Move Over, Rudy: Wall Street Journal Says Mitt Romney Is Favorite For Secretary of State

By Jay Caruso | 5:45 PM on November 22, 2016

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Just when we thought the science was settled, it turns out things do change. While Rudy Giuliani had long been considered the favorite for Secretary of State (even going so far as to lobby for the position), the Wall Street Journal is reporting Mitt Romney is Trump’s leading choice right now:

President-elect Donald Trump is leaning toward asking former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to be his secretary of state, according to people familiar with the deliberations.

The next U.S. president is also likely to name retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to serve as secretary of defense in his administration, and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is the leading candidate to be the next ambassador to the United Nations, the people said.

Delaying Mr. Trump’s decision about secretary of state is an internal tug of war between supporters of Mr. Romney, and those urging the selection of former New York MayorRudy Giuliani. A third group is pressing the president-elect to keep searching for candidates.

The New York businessman views Mr. Romney as the prototypical choice to be the nation’s top diplomat, and a group of advisers inside the transition are pushing him to select the 2012 Republican presidential nominee. Two people said Mr. Trump is inclined to select Mr. Romney.

Romney is an excellent choice for Trump to be Secretary of State for several reasons. First, Romney would likely sail through the confirmation process. Democrats have gone out of their way to praise Romney during this election cycle as they tried to draw a contrast between him and Trump. Second, much of what Romney was saying in 2012 about world affairs wound up coming to fruition while President Obama and the media laughed at him. The Russian threat is the most egregious example (Remember Obama quipping “The Cold War is over, Governor”?) of Romney and his team being right and everybody else was wrong.

It also establishes Trump as being somebody that doesn;t hold grudges. Romney came out pretty strong against Trump in a way many other Republicans did not.