MITT ROMNEY’S PAC ADDS TO SOUTHERN TEAM

November 29, 2006 - Governor Mitt Romney’s Commonwealth PAC today announced Eric Tanenblatt has been added to its Southern Advisory Team and will focus particularly in Georgia. In addition, Tanenblatt will lead the Georgia Finance Team for the PAC.

“As the Commonwealth PAC continues to look for ways to assist Republican organizations on the state and local levels, I’m pleased to have such a fine team in Georgia,” Romney said. “Eric Tanenblatt has proven to be a very successful political operative in Georgia for nearly two decades. I appreciate his willingness to lead our Georgia team.”

Tanenblatt said, “Governor Romney has a refreshing optimistic vision for America. His experience tackling challenging issues in his business career, at the '02 Olympics and most recently as Governor, demonstrates his ability to lead in difficult times. I appreciate this opportunity with the Commonwealth PAC.”

Eric Tanenblatt is a Senior Managing Director at McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP. He was the Finance Chair for Governor Sonny Perdue’s 2006 successful re-election campaign. He was also the Georgia Victory Chair and Bush Ranger in the 2004 cycle. From 2003 to 2004, Tanenblatt served as Governor Perdue’s Chief of Staff. In 2000, he was the Georgia State Chairman for President Bush’s campaign. Prior to that, he served as Senior Political Advisor to the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell from 1989 to 2000.

Other members of the Commonwealth PAC’s Georgia Finance Team include:

Nancy Coverdell, wife of the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell

Fred Cooper, Chairman of the G8 Summit Host Committee in 2004, Bush Pioneer in 2004, Georgia Victory Chair in 2002, General Chairman for Bush 2000, Georgia State Chairman for George H.W. Bush’s presidential campaign in 1988 and 1992, and a successful businessman (Cooper Capital) and longtime Republican leader.

James Edenfield, Georgia Victory Chair in 2006, Bush Pioneer in 2004, Bush Finance Chair in 2000, and Chief Executive Officer of American Software.

Joe Rogers, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Waffle House, a successful businessman and longtime Republican fundraiser.

Copied from Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

BUSH TAX CUT ARCHITECTS JOIN ROMNEY’S PAC

November 29, 2006 - Two top economists and President Bush’s tax cut architects have agreed to join Governor Mitt Romney’s Commonwealth PAC the organization announced today. Glenn Hubbard and Greg Mankiw will act as co-chairs of the PAC’s Economic Advisory Council. Additionally, Cesar Conda has agreed to be a Senior Economic Advisor for the PAC.

“Glenn Hubbard and Greg Mankiw are both brilliant economists,” Romney said. “Cesar Conda also brings a wealth of expertise in economic policy development and implementation. One of the messages voters sent to Washington Republicans during this last election cycle was to stop spending like Democrats. In addition, history has shown us time and again that allowing the American people to keep more of their hard-earned money through tax cuts spurs economic growth. Greg, Glenn and Cesar share my views of low taxes and limited government and together we will work to help the Republican Party return to those conservative principles. I’m glad they have joined the team.”

Glenn Hubbard was named dean of Columbia Business School on July 1, 2004. A Columbia faculty member since 1988, he is also the Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics. Hubbard received his BA and BS degrees summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida, where he received the National Society of Professional Engineers Award. He holds AM and PhD degrees in economics from Harvard University. He is a visiting professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School, as well as the University of Chicago. Additionally, he is a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. In 2001, Hubbard was appointed Chairman of President Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). His other government service includes serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Analysis at the U.S. Treasury Department from 1991-1993. He has been a consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, numerous private companies and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to name a few.

Greg Mankiw followed Hubbard as the Chairman of the CEA from 2003 to 2005. He is presently the Robert M. Beren Professor of Economics at Harvard University. While at the CEA he advocated for tax cuts to help the economy recover from recession and promote long-run economic growth. He graduated from Princeton University summa cum laude in 1980 with an A.B. in Economics and later earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has written economic textbooks and many articles which have appeared in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and the American Economic Review. In addition to his teaching, research, and writing, Mankiw has been a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, and an adviser to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Congressional Budget Office.

Cesar Conda has over 20 years of legislative and policy experience working at the highest levels in the White House and in Congress. Most recently, Conda headed the domestic policy staff in the Office of the Vice President as Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief advisor on domestic and economic policy issues. He was also a policy advisor on the 1996 Dole-Kemp presidential campaign. In addition to the above, Conda was a member of the Board of Directors of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Empower America. He is currently a Senior Fellow at Freedom Works, a member of the Policy Council of the Free Enterprise Fund, and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the International Economy magazine. He has written extensively on economic topics, with columns appearing in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, National Review Online, Weekly Standard, and United Press International.

