THE ADVICE from long-time Republican Party strategist, Alex Castellanos, is common sense. Not that the party – half of which, polls suggest, supports the Tea Party – wants to hear it. It came after a week when the field of presidential possibles was reduced to what will probably be the final starting line-up to take on President Obama. Castellanos suggests Republicans need to stop looking for a “Superman – somebody with a cape to fly in and beat Barack Obama and solve all the nation’s problems . . .There is no such thing as Superman,” it’s time to “play ball”.
The subtext? Mitt Romney, the uninspiring former governor of Massachusetts, the steady centrist, whose previous campaign experience has so far steered him safely through the rocky waters of debates, is definitely no Superman. But, realistically, he is as good as it gets, now the mainstream candidate and best chance of beating Obama. There are no white knights left awaiting the call, on the right or left. Last week New Jersey governor Chris Christie said he would not run – a moderate with a real chance of squeezing Romney’s base.
On the right Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate, also declared herself out, clearing the conservative/evangelical field for Tea Party favourites, Texas governor Rick Perry, congresswoman Michelle Bachman, resilient former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain, former house speaker Newt Gingrich and the outsider’s outsider, congressman Ron Paul. They will all be vying for her endorsement.
Perry’s August declaration had been heralded widely as a game-changer. It would eclipse Bachmann’s campaign and even had potential to erode Romney’s centrist base. He started well and last week reported fundraising of $17 million in the last quarter, ahead of all the field. But he stumbled during the most recent TV debate by suggesting those who oppose his support for state legislation providing tuition help for undocumented immigrants’ children don’t “have a heart”. Comments that strike at the heart of immigration-averse conservatives.
Among Tea Party primary voters, polls suggest, Perry's support has tanked from 45 to 10 per cent, while Cain's has risen from 5 to 30 per cent. The most recent ABC/ Washington Postpoll of all Republican voters puts Romney ahead on 25 per cent, followed by both Perry and Cain on 17 per cent, Bachmann (14.5 per cent) and both Gingrich and Paul (9 per cent). They all go head to head again on TV tomorrow.
