Exclusive: Mitt Romney To Endorse Marco Rubio - The establishment wagons are circling.

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- In a major development in the Republican presidential race, 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney will endorse Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for president, The Huffington Post has learned from two Republican sources.

Details of Romney's endorsement were still being worked out as of Sunday morning. The sources said that the former Massachusetts governor had been eager to provide his backing to Rubio for days but had hesitated, due to his respect for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who suspended his campaign on Saturday night following his dismal fourth-place showing in the South Carolina primary.

Romney spent the day in Utah on Saturday and could potentially be in position to bestow his blessing upon Rubio before Tuesday's Nevada Republican caucuses--a contest that Romney won easily in both 2008 and 2012.

Romney’s backing will provide Rubio with the highest-profile endorsement of the 2016 race and is the clearest signal yet that the party’s establishment is ready to coalesce around the Florida senator as its last best chance to defeat GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-endorse-marco-rubio_us_56c91e0ae4b0928f5a6c3136

[livetohike]

1. Bring it on! This will be so much fun! Romney back

on the campaign trail trying to convince voters that this immature person is remotely qualified.

[7962]

22. But you already know what the GOP answer to that POV is.

I dont even bring it up in a discussion.
They'll just point to Pres Obamas experience when HE ran & say "whats the difference"

[livetohike]

30. Good point, but I think President Obama was clearly

more mature and responsible when he ran in 2008 vs Rubio today.

[CrispyQ]

55. Also, President Obama has a brain. Rubio looks vacant. He's a puppet, just like Reagan was. -nt

[livetohike]

56. Yes! Reagan was the happy puppet and Rubio is the frightenef

puppet

[FarPoint]

2. I see Kasich accepting VP slot....

Trump may begin to fall... No sure as the narrow minded Teabaggerish voter won't fall in line...Rubio became the chosen one when Governor Haley endorsed him...The memo had thus been dispatched..

[Frustratedlady]

5. Rubio will follow orders from the powers that be...

So immature. It would be like voting for class president.

[FarPoint]

7. Rubio and Kasich both will fall in line.

That is our chosen opposition now...Rubio/ Kasich....

[Reter]

46. All establishment politicians follow orders from the powers that be

Romney, Rubio, Hillary, Dole, you name them.

[enid602]

12. cruz

And Cruz might gracefully exit if promised a slot on the Supreme Court, where he can really do some damage.

[FarPoint]

14. That is a terrifying thought.

[tabasco]

29. All the more terrifying because it could happen.

Yes, fascism could happen here.

[LibDemAlways]

43. Could happen? It's been that way for years. n/t

[ThreeWayFanny]

60. Totally very misleading and deceptive . ....

...Mussolini did not say this, although he did talk about "corporatism". However, the "corporatism" he was referring to is a moderate form of guild socialism or syndicalism. Mussolini was claiming that fascism was in actuality the realization of the goals and ideals of guild socialism / syndicalism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatism

http://www.publiceye.org/fascist/corporatism.html

[Algernon Moncrieff]

48. He'd be no worse than Scalia

So if he's replacing Scalia, it's a net no-change.

Now if he were replacing Bader-Ginsburg, it'd be a different story.

[Renew Deal]

3. I'm not convinced this will move votes.

[Scarsdale]

31. I agree

Mitten's endorsement and $1.00 will get you a cup of coffee at McDonalds. Romney was not presidential material and nor is Rubio.

[6chars]

4. who is a better opponent for us?

I think Rubio. 1) he is more predictable than Trump, 2) his inexperience will be easy for our nominee to attack, 3) if worst case he is elected - well, Trump scares me more.

[7962]

18. Polls show Trump doing worse in the general than Cruz or Rubio

Kasich does the best. I guess thats why the idiots have him in 4th!

[Cosmocat]

37. Rubio is BY FAR the biggest threat

I can't emphasize that enough.

I don't know what elections you have followed, but I am 50, and there has not been a POTUS election that the democratic nominee has been able to "attack" the republican nominee.

It is always, ALWAYS the democrat being attacked relentlessly with republican mostly being positively framed.

Ex. the highly capable Gore was framed an arrogant geek while the idiot was A GUY YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BEER WITH.
Ex. Kerry, a decorated vet wounded in service was weak while the idiot who avoided service because of his last name was TOUGH AND RESOLUTE!

Rubio is not brilliant or anything, but he is sharper than people here give him credit for, and he is young, good looking and has successfully did what GWB has done, pander to the extreme element of the party with wink while having a more positive frame to what he actually says.

Republicans WILL breathlessly say he is the second coming of Ronald Reagen, and the media WILL fawn over him like teenage girls fawned over the Beattles, while gleefully forwarding whatever bullshit narrative that Rs cook up for Hillary or Bernie.

We want nothing, N O T H I N G to do with Marco Rubio as their nominee.

[6chars]

38. In that case (swallow my vomit) go Trump!

I find it hard to see Rubio as such a threat. But you never know with politics, I guess. I do see what you're saying about the GWB wink.