Copied from Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney plans campaign base in North End

Governor Mitt Romney, erasing any doubt that he intends to make a White House bid in 2008, is laying plans to run his presidential campaign from a three-story waterfront building at the edge of Boston's North End, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the proposed deal.

Romney's decision to base his campaign in Boston would end speculation that the governor, who often pokes fun at Massachusetts' liberal reputation before out-of-state Republican audiences, was looking to put his headquarters in his native Michigan, a more politically moderate state where his father was a three-term governor.

Developers plan to eventually demolish the vacant, gray-and-tan building at 585 Commercial St. to make room for an eight-story, 62-unit, luxury condominium tower. But that project is still in the early stages, and Romney is expected to base his campaign operations in the existing building in the meantime, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the governor's bid for the site.

To read the rest of the story visit The Boston Globe.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney Runs Right

It's no secret that Mitt Romney's stock is rising inside Republican circles. The former Massachusetts Governor is working overtime to position himself as the authentic conservative alternative to "moderates" John McCain and Rudy Giuliani for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008. While McCain and Giuliani try to court the right of the party, Romney contends he's already there.


Said Romney in June about the Republican electorate: "On the Republican side we'll want someone who can beat her Hillary Clinton and someone who has a clear message for the direction of our country, making it absolutely clear that they're a strong Republican that believes in Republican principles."

In other words, not McCain and Giuliani.

After McCain, Romney's done more than any other GOP candidate to build a farm team of intellectual and grassroots talent to advise him.

Yesterday Romney announced the hires of two of President Bush's top economic advisors, Glenn Hubbard and Gregory Mankiw, and a top domestic policy advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, Cesar Conda.

Earlier in the week he locked up the support in South Carolina of operative Warren Tompkins, described as "the architect behind Bush's hard-hitting campaign in S.C. in 2000," by The State, South Carolina's largest newspaper.

The impending battle between McCain and Romney in South Carolina is already being called "Slugfest 2."

Let the games begin!

Copied from Yahoo! News.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

COMMONWEALTH PAC ANNOUNCES SOUTHEASTERN SENIOR ADVISOR

November 27, 2006 - Governor Mitt Romney’s Commonwealth PAC today announced that long-time South Carolina political strategist J. Warren Tompkins, III has joined the PAC in a Senior Advisor for the Southeast region.

“Few people know the Southeastern political landscape better than Warren Tompkins,” Romney said. “I am pleased that he has joined our team. For nearly 20 years he has been an influence in South Carolina and the region.”

J. Warren Tompkins, III is a long time political strategist who has helped with many local, state and national races. Tompkins burst onto the political scene in 1978 by helping re-elect South Carolina’s Senior Senator, Strom Thurmond. In 1980, the Reagan-Bush campaign sought Tompkins’ advice and made him the campaign’s Executive Director for South Carolina – a role he would repeat in 1984.

Following his work for Reagan’s campaign in 1980, Tompkins was appointed Executive Director of the South Carolina Republican Party in 1981. Under his leadership voter registration exploded and the number of Republican Legislators in the South Carolina Statehouse doubled. In 1986, then Congressman Carroll Campbell tapped Tompkins to help him become only the state’s second Republican governor.

In 1988, Tompkins was a strategist for George H.W. Bush’s presidential campaign.

More recently, Tompkins helped Lindsey Graham win the U.S. Senate seat once held by Strom Thurmond. He also advised Senator Jim DeMint’s successful campaign for the Senate. In 2004, Tompkins was the Atlantic Region Chair for the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign.

For the Commonwealth PAC, Tompkins will serve as a Senior Advisor for the Southeastern Region as the PAC shifts its focus to help state and local Republican organizations following the mid-term elections.

Copied from Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Date set for ALL IMPORTANT Ames Straw Poll--8/11/07

The Iowa Republican Party has selected Aug. 11, 2007, as the date for the Ames straw poll - a signature event for GOP presidential candidates running in the state's leadoff nominating caucuses.

. . . The straw poll is a nationally publicized event, noteworthy as the first measure of candidate strength in Iowa.

In August 1999, a record 25,000 Republicans turned out for the straw poll, which was won by George W. Bush, then the governor of Texas.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney reaches for the Reagan touch

The Boston Globe has an interesting article on the similarities between Ronald Reagan and Mitt Romney.

