Bob McDonnell: 'A Little Late' To Advise Mitt Romney To Tone It Down

Gov. Bob McDonnell, appearing outside the White House after a meeting between the governors and the president, did yeomen's work in expressing his lack of concern over the general vitriol in the Republican primary.

The Virginia Republican and Mitt Romney supporter explained, on several occasions, that a long primary process wasn't necessarily a negative one. He pointed to Barack Obama's drag-out fight against Hillary Clinton in 2008 as evidence.

But when pushed about the repeated violations of Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment -- much of it undertaken by Romney's super PAC -- he acknowledged that things have turned a touch nasty. Do you think they should tone it down a little bit, Politico's Glenn Thrush asked, would that be advice you would give to Governor Romney?

"It would be a little late for that advice," said McDonnell. "[But] yeah, I would love to see it be more positive. People want to be uplifted. We are coming out of the worst downturn in the economy since the great depression. People are hurting. Tens of millions of people are unemployed or underemployed. They don't want to hear about excuses, they don't want to hear about delays. They don't want more finger-pointing. They want results and they want to have somebody be positive and I would like to see more than that."

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Comments

[Payd Troll]

10:09 AM on 02/28/2012

the fact that they are devouring one another is icing on the tea cake

[joyz41]

07:16 PM on 02/27/2012

The republicans keep comparing the battle of these GOP candidates with the tussle between Hillary Clinton and Obama. The difference is, however, it was tough to decide between Clinton and Obama because both were so good. This GOP battle is prolonged because all the candidates are so bad.

[Ppossom]

05:03 PM on 02/27/2012

Government sponsored rape for the women of Virginia is a big positive in their world.

[l78lancer]

04:24 PM on 02/27/2012

The person presiding over one of the most (if not the most) negative, meanspirited and malevolent issues of our times is counselling Romney to be more positive and uplifting?

Right. And the devil wears, a halo, too.

[Keith N]

03:54 PM on 02/27/2012

It seems the Republicans forget a LOT of things Reagan said. Seems like they worship the ground he trod.... except when it's inconvenient. Remember this one...

"We establish no religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are, and must remain, separate.” ~ Ronald Reagan

[ta2t2o]

06:16 PM on 02/27/2012

I wonder if that made Santorum nauseous as well when Reagan said it?

[TexianLife]

03:39 PM on 02/27/2012

IF Mittie gets the nomination, I hope he picks the clueless, lying clown McDonnell for his VP.

[Re-thinkit]

03:30 PM on 02/27/2012

Thank you for your input, Governor Transvaginal.

[Christina Topchyan]

03:23 PM on 02/27/2012

This comparison keeps getting made but it is so inaccurate. First of all, the 2008 primary had two strong candidates not 4 desperate clowns. Secondly, analysis has shown that in 2008 only about 6% of ads were negative whereas more than 50% are negative now.

[zg1968]

03:22 PM on 02/27/2012

who cares what you think ultrasound governor...

[larmarch5]

03:10 PM on 02/27/2012

"It's a little late" also describes McDonnell's lies about not knowing about transvaginal degredation.

[phal4875]

03:08 PM on 02/27/2012

Do even the Republican governors dislike their choices in the presidential nominating contest? It must have been thrilling to be a Republican in 2010 and see a presidency ripe for the taking. The economy seemed headed nowhere but to Hades. Two years later, the scum of the earth are campaigning for the nomination, and the Obama the GOP hates so much is likely to win a second term. Keep the sharp knives away from the GOP leadership.

[marta76]

03:05 PM on 02/27/2012

Then Bob McDonnell needs to listen to the President. He's the only one running that fits his criteria.

[Bat Wrangler]

03:03 PM on 02/27/2012

Is Bob McDonnell still trying to convince people he's a conservative? They'd better not look at his record as governor.

[prudencehall]

03:02 PM on 02/27/2012

Words of wisdom from Transvaginal Bob.

[phal4875]

03:09 PM on 02/27/2012

Does that mean that the governor has had some gender change surgery?

[troika]

03:10 PM on 02/27/2012

PEARLS of wisdom from TV Bob.

[Trentonjordan]

02:57 PM on 02/27/2012

Why do Republicans compare what the Dems went through in 2008 with what is happening to the GOP now?
1) there was no incumbent waiting on the Dems in 2008. It was widely acknowledged that whoever won the Dems primary in 2008 was going to be the next POTUS.
2) There were only 2, (Clinton & Obama), the GOP has 4. Four clowns in circular firing squad.
3) Conservatives are not liberals, by their very nature, conservatives are embittered and angry people and this will serve to divide the GOP, not unite it.

[Christina Topchyan]

03:22 PM on 02/27/2012

also, there was some analysis done... only 6% of the ads in 2008 were negative... more than 50% of ads are negative now.

[Trentonjordan]

03:33 PM on 02/27/2012

yes! yes! exactly, you cannot run and win on pure negativity.