Romney seems to have endorsed Bolling but wait, no, never mind

To endorse or not to endorse (Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling)? This is the question that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney seems to have answered on Saturday during remarks at Randolph-Macon College before backtracking immediately following the rally.[1]

During the political gathering at Randolph-Macon, Romney called Bolling “a great friend and, I hope, the next governor of this great state of Virginia.”[2] Sure sounds like an endorsement.

But following the rally, Romney commented that “We want to make sure to have a Republican take his place. There are a couple of guys in the race – I love them both.”[3] In other words, Romney wants to have his cake and eat it too.

The comment made above by Romney is indicative of his political style overall and that of his political campaign so far: elusive, double-sided, and uncertain.

For Bolling, Romney’s indecision bodes ill for his chances of becoming Virginia’s next governor. One reason is that if a long-time supporter of Romney (as Bolling is) can’t acquire the backing of the latter, then what hope does Bolling have of winning over an electorate that isn’t exactly head-over-heels with Bolling-mania.[4]

Bolling is stuck between a rock and a hard place, attempting on the one hand to convince extreme elements in his party that he meets their litmus tests while also working to maintain the support of Virginia’s independent voters. It’s an unenviable position to be in for a politician, to say the least.

It’s also not clear that a Romney endorsement would move political mountains for Bolling anyways. According to a recent Rasmussen poll in Virginia, Romney’s favorability is just above 50%.[5]

While I wish Bolling success against the tea party favorite Ken Cuccinelli, it doesn’t appear that the political winds are blowing in Bolling’s favor at the moment. But politics is like Mitt Romney himself, things can change at any moment.

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[1] http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virginia-politics/2012/aug/12/tdmain09-romney-walks-back-apparent-bolling-endors-ar-2124952/

[2] http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virginia-politics/2012/aug/12/tdmain09-romney-walks-back-apparent-bolling-endors-ar-2124952/

[3] http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virginia-politics/2012/aug/12/tdmain09-romney-walks-back-apparent-bolling-endors-ar-2124952/

[4] http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/05/early-look-at-2013-va-gov-race.html

[5] http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/contests/mitt-romney-favorability-va