Now that the family vacation is over, it is time to get back to my pontifications on the real world and the latest assault on the Mitt Romney campaign by a "push polling" firm is a good place to start.
As it appears that Mr. Romney is the front runner not just in Iowa but by a wide margin in New Hampshire, the desperation sets in. It sets in when a polling firm called Western Wats based in, of all places, Utah, begins "polling" New Hampshire voters with leading questions about Mr. Romney and his Mormon faith.
No one really knows who was behind this "poll" and some bizarre speculation is that the Romney campaign itself was behind it. Other speculation is that the Rudy Giuliani campaign was behind it as if Mr. Romney wins the Iowa caucuses and then the New Hampshire primary, this would be a potential death-knell for the Giuliani campaign. That is plausible. But, Sen. John "F--- You" McCain came out rather quickly in denial and denunciation. So, maybe, the McCain people were turning the tables using religion against Mr. Romney. Again, no one knows who hired this polling firm and what the real motive is.
But, motive is not important. How the polling was done with questions about Mr. Romney and his Mormon faith is.
Again, for the umpteenth time, by voting for Mr. Romney one does not endorse his religion or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is voting for a candidate that will best carry out the job of president. Nothing more and nothing less.
What was done here and what was done to Sen. McCain in 2000 in South Carolina were unnecessary, desperate moves going after a candidate personally. In 2000, then-Gov. George W. Bush supporters spread all sorts of rumors and innuendos and went after an adopted child of Sen. and wife Cindy McCain, saying that-horrors-the child was b-l-a-c-k! Da Horror! Oh, for the record, the child is from Bangladesh, not Africa. It was bad politics then as it is now to lead people away from a candidate based on religion.
This does not hurt Mr. Romney but only solidifies that he is the front runner for the Republican nomination for president. If one does not believe that, look at Real Clear Politics http://realclearpolitics.com and note that Mr. Romney has the lead in Iowa, New Hampshire and tied in South Carolina. Mr. Romney is also second in Michigan and will catch up in Florida. Mr. Romney also should take some delegates in California as he will win some congressional districts, which is how the California Republicans will distribute the delegates to the Minnesota nominating convention.
So, this goes with the territory, but this is bad territory and one that no one should be in this territory.
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