As of lately, the press has been trying to wrap its head around Ron Paul’s gracious attitude toward the Republican frontrunner, Mitt Romney, in the Republican Presidential primary race. Why has Ron Paul been so quick to defend a Massachusetts moderate who supported and instituted a state version of Obama-care with individual mandates, and who has a record of being to the left on social issues? Recently, in an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, Congressman Paul was the only candidate to defend Mitt Romney against attacks regarding his comments about not being concerned about the very poor. Could there be some sort of strategic alliance formed between the campaigns? Such a strategic alliance could be beneficial for both candidates in the short term, but the long term beneficiary may be Ron Paul.
For the purposes of the Republican presidential primary race, this strategy could benefit Paul by allowing him to demonstrate to voters that he is the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. For instance, it seems that it may work in Romney’s favor when the most fiscally conservative candidate, Ron Paul, is seen defending Governor Romney, while labeling his other opponents as big government conservatives. Because Governor Romney most likely does not see Paul as a serious threat in terms of either cutting in to his support or capturing the nomination, he is likely to be not as concerned if Paul wins some primaries as opposed to other more serious contenders. Essentially, Mitt Romney could benefit by being able to bypass other more potentially threatening mainstream contenders such as fellow rivals Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.
But in the end what could Ron Paul be looking for with a second or third place finish and a large amount of delegates at the Republican Convention? A speaking role? I happen to believe there is much more in it for Paul than a speaking role at the convention for Ron Paul. Congressman Paul probably has a gut feeling that Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee and he probably knows that he has to establish some sort of alliance with his opponent in order for his son, Rand Paul, to ever have a reasonable run for the Presidency as a mainstream Republican candidate.
Interestingly, despite Romney’s strong support for an imperialistic foreign policy, and inconsistent stances on issues ranging from bank bailouts and the need for economic stimulus, Ron Paul has defended his rival as the one out of the field of Republican candidates who understands the free market the best. Perhaps, Paul is more of a realist and a pragmatist than some pundits think, and to his supporters dismay, he may be strategically cozying up to the establishment in order to present his views as mainstream positions along well-established Republican orthodoxy. Regardless, in the wake of declining popularity for the ultra-right tea party and with improving job numbers, the attitudes of the voters are beginning to drift more towards the center. For instance, a recent USATODAY report noted that the unemployment rate dipped from 8.5% in December to 8.3% in January, adding 243,000 jobs in the month of January. Additionally, as recent as November 29, 2011, a report from the New York Times cited polls from the Pew Research Center demonstrating a decline in Tea Party support. Specifically, the analysis shows that now just as many people agree with the movement as disagree.
In order for Rand Paul to have any chance at the White House in 2016, Ron Paul will need to carve a space for some of his libertarian economic and foreign policy views while also appealing to mainstream American voters. Who knows, in such an unpredictable primary season, Mitt Romney may compromise his stances yet again and select Ron Paul as his running mate. Perhaps Mitt Romney may return the favor in 2016, assuming he fails to win the Presidency in 2012, by endorsing Rand Paul, Ron Paul’s son, for President of the United States in 2016.
Sources:
Paul defends Romney on 'poor' comment
http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/Business/2012-02-04-APUSEconomy_ST_U.htm
http://www.people-press.org/2011/11/29/more-now-disagree-with-tea-party-even-in-tea-party-districts/