(ThyBlackMan.com) It seems Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul is assisting former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s bid for the Republican nomination.
According to NBC News, the Ron Paul campaign is passing around opposition research to the Mitt Romney campaign, focusing on thwarting former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum’s rise in the polls.
The report is the latest making the rounds. The New York Times reported earlier this week that Ron Paul and Mitt Romney have developed a close friendship during the 2012 campaign, with the Texas Republican saying he discusses a number of issues with the Massachusetts Republican.
“I talk to Mitt Romney more than the rest on a friendly basis,” Ron Paul said. ”I throw Mitt Romney’s name out because he’s made a bigger attempt to do it. The others are sort of just real flat.”
The candidates’ spouses, Ann Romney and Carol Paul, “know each other better than any of the other wives,” Ron Paul said. He and Mr. Mitt Romney talk “all the time” and “we’ve met all their kids.” Once he telephoned Mitt Romney just as Mr. Romney was calling him. “Sometimes I’m never sure who issued a call,” he said.
With Rick Santorum potentially on the brink of upsetting Mitt Romney in state of Michigan next week, the Paul campaign is targeting the former Pennsylvania senator for what it says is hypocrisy. The Ron Paul campaign released an ad on Tuesday, attacking Mr. Santorum’s support of a number of policies that the Paul campaign said lead Republican voters to question the Pennsylvania Republican’s conservatism.
Titled “Fake,” the Ron Paul ad highlights Mr. Santorum’s support for raising the debt ceiling, his backing of the expansion of the Department of Education and his support for No Child Left Behind. It even accuses him of sending billions of dollars in aid to North Korea.
Note: Should Ron Paul continue to reach out to Mitt Romney? Or Dr. Ron Paul need to look out for self, yes never help your political enemy. Ron Paul supporters speak up.
Via AP
Dr Paul has said in his previous speaches, NH most memorable, that he saw this as a two man race vs Romney. I think he would like to see it get down to him and Mitt as soon as possible, so any time Gingrich or Santorum rise up, expect Dr Paul to offer his views on their record and inform the voters. Especially when the MSM is showering praise on one of these other candidates, it seems like the only one to talk about their bad records is Ron Paul, and he is willing to spend his campaign money to do so.
Then there are two other items I think are in play here
First, I don’t think Dr Paul particularly likes Gingrich or Santorum. Gingrich actively tried to get Rep Paul replaced in the House of Rep back when Gingrich was the speaker. Rep Paul is loyal to his oath of office, not Gingrich, and so he was targeted for replacement. Gingrich had former Pres G.H.W Bush endorse Dr Paul’s competitor, and they had the TX Gov at the time George W Bush endorse Dr Paul’s competitor as well.
In this campaign, Paul hit Gingrich in his ads, and it hurt. I don’t think the source of this was to help Romney.
Santorum has been a real jerk towards Dr Paul the whole campaign. They don’t agree on the war, with Santorum being the most eager to expand the current war, and start new ones. Ron Paul wants to bring the troops home, and if his advertisements keep Santorum from being the nominee, it is because Dr Paul wants to, not to help Romney.
Secondly getting to a two man race woudl be nice, but I have my own take on civility. My guess is that Dr Paul is cordial with Mitt Romney because he woudl like to honestly beat him in a civil race, so that Dr Paul coudl recruit Romney for HIS vp choice.
I personally don’t think that Dr Paul’s age is a factor, but I know that some do. Ron Paul’s selection for his Vice President is going to be a big issue, and he knows this. The guy is smart. Mitt Romney would be an excellnt choice for Ron Paul’s VP. He is known, vetted, popular, and business savvy.
Gingrich and Santorum have earned their attacks. Ron Paul is in this to win the nomination and the presidency. It doesn’t hurt him to be civil with Romney. He needs to get the other two out of the race anyway. Then leaving the option open for Romney to be Dr paul’s VP is just smart. Ron paul has displayed on many occasions that he has the visionary trait like this.
I think it is a good strategy on Ron Paul’s part to work to get Rick Santurom out and Gingrich out. Paul reportedly is in second place in the delegate count and Romney would be more vulnerable because I do not see those that might support Santorum or Gingrich switching over to Romney. It is tricky but it could be done. I would also note that Romney nor the super pac supporting him have set their sights on attacking Paul at this stage with targeted ads but are rather focusing on Gingrich and Santorum, again, which is good for Paul.
I’m disappointed that Ron Paul is working with a flip flopping loser.
RON PAUL 2012
Ron Paul and Mitt Romney would be a great duo! As for seeing them together would lead America to the right path! really for me would be wonderful.
Romney and Paul both see how bloated our government is, they treat each others opinions with respect. Personally I think they would make a great team. Ron Paul has brought some really good issues to the table for consideration and only a fool would turn a blind eye and Romney is not a fool and he’s always willing to listen to good ideas. And if you convince him your right, he is quick to implement those ideas. Also, Romney has the ear of the main GOP players and if there is any truth that Ron’s son may have presidential aspirations, then it would do no good for Ron to alienate everybody. These two teamed up is a powerful combination I think.
I don’t believe that Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are competing for the same voters. Rick Santorum’s supporters are “shifty” despite what polls may say about how “committed” voters are to their choice, as the “boom and bust” cycle of front-runners thus far has proven. I don’t believe that Ron Paul actually supports Mitt Romney, but has him as more of a back-up plan. Ron Paul has learned that it is near impossible to promote his message from outside a major party and has instead used his campain to promote activism inside the Republican party. His campain has caused his supporters to become actively involved in the political process which is helping to ensure his support will become entrenched in the “establishment” and promote change from within. I think Ron Paul sees that Mitt Romney has the best chance of becoming the nominee and is in the best position of any of the other candidates to adopt some of his message. I also believe that by keeping the race split between multiple candidates, it promotes the opportunity for a contested vote at the convention if there is no automatic nominee and will provide him with the opportunity to gain even greater support from delegates he has helped place once they are “unbound” after the first vote. Ron Paul has been working to get supporters chosen as delegates in each state, even if technically they are “bound”, it is only for the 1st vote, if there is no clear nominee, they can then support whomever they choose, and Ron Paul supporters are extremely committed. I think he is making wise choices for his campain and future of his message.
Prior to now there was a question whether Gingrich and Santorum could continue to the convention due to funding/campaign management issues. More recently Gingrich got a boost from Adelson the casino 1%’er and Santorum is surging all over the place due to his recent statewide straw poll victories.
The goal for all three of the non-Romney candidates is to be just that, not Romney. I’ve watched every single debate, and to be perfectly frank, Romney has been the most civil towards Paul. It’s certainly possible they have developed a friendship after seeing each other at countless campaign events since 2008, but when it comes right down to it they have entirely different political views. There is probably a mutual respect because they both see each other as their most significant threat.
I think it has a lot more to do with the fact that Paul is going after the “anybody but Romney” vote, so it would be irrelevant to try and bash the beast. It would turn out utterly fruitless especially for the cost it would take to over barren his money supply; which is huge (GS BofA JPM and such), RP is on the right track.