Carolina off his mind
Jonathan Martin reports that Mitt Romney’s campaign has confirmed that they have stopped advertising in South Carolina. I imagine that it means that they’re targeting their resources on Michigan, since if he doesn’t win there, South Carolina and Florida won’t matter any longer. If he wins Michigan, the thinking probably is, he’ll get enough earned media that he can move up in the SC polls before their January 19 primary election.
When I was in South Carolina over the weekend there were only two Republicans on the air (and one racist RINO). One was Mitt Romney, the other was John McCain. Presumably there is now only one.
Romney has amassed an impressive list of South Carolina endorsements, but my own canvass of parts of the Upstate didn’t show that it was having any effect. It will be interesting to see if what support he might have had in the Palmetto State moves to Fred or McCain. Don’t know if it will help, but it certainly can’t hurt Fred–especially with voters for whom illegal immigration is a major concern.
ALSO:
Dan Riehl agrees: “It’s more likely he’s going to focus on Michigan and a new more positive strategy before doing anything else . . . “ Riehl also correctly notes that the last Gallup poll had Romney below Fred nationally. $70 million spent, at least $17 million of his own and Romney is in fifth place and without a win in either of the two states he was expected to carry. That’s why Ted Welch isn’t taking his calls.
UPDATE:
Jim Geraghty agrees: Michigan is Make or Break for Romney
January 9th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
[…] Politico reports that Mitt Romney has pulled out of the race . . . in South Carolina. […]
January 9th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
As Romney slides, where will his supporters go - Rudy, Huck, John or Fred?
I’m going to suggest that a significant number will go to Fred. He’s already lost the evangelicals - they went to Huckabee. What remains are people who don’t like Rudy’s social liberalism. That leaves Fred and John.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
[…] to make of this poll? Well Bob Krumm points out… $70 million spent, at least $17 million of his own and Romney is in fifth place and without a win […]