When it comes to Mitt Romney’s surrogates and endorsers, the likely Republican nominee’s friends on the trail have been too hot — making over-the-top statements that tiptoe into offensive territory, or too cold — tepid, half-hearted endorsements that barely veil their concerns with the candidate. Like the fairy tale Goldilocks, he is still looking for a just-right surrogate who can help bolster his message and endear him to independent voters.
Much has been made of the loose definition of surrogate so far this cycle, with people only tangentially connected to politicians accused of acting as their official mouthpieces once they’ve said something that causes a stir. This issue affects both Romney and President Obama, whose campaigns must now watch cable on tenterhooks, waiting for the next random face to say something ridiculous in their name.
But for Romney, the surrogate problem goes deeper. His campaign has identified loads of people whose support they’ve celebrated and publicized. The only problem is they either talk about their candidate in less-than-glowing terms, or say things Romney would probably much rather they didn’t.
Here’s a look:
⢠Too Cold
This list includes countless Republican elected officials who have publicly backed Romney, but only in the most lukewarm terms. When this lot has spoken up for Romney in the past, they’ve been just as likely to remind everyone of his faults as they are to boost their candidate. This problem first emerged last year as Romney scooped up endorsements before the primaries began. The most notable example came during the primaries when Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) endorsed Romney essentially by saying that his win was inevitable:
“There are a lot of other people out there that some of us wish had run for president — but they didn’t,” he told the Daily Caller. “I think Mitt Romney would be a fine president, and he’d be way better than the guy who’s there right now.”
But the problem reached its zenith in recent days, as the remaining GOP heavyweights began lining up behind Romney. Here’s an example of what that sounded like.
“It’s clear now Mitt Romney will be our nominee,” Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday. “I will be proud to support Mitt Romney.”
Not exactly the kind of thing you want to shout from the rooftops.
⢠Too Hot
Endorsers Romney has touted have gone off the reservation with microphones and reporters around lately.
Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, was celebrated by Romney when Kobach endorsed back in January, and Kobach told reporters he had joined the Romney team for the second time as an immigration adviser. Kobach is known as the architect behind Arizona’s SB 1070 and other get-tough immigration laws across the country. This is exactly the kind of attention Romney does not want as he tries to transition away from his generally Latino-unfriendly GOP primary persona.
Romney has tried to distance himself from Kobach. But the Kansan won’t have it, and he’s speaking out on Romney’s behalf anyway.
“I’d absolutely reject any proposal that would give a path to legal status for illegal aliens en masse,” Kobach told the Washington Post. “That is what amnesty is. I do not expect [Romney] to propose or embrace amnesty.”
And then there’s Nugent. The conservative rocker-pundit has generated a slew of uncomfortable headlines for Romney this week. On Thursday he’s set to do it again when he meets with the Secret Service to discuss remarks he made about Obama that agency deemed menacing enough to investigate.
Also among Romney’s Too Hot endorsers is Donald Trump. The close Trump-Romney relationship has been one of the biggest surprises of the campaign so far, especially considering Trump’s penchant for pushing racially charged conspiracy theories and warning of the dangers of the Ryan budget.
“I think the worst thing [Romney] can do is strongly embrace that budget if he wants to get elected,” Trump said this month. “This will be the single worst move in the Republican Party for many years. This is going to be catastrophic.”
Romney, of course, has campaigned repeatedly with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and is a big backer of his budget plan.
⢠Just Right
If it weren’t for the fact that he’s the author of a pretty unpopular budget proposal, Ryan could be the Just Right surrogate Romney’s looking for (he may get the VP job despite his controversial budget plan). His endorsement and subsequent appearances with Romney on the trail went a long way toward putting conservative fears over Romney to rest.
“Look, I was not a fan of Bob Dole being our nominee in 1996. I didn’t support John McCain throughout the primary, I supported other people last time,” Ryan said in March. “This is not the same kind of candidate.”
There are signs new Just Right surrogates might be ready to step in. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) — well-regarded by the establishment GOP — endorsed Romney Wednesday and did it with a healthy dose of appealing Indiana charm:
Romney needs more of that on the trail, and less Nugent.
