Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R.-Mass.), battling sagging poll numbers in his own state, says he will not seek re-election next year, which translates roughly into “I’m running for president of the United States.”
Romney has some hurdles to overcome on the policy front before he reaches the point where he will be able to compete for the support of conservatives. Then he has to figure out a way to beat the Giulianis, McCains and Allens - a feat that won’t be easy.
Earlier this year HUMAN EVENTS pulled together a sampling of Romney’s political stances on several key issues: “Where Does Mitt Romney Stand?” It’s an excellent read because we quoted Romney himself - on some issues dating to his Senate campaign against Teddy Kennedy in 1994.
One state GOP chairman, Michigan’s Saul Anuzis, said there’s no question Republicans will be hearing more from Romney as 2008 approaches.
Governor Romney gave me a courtesy call a little while ago letting me know that he would be making an announcement tonight at 6:00pm that he would NOT be running for re-election as Governor of Massachusetts.
He said he was very appreciative of all the support and friendship he received from our party activists in Michigan.
I thanked him for his call and wished him all the luck in his future endeavors.
I have a feeling we'll be hearing from him more than less!
As the sweepstakes heats up (make sure you see the latest Zogby numbers on key Washington politicos, including Sen. John McCain and Condoleezza Rice), conservatives should be asking tough questions of any contender, but particularly one who was so unpopular in his own state that he decided not to seek a second term.