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Romney’s in demand as Republicans’ future unclear

By WTOP Staff

STEVE PEOPLES
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Almost two years after his Election Day drubbing, Mitt Romney is the Republican man in demand.

The twice-defeated White House contender is campaigning across seven states this week, covering nearly 6,000 miles in five days to raise money and energy for Republican midterm candidates from Georgia to Colorado.

Romney has repeatedly insisted he’s not running for president again, and his closest aides laugh off a possible 2016 bid. But top GOP strategists and donors suggest his continued high profile in Republican politics highlights the party’s murky future and a crowded 2016 field that is both flawed and without a clear front-runner

“There’s a vacuum,” said John Jordan, a major Republican donor based in California. “When there’s 10 people in a possible presidential field, it’s difficult for anyone to look presidential. None of these figures is overly compelling.”

Just a month before the unofficial beginning of the next presidential primary season, Democrats have already begun to rally behind prospective candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. The race for the Republican nomination, however, is as wide open as most political veterans can remember.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had begun to assume a party leadership role before a traffic scandal tainted his brand. Major questions persist about former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s commitment to the 2016 contest. And the rest of the potential field features conservatives, such as Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who have yet to demonstrate widespread appeal.

That leaves Romney as this season’s strongest draw for Republican midterm candidates battling for control of Congress.

He’s earning a rock star’s reception at virtually every appearance this week. At a rally for Michigan GOP Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land in suburban Detroit on Thursday, several people told Romney they wished he had won the presidency.

“I wish we had won,” Romney said.

It was much the same the day before in Atlanta, where he campaigned alongside Attorney General Sam Olens after headlining a closed-door fundraiser for Senate candidate David Perdue. In thanking Romney for making the trip, Olens said, “I wish you were on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.”

“I’m just sad I’m not able to be there either,” Romney said, responding to a reporter’s question about his interest in another run. “I’d like to be in the White House. I wish I would have had the chance.”

The appearances were part of an aggressive five-day campaign swing covering some of the nation’s premier midterm battlegrounds: Colorado, Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, Michigan, Kentucky and Louisiana. Having swapped his private campaign plane for commercial travel, Romney is working long days to attend private fundraisers and public rallies to help leading Republican governors, Senate candidates and former allies like Olens.

Talking to reporters, Romney downplayed his role in a Republican Party that has “a whole series of different voices that are pulling in different directions.”

“My role is just as one more voice,” he said. “I was honored to become the Republican nominee, so I continue to have some voice. But I’m not running for anything — just trying to run to help people who are running for something, and I’m making my effort known in the states that welcome me.”

After the Michigan rally, Romney was scheduled to finish the day at a Kentucky fundraiser to benefit Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. It’s the kind of schedule usually reserved for a political party’s elite, not a twice-defeated elder statesman who insists his political career is over.

“The wandering eyes for Romney are a byproduct of the uncertainty of the field,” said former Romney aide Kevin Madden, who described Romney as a “known commodity.”

Hogan Gidley, a South Carolina-based veteran of presidential politics, explained Romney’s appeal with a sports analogy.

“The most popular player on a football team is the backup quarterback when your team’s struggling,” Gidley said. “The party is struggling.”

Indeed, even as the GOP’s prospects this fall look good, polls suggest the party’s brand is unpopular. And Republican leaders have ignored recommendations to address key issues such as immigration legislation ahead of the next presidential contest.

Still, donors like Jordan say they aren’t yet worried.

All the Republican hand-wringing, he said, is like retailers worrying about Christmas sales in July.

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Peoples reported from Washington. AP writer Mike Householder in Michigan contributed to this report.

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On Twitter, follow Steve Peoples at https://twitter.com/sppeoples and Christina A. Cassidy at https://twitter.com/AP_Christina .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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