Apparently convinced that practice makes perfect, Mitt Romney is seriously considering a third presidential bid.
I can’t think of one good reason why he should run; and there are several reasons why he should spare the country another attempt.
1. He had no good policy proposals last time
Remember Romney’s proposals for solving the financial problems facing Social Security, Medicare, welfare, the federal debt and for getting the country back to work? Yea, me neither.
Indeed, he has had only one major policy reform proposal in his long career: Romneycare. And it’s haunted him ever since.
His last campaign was built on attacking President Obama’s record, which was about as easy a target as anyone could ask for—and he still failed.
The next Democratic candidate won’t have a presidential record to criticize, so there may be a substantive discussion on tax reform, foreign policy and terrorism, government spending and debt, the Federal Reserve Bank’s intervention in the economy, how to spur economic growth—and how to roll back Obamacare.
There is little reason to believe the man who thought Romneycare was a huge policy achievement would be any better proposing strong, free-market policies this time than he did last time.
2. The GOP candidate will need to attract some Obama voters
The 2016 Republican candidate will likely need to attract some 2012 Obama voters to win the election. Those voters had a chance to vote for Romney in 2012, but decided instead to go for the incumbent with the worst economic performance of any president in decades.
3. The GOP has become even more conservative
Most conservatives didn’t vote FOR Romney in 2012, they voted AGAINST Obama. They thought Romney was too moderate and not committed to conservative principles. (See Romneycare.)
And yet the Republican Party, and maybe the country, has grown even more conservative since 2012. You can see it in (1) the candidates they sent to Washington in 2014, (2) the fact that many moderate-leaning GOP incumbents barley survived a primary challenge, if they survived at all, and (3) in the slate of state house elected officials.
4. There is no shortage of well-qualified potential GOP contenders
If Republicans were facing a thin bench of presidential contenders, as the Democrats are, then it might make sense for Romney to step in. But the GOP has the strongest list of potential conservative candidates it’s had in years: Rand Paul, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry and many more. Conservatives, libertarians, evangelicals and fed-up voters all have several good options. Romney has no reason to think that the Republican Party needs him to fill a void, because there isn’t one.
5. A Romney campaign would only be a drag on others who could win
It’s almost impossible for a candidate to win unless he or she can attract $25 million to $50 million in donations. If Romney decides to jump in he would immediately try to secure large-donor commitments, which if successful would just make it harder for good, competitive candidates to attract enough funds to break out of the pack.
Mitt Romney is a dedicated family man, a successful businessman and a patriotic American. But he was also a mediocre presidential candidate at best with no policy solutions besides his ability to turn around failed businesses. He’s tried twice and failed; it’s time to let a new slate of candidates step up—and win.