LIVE CAMS: St. Patrick's Day weekend festivities around Savannah

Click here for more

I'm voting for Romney on Super Tuesday

Mitt Romney won't win Georgia's GOP primary, but he's the best of the bunch.  Associated Press photo

Newt Gingrich should win Georgia's GOP primary Tuesday.

It may even be a blowout for the former North Georgia congressman and House Speaker, who now makes his home in Virginia.

That state also has a GOP primary Tuesday. But Newt, ironically, can't even vote for himself in the state where he lives because he's not on the ballot.  It's a weird situation for a guy who's smart in some areas, except organizational skills.

Many Georgia Republicans, I believe, aren't voting for the Current Newt who's having trouble with the basics. Instead, they're voting for the Newt they remember. The Young Newt. The fiery, boisterous congressman who took the conservative fight to Washington in the 1990s and went toe-to-toe with Bill and Hillary.

It's like Elvis. Most Presley fans preferred the younger version to the later model, although it was the same flesh-and-blood Elvis. It's a selective memory thing. I understand that. I also understand the importance of loyalty in politics -- you support the people who supported you, and Newt had the backs of a lot of Georgia Republicans during his years on Capitol Hill.

But I'm not going to delve into the deficits of the Current Newt. The other Republican candidates have done that job pretty thoroughly. The same goes for the flaws of Rick Santorum and Ron Paul -- and Mitt Romney, the guy I'm voting for Tuesday.

I know. The former Massachusetts governor sometimes puts his foot in his mouth, like when he recently tried to buddy-up to the NASCAR crowd by bragging that he has some great friends who own NASCAR teams. Geesh. It's what you'd expect Mr. "Monopoly" Man to say.

But if you can look beyond such clunkers, you see a man who was a wildly successful businessman. A man who got elected governor in one of the most liberal states in the nation made some things happen. A man who helped pull the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics away from disaster. A man who's religious but doesn't wear his religion on his sleeve. A man who knows when to hold his ground and when to be pragmatic. A man who seems totally organized (which may be why he comes across like Thurston Howell III when speaking off the cuff).

Romney and Santorum have written off Georgia, conceding the state to Newt in the primary. That's a smart strategy. They know Georgia Republicans are loyal. And Gingrich, although he's a Virginian, is still seen as a favorite son. (And give Newt props for visiting Savannah last week, the only candidate to make it out of the Atlanta orbit.)

But he's not getting my vote.

I like the quote from Darrell Royal, the legendary University of Texas football coach: "You dance with the one that brung you."

From my perspective in the primary, I think you go with the Republican candidate who would make the best president, based on total life experiences and achievements. I think that candidate is Mitt Romney -- the past and present versions.






  • Comment

Comments (4)

Add comment
sanityinga 03/05/12 - 06:05 pm

Well, no surprise there.

But funny watching the paper try and walk back the Tea Party after fueling the fire. Gonna try and put the crazy back in the bottle, Tom?!?! Actually going to vote for the father of Obamacare, Tea Party?!?!

citizen1 03/06/12 - 10:04 am

If you're a RINO

vote for a RINO. Perpetuate Obamacare and gun grabbing. Any true conservative would never even consider voting for Romney.

In Old Savannah Forum
In Old Savannah Forum 03/06/12 - 10:07 am

My vote goes to the one behind door #2

It's Super Tuesday and I have already cast my vote for Santorum. Won't be voting for him or whomever the Republicans chooses to run in the general but I thought I might help in the effort for Santorum to pick up a few of Georgia's delegates.

Sorry Tom, but Mitt hasn't a clue; The Newt is damaged goods and Paul is waiting for the mother ship to arrive.

pittsdicicco 03/06/12 - 02:47 pm


I voted for Mitt just now. Newt is a joke, a washed up has-been. A vote for Santorum guarantees Barry Obama a second term, the thought of which makes me crazy (crazier). Just seeing BHO on TV right now is the great motivator to vote for Mitt.

Back to Top

Recent comments