Mitt Romney in 2016?

Matt Lewis writes that he is poised for a comeback
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 31, 2014 12:48 PM CDT
Mitt Romney in 2016?
Mitt Romney in National Harbor, Md.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

In the usual lists of possible Republican candidates for 2016, one familiar name is generally off-limits: the 0-for-2 Mitt Romney. But not so fast, writes Matt Lewis at The Week. "There is reason to believe that a third try wouldn't be an absurd venture." For one thing, his loss to President Obama has kind of humanized Romney, something his robotic persona sorely needed. "That's right, Mitt Romney the scrappy underdog—the loser who's out to redeem himself—is a more attractive Mitt," writes Lewis.

Plus, Romney "has been proven right" on a number of issues since 2012, notably his criticism of Russia. (Daniel Drezner at the Washington Post rebuts this recurring "meme" about Romney's foreign policy chops.) Policy aside, however, America loves comebacks, and Romney could take advantage of that, much like Richard Nixon did after getting beat by JFK. In fact, Lewis asks former Nixon speechwriter Pat Buchanan about all this, and Buchanan—who's 0-for-3 himself—says, "If I were Romney, there's no doubt I would do it." Click to read Lewis' full column. (More Mitt Romney stories.)

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