Election 2012

Romney and the 1 Percent

The endorsement of Newt Gingrich by the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper left many puzzled and confused, so to explain their establishment-heresy, Union Leader publisher Joe McQuaid appeared on Fox News today to elaborate on their decision.

Union Leader publisher Joe McQuaid explained today on Fox News that his paper endorsed Newt Gingrich rather than Mitt Romney for the GOP Presidential nomination because the latter represents the one percent and is politically damaged because of it. “I think — and this is crazy, but so are we — that Gingrich is going to have a better time in the general election than Mitt Romney,” said McQuaid. “I think it’s going to be Obama’s 99% versus the 1%, and Romney sort of represents the 1%.”

And Newt Gingrich doesn't represent the 1 percent? His Tiffany's account is larger than most people earn in a year and larger than many earn over the course of several years.

While I patently disagree with the Union Leader's rationale for endorsing Newt Gingrich, I can't deny their accuracy on Mitt Romney. And to lend credence to their characterization of Romney, this report emerged today.

Stephen Schwarzman, chairman of the world’s largest private-equity firm, will host a fundraiser for Mitt Romney at his Park Avenue apartment next month, a sign that Romney is closing the sale with Wall Street’s wealthiest donors.

The event marks Schwarzman’s inaugural step to help Romney secure the Republican presidential nomination, according to a person familiar with Schwarzman’s plans who spoke on condition of anonymity. He will follow up with efforts to persuade colleagues in the financial industry to get behind Romney’s presidential bid, the person said.

Comically bad timing.