The Republican presidential primary campaign can be a frustrating exercise for voters interested in substantive discussion of the great issues, what with Michele Bachmann’s talk of the HPV vaccine causing mental retardation, Rick Perry’s lack of familiarity with the voting age enshrined in the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, and (alleged) serial harasser/philanderer Herman Cain’s apparent attempt at a last-ditch defense in which he said there are probably “an infinite number of people who could come forward with a story.” But that may be nothing compared with the frustration the primary is causing the press, which can’t seem to put together a decent step-back look at the race without having the wacky up-and-down fortunes of various would-be nominees throw a wrench into what only days earlier looked like reasonable storyline.
The latest exhibit: yesterday’s New York Times Magazine cover story. “Why Mitt Romney Is Not Falling Down” reads the cover headline. The Romney-as-inevitable-nominee has been the accepted storyline for months. It has withstood the rise (and fast fall) of Rick Perry and the 15 minutes of fame for Herman Cain (think of it as an infinite number of voters engaged in a less-than-serious fling with the former pizza pooh-bah).
But now it is Newt’s turn to play the part of the anti-Mitt rival to the former Massachusetts governor. Though he carries more baggage than a jumbo jet luggage hold, the former House speaker may nonetheless may be a far more serious threat to Romney than the others who have been quickly relegated to the discard pile after brief moments in the sun. Perry and Cain simply do not pass the credibility test in which one imagines them actually in the Oval Office. Gingrich may wind up imploding as well (see baggage reference above), but it won’t be because he can’t engage in serious debate and discussion about the issue facing the country and the world.
Robert Draper, author of the Times Magazine story, outlines how the Romney campaign has decided that, unlike his 2008 run, in which he tried to appeal to social conservatives as well as the button-down GOP business crowd, the “Tao of Mitt” this time will be a relentless focus on the economy and on the business acumen he would bring to the White House. “Romney, a socially awkward Mormon with squishy conservative credentials and a reported worth of $190 million to $250 million, is betting that in 2012, recession-weary voters want a fixer, not a B.F.F.”
Perhaps that will prove to be true in the end, but it certainly won’t be because Republican voters rushed to embrace the bland Romney brand. Gingrich, now tied with Romney or besting him in polls, is literally accorded a parenthetical nod by Draper as the rival candidate showing recent gains. The story cites a November poll of likely Iowa caucus goers that had Cain with 20 percent, Ron Paul with 19 percent, Romney with 18 percent, and Gingrich with 17 percent. By yesterday’s publication date, a new NBC News/Marist College poll had Gingrich with a clear lead in Iowa, with 26 percent to Romney’s 18 percent Meanwhile, a victory in the New Hampshire primary, where Romney still enjoys a lead according to recent polls, may no longer be in the bag.
One caveat: Everything here may be dated and wrong by the time you’re reading this.
–MICHAEL JONAS
BEACON HILL
There’s a move afoot once again to ease the state law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, despite studies that indicate states with helmet laws have lower fatality rates.
The MetroWest Daily News says that Attorney General Martha Coakley is right to file suit against five of the the country’s largest banks.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
The city of Salem came out ahead on Halloween, pocketing a net profit of $250,000, the Salem News reports.
As Barney Frank prepares to exit Congress, Ed Glaeser recalls the outsized talent pool he was part of during Kevin White’s reign in Boston City Hall.
CASINOS
One of two groups holding land options in New Bedford says they are in talks with the Mashpee Wampanoags to use the tribe’s standing to obtain a casino license and are on the verge of naming a developer soon.
Steve Wynn attended yesterday’s Pats-Colts game in Foxborough, and pitched local electeds on his plans for a Route 1 casino. Wynn tells the Sun Chronicle that the casino development would include a low-rise hotel, a conference center, and shops. “What applies to Las Vegas does not apply to Foxborough,” he says. Rep. Dan Winslow tells Fox 25 that meetings between Wynn, Robert Kraft, and state and local officials “really ought not be behind closed doors.”
