Careful what you wish for: A vote for Paul might well become a vote for Romney.

Northside Storm · Feb 17, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/u...y-and-ron-paul-friendly-amid-the-rivalry.html

When Mr. Paul’s campaign jet broke down last year in Wolfeboro, N.H., Mr. Romney’s wife, Ann, offered to let Mr. Paul, an aide and one of his granddaughters stay the night at their summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee. When Mr. Romney arrived later, he offered his jet to take them home to Texas. Mr. Paul, not wanting to impose, was grateful but declined both offers.

In a Republican presidential contest known for its angry rivalries, the Romney-Paul relationship stands out for its behind-the-scenes civility. It is a friendship that, by Mr. Paul’s telling, Mr. Romney has worked to cultivate. The question is whether it is also one that could pay dividends for Mr. Romney as he faces yet more setbacks in his struggle to capture the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination.

Ideological similarities among supporters of Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich suggest that if Mr. Gingrich dropped out, many of his backers would coalesce behind Mr. Santorum. But as Mr. Paul steadily collects delegates, one thing that remains to be seen is whether his affinity — at least on a personal level — for Mr. Romney could help the former Massachusetts governor as the fight drags on.

In an interview on CBS this past weekend, Mr. Paul volunteered that since his rivals were largely identical in policy substance, “when it comes down to those three, it’s probably going to be management style more than anything else.” According to one person close to the Paul campaign, it would be accurate to infer from that phrasing — “management style” — that Mr. Paul has a willingness to listen to overtures from Mr. Romney, who has been trying to sell himself to voters as a proven manager.

The relationship between the two men is rooted partly in the fact that they are veterans of the 2008 nominating fight. And that has translated into growing bonds between their families after dozens of debates, primaries and caucuses.

The candidates’ spouses, Ann Romney and Carol Paul, “know each other better than any of the other wives,” Mr. Paul said. He and Mr. Romney talk “all the time” and “we’ve met all their kids.” Once he telephoned Mr. Romney just as Mr. Romney was calling him. “Sometimes I’m never sure who issued a call,” he said.

Mr. Paul has already provided some tactical help: When Mr. Romney began to flounder in South Carolina and was under attack over his career in leveraged buyouts, Mr. Paul came to his defense, suggesting that his critics were anticapitalist. His campaign even issued a press release assailing other rivals for, in Mr. Paul’s view, taking Mr. Romney’s quote about firing people out of context.
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looks like when the revolution happens, the Romneys will be spared.

glynch · Feb 17, 2012

Though a lot of his young more recent naive followers like to tout Ron Paul on war, peace and civil liberties, Ron Paul's first and main allegiance is to economics for the 1%. We know the gold standard and other arcane concepts and cult concepts that others misunderstand. The Kochs and other major wealtjhy funders of libertarianism do know what they are doing.

weslinder · Feb 17, 2012

I've noticed Paul's and Romney's relatively nice words about each other and chalked it up to Paul being a nice guy, and Romney political posturing, but this doesn't surprise me. Their supporters couldn't be more different, but there is definitely a mutual respect.

rocketsjudoka · Feb 17, 2012

From what I have heard of people that have worked with Romney, for the sake of disclosure I was a temp at Bain Capital for a while in 1994, and people who know Ron Paul is that both are very personable. This sounds to me more like they and their families get along with each other rather than some sort of political cooperation.

I highly doubt Ron Paul would back Romney politically because so many of Romney's positions and acts as governor are anathema to Paul.

jo mama · Feb 18, 2012

rocketsjudoka said: ↑

I highly doubt Ron Paul would back Romney politically because so many of Romney's positions and acts as governor are anathema to Paul.
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exactly.

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Careful what you wish for: A vote for Paul might well become a vote for Romney.

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