Let's say Mitt Romney somehow got the Republican nomination in 2008 and lost to Obama (probably by a larger margin than McCain did OTL). In that scenario, what might the 2012 GOP primary be like?
Would John McCain not try for 2012 if he lost out in 2008?
McCain could go for it, but he'd have two primary defeats under his belt and his more moderate stances wouldn't play well with a GOP that would probably be crying out for a True Conservative after the "liberal" Romney got stomped. I don't think he'd get very far.
Pawlenty or Huntsman might do better.
Maybe Jeb or Mitch Daniels enters the field.
It could be a good year for Jindal. Maybe Trump could be the nominee 4 years early if there are too many candidates and no clear frontrunner.
Romney's VP pick would have a good chance. I think that might be Pawlenty.
Wait, Jon Huntsman is not Mormon?(John isn't Mormon, but because Romney was, he would have been unable to win his own state had he campaigned that far.
Romney could probably carry CO and NV in '08 because of Mormon voters. (I forgot to adjust for NV, so Obama actually wins 26 states and Romney wins 24).
Wait, Jon Huntsman is not Mormon?
Except it can't be assumed that Romney will be the corporatist capitalist vulture that he was IOTL 2012. He was considered a better candidate than McCain because of his knowledge in economics and out of the other five major candidates IOTL 2008 he was perceived as the most conservative naturally. Romney became the 'out-of-touch rich guy' when he had to drift right to compete with conservatives such as Perry and Santorum; in 2008 he could be the conservative-leaning moderate that he originally was. McCain was easily associated with the unpopular Bush administration and thats part of the reason why he lost. I see now where I went wrong with NV but Romney is extremely popular in CO so it will be a battleground between Obama and Romney. With moderate Republicans running (Romney being the most conservative GOP candidate of 2008), I dont see the GOP losing as badly (a cushioned fall).Why? He didn't carry either of them in 2012 and that was a much better year for the GOP than 2008. The "out-of-touch rich guy who likes to fire people" label is going to stick to him even harder than IOTL 2012 in the aftermath of the financial crisis. It will sink him.
No, I think Romney '08 loses badly. 400+ electoral votes for Obama badly.
Except it can't be assumed that Romney will be the corporatist capitalist vulture that he was IOTL 2012. He was considered a better candidate than McCain because of his knowledge in economics and out of the other five major candidates IOTL 2008 he was perceived as the most conservative naturally. Romney became the 'out-of-touch rich guy' when he had to drift right to compete with conservatives such as Perry and Santorum; in 2008 he could be the conservative-leaning moderate that he originally was. McCain was easily associated with the unpopular Bush administration and thats part of the reason why he lost. I see now where I went wrong with NV but Romney is extremely popular in CO so it will be a battleground between Obama and Romney. With moderate Republicans running (Romney being the most conservative GOP candidate of 2008), I dont see the GOP losing as badly (a cushioned fall).
Although maybe Piyush "Bobby" Jindal, would se 2012 a better year to run then 2016.
Romney could probably carry CO and NV in '08 because of Mormon voters. (I forgot to adjust for NV, so Obama actually wins 26 states and Romney wins 24).
He sucked at campaigning and had poor support and organizational skills so no.