If you're going to pull an April Fools' Day stunt on the GOP presidential frontrunner, you might want to stay clear of something that reminds us of something that's actually haunted the campaign.
In this case, Mitt Romney's campaign team took the former Massachusetts governor to a room he thought was packed with supporters gathered for a pancake brunch. It was supposed to be his first campaign stop Sunday as he courted Wisconsin voters ahead of Tuesday's primary.
Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan introduced Romney as he waited backstage. There was some cheering, but his staff told Romney not to expect a big crowd.
When he walked out, the room was completely empty. His supporters were actually gathered in another room upstairs.
Romney was a good sport and went along with the gag in good humor.
But behind his pained smile and laughter, he must've been thinking about all those embarrassing moments in the campaign where the crowds were thin or appeared thin, and not as a prank.
The first image that comes to mind, of course, was Romney's address to the Detroit Economic Club at Ford Field on Feb. 24, 2012.
The football stadium seats about 80,000 people, but Romney had about 1,000 people in the crowd, making the event look like a total flop:
Mitt Romney spoke to about 1,000 people at Detroit's Ford Field, dwarfed by the stadium that normally seats 80,000 people. Ed Schultz speaks with auto worker Stacie Steward and Detroit radio host Tony Trupiano about Romney's speech.
Before that, Romney was crowd-challenged during the Florida GOP primary campaign.
While Newt Gingrich was losing, he was drawing crowds of 1,500 to 5,000. On the other hand, Romney, the eventual winner, was lucky to draw a couple hundred people.
Romney has also had a tough time matching crowds for all-but-forgotten GOP candidate Ron Paul. The Internet features some videos comparing crowd sizes of the two candidates, and it's not pretty for Romney:
Maybe the crowds are sparse because Romney's people are filtering anybody who looks risky. Look at what happened last summer during his "corporations are people, my friend" speech to voters in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fair:
Or maybe it was his singing that has thinned the crowds:
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I loved the April fools joke, but the joke is on Romney again, because he will be playing to and empty room.......No way Jose, will mitt ever be the "president" of anything but his own fan club. No one else can stand him.
He didn't look that surprised, Some think that President Obama has got Wall Street in his back pocket! If Mitt was president Wall Street would be in your pockets again and again with no regulations. The best thing most of us can do to help the economy is to buy from your local economy and not big merchandisers like Wal-Mart and not Ebuy stuff. I have seen in my area another smaller store just close its doors True Value good quality stuff and 40 hour work weeks down the drain. So that's the signs of the times but here in N.D. the economy is doing okay, So you may ask why? Well we have allot of competition Lowes /Home Depot/Menards as many others have been closed for some time now. Sad but true. If Mitt wins and the GOP has power expect less than 32 hour jobs and an economy in a tailspin to worldwide depression. Have a nice day!
Since this webpage ran about 4 or 5 different threads related to the video that ABC ran showing GZ being brought into the police station and the vast majority of people on this board commented about how there was no evidence of ANY injuries to GZ, I wonder why there isn't ANY story on the fact that ABC News is now reporting that an enhanced version of the tape clearly shows that there was a gash and welts on the back of GZ's head? Could it be because it does not fit into the agenda of trying to create hysteria among the people? I am listening for any apology, but the silence is deafening.
NBC news, parent of MSNBC, is now having to investigate itself because of the deliberate editing of the 911 call to make it appear as if GZ offered the opinion that TM was black without any prompting by the 911 dispatcher. Why would they do that...0h yeah...to enhance the hysteria around the event and gather rating for their shows..of which Ed Schultz is one.
People on this board complain about Fox News all the time, but I guess you guys should get your own house in order before casting dispersions on others.
Go Fish - Misinformed And Purposefully Blinded One !!!!!!!
Just another troll that believes everything be covered by everybody instantly. Never mind the fact that the FBI is investigating everything already.
It's also funny how I read the edited 911 tapes story no less than 4 times on differant blogs, left leaning, for the last 2 days, OH, and once more on the headlines.
What "hiding" is this clown talking about?
His hiding the truth of course. On another thread he was whining about the integrity and honesty displayed by Weiner as if what Weiner did was close to Diaper Dave and toe tapping Larry who both broke law"s done. As usual a typical tea bagged finger pointing post.
I take it since none of the three of you could refute my comments with FACTS, I must be right...thanks...
Whom...who are you referring to...I have not posted anything about Weiner
Larry...What does the FBI investigating the matter have to do with NBC deliberately editing the tape in order to create the appearance of GZ having a predisposed opinion that TM was black? It is not 6 hours after I first posted the comment and Schultz still has not posted any comment about the story. I wonder if that is because it goes against his leftist agenda.
MD...what exactly what I misinformed about?
Reality !!!!!!!!!!!!
And exactly where I am missing reality? In the fact that NBC deliberately doctored the tape or the fact that Ed has an agenda that prevents him from eating crow for having posted the video and making the claims about GZ not being injured?
Which reality am I missing?
OPEN Your Eye's - Your Ear's And Your tiny little mind !!!!!! WHaaaattt ??????
Irreverent what the news does or doesn't do, Zimmerman is a creep and belongs in jail until he stands trial like any other criminal. Just because you want to believe that stand your ground laws apply to Zimmerman means less then words taken out of context.
