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    Why is Romney is Using Political Purell for Shaking Donald Trump’s Hand?

    By Professor John A. Tures, LaGrange College | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Sat, Feb 4, 2012
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    COMMENTARY | Mitt Romney handled Donald Trump's endorsement the way Clark Griswold handled his brother-in-law played by Randy Quaid. The question is why Trump's support is being held at arm's length by the Romney camp.

    Trump surprised the media, which initially reported he would back Newt Gingrich. Instead, Romney won the Trump endorsement sweepstakes. Businessman and TV personality Trump even seems "fired up" (no pun intended) about Romney. So why is Romney wincing?

    George Stephanopoulos thinks Trump's endorsement will help Romney. Another headline speculated the Trump endorsement would finish off Gingrich. But do endorsements really matter?

    A survey by the Pew Research Center reveals Trump wouldn't help a candidate much in the GOP primary. Only 13 percent said Trump's pick would help, while 20 percent said it would make them less likely to vote for the candidate with Trump's blessing.

    Out of all the endorsements, only Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's endorsement was a greater kiss of death among Republicans. Others -- George W. Bush, John McCain and Herman Cain -- fared better with GOP voters for helping a candidate.

    The Pew Research Center numbers were even a greater disaster for the candidate saddled with the Trump endorsement in the general direction. Only 8 percent of all voters claimed a Trump backing would make them want to vote for the candidate he supports. Another 28 percent said the Trump endorsement would make them less likely to vote for the candidate he wants. The rest could care less. A Fox News Poll finds otherwise, that Trump's support is going to hurt more than help.

    I'm sure Republicans hoping this pick ends the long bloody primary fight, but Romney doesn't look so pleased. Remember that Romney dissed Trump in 2011 when the latter tried to moderate a Republican primary. Romney and several others chose not to attend, while Gingrich actually offered to show up. It's therefore curious that Trump likes Romney more.

    Another sign of Romney's tepid support for a Trump endorsement came at the joint event, where Romney spent more time talking about trying to get other endorsements rather than be happy with the one he just received, according to NPR.

    That evening, NPR also reported Romney didn't mention being endorsed by Trump. That's not what you would expect from someone happy to get the big Trump support.

     

    25 comments

    • HOWIE
      HOWIE  •  3 mths ago
      I blame the media for giving trump a false sense of importance.
    • Shilo
      Shilo  •  Minneapolis, Minnesota  •  3 mths ago
      He does not like Trump nor want to shake his hand. He is just doing it to get the Republican vote. Can you imagine standing next to Trump with your wife? If he looked at my wife the wrong way I would grab him by his giant hair handle and knee him in the face. Followed by "your fired!."
      • HCM
        HCM 3 mths ago
        I would have to assume his wife to be too old for him
    • HCM
      HCM  •  3 mths ago
      who would be happy to be endorsed by an insane egomanic?
    • Joe
      Joe  •  3 mths ago
      "Why is Romney is Using Political Purell for Shaking Donald Trump’s Hand?"

      Aren't there any educated people at Yahoo?
    • Dr. S.
      Dr. S.  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      Trump is an establishment, blowhard, elitist, pig #$%$ Romney is a dishonest, corrupt establishment pig, and Gingrich is an immoral, dishonest, establishment pig.
      • S
        S 3 mths ago
        and you are a witch doctor...
      • Joe
        Joe 3 mths ago
        VOTE RON PAUL -- 2012
    • Kathleen
      Kathleen  •  Clearlake Oaks, California  •  3 mths ago
      Mitt shouldn't be president. He should be a weatherman. All he wants to do is determine which way the wind is blowing.
    • slim chakka
      slim chakka  •  Corpus Christi, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      Why is Romney is Using Political Purell for Shaking Donald Trump’s Hand?
      should read
      Why is Romney Using Political Purell After Shaking Donald Trump's Hand?
    • john
      john  •  3 mths ago
      "Trump" in English means fart! The Donald is just another loud noise...and not a pleasant one either! Romney would have shown some statemanship and judgement if he had stayed away from the mini circus, but no...just another desperate politician pandering to who ever...glad the polls show its backfiring ( like a fart ! ) ...unintended but appropriate!!
    • DennisW
      DennisW  •  Jersey City, New Jersey  •  3 mths ago
      Donald Grump has as much say in american politics as Donald Duck and that hideous creature that resides on his scalp
    • Buckin' Bronco
      Buckin' Bronco  •  3 mths ago
      "Why is Romney is Using..." At first I thought I was dyslexic then I thought maybe I have Alzheimer's disease but no--I read it right. Written by a Professor! Where is LaGrange College? In some third-world country? I think the "Yahoo! Contributor Network" needs a proof reader.
    • whatever
      whatever  •  3 mths ago
      Donald Chump is a joke and so was his time "running" for POTUS. His endorsement is a liability. Romney knows this and so does everybody else.
    • Joel
      Joel  •  3 mths ago
      Come the #$%$ on yahoo! Proofread your #$%$ headlines you idiots!
      • Joseph
        Joseph 3 mths ago
        Joel there are more important things in life so shut the #$%$ up !
      • blank
        blank 3 mths ago
        A news organization that can't be bothered to craft a readable headline is no news organization at all. But the headline isn't the only problem. There are problems in the body of the text that make it nonsensical. I'm doubting that the professor built those problems into his piece.

        Yahoo should either clean up its act or get out of repackaging news.
    • WSA
      WSA  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      What? The title and the body of the report need to be completely rewritten.
      • BadKitti75
        BadKitti75 3 mths ago
        Agreed!
      • George
        George 3 mths ago
        You are so right WSA. This article is poorly written and full of contradictions.
      • AnyNameHere
        AnyNameHere 3 mths ago
        Spot on mate.
    • Emma
      Emma  •  3 mths ago
      Romney is just lucky that he got Trump's endorsement rather than Palin's because a nod from her is tantamount to a kiss of death.
      • Joel
        Joel 3 mths ago
        And a nod from trump is somehow better?
      • Emma
        Emma 3 mths ago
        No, just the lesser of 2 evils, and I do mean evils.
      • Kwasi
        Kwasi 3 mths ago
        Not only would I kiss Palin, I'd stick her.
    • Country Joe
      Country Joe  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      Obviously on the heals of his "I dont worry about poor people" comment fiasco, the endorsement from Trump was ill timed. Its almost like he works for us Democrats.
    • Joseph
      Joseph  •  3 mths ago
      Actually I would have to fumigate my body if I came in touch with either of them.
    • chris
      chris  •  McClellan, California  •  3 mths ago
      Romney killed his Presidency by appearing with a Birther reality show huckster. Ads will link Trump's insanity and Romney's groveling. Romney can't win without the minorities his party spits on.
    • Joe
      Joe  •  3 mths ago
      Romney/Dummy would have been better off if Ronald McDonald had sided with him. What a Putz.....
    • John B
      John B  •  Seoul, South Korea  •  3 mths ago
      Trumps has hands? I thought he just had a mass of small tentacles surrounding the oral/anal orifice in the center of his face.
    • AnyNameHere
      AnyNameHere  •  3 mths ago
      What the hell is Purell ?
     Post a comment
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