Mitt Romney: You Think I'm A Weak Front-Runner? McCain Lost 19 States

Mitt Romney's assertion that he is not the historically weak front-runner that his critics allege produced an awkward line during an interview with the Paul Finebaum Radio Network on WJOX Monday afternoon.

"When Newt Gingrich said I'm the weakest front-runner since the 1920s," said Romney. "I guess I'd have to have him go back and look at just four years ago when Senator McCain and Mike Huckabee and I were all running. He may forget that Senator McCain lost, I think, 19 states in the process. It's just the nature of the process. And by the way, if I'm a weak front-runner, what does that make Newt?: (emphasis, ours) 

It's mathematically true that Romney is doing better than McCain when it comes to winning the percentage of the vote in the states that have held elections both in 2008 and 2012. But McCain did have much stronger competition and there was no talk then, as there is now, of a brokered party convention. 

The awkwardness, of course, comes from the fact that the McCain is now one of Romney's most ubiquitous and vocal supporters. He may not have signed up for being this type of talking point when he agreed to be a surrogate. 

Comments

[Sujiai]

11:04 AM on 03/13/2012

Thats right cannibalize your fellow Republican gop for your own sake since you obviously can't formulate something substantial to offer the american public.

[somebody9191]

08:16 AM on 03/13/2012

Where did McCain end up in November?

[BUSTERtheCAT]

07:32 AM on 03/13/2012

mitts, mitts, mitts my son, ..the big gopdogs AINT gonna let you win that would mean..jeb, thune, daniels, christie, pence are done forever.

and THAT aint gonna happen.....you bub are the sacrificial lamb

[deanfalcke]

07:30 AM on 03/13/2012

I know this is a contest between Republicans and these do turn into comparison discussions, but nothing about Mitt's exchange is a positive approach. Saying you're not that weak because other people have been weaker...that doesn't sound like a winner talking.

[BUSTERtheCAT]

07:24 AM on 03/13/2012

MITTS YOU ARE a LI AR, ohhh and you do realize what happened to mcnappin after losing those 19 states?

mitts the gop and ALL of the dems and indies CANT stand you with your make millions IN America but hide the money outside of AMerica trick your playing

[soapington]

05:35 AM on 03/13/2012

"If I'm a weak front-runner, what does that make Newt?"

The answer, of course, is "correct."

[damonwhite]

05:33 AM on 03/13/2012

Basically he is admitting to being weak the moment he compared himself to "another" weak front-runner...terrible usage of the term "guess" as well...Mitt, speak with authority and stop guessing...either be a mature man or sit down and let someone else with authority speak to us...the usage of "if" actually implies "since", rather than a hypothetical...another confession on his part...he knows he is weak...he does not speak from strength...he isn't going to lead this nation out of the mess...not even close...this is all ego driven and a bad display of it...even "if"(proper implication) he won, he would lose, because he doesn't have "it" to lead this nation where this nation really needs to go...dmw

[sjj734]

03:36 AM on 03/13/2012

"if I'm a weak front-runner, what does that make Newt?"

Probably the best line he's had all campaign.

[Joseph Leslie]

02:07 AM on 03/13/2012

Since Romney took Wyoming, does that mean that on top of saying "ya all" he is going to start riding a horse and wearing a cowboy hat? I am still waiting to see what he will do to try to get the African American voters, and the hispanic vote and "Oy vey", the Jewish vote!

[soapington]

05:38 AM on 03/13/2012

I'm looking forward to him visiting China.

[WellReadAussie2]

07:28 AM on 03/13/2012

Any particular reason why???

[BUSTERtheCAT]

07:25 AM on 03/13/2012

he can dance the slasa, and wear a kosher hotdog hat he is NOT getting one l atino or j ewish vote

[elblanc0]

01:41 AM on 03/13/2012

Uh...well McCain lost the general, so I'm not sure that's the straw you want to draw.

[wayneoscarbry]

01:12 AM on 03/13/2012

This campaign season is more competitive than the one in 2008. I think the writer made a mistake here.

[BUSTERtheCAT]

07:26 AM on 03/13/2012

fail

in 08 BOTH Obama and hillary were gaining support as primary went on..........repubs ARE NOT SHOWING up

[WeWillWin]

07:43 AM on 03/13/2012

No comparison. The GOP had several viable candidates. Candidates that will be running in 2016, but had the wisdom to sit this one out.

[YesImAGenius]

12:32 AM on 03/13/2012

Romney loss to McCain in 2008, McCain loss to Obama, and every state result I've looked at shows Romney getting less support this time around then he did four years ago. And Romney thinks he's doing good? All this loser has done is waste every ones time. I blame media for not focusing in on the actual most popular candidate in this race, the one attracting THOUSANDS to each of his rallies while these other less popular candidates only dream of being able to do so, that most popular candidate being of course Congressman Ron Paul.

[pmoschetta]

04:10 AM on 03/13/2012

Ron Paul and his whole 33 delegates won't get him an invitation to the Oval Office, let alone sit in there full time after the election, Yes

[soapington]

05:42 AM on 03/13/2012

If he wants to get into the White House, he'll have to buy a ticket like the rest of us.

[BUSTERtheCAT]

07:28 AM on 03/13/2012

"dont forget to put a key on the kite string"

R.Paul to B. Franklin

[Michigan Joe]

12:02 AM on 03/13/2012

If Mitt thinks that rating his standing compared to McCain, we all know they both lost. Now that isn't a very good comparison however it is true they both a losing problem. How many times should a person run for office after being rejected twice before? I say the third is not going to turn out any better. If you keep doing the same thing over and over, you'll get the same results over and over.

[SPQR1775]

05:27 AM on 03/13/2012

OBAMA DEMOLISHED HILLARY and she was by FAR a better candidate than any of his GOPT potential rivals this year. President OBAMA does well with his back against the wall, ROMNEY might be the competition President OBAMA want because President OBAMA knows a thing or too about Romney and Romney is not vetted. No one has release any ads about his pass, not even his competitors. The GOPT field is not vetted except maybe Gingrich!

[WellReadAussie2]

07:31 AM on 03/13/2012

What....vetted by GOP standards....or YOURS.
I suspect there's a big difference in standards

[Selene Sweck]

11:51 PM on 03/13/2012

Just out of curiosity, why do you say Hillary Clinton was more qualified than any of the GOP candidates. She was elected to the Senate, unqualified,from a state where she didn't reside, except just to run for the NY seat, out of sympathy because of what she went through with her impeached woman chasing husband. She had no qualifications other than to be a minor law associate until her husband was elected governor of Arkansas.

[balthus]

11:17 PM on 03/12/2012

What does McTroll care? He's an old nag headed for the glue factory.

[Mollyj]

11:01 PM on 03/12/2012

Mitt Romney's assertion that he is not the historically weak front-runner that his critics allege;

It depends who shows up. Would it be MR flip or Mr flop!
He is like the exorcist, you'd never know which (bad) spirit is speaking from his mouth..