Former “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather says presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has a 50 percent chance of beating President Barack Obama in November.
“I have no idea what kind of president [former Massachusetts] Gov. Romney will make, but I do think . . . he has a good chance of becoming president,” Rather told
Politico. “President Obama is even money at best at this particular time . . . His odds right now are 50/50 in my book.”
Obama performs much better campaigning than as president, said Rather, who is promoting a new book, “Rather Outspoken: My Life In the News.” Obama must recapture his skills of engagement and persuasiveness that served him so well in 2008, if he wants to succeed again, Rather said.
On the subject of 2016, Rather said current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will likely repeat her 2008 attempt for the presidency. “I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t,” he said. “Overnight is a long time in politics. A week is forever, and we’re talking about something four years down the road. But . . . I’d be surprised if she doesn’t make a run in 2016.”
The career of Rather, 80, has spanned 11 presidents. His favorites are Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton. “When you spoke with them, even for a short time, they gave you their full attention. So many politicians — and this includes some presidents — you can be talking to them, and they’re looking over your shoulder to see who else is in the room,” Rather said.
He was impressed with Richard Nixon’s intellect. “Richard Nixon was smart, very intelligent. If you had given all presidents SAT tests, . . . Richard Nixon would be right there at or near the top,” Rather said. “But of course the historical question always is, well, to be such a smart person, how could he have done what he did?”
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