The Deseret News reports that Josh Romney is considering a run against incumbent Jim Matheson for the Utah 2nd congressional seat (my district).
Josh Romney told the Deseret Morning News that after a year of campaigning across country for his father, he's been approached to run as a Republican against 2nd Congressional District Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah."I haven't ruled it out," Josh Romney, 32, of Millcreek, said of becoming a candidate himself. "I'm pretty young, but I've had good experience on the campaign trail." Plus, he said, he likely could count on his father's supporters here in Utah.
He also has to consider whether he's ready to take on the rigors of another race and spend more time away from his wife, Jen, and their three children, Owen, 1; Wyatt, 3; and Gracie, 5; as well as his career in real estate development.
Josh Romney is the only one of the family's five sons who lives in Utah. His father, who served as the head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, was considered a "favorite son" presidential candidate in Utah.
Hmmm. His father just paid 40 million to boost Romney name recognition into high orbit and won a record 90% of the Utah Republican primary vote.
The fact that he would mention it at all suggests that he is seriously considering it. Matheson's own successful bid to unseat Merrill Kook was in no small part because of the name recognition his father, former governor Scott Matheson, afforded him. Matheson is clearly waiting for a Senate seat to come open, which explains why he rejected an offer to redistrict him into perpetual reelection. Since his initial election, Matheson has never faced a credible Republican challenger.
I bet you Jim went white as a ghost when he read the Desnews this morning...
Romney states that he lines up politically with his father, but not John McCain, whom he will not be campaign for...
Posted by Mick Stockinger on February 25, 2008 10:33 AM
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Comments (2)
Ugh.
I don't know enough about Mr. Romney's son to make a definitive statement about his fitness for office but the fact that he's only 32 years old doesn't bolster my confidence much.
The sad thing is that even if he isn't a chip off the old "wicked smart" block he could get on the Republican ballot without much problem...and could possibly win.
Posted by Jeremy | February 25, 2008 1:39 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 13:39
I've seen a number of comments like this, but the reality is that name recognition is the currency of political victory. Its why we had two Bush presidents, and why Hillary Clinton was a serious candidate, why McCain beat Romney.
You might be interested in Ann Coulter's recent column lamenting a political environment in which Ronald Reagan simply wouldn't bother running.
Posted by Mick Stockinger | February 26, 2008 12:09 PM
Posted on February 26, 2008 12:09