Rep. Peter King (R-NY): 'Whispering' of recruiting other GOP candidates, if Romney loses Michigan

[morningfog]

Rep. Peter King (R-NY) talks to CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien about potential outcomes for the GOP field if Mitt Romney loses the Michigan primary, including the possibility of other GOP candidates entering the race after Super Tuesday.

King says, "If Romney does not win Michigan it creates real problems for his candidacy. And I think you will then start seeing more activity among the Republican establishment... talking to people like Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Paul Ryan, Mitch Daniels....And Rick Santorum has had a lot of negatives over the last week. If he is still able to win Michigan, that shows a real problem that Mitt Romney has."

He adds, "[Additional GOP candidates may] be getting lined up, getting recruited. And they’re trying to get one of them to agree to make the run, let’s say, if Super Tuesday doesn’t turn out better for Romney. I think there’s going to be more of an interest, more of an emphasis, of having someone ready on Super Tuesday if Mitt Romney does not manage to break loose and have that candidate ready to come in. I have no inside knowledge, just whispering and mumbling… among top Republicans who are concerned that Governor Romney has not been able to break loose."

Video at link: http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/28/rep-peter-king-r-ny-whispering-of-recruiting-other-gop-candidates-if-romney-loses-michigan/

[Renew Deal]

1. Peter King should run

He thinks he's Thomas Jefferson anyway.

http://mydd.com/users/dave-mejias-for-congress/posts/ny-03-peter-king-thinks-hes-thomas-jefferson

[WI_DEM]

2. fine! they would all have to some way come up with the delegates needed to be nominated, too

and many of the states have already closed registration for ballots.

[morningfog]

3. The idea would be that a new big shiny candidate could get just enough

delegates to prevent any other candidate from getting 1144. It would guarantee a deadlocked convention.

[Cosmocat]

4. But any NEW candidate

would not make it on some/a lot of ballots in November, right?

I think that needs to be clarrified.

[morningfog]

5. I don't think the November ballots would be at issue.

Whomever gets the nomination at the convention will be the Republican nominee on the general election ballot.

I could be mistaken. I think the hurdles for a new comer to overcome would be funded and building a national campaign in just 67 days.

[Renew Deal]

6. Most states allow the nominated major party candidate on the ballot

Getting on primary ballots is usually tougher. So are third party runs.

[Cosmocat]

8. Most? I think this has to be clarified.

In a general election, any state a candidate would not be on the ballot for would probably be a loss. In an electoral college, winner takes all 50 state election, that is a BIG issue.

I don't know.

[Renew Deal]

11. There is an answer to your question

But I don't have it. I know in NY, any party classified as a major party based on getting at least 50,000 votes in the last governors election has an automatic ballot spot.

[brooklynite]

9. No, Republicans have automatic ballot status for their Presidential nominee...

...as do Democrats. However, they would have to raise money, build state organizations and repair the ideological rift in the Party in only two months.

Which is why no sane alternative (Christie, Daniels, Jeb) will risk their 2016 shot with a 2012 failure.

[DCBob]

7. Yes, that is the GOPer strategy.

It might work.

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. that would in fact be a huge gift to Santorum

Romney is not going to drop out - so any strong new so-called "moderate" candidate would only split the non-crazy vote. (or at least the less transparently crazy vote.)

[AlinPA]

12. A good opening for Palin. Then the real crazy begins and the media will be thrilled.

[Ikonoklast]

13. Fuck Peter King.

That is all, carry on.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Who's "they"? Who are these "top Republicans" who will select the candidate?

Is it the Kochs, or other business or corporate funders? Is it Bush/Cheney-affiliated people ? I'd really like to know who engineers such matters.

[Arkana]

15. Wishful thinking.

No one is going to swoop in and save the GOP now.