Mitt Romney was in Iowa recently to help drum up support for Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst:
Spotted in Cedar Rapids: Mitt and Wilson, who drove his white pickup across America for Romney. Cc @mikiebarb pic.twitter.com/EKWSTaNkgc
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
Romney, excited to see Wilson, asked how his truck was holding up and said "you son of a gun!" pic.twitter.com/UAaflF6vJM
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
I'm on a @Delta flight out of Cedar Rapids with Mitt Romney. Yes, folks, he's in coach. And smiling for fan pics.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
Mitt Romney waiting in DTW jet bridge for his @delta pink-tagged bag. Next, he got some Taco Bell. pic.twitter.com/zwlWxqYv0B
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
But some can’t help but wonder if his visit might mean something more:
NEW w/ @costareports: Can't quit Mitt: Friends say Romney feels nudge to consider a 2016 presidential run http://t.co/9mfKaNVJYE
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
At Iowa breakfast, a donor told Joni Ernst her job in Senate would be to convince Romney to run again http://t.co/9mfKaNVJYE
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
TPaw tells WaPo he'd encourage Romney to run a 3rd time, said 2016 field is "untested & unproven." W/ @costareports http://t.co/9mfKaNVJYE
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
A lotta new deets on behind the scenes Romney activity that makes intimates think Mitt actually could give 2016 a go http://t.co/9mfKaNVJYE
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 13, 2014
Recommended
More from WaPo’s Rucker and Bob Costa:
Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee and now the tacit head of the Republican Party, visited Iowa as part of a feverish nationwide tour designed to help the GOP take control of the Senate. He has insisted that he is not interested in running for president a third time. But his friends said a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity is nudging him to more seriously consider it.
Romney has huddled with prominent donors and reconnected with supporters in key states in recent months. Because of the vacuum of power within his party and the lack of a clear 2016 front-runner, confidants said Romney is grappling with this question: If drafted, would he answer the party’s call?
Further juicing the speculation was a Des Moines Register-Bloomberg News poll released over the weekend showing that Romney is the only potential 2016 candidate who would beat Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) among likely Iowa voters, 44 percent to 43 percent.
That’s great and all, but at this point, is Romney really the right man for the job?
https://twitter.com/FromFlatwater/status/521780974154432512
Not everyone was so polite about it:
AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHH RT @DRUDGE_REPORT: PAPER: Romney weighs 2016 while campaigning for midterm hopefuls… http://t.co/XX9XD5z2py
— American Journalists Publish Chinese Propaganda (@JohnEkdahl) October 13, 2014
Great. Just great. RT @DRUDGE_REPORT: PAPER: Romney weighs 2016 while campaigning for midterm hopefuls… http://t.co/o9Doyocseq
— The H2 (@TheH2) October 13, 2014
Because Losing Twice Wasn't Enough? Romney weighs 2016 as he hits the trail for 2014 hopefuls http://t.co/1FK3ErWewI via @washingtonpost
— Tom Caso (@DeaconTomCaso) October 13, 2014
https://twitter.com/Aaron_RS/status/521776192048087040
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/521772596539318272
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/521773325970726912
https://twitter.com/hecubus1st/status/521796844506976256
So basically our choice is get Ebola or live and have to vote for Romney again.
I quit.— Beebo (@beebobaby) October 13, 2014
Hey, don’t forget about SMOD …
SMOD/Ebola 2016 http://t.co/p4vlC0CFau
— Joe Cunningham (@JoePCunningham) October 13, 2014
Join the conversation as a VIP Member