There is no love between Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, the two Republican senators from Utah. Lee, a conservative stalwart, has always sort of marched to his drumbeat of conservative conviction. Lee, a personal friend, knows the Constitution perhaps better than anyone in Congress. However, he sometimes lets his lawyerly sense of things trip up political instincts, as anyone who read his post-2020-election text messages with the Trump team could see.
Romney, the onetime GOP nominee for president, went into the Senate having to find some way to contain former President Donald Trump's ire. But Romney, because of his power base, did not need Trump and, because of Utah politics, could be independent of Trump. Lee, embraced by the conservative movement, had to navigate a man about whom he has regularly been critical. Romney never had to do that and undoubtedly disagrees with some of Lee's navigation of the same issue.
Right now, a very vocal group that would not urinate on Romney were he on fire is enthusiastically praising Romney for refusing to get behind Lee's reelection campaign in Utah. Here, though, is the frank and stark reality. Without Romney, Republicans may lose that seat. In the last 48 hours, conversations with people familiar with credible polling in Utah tell me Evan McMullin's attacks are having a significant impact on Lee and that Republican voters who have a strong preference for Romney might vote for McMullin.
Republicans, myself included, have largely dismissed McMullin, who is now surrounded by Democrat staff, Democrat consultants, and Democrat donors. McMullin has embraced Democrat positions, including on abortion. He has embraced Democrat judicial picks, including Biden's Supreme Court pick. Though McMullin is running as an independent, he will undoubtedly caucus with the Democrats who have funded and run his campaign.
While I understand the lack of love between Romney and Lee, Romney's Republican colleagues might find themselves still in the minority if Romney does not endorse Lee. Pollsters who I find very credible tell me Romney-oriented Republican voters have largely been persuaded that McMullin is not the Democrat he undoubtedly is and that Romney's silence is a factor in voters leaning toward McMullin.
For his part, Lee needs to start educating voters about McMullin's Democrat ties and make the case that given McMullin's ties, donors, operatives, and staff, McMullin will owe the Democrats, perpetuate Biden's agenda and potentially keep the Democrats in control of the Senate. Lee's campaign needs to ramp up immediately and take this seriously.
Romney, for his part, will hopefully be mindful that those praising him now are not his friends. Likewise, Romney in the majority has a real chance of passing meaningful reforms for the family policy he has long advocated for and that conservatives largely support. It looks increasingly likely that the Republicans could take the Senate by one seat, but a Utah upset would not just be the turd in the punchbowl for Republicans on election night; it could be what keeps the GOP from the majority.
Sometimes the statesman also has to be a team player, and now would be a good time for Romney to do it. The act could not only generate some goodwill with his Senate colleague and perhaps thaw that relationship, but it could also save the GOP from a surprise upset.
Nationally as well, Republicans need to remember Evan McMullin is all but a Democrat now. Democrats in Nevada set their candidates aside to rally to him. McMullin is funded by not just a contingent of anti-Trump consultants, but explicitly Democrat consultants. He has framed himself as an independent but is no more an independent than Sen. Angus King or Sen. Bernie Sanders, both of whom use Democrat consultants too.
Lee's efforts to hold his seat become ever easier if Romney supports him. That, from the polling I have seen, would be enough to get Romney's voters back into the Republican camp and save the GOP some money to be directed elsewhere. It could also finally be that act of statesmanship that fosters a better working relationship for Utah between its two senators, both of whom could be in the majority in a few months.
To find out more about Erick Erickson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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