Former Republican nominee Mitt Romney decided to weigh in on the 2016 election last week in a speech that largely focused on slamming Donald Trump as a “phony” and a “fraud”. The GOP frontrunner, he said, was ill suited to become president and was “playing the members of the American public for suckers.”
While Romney was likely hoping he’d be able to sway some voters with his speech, it turns out it hardly affected Trump.
Via The Hill:
Thirty-one percent of Republican voters surveyed by Morning Consult said they are now more likely to vote for Trump, while 20 percent said they are less likely to vote for the real estate mogul. Forty-three percent said Romney's comments had no impact.
Among Trump supporters, 56 percent said they are more likely to vote for Trump after he was denounced by Romney, while 5 percent said they are less likely to vote for Trump. Thirty-six percent said their opinions were not changed.
And among those who voted for Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee, his speech was less helpful in curbing support for Trump: 30 percent were more likely to vote for Trump, while 20 percent were less likely.
Even before the poll came out Trump’s campaign knew that not only would it not hurt the real estate mogul, but that it may in fact help him.
Here’s what a top aide to Trump tweeted after the speech:
Mitt Romney with an incredible endorsement for @realDonaldTrump! #MakeAmericaGreatAgain #Trump2016 #TrumpTrain??????????????????????????
— Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) March 3, 2016
It's time Romney look for a new strategy if he's serious about stopping Trump.