear Obama give him a sarcastic apology “My fellow Americans. I have been unfair to Mr. Romney and I want to apologize. I’m sorry that he’s such a huge outsourcer douchebag and that he bankrupted tons of American companies and sold their jobs to China. I’m sorry that America economic regulations, with its freedoms, liberty, and justice, couldn’t guarantee him the kind of money only possible with child labor and slave-like wages.” > [@Gagundathar](#): > > Mr. Romney’s strategy appears to be to complain that Mr. Obama isn’t playing fair. > Five interviews this morning and essentially they all focused on what Mr. Romney is saying about the issue, not the issue itself. > That may change. > But, it probably won’t. This coming from a guy who edited Obama’s words quoting McCain to make it seem like Obama’s saying them himself. Tsk tsk, what would Romney’s alien Jesus think about that? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/39 "2012-07-15T01:34:12Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > The thing is it isn’t in anybody’s interest to talk publicly about how terrible a candidate either McCain was or Romney is. Fellow republican elected officials and Repubican pundits certainly aren’t being sincere but they’re not all that hypocritical… why would they admit he’s a loser thus reinforcing that reality to the large majority of the country that doesn’t pay close attention? I don’t expose myself to Fox News, but having spent enough time in politics chatrooms I can testify that this talking point is pretty widespread among the base - “McCain was a weak candidate, it didn’t matter because we all knew Obama was gonna win anyway, so we decided to just get ready for 2012”. I expect to hear more of the same about Romney after the election. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197/40 "2012-07-15T02:03:57Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Has any presidential candidate ever backed out at this point? Horace Greeley _died_ during the 1872 campaign, but Grant would’ve won in any case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-romney-quits/628197.md?page=3)