Spending a few days in Washington…where politics never stops…Cherry Blossoms return annually…and after 25 years here…it’s like coming home. The Republican presidential contest is CENTER STAGE…Romney is working the hill…the Supreme Court gets ready for Obamacare on Monday…and 2016 may be underway.
When the Afternoon Fix [Thursday] hit computers…reporting Santorum suggested he’d reelect President Obama over Romney…the Cherry trees began to shake.
Santorum quoted from Texas…”If you’re going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk with what may be the Etch-a-sketch candidate of the future.” Romney responded in a statement, “I was disappointed to hear Rick Santorum would rather have Barack Obama as president than a Republican…Any of the Republicans running would be better than President Obama and his record of failure.” Gingrich likewise said any Republican better than Obama.
Straight out of POLITICO…on Romney visit to Capitol Hill yesterday: “Romney shared a light moment at the breakfast, which was held in the Hyatt Regency Washington, when 88-year-old Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) told him that he had ‘never met a Mormon I didn’t like’ and noted that Latter-day Saints teetotalers ‘give me those airplane bottles of booze when we’re on a flight.’ Romney laughed good-naturedly with the oldest member of the House.” Enjoy the full story here. http://bit.ly/GIbTzS
The 2016 presidential campaign is underway…POLITICO Playbook says…Wayne Berman a DC GOP player…emailed “There is a keen awareness in the party, particularly among fund raisers and elected officials, that Santorum is playing to hurt Romney so that Romney loses. Santorum sees himself as the nominee in 2016, and he’s playing a 2016 game.”
Four former Republican Senators wrote this morning about “GOP ideals that unite, not divide”…worth a read just click here.
An important development this week…FREEDOMWORKS…the Tea Party group decided to drop its opposition to Mitt Romney…its VP Russ Walker told The Washington Times “It is a statistical fact that the numbers favor Mitt Romney. We are dedicated to defeating Obama and electing a conservative Senate that will help Romney…repeal Obamacare and address the nation’s economic and spending challenges.”
Who would have thought a child’s toy playing a role in the presidential contest…Eric Fehrnstrom…whose comment raise the stock of Etch A Sketch joked on Twitter…about a poor choice of words that led to two days of attacks from his boss’ [Romney] rivals. “Etch A Sketch stock is up?” he wrote. “Psst. I’ll mention Mr. Potato Head next. By Hasbro.”
MEMORIES…former Senate majority leaders Howard Baker and Bob Dole struck a collegial tone at the “century of service” tribute to them at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Click and check out the event here.
Laura Bush & friends were early morning visitors to see the Cherry trees…while brother-in-law former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorsed Mitt Romney.
Does it sound like I support Mitt Romney…well I do.