[Cosmocat]

40. Yep

This is the prism of the overall dynamics of this election.

it is set up as a complete repeat of 99.

The country coming off 8 years of a democrat who did a pretty damn good job, but because republicans threw an 8 year hissy fit it feels like things are worse than they are, and the country is wore down by republicans, who have helped to gin up this "they are all the same" thing, which gives the mushy middle the permission to vote R just to shut them up.

What is Rubio's message - ripped of house on the hill Reagen bullshit, which he rode to victory after they saved Jimmy Carter.

His version of GWBs "compassionate conservatism."

If Rubio is the nominee, unless something REALLY drastic happens financially or with security, he wins, and it won't be close, Hillary or Bernie.

[6chars]

51. that is an astute observation

about parallel with 99.

[book_worm]

6. Trump will have a field day with that endorsement.

[FarPoint]

8. Folks will soon be weary of Trump.

He's fun, fresh and speaks their conscious but that soon will end by Super Tuesday.

[book_worm]

16. The media has been saying that for months

[7962]

24. Hell, I said "Well, thats it for him!" too many times to count.

But I STILL feel like its gotta happen eventually!

[Fritz Walter]

9. Welcome back, Mittens!

Please promise to campaign with the Marco Bot!

[houston16revival]

10. Get your Rubio Robot puppets ready

and practice ventriloquism

[exboyfil]

11. Surprise

I thought Romney would be the convention white knight. Could be he needs a Rubio just strong enough to keep Trump from a first ballot win.

[tomm2thumbs]

13. Tea Party kiss of death if you ask me

not to mention for the rest of those who voted for him only to wildy disappointed by his campaign efforts which bordered on idiotic

[tanyev]

15. Oh yeah, that'll help!

[mnhtnbb]

17. Kiss of death!

[7962]

19. Well, we had to know he wasnt gonna endorse Trump! nt

[skepticscott]

20. Major development? Seriously?

It would be a major development if Huff Post put up an article with an ounce of thought behind it. This, not so much. Mitt Romney's endorsement of Rubio will have the effect of making Mitt Romney look like even more of an irrelevant twit, but it won't boost Rubio in any way that matters. How many people do they think will have their votes flipped by what Mitt Romney says, when nothing Rubio himself has said so far has had any effect?

[mountain grammy]

21. Last night I heard Chris Matthews sputter..

Rubio will make Democrats afraid to nominate Bernie Sanders.

[restorefreedom]

52. poor chris....

he can't even think straight until his wife's run for congress is over....

[MissKat]

23. Oh, Mitt the Stiff helping Marco the Shaken?

It doesn't matter.
Trump is going to be the nominee.
Out driving around yesterday in the country and saw this lawn sign: "That's Right Obama, Your Fired! Trump USA"
Folks, stop pretending that Trump won't matter, that he's going to go away. You'd better pay attention, people really love him. Not the people who read this site, but a lot of people out there think he's just what they want in a president.
I love Bernie and yes, I really like Hillary. And I think Bernie has been the best thing in the world for Hillary, he's pushing her left. So let's support Hillary and Bernie and tell the Grand Obstructionist Party we've got two great candidates, two people who we can be proud of.

[malthaussen]

25. That must curdle his insides...

... can you seriously imagine he has any real respect for a Latino, even one like Rubio?

-- Mal

[SoLeftIAmRight]

26. This was done long ago in the other party...

the machines are real

[AxionExcel]

27. "Hie thee to Kolob, Rub i O." - Mitty

[brooklynite]

28. In the SC exit poll, a key finding was that a significant share ovoters HATE Republican leaders

This isn't going to help.

[DCBob]

32. I think we can beat Rubio.

He is slick, fast-talking and looks good on camera but he has some weaknesses especially when matched up with Hillary Clinton. I think he will come off looking amateurish and boyish next to Madam Secretary. Jeb Bush was my biggest fear and he is now gone.

[Cosmocat]

39. Rubio is BY FAR the biggest threat

I can not emphasize this enough ...

People here underestimate Rubio out of the off hand disregard for republicans.

By their standards he isn't an idiot.

And, you are totally discounting the dymamics of presidential races.

It isn't some kind of sober "comparison."

It is a media shitfest with driving dynamics.

1) Every frame to destroy the democrat will be forwarded as serious "analysis" regardless of how idiotic it is.
2) Every effort to positively frame the republican candidate by republicans will be forwarded as given fact, and it only takes an endless stream of mis steps to allow any negative analysis of the republican.

Tertiary to that is the general tone of the media and country to what party is coming off holding the white house.

99, coming of a successful presidency marked by 8 years of republicans throwing a hissy fit like a 3 year old, the capable and decent Al Gore was framed as an distrustful arrogant while the moron was framed as a guy you would like to have a beer with.

Rubio has the looks, Rubio has the confidence and general charm, and is sharper than GWB.

The Repubican party will scream how he is the second coming of Ronald Reagen, the media will fawn over him like teenage girls over the beatles, while gleefully channeling whatever bullshit republicans throw at Hillary or Bernie.

