Mitt Romney Campaign Begins Preparing For Possible South Carolina Loss

[onehandle]

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- One of Mitt Romney's top surrogates, former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, began the process Friday morning of managing expectations in the event of a possible Romney loss to Newt Gingrich in Saturday's South Carolina primary.

Sununu predicted that the GOP nomination fight will run through every primary and caucus state, all the way to the summer.

"I think you're going to see the same kind of long slog that you saw in '76, with [Gerald] Ford and [Ronald] Reagan, that it took the whole thing to win," Sununu told reporters.

"This is a long slog," Sununu said. "[Romney]'s never suggested one or two or three primaries or caucuses would make the difference. The whole campaign has been designed to go through the long slog."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/mitt-romney-south-carolina-primary_n_1218766.html

[tabatha]

1. Well, that is actually fairer.

More people have a voice.

[Renew Deal]

2. If Sununu is talking about "long slog" then the Romney campaign may be in trouble.

[gratuitous]

3. From Mr. Inevitable to "long slog" and "never suggested" it would be over quickly

That's a flip-flop record that even Mitt probably never aspired to capture.

[titaniumsalute]

4. I think the media made Romney the inevitable

I think it is funny if he loses. Iowa to Santorum...NH to Romney...SC to Gingerich.

The longer the slog the more Repuke money pissed away on the primary. The longer the slog the less focus on Obama and the more routen it will get among the Right's campaigners. Pop the popcorn.

[LiberalEsto]

5. Oh goody

Let them use up their campaign funds and sling dirt at each other.

[Angry Dragon]

6. Romney = The Long Slog

[Hugabear]

14. The Long Slog, The Cheater, The Frothy Man, and The Nutcase

What an assortment.

[Nedsdag]

22. The "Fab Four"?

[olegramps]

24. I thought there were only three "Stooges."

[yellowcanine]

7. I think Romney still gets the nomination in the end though.

Unless for some reason he actually would not get enough delegates to win on the first ballot. Then all bets are off of course. But I don't see Newt or Santorum taking it away from Mitt.

[kenfrequed]

8. Actually Sununu is wrong.

He is either lying or ignorant. Putting S. Carolina up from was supposed to assure unified Republican candidates with the approval of the religious right. It was also a method to assure that "insurgent" candidates from New England and Iowa don't actually knock of the presumed front runner.

The problem for the GOP is that this time the "front runner" managed to place favorably in those states but is not conservative enough for the religious right.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Sununu as a surrogate...brilliant

Pompous ass represents the Pompous Ass campaign.

And Obama is the guy who's in so far over his head....

[grantcart]

10. Well intrade is preparing with a massive sell off after the debate, lol

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512725

[irisblue]

11. love the Rs fighting..n/t

[Richardo]

12. My take-away: Sununu likes to say 'slog'

[Bossy Monkey]

15. But governor-- is it a long slog?

We're probably taking his remarks out of context!

[bayareaboy]

16. Is it a long slog, or ... ...

a loose slug?

[Bossy Monkey]

13. The victory party's walking distance from me. Gee, now maybe I'll go! n/t

[Bruce Wayne]

17. I can't even remember there ever being a primary fight that lasted until Gothamites voted.

[yardwork]

18. The Democrat was elected president in 1976.

The incumbent - Ford - lost. Heh heh.

[Thrill]

19. Mitt can only hide his phoniness for a little while longer

Thats just the reality of it

[Iliyah]

20. Mitten's godfather Rove

will find away to steal the elections at least in the gop primaries. Now they consider Iowa a dead heat I would not be surprised if Mittens don't pull it off. Newt is another flavor of the month or months, but the higher ups in the eff up party will give the nom to Mittens.

[wordpix]

21. it's gonna seem real long to Mitt as more dirt comes out about his Caymans tax havens

It's all legal, though, as long as the richies get Congress to create loopholes like the ones Mitt operates by.

[Populist_Prole]

23. TV is infested with his ads around here. Pandering to the HARD right

I mean, the ads are like a reactionary wet dream. Even center-right types are rolling their eyes and groaning upon seeing them. He's scared of Newt.