Former Massachusetts Republican Governor Mitt Romney speaks critically about the then-Republican frontrunner Donald Trump at the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 3, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)
Utah Republican Party Chairman Rob Anderson blasted Mitt Romney for his expected run for the U.S. Senate in the Beehive State, telling The Salt Lake Tribune he’s “essentially doing what Hillary Clinton did in New York.”
That’s a reference to carpetbagging. A carpetbagger is a political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections. The name arose in the 1800s to define a person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from the Reconstruction.
“I think he’s keeping out candidates that I think would be a better fit for Utah because, let’s face it, Mitt Romney doesn’t live here, his kids weren’t born here, he doesn’t shop here,” Rob Anderson told The Salt Lake Tribune in an interview. “I have two questions for Mitt. First of all, why? And how do you expect to represent Utah when you don’t live here?”
Mr. Anderson, who is rightfully seen as a moderate, does not usually make very public criticisms such as these. His remarks come just hours before Romney is widely-expected to make the announcement online Thursday morning that he is running for the U.S. Senate to fill the seat vacated by Trump-ally and personal friend Orrin Hatch.
If he declares, he’d be the instant front-runner and highly-likely to be the Republican nominee. A Salt Lake Tribune poll conducted in January found him walking away with 64% of those surveyed for the general election compared to 19% who chose Democrat Jenny Wilson.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, carried Utah in the 2012 presidential election by nearly 50 points over President Barack Obama. He made the state his official residence in 2013 and actively votes as a Holladay resident.
Chairman Anderson said there were three or four other “good, conservative people” who planned to run, though he did not give names. However, Mr. Romney “has been poaching all of the talent as far as campaign and messaging and financing.”
“Nobody wants to go out there like David and Goliath and get defeated by the Romney machine,” Mr. Anderson said, making it clear he would not represent the party or state well.
“He has never been a Trump supporter,” he said. “I just want somebody to support the party platforms.”
A spokesperson for Mitt Romney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Are the Mormons stupid enough to elect this carpetbagging clown? Sadly, they will blindly if their church tells them to.
https://t.co/9NCKofvC8o
@basedrogbennett Sadly, @MittRomney will be another Trump hating, anti MAGA, RINO, DID (Democrat in… https://t.co/N3NInDSxmz
OMG! ?
@BenKTallmadge Hard 2 tell what is more insulting to Voters of Utah. Fact Mitt Romney was born in M… https://t.co/az2yhY17iy
I wish there was some solid Utah Republican willing to run against Romney in the primary..
In fact,… https://t.co/bHAhJmza8Z
I've been Republican since my first vote in 1976. I was unable to bring myself to vote for Milquetoast Mittens in 2012.
@Scattermae777M Mutt Romney is a one world order puppet.
@realMattJAllen He’s no Republican. Romney has proved himself a RINO which in my opinion is the same worthless.
He’s an empty suit unsure of himself as clearly illustrated in his debates with obama. He lost that… https://t.co/nNrtXvxTV2