Romney: Sarah Palin’s the ‘best thing’ that could happen to me
(CNN) – For any other candidate, raining on a presidential announcement parade would be seen as sabotage. Not former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
The 2012 presidential candidate told CNN’s Piers Morgan Monday that he wasn’t offended when former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin appeared in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire on the same day he was set to formally announce his intention to seek the 2012 GOP nomination for president.
In fact, though Romney shared his plans one week in advance and Palin insisted on keeping the destination of her top-secret bus tour under wraps until the day before her New Hampshire appearance, Romney insisted that the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee “really didn’t ruin my day.”
“In a lot of respects it’s the best thing that could happen to me,” he said on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight.”
“Right now, your greatest enemy is overexposure. People get tired of seeing the same person day in and day out.”
And Romney, who also sought the GOP nomination in 2008, had nothing but kind words for Palin, who’s still batting around the will-she-or-won’t-she question.
“I think Sarah Palin is generating enthusiasm and interest in a campaign this year. That’s a good thing,” he affirmed. “She has a lot of energy and passion and bringing it to our race is positive for us.”
But for all the benefits of enthusiasm and interest, Romney will choose a different tack for the time being, opting instead to lay low.
“People are going to start focusing on the elections probably after Labor Day,” he said.
“For us, I’m not doing a lot of TV - just a couple of very key interviews where I get a chance to talk about things I care about,” Romney revealed.
“Until Labor Day hits I’m going be pretty quiet.”
- On Monday, June 13, CNN will host the first New Hampshire Republican Presidential Debate, live from Manchester, NH at 8 p.m. ET. Follow all the issues and campaign news leading up to the debate on CNNPolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter.
Watch Piers Morgan Live weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here.
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One thing Romney is right about, Palin is helping his run. The more Palin is out there the better the other candidates look. Way to go Palin.
"Best thing" for Romney. Worst thing for America.
Mitt Romney is the new Bob Dole.
He is going to run for President every four years until he finally wins or gets to old to do it any more.
He has no plan or vision for the country and he does not give a damn about the American people.
He just wants to be President
Unfortunately, none of the GOP presidential candidates can garner instant media attention like Palin. The media follows her around and soak up every bit of nonsense that she spits out. I wish she would fade away from the political scene.
Don't like him, don't trust his Mormonism, but at least he is intelligent, has a brain, and is coherent.
I bet. Makes him look like a super brain.
I'd hate to think what the worst thing might be...........
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
What else could he say? He's terrified of Palin. He knows that no one in the repub party dare disagree with her on anything.
If you get the nomination and you think that Palin is so great, you could pick her for your running mate. Then you and John McCain will have something in common. You both will have lost because of her.
ROMNEY/PALIN 2012
That's one smart dude.
Top of his class in business and law from BYU and Harvard. Very successful in business. Very well organized to get things done on both sides of the aisle as a governor in the very blue state of Massachusetts. Very well organized to win the presidential race, in spite of an Obama-centric media.
Mitt Romney will be the right person and the right time to rescue our country from permanent financial ruin. Mark my words.
Romney in 2012.
Ahhh yes the GOP's very own socilalist darlings. SHE who claims to be pro-business yet oversaw in 2008 the largest tax increase on big oil in Alaska which, under her auspices was re-distributed to the common man via the Alaska Permanent Fund, a fund in which the citizens get a pay out from big oil. And then HE who claims to be anti-government intrusion yet oversaw state run healthcare. WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION & UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE ARE SOCIALIST/PROGESSIVE Principles and that is exactly what these two Republicans accomplished in their careers as Governors. With that kind of hypocrisy where do they get off criticizing the president on those issues?
There is class and then there is....Palin
What else would you say, Mitt? You are a desperate man.
Lying and smiling. The perfect politician.
Yes, I agree. Please be quiet.
romney will be even quieter when he loses to obama
this guy is in denial...saying Palin is a good thing....good luck bud!
There should be a simple qualification for Presidential candidates: having a working brain.
Amen. He couldn't have said it better.
Good for him. Obama seems to be adopting the same tactic
IF ELECTED, HE WILL BE VERT QUIET.
Absolutely she is the best thing that could happen to him. He gets to look reasonable next to her.
NO more election talk please??? It gets real old real fast