Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell says that, if he were in charge, Mitt Romney would be the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential nominee, but the Massachusetts healthcare system, which some have labeled “Romneycare,” might destroy his chances.
When MSNBC's Chris Matthews asked Democrat Rendell why the Republicans still
don’t have a “star” to run against President Barack Obama, he opined there was dissension within the party on who could defeat the president.
“Well, I think the problem is there’s a huge split in the Republican Party. If I were in charge of the Republican Party — by the way, this will be the kiss to death to the guy I’m going to mention — Mitt Romney would be the candidate, no ifs, ands, and buts about it,” Rendell said Friday night.
“He’s got the best credentials to talk about the economy and job creation,” he said. “But Mitt Romney, I don’t think can get the nomination, because of healthcare.”
Polls have shown former Massachusetts governor Romney is the front-runner. But, Republican strategist Karl Rove, among others, has said Romney must admit he was wrong for helping to advance “Romneycare,” if he wants any hope of snagging the nod.
Romney has said he opposes Obamacare, but has acknowledged the Massachusetts healthcare law contained the same kind of individual insurance mandate, which a judge in Florida this week found unconstitutional in the federal law.
However, Romney, on a book tour, said he stands by the Massachusetts law, because the federal government does not have the same rights as states, which should be able to decide their own healthcare options.
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