TRUMP: 'CHOKE ARTIST' MITT 'FAILED CANDIDATE'
Romney speech raises hackles of GOP front-runner, rank-and-file
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Thursday mocked Mitt Romney's attacks on him, accusing the 2012 GOP nominee of begging Trump for his support.
"I backed Mitt Romney," Trump said during a rally in Maine. "He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees.' He would've dropped to his knees."
Romney responded immediately on Twitter, saying he would not have accepted the endorsement of Trump four years ago, given what he's seen from the businessman recently on the campaign trail.
image: http://www.wnd.com/files/2016/03/Romneytweet.png
Political observers viewed Romney's speech as potentially playing into the businessman's hand, given that Romney had accepted Trump's glowing endorsement four years ago before unleashing his criticism.
Trump also called Romney a failed presidential candidate, saying he ran a "horrible campaign."
In 2012, he said, Romney lost a race that "should have been won. … I don't know what happened to him."
He charged that Romney was considering a 2016 run and that Jeb Bush convinced Romney not to run.
"So Mitt was going to run. And I was very angry -- I wasn't even going to run at that point, I was going to do 'The Apprentice,'" said Trump.
"When I heard Mitt was going to run, I said he can't run -- he's a choke artist. We cannot take another loss. He is a choke artist -- I have never seen such a choke artist, other than Rubio."
Romney's widely anticipated speech from Utah that unleashed a massive wave of insults against Trump didn't sit so well with many within the Republican rank-and-file either, who suggested the criticisms could actually have the opposite effect on the billionaire businessman's presidential campaign.
"Look Mitt Romney, smart guy, good family man, you got to give him that. But the wrong messenger. I mean, it's almost like a coach who lost the Super Bowl, 42-0, coming out and telling the winning coach what plays to call," said Andrea Tantaros, a co-host of "Outnumbered" on Fox News, in reaction to Romney's speech. "Look at his record in Massachusetts ... Mitt Romney's a liberal. ... Mitt Romney has no business lecturing voters on electability or conservatism and I feel that right now voters look at him right now and tell his brand of conservatism to take it and shove it."
And another Fox host, serving as a guest on the same "Outnumbered" panel discussion on Romney, issued a scathing criticism against the former Massachusetts governor over his previous televised appearance with Trump – to seek his endorsement during his 2012 White House run against President Obama.
"This is exactly why the American people are so fed up and fed up with politicians," said Eric Bolling, host of "The Five" on Fox News.
Sarah Palin took to Facebook to address Romney's attack on Trump:
"The "machine's" deception and nonsensical attack on Trump isn't really an attack on the candidate, it's an attack on conscientious, hardworking, patriotic Americans who know we need a revolution to stop the complicit politicians who are fundamentally transforming America. We found the revolutionary. Donald Trump is the shock the Permanent Political Class needs to wake them up... to destroy their selfish cabal... to respect the will of the people... to make America safe and solvent... to make America great again. Don't take the bait, Mr. Trump. It's not about you. It's about us. And we've got your back."
Meanwhile, a top Trump aide came out swinging.
Dan Scavino, a senior Trump adviser, tweeted this after the Romney speech: "Mitt Romney with an incredible endorsement for @realDonaldTrump!"
The tweet, which included pictures of several American flags, seemed to speak to the fact that establishment Republican attacks on Trump only seemed to bolster his poll favor with the public.
Scavino also linked to the video from 2012 when Romney spoke of feeling "honored and pleased" at receiving Trump's endorsement.
Corey Lewandowski, Trump's campaign manager, told CNN the lobbyists who run Washington fear their days "are numbered" when Trump takes over.
"Mr. Trump is the only person in this race is that is growing the party. He is the only person that is getting Democrats and independents to come over and join the Republicans. He won 50,000 more votes in Mr Romney's home state of Massachusetts than Romney did.
"This is the problem with politicians. They are all talk, no action. Then when things have changed for him (Romney), he goes out and tries to make himself still relevant," said Lewandowski.
Shortly after Romney's speech, Sen. John McCain, who put an end to the governor's presidential hopes in 2008 by besting him in the GOP primary, offered words of praise.
"I share the concerns about Donald Trump that my friend and former Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, described in his speech today," McCain said. "I would also echo the many concerns about Mr. Trump's uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues that have been raised by 65 Republican defense and foreign policy leaders."
McCain advised voters to think "long and hard" before they voted for Trump.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who's running a tough race against Trump for the presidency, tweeted: "Well said," in response to Romney's remarks.
Washington Post writer Chris Cillizza said Romney is "doing Donald Trump a huge favor."
"This, you might think to yourself, is, finally, the moment when the establishment – such as it is – stands up to Trump, screaming "enough" at the top of its lungs and, in so doing, bringing the party back from the brink of an total electoral disaster.
"You would be, almost certainly, totally wrong. In fact, being attacked by Romney is more likely to cement Trump's hold on the nomination than loosen his grip on it," wrote Cillizza.
But plenty on Twitter and other social media spots weren't pleased with Romney.
One wrote, on Twitter: "Romney's emergence as elder snarksman of GOP on Twitter perhaps even weirder than Trump's emergence as frontrunner."
Another: "Romney's just dirty swindler who is currently being sued with Goldman Sachs."
Another: "Shame on stiff vengeful loser Romney establishment puppet trying to destroy winner @realDonaldTrump only he can beat Hillary."
And one more: "Taking advice on how to win from Mitt Romney is like taking ocean voyage lessons from the Titanic captain."
Hours before the speech, Trump spoke with "Today" hosts on NBC and made some preemptive remarks about Romney's remarks that included this: "Mitt Romney is a stiff. Mitt Romney will not get elected. Mitt Romney failed twice and really failed last time. He was going against a president that should have been beaten. The president was not doing well and he should have been beaten. That should have been an easy election. The problem is nobody came out to vote for Mitt Romney, and I'm talking about Republicans. They didn't come out, I mean, it's well documented, I'm not just saying this."
Trump is also due to hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to formally address Romney's speech.
Copyright 2016 WND
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