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Former Reagan Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein on why Mitt Romney will be the likely GOP nominee and what he needs to do to unite the Party and beat Obam...
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-- senator Rick Santorum as was -- last night but I want to leave the vibrant and it shows that this thing actually took the most delegates last night.
And its battle has started to look a lot like what Ronald Reagan went through 1982.
Tough economy -- -- -- -- -- but this is for the nomination.
Reagan didn't lock things up and that was the year everyone that in swamp and you know I get up until the end of met his -- -- -- -- understand joining right now says this.
It's still isn't inevitable but he is looking more likely a very good to have you.
You know I forgot that that you know obviously Ronald Reagan was in a race or George Bush is -- seen -- and there are others and Howard Baker -- rather low short and it was a -- who cast of characters that's my.
But but there was a rap against him in reverse right now.
That he wasn't in sync with the party Ronald Reagan from some of those more moderate.
Types like bush senior and and -- baker.
That it would be a threat if the party went that far right it's on the I guess the mirror opposite that they've -- Romney's -- but when he and and.
You know Ronald Reagan started the Reagan revolution and revolution is is really started in 76.
-- open AD.
You know we're lost New Hampshire there was change in some of those.
He came back to one South Carolina and then inexorably.
Moved to the nomination.
That doesn't mean there were some frictions.
-- back and forth.
But he was very much in sync with your grass roots of the Republican Party the so called now the base.
Punitive on chance because that today questions and and and -- I think Romney is Romney's challenge.
Is to make sure to solidify unify the Republican priority.
By courting they're conservatives.
But -- -- you reflecting so march.
That he winds up alienating the independence.
Which are necessary to win in November.
Look I don't think that Romney is nomination.
Is to use there common word inevitable.
But I think he is on an inexorable march.
Toward the nomination.
-- -- comes to lunge down the road.
You know get I was gonna do -- -- Afghans coverage.
Of these primaries that I understand that races in both parties for a nomination to be very devices.
And a lot of candidates on their two people -- more they always are right.
On right but I think you need.
More time to be gone to let the bygones be bygones and if this goes right -- -- the convention.
Or -- sue the convention.
There's no time for people's nerves and anger and and -- egos and and the hostilities.
To top.
So you don't have time to so what these wounds -- or -- making too big a deal that.
-- boat -- Lil just go back.
Almost four years Obama vs Hillary Clinton -- didn't get really -- until June.
And a lot of people -- -- that we're saying the same thing they're saying now it's debilitating it's weakening -- sure how they're gonna compete in November.
It's somehow worked out for Barack Obama that -- went -- when it.
So I think you can't rush to judgment at this point.
Usually.
Hello Larry out of nowhere -- for the project not -- from his victory.
-- -- -- -- I mean and we not -- that we can about a very competitive race I know that's like saying well.
Let's just take a big start out of the equation so it's stupid pot and take a positive -- I grant you.
But look I think Italian that they -- there could be something to this ill will and that it just stays with -- longer than that.
I would hope that the nomination -- finish sooner rather than later so important -- -- which is your point.
But I also think that if there goes -- for a few more months.
And people are energized.
Look the one thing that's gonna unite the Republican Party may not be Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum brother Mitt Romney.
It's gonna be Barack Obama.
You originally anger toward the president.
Trumps whatever doubts you have about your nominated.
Exactly right he is to use George Bush's expression the great -- the great uniter.
Because what he's gonna do is bring people together on the Republican side and independents.
And if you look at inflation that you were just talking about.
Then you're talking about gas prices that you're talking about unemployment over 8%.
If this is a referendum.
On Barack Obama.
He's in trouble.
If it is a referendum on the choice between.
Whoever the Republicans perked up and Barack Obama it is they jump ball but I think you can argue that out on philosophy.
And still Republicans.
Have a serious shot at winning the presidency.
Real quickly cases have been very -- an armed.
When Ronald Reagan wanted to unify the party down on the moderate wing of the party -- -- Jordan -- seen the guy beat him in Iowa and was thought to be a real legitimate threat to is getting the nomination.
Now the legitimate threat -- Mitt Romney -- similar and I agree review city nominal front runner for the time being.
Or put push for Santorum doesn't this put right exactly -- -- storm on the ticket now when I had governor Romney here the other day.
I didn't even mentioned santorum's name and he said well if you are gonna need to conservatives certainly not Santorum so -- obviously there's a lot -- world there.
-- but you know better that I deal -- it there was much between.
The bush forces in the Reagan forces but obviously they join forces could you see something like that.
Well first of all Ronald Reagan and George Bush got -- -- famously.
And even if some of the steps had problems during the campaign.
It was never between the two leaders.
Well there's -- -- really needed this like you know you know that Bennett and I this rates they do know it is personal.
I don't think -- this -- -- -- -- -- Well I think Romney has been relentlessly negative.
And that has benefited him and warnings over the primary states.
But I think -- the personal pretty not only from Santorum board Gingrich.
As -- if someone were dropped out.
Goes and does engender the kind of very good world.
-- -- you'll need in order put them on the ticket.
Romney is gonna need somebody who can reach out.
And build on the Republican base not just make you smile not not when one of these guys used to in the -- a lot of -- he ran against.
Or somebody else they Rob Portman for example concerns -- rubio.
Or Marco Rubio or somebody like -- and I think may send the right kind of message that if Romney is the nominee he needs to -- Mom can hear every bit weren't that great breasts and you get my friend thank you very much it was great having.
It's group there we're here look forward -- or let's do you back again thank you genders in.
Our -- its chief of staff.
-- -- -- -- revolution.