Amazing....the hypocrisy from you guys makes me laugh.
MSNBC or NBC or ABC does this and it is "irreverent" (you really showed your intelligence with that one Whom) what the news does or does not do.
Just a clue for Whom who loves to talk about how stupid the Republicans are...the correct word would have been IRRELEVANT. Next time, when you try to use a big word, go to the dictionary first and make sure of what the word means before you type it into a post. That way you won't appear to be any more stupid than you already do...though that would be pretty hard to do.
Regarding the SYG laws, since you replied to my post, I guess you are referring to me. There is not a single post where I have said the SYG law applies to GZ because there are not enough known facts to make that determination yet. Be sure of your facts before you make accusations against a person.
If either one of those instances had been Fox News, everyone on this board would have been jumping all over them.
We know the facts a creep with a gun stalked and shot a teen he should be in jail awaiting his day in court like everyone else who stalks and murders. That you try to defend this creep actions like he was defending himself just shows that you have integrity issues as well as a lack of morality. Why is it you think that Zimmerman had rights when he was breaking the law, that just shows your willingness to look the other way when a criminal does something you like based on your racist bigotry. That is why you can't grasp the fact that Zimmerman went hunting and you are willing to let him go because in your racist bigoted mind Zimmerman shot a thug because that is what the right wing stands for racist bigotry. This wouldn't even have made news if the family had accepted the story the police told them about their son's death.
I am an angry white woman against the tide of prejudice and hate that has become the undergarments of the controlling human beings who have risen from the depths of public
degradation...and full of the dung permeating society with the stench from their attempt at rotting Democracy. And they wish to build their "empire" upon all they have excreted. The ground work of taking over high offices through deceitful rhetoric that got them voted into those offices in cities, states and federal govt. I believe the killing of Trayvon was symptomatic of the rise of an element of humanity that had been living in hidden enclaves...killing, maiming and frightening decent Americans under cover of night...with torches or guns! They are now in many controlling positions that we must topple.
The beauty of our Humanity and diversity, in the living breathing form of devotion to the Freedoms of Democracy and Reverence for the God given rights of humanity clearly mandated by what was our sacrosanct Constitution. We the people must be the awakened sleeping giant as one great body for justice. Impeach the UN-Just justices, and recall the fanatics in governemt. They earned their votes through lies and falsification of their intentions.
Past presidential candidates have promised the Moon! Well I guess Newt still does! But one in the past was "A chicken in every pot" Mitt may have one too "An elevator in every garage"
Actually it wasn't a joke, its what a 1% crowd looks like!
Good one xxx ooo! Ha Ha Ha Ha
AWwww = Who Gives A Ratts A$$ About This Goofball - RobMe !!! Dont Worry ; In A Few Minutes He WILL Change His tiny narrow little mind About This Event !!!!!!! What A Regular Kind -O- Guy ---Hey !!!????
The Main Problem For RobMe - IS- RobMe !!!! He Is A Pi$$-Poor Chameleon !!!!!
It seem like there was more people out side!!
Somebody's lost their job, That's what happens when Mitts staff forgets to hire the stand-ins!
I never cared for April fool's jokes, but most folk have to buy gas at least once a week. That single issue will doom Obama's second term, and that's no joke!
Hey Sissy (3), are saying the government should have the power to require everyone to buy something? Really? Our government has never attempted to demand everyone buy anything, isn't that unconstitutional? Just askin'
BOL except it won't you just hope no one notices that right now the prices are high because of gasoline is getting switched to summer grade, refineries are closing for repairs like they do every spring. With the GOP clown act sword rattling the oil speculators are driving the cost of crude up. It is election year people are aware that once again the GOP has blocked bills to strip oil speculators from controlling oil prices. BTW, the GOP has no one to beat Obama and they make it worse every day on themselves with their attacks on women, minorities and workers. So go back to your little right wing sites were you might be able to sell snake oil to people who are dumber then rocks.
We don't need to do that Whom...you are right here. This is what is referred to as a "target rich environment".
So once again we get the typical tea bagger response. Guess what storm trooper your opinion here is less then capt entitled's opinion. If we wanted your opinion we would have got it first hand from the Fox news propaganda station. What you actually believe that anyone listens to you, you are just amusement here. And the GOP call it fool the stupid morons that vote for GOP candidates by telling them they are special exceptional people when in fact they are morons willing to slit their own throats for illusions. 43 years of being the GOP's April fools.
Capt America USMC, you are suspended for a week for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Removing suspension, moderator error.
But looking sat your comments, I would remind you to mind the CoH. A lot of your stuff is bordering on a violation.
Thanks!
Cappy: GWB shoved two unpaid for wars down our throats And wants more! And now the GOP wants the middle and the poor to pay for it. That's all it takes to re-elect Obama. Case closed.
capt entitled believes he will escape those purges by voting for the party creating the problems.
Even with those 2 wars xxxooo, Bush spent less in 8 years than Obama has done in 3!
What purges, whom, am I trying to escape? Just askin'
Cappy ejected again??? Obama would have never had to spend a boat load of money if it wasn't for GWBs mistakes, But that money will find its way back if we dems get the chance. But YOU can't see it that way because you hate him, and why? I think I know why! Your from Teaxas thats why and I do know about teaxas hate.