Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)
As the Republican presidential primary gets into gear, the candidates are having to get themselves in line with what Republican primary voters want to hear—even if it means saying things that will hurt them in a general election. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's problems have been so extreme that he's been forced to try to
redefine what flip-flop means, but he's not alone in his struggles. Jeb Bush's
flailing on the
Iraq question may someday enter the realm of political legend, and he's had to
quit talking about "respect" when opposing marriage equality.
Especially coming after Mitt Romney's performance in 2012, this has to make some Republicans nervous:
“You have to be careful when you are doing this — that you don’t so embrace your base that it becomes impossible to move and have some flexibility or nuances in your position moving forward,” said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.).
But Stuart Stevens, a former top Romney adviser, thinks there's nothing to worry about:
Said Stevens, “It’s like watching people warm up for the Super Bowl and then saying: ‘What do you think the consequences will be in the third quarter?’ ”
If the Romney campaign thought the early primary campaign was just a warm-up period that didn't matter to the election, that might explain a lot. And if the current candidates want to see it that way, too, far be it from me to stand in their way.