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GOP No. 2s Try Harder

Posted Feb 18, 08 10:40 AM CST in Politics 

(Newser) – If history is any guide, Mitt Romney had every reason to smile last week as he endorsed John McCain, the Washington Post reports: Every GOP nominee of the past 30 years, except George W. Bush, finished second in the previous contested primary. Judging from the presumptive 2008 nominee's support of Bush in 2000 and 2004, "McCain understood what it took," says one political scientist.

Looking to future Iowa caucuses, he adds, “I can imagine Romney booking a flight to Des Moines the day after the general election.” Another observer speculates that "Mike Huckabee is hanging around, to win enough primary votes to displace Mitt Romney as number two." Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton shouldn’t get their hopes up, though: The pattern is unique to Republicans.

Source Washington Post

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Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, addresses the media in Boston, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, after his former rival Mitt Romney, left, released his delegates and endorsed...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, shakes hands with Mitt Romney during a news conference in Boston, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, where Romney announced his endorsement of McCain....   (Associated Press)
Former Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney, right, looks on as Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. speaks during a news conference in Boston, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, where...   (Associated Press)
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John McCain  • Mitt Romney  • Republicans  • McCain 2008  • endorsement  • Iowa caucus  • nominee


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