A Romney/Bush protracted GOP primary battle inches closer to reality

[wyldwolf]

Conservative columnist Byron York reports that despite his denials, Mitt Romney "is talking with advisers, consulting with his family, keeping a close eye on the emerging '16 Republican field, and carefully weighing the pluses and minuses of another run. That doesn't mean he will decide to do it, but it does mean that Mitt 2016 is a real possibility."

"Nearly all of Romney's 2012 circle of advisers, finance people, and close aides remains intact. Many developed an extraordinary loyalty to Romney, who, in turn, has kept in close touch with them. Romney talks to some of them quite frequently in conversations that cover daily news, foreign and domestic policy, Hillary Clinton, the Republican field -- everything that might touch on a 2016 campaign."

Said one adviser: "Virtually the entire advisory group that surrounded Mitt in 2012 are eager for him to run, almost to a man and a woman."

Meanwhile...

Politico reports: "Friends say Jeb Bush's father is eager for his son to run, even telling a visitor at a recent family gathering in Kennebunkport, Maine, that a presidential campaign and a return of the family dynasty to power was a near certainty. Wall Street financiers and Main Street CEOs eager for a centrist champion are longing for a Bush candidacy."

"But people who have met in recent weeks with Jeb Bush in New York, Washington and Florida say they are far less certain that a campaign will ultimately materialize. Some described Bush as deeply engaged on issues beyond his usual focus on immigration and education, suggesting he was very much preparing for a national race. Others said it seemed like concerns over how a run would impact his family ultimately might keep Bush on the sidelines."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/09/26/bush_prepares_for_possible_run.html
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/09/25/mitt_romney_is_weighing_another_presidential_bid.html

This fantasy scenario would tap out GOP donors and force the Repubic electorate to choose sides. If only...

[Gothmog]

1. Romney wants to be drafted

It will be interesting to see if Romney actually runs a normal campaign. I get the impression that Romney thinks that he will be drafted because the existing field even with Jeb is too weak to take on Hillary Clinton. Romney's ego is such that he may well believe that he can not enter the race and get the call from party leaders to come in as the savior.

I would love to see a campaign between romney and Jeb. Both groups are nasty and can destroy each other. Romney was effective with the negative ads against the candidates in the GOP primary and Jeb is a bush and that family fights dirty (remember South Carolina in 2000 and John McCain's black child?)

[Sherman A1]

2. This could be very interesting

and very entertaining....

[3rdwaydem]

3. At once interesting and irrelevant as Hillary will easily trounce both of them

[Javaman]

4. battle of the fortunate sons. nt