President Donald Trump issued a swift response to Mitt Romney’s declaration of a strategy aimed at preventing Trump from securing the GOP presidential nomination.
Trump expressed:
“Mitt is a perpetual loser. He’s been on the losing side for a considerable time.
“He holds no esteem within the Republican Party.
“He’s a woeful representation of a Republican.
“I firmly believe he’s detrimental to our nation as well.
“I distinctly remember seeing him marching alongside Antifa and other groups in Washington, his face concealed by a mask—you couldn’t even recognize him.
“They were marching, side by side with actual terrorists—dangerous individuals he was associating with. He couldn’t even differentiate.
“No doubt, Mitt’s akin to Kryptonite in my view.
“If he supports a candidate, that individual inevitably fails.
“I endorsed a couple of candidates who initially surged, but suddenly their lead evaporated. I wondered, what happened?
“Then I realized they were being linked to Mitt Romney.
Romney conveyed earlier:
“Despite the appearance of Donald Trump’s invincibility, a group of thirteen Republicans are vying for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination.
“Any one of them has a chance if the field narrows down to a two-person race before Trump secures the nomination.
“However, for this to occur, Republican mega-donors and influencers—both major and minor—need to do something they neglected in 2016: persuade their supported candidates to bow out once their paths to nomination become unfeasible.
“This crucial decision should ideally be made no later than February 26, the Monday subsequent to the contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.
“Several candidates have incentives to linger even when their prospects are dim.
“Securing second place may set the stage for another run in four years, or it might have market value of its own, as seen with Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.
“As former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu remarked, ‘Running for president is enjoyable if you know you can’t win.’
“If left to their own devices, multiple contenders will remain in the race, fragmenting the non-Trump vote and handing him the victory.
“A mere plurality is sufficient for winner-take-all primaries.
“Donors supporting candidates with marginal chances should secure a commitment from them to withdraw and endorse the person best positioned to challenge Mr. Trump by February 26.
“Our party and our nation need a nominee driven by character, motivated by a purpose greater than vengeance and ego, preferably emerging from the upcoming generation.
“Only family, friends, and campaign contributors have the influence to convince a hopeless candidate to exit the race. Post-February 26, they should commence this process,” he concluded.