As surprise superstar Michele Bachmann surges out of the gate in her run for the Republican nomination for president, presumed front-runner Mitt Romney is letting her go — and it’s not an accident, close observers say.
Since her formal announcement Monday, Bachmann, a congresswoman from Minnesota best known for her sharp tongue and sometimes-erratic presentation, has barnstormed from Iowa to New Hampshire to South Carolina, each an early primary state.
She’s made news virtually every day with colorful quotes.
For example, when a voter in South Carolina asked her yesterday about her relationship with Sarah Palin, she responded: “They want to see two girls come together and have a mud wrestling fight, and I am not going to give that to them.”
Later at a town hall meeting at Winthrop University she said, “What sets me apart is I’ve been there, done that. I understand where they’re coming from. I understand independents. I am the unifying candidate that is running.”
And Romney? He hasn’t exactly disappeared — yesterday he met with congressional leaders in Washington — but after a trip to New Hampshire for the Fourth of July, he’s scheduled to make a fundraising visit to a place with no upcoming primaries whatsoever: London.
The divergent strategies have a number of analysts suggesting that Romney may be playing a waiting game, in the hopes that the gaffe-prone Bachmann will self-destruct.
“My guess is Romney is delighted” by all the attention on Bachmann, said Mike Murphy, a Republican consultant with Revolution Agency and one-time adviser to Romney.
“A surging Bachmann starves [Jon] Huntsman and [Tim] Pawlenty of money and attention. He would love a two-way race with her.”
On the other hand, some political advisers with ties to Romney campaign and attention. He would love a two-way race with her.”
On the other hand, some political advisers with ties to Romney's campaign point to a less cynical calculus: that he might be eyeing Bachmann as his possible running mate.
Romney has long been one of Bachmann’s biggest supporters, and his political action committee, Free & Strong America, made substantial contributions to her congressional re-election funds in 2008 and 2010.
During the difficult 2008 campaign, Romney played a leading role in Bachmann’s race, stumping for her at an event shortly before the Republican National Convention.
“He helped her out as much as he could,” said a Republican adviser who has worked for Romney in the past. “They are friendly — when they met they hit it off very well ... My sense is, Bachmann’s playing for No. 2. People would be foolish not to pick her for No. 2.”
Over the weekend, a poll of likely caucus-goers in Iowa put Bachmann in a virtual tie with Romney and well ahead of the rest of the pack.
Yesterday, a nationwide poll conducted by Fox News showed Romney in front with 18 percent, but his support has dropped 5 percentage points from 23 percent in early June. Since then, Bachmann’s support has almost tripled from 4 percent to 11 percent.
Ryan Williams, a spokesman for the Romney campaign, wouldn’t discuss the vice presidential speculation, but he did mention, unprompted, that Romney played a substantive role in Bachmann’s 2008 campaign.
“As Gov. Romney said yesterday on the campaign trail, he thinks she’s a great candidate, and he welcomes all the candidates to the race,” Williams said.
“But Gov. Romney is focused on jobs and the economy and running his own campaign. His main focus is contrasting his record of job creation with President Obama’s failed economic policies.”
He’s also focused on money, and fundraising continues to be Romney’s strong suit. The London event, recently reported by Reuters, would be the earliest-ever international fundraiser by a presidential candidate.
Yesterday, senior Romney campaign officials told Fox News that the former businessman has not yet contributed any of his own funds to the pot, but said the total tally for the second quarter — due to be filed today — will be less than $20 million.
Last week, Romney supporters launched Restore Our Future, a new “super PAC” that would be free of any limits on fundraising or expenditures.
“I think that Romney’s strategy is going to be to lower expectations in Iowa, which is fine,” the GOP adviser said. “He’s going to win the money primary, and that’s all that matters in this early period.”
Joshua.Hersh@thedaily.com
Since her formal announcement Monday, Bachmann, a congresswoman from Minnesota best known for her sharp tongue and sometimes-erratic presentation, has barnstormed from Iowa to New Hampshire to South Carolina, each an early primary state.
She’s made news virtually every day with colorful quotes.
For example, when a voter in South Carolina asked her yesterday about her relationship with Sarah Palin, she responded: “They want to see two girls come together and have a mud wrestling fight, and I am not going to give that to them.”
Later at a town hall meeting at Winthrop University she said, “What sets me apart is I’ve been there, done that. I understand where they’re coming from. I understand independents. I am the unifying candidate that is running.”
And Romney? He hasn’t exactly disappeared — yesterday he met with congressional leaders in Washington — but after a trip to New Hampshire for the Fourth of July, he’s scheduled to make a fundraising visit to a place with no upcoming primaries whatsoever: London.
The divergent strategies have a number of analysts suggesting that Romney may be playing a waiting game, in the hopes that the gaffe-prone Bachmann will self-destruct.
“My guess is Romney is delighted” by all the attention on Bachmann, said Mike Murphy, a Republican consultant with Revolution Agency and one-time adviser to Romney.
“A surging Bachmann starves [Jon] Huntsman and [Tim] Pawlenty of money and attention. He would love a two-way race with her.”
On the other hand, some political advisers with ties to Romney campaign and attention. He would love a two-way race with her.”
On the other hand, some political advisers with ties to Romney's campaign point to a less cynical calculus: that he might be eyeing Bachmann as his possible running mate.
Romney has long been one of Bachmann’s biggest supporters, and his political action committee, Free & Strong America, made substantial contributions to her congressional re-election funds in 2008 and 2010.
During the difficult 2008 campaign, Romney played a leading role in Bachmann’s race, stumping for her at an event shortly before the Republican National Convention.
“He helped her out as much as he could,” said a Republican adviser who has worked for Romney in the past. “They are friendly — when they met they hit it off very well ... My sense is, Bachmann’s playing for No. 2. People would be foolish not to pick her for No. 2.”
Over the weekend, a poll of likely caucus-goers in Iowa put Bachmann in a virtual tie with Romney and well ahead of the rest of the pack.
Yesterday, a nationwide poll conducted by Fox News showed Romney in front with 18 percent, but his support has dropped 5 percentage points from 23 percent in early June. Since then, Bachmann’s support has almost tripled from 4 percent to 11 percent.
Ryan Williams, a spokesman for the Romney campaign, wouldn’t discuss the vice presidential speculation, but he did mention, unprompted, that Romney played a substantive role in Bachmann’s 2008 campaign.
“As Gov. Romney said yesterday on the campaign trail, he thinks she’s a great candidate, and he welcomes all the candidates to the race,” Williams said.
“But Gov. Romney is focused on jobs and the economy and running his own campaign. His main focus is contrasting his record of job creation with President Obama’s failed economic policies.”
He’s also focused on money, and fundraising continues to be Romney’s strong suit. The London event, recently reported by Reuters, would be the earliest-ever international fundraiser by a presidential candidate.
Yesterday, senior Romney campaign officials told Fox News that the former businessman has not yet contributed any of his own funds to the pot, but said the total tally for the second quarter — due to be filed today — will be less than $20 million.
Last week, Romney supporters launched Restore Our Future, a new “super PAC” that would be free of any limits on fundraising or expenditures.
“I think that Romney’s strategy is going to be to lower expectations in Iowa, which is fine,” the GOP adviser said. “He’s going to win the money primary, and that’s all that matters in this early period.”
Joshua.Hersh@thedaily.com
