Because McCain Sounds So Much Like Romney

By Eric on January 16, 2008

Most Democrats probably weren’t paying attention to today’s primary in Michigan since the DNC stripped all of Michigan’s delegates and only Clinton, Dodd, Kucinich, and Gravel were on the (meaningless) ballot.

For Republicans, however, today was the day that a clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination could have been determined, and it was especially important for Mitt Romney, who was banking on a Michigan victory in order to stay in the race. And Romney did indeed win this evening with a 9-point lead over second-place John McCain.

Unfortunately for Romney, the Michigan Republican Party lost interest in the primary as the day grew later, so they hadn’t been paying attention when they released their official congratulations for the winner.

The Michigan Republican Party mistakenly sent out a news release Tuesday night congratulating John McCain for winning the state’s GOP primary.
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The Associated Press named Romney the GOP winner when polls closed in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula at 9 p.m. EST.

The first GOP release went out just minutes later and stated, “In a close-fought victory, Senator John McCain succeeded again (in) the Michigan Republican primary, winning over a traditionally unpredictable voter base in Michigan.”

Five minutes after that, the party sent a release that said, “In a close-fought victory, native son Governor Mitt Romney won an important contest here tonight.”

Whoops. Okay, so it’s a silly little mistake, but Romney’s victory and the fact that the Michigan GOP was itching to give McCain the nod are indicative of a larger problem plaguing Republicans: they have no idea who they want to be President.

The convincing victory by Mitt Romney in the Michigan primary on Tuesday means three very different states — with dissimilar electorates driven by distinctive sets of priorities — have embraced three separate candidates in search of someone who can lead the party into a tough election and beyond President Bush.
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On the most tangible level, the vote on Tuesday was proof from the ballot box of what polls have shown: this is a party that is adrift, deeply divided and uninspired when it comes to its presidential candidates and unsure of how to counter an energized Democratic Party.

Romney’s victory (which will keep him in the race) begins another chaotic month for the Republicans. May it be filled with money-wasting ads and swift-boating.

And apologies to the Michigan Republican Party which oh-so-badly wanted McCain to win on Tuesday. Of course, they should be used to this kind of thing; after all, they voted for Dewey.

Tags: 2008, John McCain, Michigan, Mitt Romney, Republican primary

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