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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 22 June 2018

#NeverTrump to #OKTrump: Romney's evolution mirrors party

By STEVE PEOPLES and LIND- Republican-on-Republican
SAY WHITEHURST, contest. Or, as some of his
Associated Press closest advisers suggest,
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Mitt it could be that Romney
Romney did not ride a don- was never going to be
key. the Trump antagonist that
But the one-time presiden- some hoped for.
tial nominee and now can- Either way, the 71-year-old
didate for Senate did cheer Republican leader should
enthusiastically at a don- have an extraordinary
key basketball game, cam- megaphone on Capitol
paigning on the ground in Hill that will help elevate
Utah like a homegrown his standing as a freshman.
hero — even though he As a former presidential
grew up somewhere else. nominee, he's sure to com-
What he isn't doing much mand attention wherever
is talking about President he goes. It remains unclear,
Trump. however, whether he'll use
Romney was once a lead- that status to challenge the
ing figure in the "Never president he once called
Trump" movement, but "a con man."
now he says he wants to ONE LAST THING
work with the president. Despite all the interest in his
What does his evolution relationship with the presi-
mean for Republicans still dent, Romney isn't running
opposed to Trump? as a big shot.
WHAT'S HAPPENING The one-time political ce-
Romney, the Republican lebrity is turning down na-
presidential nominee in tional media requests in fa-
2012, has dropped his harsh vor of local outlets. On the
critique of Trump as he ground in Utah, he's kept
mounts a political come- a packed schedule, cam-
back as a Senate candi- In this Wednesday, June 20, 2018 photo Mitt Romney smiles during a campaign event, in American paigning at local parks,
date in Utah ahead of a Fork, Utah. private homes and sport-
June 26 primary. Romney Associated Press ing events— including that
recently surprised his most donkey basketball fund-
loyal supporters, who in- WHY IT MATTERS after the 2016 election, for a deferential tone with Trump raiser, where he cheered
clude many Trump critics, Romney's team is down- smaller group of others, qui- after his Republican Senate on a 4-H group mounted
by predicting the Repub- playing the significance et conversations had con- primary on Tuesday? In a on donkeys and shooting
lican president would win of his new position, but by tinued about the possibility heavily Republican state, hoops.
a second term in 2020. He embracing Trump's re-elec- of mounting a 2020 chal- his election to the U.S. Sen- The aim is to convince Utah
also downplayed concerns tion he's sending a strong lenge against him — either ate is all but assured if he voters that he knows state is-
about Trump's policies on message to the president's in a Republican primary or wins the June 26 primary as sues and priorities. And that
trade, spending and na- Republican critics just as as an independent. High- expected. he'll use his clout on their
tional security — the same they're beginning to con- profile Republicans such Many Trump skeptics in the behalf in Washington.q
policies he warned, in a template strategies to stop as Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake Republican establishment
high-profile 2016 speech, — or at least slow — his 2020 and Ohio Gov. John Kasich hope Romney will emerge
would trigger an economic re-election. The message, are openly contemplating as a Trump cudgel when
recession and jeopardize according to some Re- such a move. he gets to Washington.
national security. publicans who shared their Romney's position doesn't It could be that Romney
"I think President Trump will reaction on and off the re- kill their prospective plans, has simply been downplay-
be re-nominated by my cord: "No matter how you but it certainly makes them ing his opposition to the
party easily and I think he'll feel, stop fighting Trump; it's harder to pull off with any Republican president in
be re-elected solidly," Rom- not worth it." kind of legitimacy. recent months to avoid en-
ney told dozens of support- While many Republicans in WHAT TO WATCH flaming Trump's loyal sup-
ers at a luxury Utah resort. Congress got that message Will Romney continue his porters before next week's