Mitch McConnell Compares Romney-Gingrich Battle To Clinton-Obama Contest In 2008

WASHINGTON -- After Newt Gingrich vowed to take his campaign all the way to the Republican convention in Tampa, Fla., this summer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tuesday compared the increasingly bitter GOP battle to the epic struggle four years ago between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Asked about the damage the daily back and forth was doing and whether it would be better for the GOP if there was only candidate left -- a question often asked of Democrats in 2008 -- McConnell pointed to that Democratic slugfest as evidence his party would be just fine.

"I don't think the primary voters out in the presidential contests need any advice from me, particularly about who to support or how quickly to end it," McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill. "It will end when it ends. And at that point I think we're going to have a nominee who's very competitive."

He went on to suggest that the charges flying in the GOP fight could help.

"I think we have an excellent chance to have a new president next year, and we're just all watching, like you are, the drama associated with this contest," McConnell said. "It's reminiscent of the contest between Obama and Clinton on the other side in 2008. Obviously that ended at some point. I think it was about June. And it didn't seem to have done them any harm in the general election, and I don't think this contest is going to do us any harm either."

In one big difference between 2008 and this year, however, Democrats were largely excited by their candidates, while Republican voters have shown little enthusiasm for their White House contenders in 2012.

A potentially worrisome sign for the GOP is that this year's lack of excitement for the Republican field is similar to how voters felt in 2008, when Arizona Sen. John McCain beat Romney before losing to Obama.

Comments

[beawild]

12:18 PM on 02/01/2012

Hillary was able to stay until the end of the primary because she was winning votes. She won most big state primaries and garnered almost 18M votes (more than anybody in a primary in US history). Obama's very small pledged delegate advantage was due to the caucus states. Neither one had enough pledged delegates to win the nomination outright. The super delegates gave the nomination to Obama.

Big difference from the dog fight taking place between Gingrich and Romney.

[Know-some-secrets]

04:20 PM on 02/02/2012

Actually, she was able to continue campaigning because she could “loan” her campaign over $13 million from her personal fortune, when no one was supporting her anymore.

[Wa1111]

12:13 PM on 02/01/2012

You just keep living in that fantasy, Mitch...just remember to pass the dutchie on the lefr hand side. BEST Political FUNNY, ANYWHERE! After FL. It's The Homers vs. The Gomers! Thoughts at 3 A.M. http://thoughtsatthreeam.blogspot.com/?spref=tw

[bigdeano]

09:14 AM on 02/01/2012

Whomever wins in November better figure out this economy. The CBO'S projections are bleek for '12 and even worse for '13. They actually predict unemployment going back up????
They stated the reason '13 was at 1% growth was because of the implementation of Obamacare. I am a small business owner with only 14 employees and I have to say I am very worried about the future.

[buddbo1]

01:41 AM on 02/01/2012

There was excitement for Obama and Clinton during the 2008 primary. Newt and Romney offer no such hope or excitement. Their party are still looking for someone else to enter the race. That's not encouraging !-

[Victor Trevino]

05:47 AM on 02/01/2012

I remember thinking both were great candidates and looked forward to each debate. That is not the feeling I get from this republican bunch at all. If anything its the opposite.
2008 dems =hope for humanity, 2012 repubs =misery for the masses.

[senatortruth]

09:15 PM on 01/31/2012

Obama and Clinton are good, honest Americans.

McConnell and the other Republics are NOT...

[bamasense]

09:03 PM on 01/31/2012

Typical republican nonsense, from a republican "leader". I think it's more wishful thinking on his part that his party can have such two great statesmen/women as President Barack Obama, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Where are the statesmen of the republican Party ... newt, mitt, cain?

[bamasense]

08:58 PM on 01/31/2012

Mitch is desperately trying to connect the GOP with something positive.

[Rendy Bee Mulyono]

08:52 PM on 01/31/2012

Oh please. Obama vs Clinton results in smart substantive debates. Newt vs Mitt is only a performance of "So you think you're an extremist?" with zero meaningful and revealing debates about their understanding of policies.

[propofemandsyd]

08:28 PM on 01/31/2012

Yeah, except that Hillary Clinton is intelligent.

[bamasense]

08:26 PM on 01/31/2012

The reason this GOP primary race is nastier than the Democrat's primary between President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, is because the republicans are a much nastier people.

[Rangergirl]

07:47 PM on 01/31/2012

What a crock. The race he was talking about was way less heated than this one... These two are anialating each other

[Greyfox01]

07:39 PM on 01/31/2012

One of my pet peeves is how long these election campaigns take, they go on, and on, and on, and on, when in fact they become boring a week after they start. The level of money use to bore America to tears could feed and house million of Americans.

Lately what's so great about being a congressmen that they get all the perks while doing nothing for the people, and at the same time they become richer by doing the work of the (people?) at the same time. Pay them the way we would any employee, on proformence, and only by making the America a better place for 100% of the citizens, and just for the filthy rich. I don't have a problem with the rich getting richer, but it seems they are sharing less and less of the American pie.

More inside traders are going to jail, but not enough to slow the tide of corruption flooding across this once mighty nation. I say the politico should get six weeks before the election to make their cas before the elections, and then its back to work.

[GrammieJ]

07:31 PM on 01/31/2012

McConnell is "smoking" something again and it must be some good stuff for him to be making those statements!
The GOP is scared, they do not have a candidate that will rally the GOP, this is sad.
But will be interesting to see how they try and get behind one of their weakies!

[jkbc8484]

02:29 PM on 02/01/2012

LOL with your first sentence. Good one.

[grumpy2]

07:24 PM on 01/31/2012

Yeah right, Mitt pres. Newt sec. of state, yup Mitch you nailed it. now have a glass of warm milk and off to nap time.

[Grant in Calgary]

07:30 PM on 01/31/2012

What happened to grumpy1?

[jkbc8484]

02:30 PM on 02/01/2012

These posts are great! Funny and witty.

[Jake the Snake]

07:24 PM on 01/31/2012

The depth of failed leadership from the republicans is mind blowing.

[springsm]

07:29 PM on 01/31/2012

True words. I was so enjoying not having to hear the blather from this toad. and NOT seeing his picture.