OCCUPY
Massachusetts residents are evenly divided in their view of the Occupy movement, with those supporting it also tending to view President Obama’s handing of the economy positively, according to a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll.
Harvard economist Greg Mankiw discusses the recent student walkout of his introduction to economics class. The surprising money quote comes toward the end, when Mankiw, who also happens to advise Mitt Romney on economic matters, says, “Widening economic inequality is a real and troubling phenomenon, albeit one without an obvious explanation or easy solution.”
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
In the wake of yet another C-SPAN request to televise Supreme Court proceedings, the Springfield Republican says the high court should allow cameras to televise the oral arguments on health care.
As a Mercedes-Benz executive from Germany and an Afghanistan veteran get caught up in Alabama’s jihad against undocumented workers, USA Today opines that the gowing backlash in that state and others may lead to some pragmatic immigration legislation.
Some on the right fear that “Happy Feet Two” has a political agenda.
ELECTION 2012
Fox 5 in Atlanta, quoting sources, reports that Herman Cain will throw his support to Newt Gingrich today. Don’t cry for Cain, he’s going to cash in in more ways than one.
The Globe reports that the verbal knifing Gingrich and Barney Frank have been engaging in lately is simply a rekindling of their battles from the 1990s.
The Weekly Standard says Mitt Romney can run but he can’t hide from the fact the health care reform he signed into law in Massachusetts provides abortion funding, which undercuts his “pro-life” pitch to conservatives. A new Des Monies Register poll puts Romney in third place in Iowa, behind Gingrich and Ron Paul. Here’s a preview of the coming Romney-Gingrich fracas.
GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, on Keller@Large, tackles defense spending, cap and trade, stimulus spending and charges that Romney is a serial flip-flopper. In their quest for anyone who isn’t Mitt Romney, conservatives are starting to notice that Huntsman may be the most conservative of them all.
The National Review says the scheduled debate with reality TV star Donald Trump moderating is a “sideshow” and detracts from the seriousness of running for president. He’s also considering an independent run.
The Washington Post ponders whether President Obama’s poll numbers will benefit from the good news on unemployment.
Paul Krugman is not such a fan of Republicans in general, and their presidential candidates in particular.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page looks at Apple’s anti-Android patent war.
With his nasty divorce behind him, former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt turns his focus to Boston law firm Bingham McCutchen.
EDUCATION
In the Fall River Herald News, Education Secretary Paul Reville outlines the administration’s five-point agenda to close the achievement gap in the state’s Gateway Cities.
Teachers in Andover, frustrated at going 15 months without a contract, vote to do only the work required under their existing contract and no more, the Eagle-Tribune reports.
The Brockton School Committee is undertaking a review of the $1 million the schools spend on 35 consultants, most of it from grant money.
A big-city school board member takes a standardized test and does pretty badly.
HEALTH CARE
Massachusetts public health officials are sounding the alarm over plans to eliminate federal funding for lead poisoning prevention efforts.
TRANSPORTATION
The Patriot Ledger comes out in support of a call by state Sen. Robert Hedlund for the inspector general, the Senate Post Audit Committee and the Legislature’s Transportation Committee to investigate the MBTA’s $6 million settlement with the maker of defective concrete railroad ties.
The US House delays action on a long-term transportation plan, putting state officials on hold, the Washington Post reports.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
AIM executive Robert Rio continues the debate on CommonWealth’s website about the Green Communities Act, responding to an environmental aide to Gov. Deval Patrick.
Time looks at the cold market for carbon trading around the world, although Australia recently passed a law to reduce carbon emissions and California is setting up its own cap-and-trade system.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Billerica officials are worried about state plans to close a jail and move its 400 prisoners to the Middlesex House of Correction, the Lowell Sun reports.
MEDIA
The Beat the Press panel wonders if Fox 25’s Undercover Team went too far in reporting a Lowell’s charter school teacher’s past as a gay porn star. Meanwhile, Clive McFarlane, writing in the Worcester Telegram, says the teacher who worked previously in adult films should not be allowed to continue teaching.