Mitt Romney Likely to Withhold 2020 Endorsement of Trump

I’m going to tentatively call this a bold move.

And for anyone that actually pays attention to the history of Utah Senator Mitt Romney, backbone is not something he’s really known for. In fact, you may have seen or heard the words, “wishy washy” a time or too.

If you’ve kept up with my writing over the years, you’ve definitely heard the words, “wishy washy.” You’ve heard the word “squish,” too. “Spineless” isn’t a stranger to these pages, either.

Yes, I’ve looked at Mitt Romney with more than a bit of scorn since 2012, where he basically handed then-President Barack Obama a second term.

As I’ve often said, after their third debate, I’m pretty certain Romney voted for Obama, himself. He failed to capitalize where he was right on the issues. He was not aggressive, and a smirking president mocked the notion of Russia as a threat – something the nation would later realize to be exactly the case.

Side note: Do you think Trump supporters are comfortable knowing they share so much in common with Obama?

With that said, I have to point out that whenever Mitt Romney says anything that appears controversial in the age of Trump, but ultimately right, I don’t let myself get too excited. I have to remember that, although a man of great character, he wobbles like jelly when we really need him to dig in.

We’re at that point, again.

As a matter of fact, while speaking with reporters in Utah this week, the senator made a suggestion that many are seeing as a reflection of his less-than-chummy relationship with the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Will there be a 2020 endorsement of Donald Trump from Senator Romney?

“I don’t think endorsements are worth a thimble of spit,” Romney told reporters in Utah, according to The Associated Press. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I stay out of the endorsements.”

Some are saying this is Romney refusing to endorse Trump, outright.

Still, he may have a point worth considering.

Are endorsements worth the trouble? Do they move the needle, whatsoever, with the voters?

Some say they do. In Utah, where Romney is quite popular with the Mormon population and won his bid for senator with nary a bump in the road, showing that he stands behind the first term of President Trump and gives him his seal of approval could very well matter. For the very conservative voters in the area, on the fence about risking another Trump term or allowing a radical leftist into office, just a word of guidance from Romney could make the difference.

Romney’s relationship with President Trump has not been smooth.

While he does find common ground for agreement with Trump, such as with the 2017 tax cuts and some of the judicial picks, he has also spoken out against him.

“I have and will continue to speak out when the president says or does something which is divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions,” Romney wrote in an op-ed last year. “I do not make this a daily commentary; I express contrary views only when I believe it is a matter of substantial significance.”

Romney’s niece currently serves as the mouthpiece for Trump’s GOP.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel once capitalized on her family connection to the senator, with every outlet referring to her as Ronna Romney-McDaniel. That didn’t last long. Shortly after taking over as chair, reports surfaced that a disgruntled Trump wanted her to drop the “Romney” while serving in that position.

And she did it.

That would be right in line with how Trump operates. He’s a very petty man.

Still, whether Romney endorses the president or not, he doesn’t feel there’s much of a problem, one way or the other.

The Utah Republican said Friday it’s still too early to issue any official endorsements, though he said while “it’s not a sure thing” he believes Trump is likely to win reelection in 2020 in part due to a strong economy.

I wouldn’t put all the eggs in the economy basket. Trump is such a divisive figure, even within his own party. The tariffs are continuing to hurt taxpaying – voting – Americans. He seems to view it as a game to tweet out things that cause the markets to dive. He’s unpredictable, and on some issues, such as gun ownership, he’s lurching further and further left.

Who knows?

With Democrats pulling every dangerous, destructive, far-left ideologue out of the putrid bowels of their party, we’re in anything goes territory.

Trump may need some of the more popular senators to go to bat for him before the election in their states. It would be a good idea for him to start mending fences with senators like Mitt Romney, now.

But since when does Donald Trump have the humility to do that?