Jeb was BY FAR the weakest major candidate.

One day he says Nikki Haley's endorsement will be the most meaningful endorsement, the next she endorses Rubio.

That sums it up ...

Rubio almost assuredly will win, and win big, if he is the nominee.

[DCBob]

41. Nonsense.

You give Rubio way too much credit. You seem to admire him. We can beat any Republican in a general election.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

54. Rubio's biggest weakness is that he can't think on his feet

The 4x repeating of the talking point in the NH debate is the perfect example.

That said, your "You seem to admire him" line is uncalled for. Rubio IS dangerous.

1) I don't know if you live in a state where there has been a lot of campaign advertising. Here, we just got done with weeks of Iowa caucus ads. Rubio has very sharp, very smart campaign ads.

2) He's young. Our candidates are not.

3) His family story ("my dad stood behind that bar so I can stand before you at this podium today&quot is compelling.

4) Attacking his frequent absences from the Senate won't work, and it didn't work as a line of attack against Barack Obama.

5) He'd win Florida

He can be beaten, but he should not be dismissed. Personally, I'd rather deal with Cruz or Trump.

[DCBob]

58. I was responding to a person who posted this..

"Rubio almost assuredly will win, and win big, if he is the nominee."

That's an absurd comment so I responded likewise.

However, I do agree Rubio is dangerous.. but I am fairly confident we can beat him. Democratic candidates have the advantage in a general election with so many big states that pretty much are guaranteed to go blue. Also, we dont need Florida.. they do. We can win with all sorts of plausible scenarios.. the Repubs pretty much need to run the table. I dont see any R candidate out there now that can do that... including Rubio.

[Koinos]

33. In a brokered Republican convention...

If the first round of voting fails to produce a nominee, delegates may turn to Mitt Romney as a compromise solution. People (especially Republican people) have short memories, and they might view Romney as a more "neutral" establishment candidate. He has name recognition, and having run for office before gives him a weird sort of "credibility" as a candidate. I have thought all along that if the Republican primary is inconclusive, delegates (and establishment) might revisit Romney as a candidate, perhaps with Rubio as a VP choice. The Republican establishment knows they don't want Trump or Cruz and is left with a vacuum since Bush has suspended his campaign. They also know that Rubio doesn't have what it takes to lead the ticket (think "Dan Quayle&quot . If that scenario happens, Trump may or may not run as an independent. The more broken the Republican party becomes, the more it seems likely to me that the convention will be "broken" or brokered.

[Cassiopeia]

34. They see another puppet with better speaking skills

than Bush.

I'm sure his admin would be packed with many of the same people Bush had.

[Sunlei]

35. Trump will have a field day with the "Trump & Romney do Vegas photos"

[Helen Borg]

36. Mitt Android endorsing Marco Roboto?

Wow, did not see that coming!

[liberalhistorian]

42. Does anyone, including Republicans, really

care anymore what Der Mittster has to say about anything, let alone a presidential endorsement? Really? How pathetic.

[lark]

44. Yep, I said as much to my husband this morning.

Repug party knows Trump or Cruz = lose. They think that with sufficient voter limitations and billions of $ worth of negative and false advertisements from the Super Pacs and Kochs, they can win with Rubio's young and pretty face. They'll just put the mic pack on his back like they did during the debates with GW and have other, smarter people answer the questions and cover up Rubio's lack of intelligence and basic laziness.

[flamingdem]

45. I wonder how Rubot feels about Big Bird?

Leave me alone Marco Robotico

[LibDemAlways]

47. Ultimately, it's the R voters who will decide, and

the R voters seem to like Trump. They find his outrageous racism somehow refreshing. Rubio is a corrupt little twit, and Trump will be relentless in his bashing. Republican voters are as fed up as anybody, and I can't see them rallying behind a sanctimonious fraud who changes his religion more often than most people change their underwear and who has a habit of not showing up for work. He's giving Trump plenty of ammunition. Mitten's endorsement isn't worth spit and probably will only have the effect of shoring up support for The Donald.

[WhiteHat]

49. Of course.

Mitt and his co-conspirators see Rubio as a financially-desperate sock puppet. What's not to like?

[AwakeAtLast]

50. Hmmm, a failed candidate's endorsement

That's a plus how?

I guess when that's all ya got......

[PatrickforO]

53. Well I know Mitt's endorsement will carry lots of weight.

But then, on the other hand, Rubio might win, especially if it's Clinton he faces, because she can't win against him.

[JHB]

57. The man who was the "anybody but..." guy for the 2012 primaries...

...was the last clown left in the car anyway, and still lost the general election endorses Rubio.

"A better Amercia" indeed.

[olddots]

59. this is just funng

[GreatGazoo]

61. So Rubio has the Robot vote? I guess that is no surprise.

"I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that's the America millions of Americans believe in. That's the America I love." —Mitt Romney, perhaps impaired by some incorrectly written software.