The day after the midterm elections, Governor Mitt Romney, reflecting on the GOP's punishing losses, issued a clarion call to conservatives: "We must return to the common-sense Reagan Republican ideals."

Three days later, at a State House Veterans Day ceremony, Romney invoked the former president again, saying, "As Ronald Reagan once said, 'I have seen four wars during my lifetime and none of them began because America was too strong.' "

And then last Friday, asked by a Fox News interviewer whether he was running for president, Romney said he was giving it some serious thought, because the stakes were so high. "We're going to have to make sure that we have the kind of Reagan optimism that America's looking for," he said.

Romney's repeated references to the nation's 40th president in two weeks illustrate how the governor, as he builds toward a 2008 presidential bid, is increasingly trying to cast himself in the Reagan mold -- as a patriotic, small-government conservative from outside the Beltway who's bent on repelling taxes, moral relativism, and foreign threats.

Like many Republicans, Romney has long described Reagan as one of his heroes, but as the governor's White House hopes have gained steam, his admiration has turned to emulation: Romney seems to be channeling the former president's conservative convictions, his hopeful message, and even his witty, folksy style of connecting with voters from South Carolina to Southern California.

There are many similarities between the two: Reagan and Romney portrayed themselves as bulwarks against the perils of liberalism in their home states -- Reagan in California, Romney in Massachusetts. Both have benefited from their Hollywood looks. Both have had experience in working with Democratic legislatures.

"Reagan was able to run against Washington, including people in his own party in Washington, by talking about what he achieved as governor and saying he would take those ideas to Washington," said Republican strategist Charlie Black, who was a senior Reagan adviser. "Romney can do the same thing."

To read the rest of the story please visit The Boston Globe.


Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, Ronald Reagen, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Six Reasons to Vote for Mitt

A friend of mine received was asked by a relative what he thought about Mitt Romney as a potential presidential candidate. I thought the email response succinctly states why Mitt would make a great POTUS.

Earlier this year an editorial in the Economist called him the "scarily perfect presidential Candidate". This has liberals shaking in their boots because there is the possibility that he could be VERY popular among voters. The only question about his broad appeal is his Mormonism. For this reason, the mainstream liberal media (Washington Post, LA Times, etc.) have been conducting surveys and using those surveys to show that voters won't elect a Mormon President in order to shut him down. For example, the mainstream liberal media are trying to downplay his potential popularity by claiming that the Evangelicals won't support him. This is NOT true. Almost without exception, evangelical and other Christians are becoming favorable to Romney as they get to know him. Once you put a face like Romney on the "Mormon President", the "voters-won't-vote-for-a-Mormon-President-surveys" are meaningless.

Romney's real challenge is getting himself more well-known through the country. If he can do that, Romney will win the Republican Primary and the Presidency. Romney's biggest Republican challengers are McCain and Guiliani, and Romney is the more conservative candidate of either of them. McCain has turned off a lot of registered Republicans; they see him as a "Republican-in-name-only" (RINO). And Guiliani is a little too liberal on social issues to gain wide support from the conservative Republican base.

What do I like about Romney:

1. Character, like selflessness: For example, after saving the 2002 Olympics from its corruption scandal and likely bankruptcy and making a decent profit for the Olympics, he donated all 3 years of his salary (almost $300,000) plus $1 million of his own money back to the Olympics! This sort of thing reminds me of President Washington (my favorite President, by the way) who sacrificed TREMENDOUSLY for his country. THAT is the sort of person we need for President.

His wife has also had multiple sclerosis for about 8 years now...that tells me something about him too. Not to forget that this guy is clean as a whistle. No drugs. No drinking. No carousing. No corruption. No scandals. He lives by the Judeo-Christian, family-values that he believes in. In a sort of ironic twist, Romney, the Mormon, has only had one wife while McCain and Giuliani are on their second. Hahaha, no wonder the liberals are scared.

By way of an anecdote, there was an LDS General Authority that addressed my law school's LDS-Institute class. He talked about the importance of electing government officials who would honor their government offices, unlike President Clinton. (Looking back, was it just coincidence that about this time Clinton was "doing stuff" with Lewinsky before it became public?) He didn't stress qualifications, or political view points; he emphasized character. Consider that no presidential candidate in 2000 could have anticipated that 911 would happen when they were running for office. What qualifies someone to handle that sort of event? The answer to that is character. What sort of far-reaching, unanticipated events will happen during the next Presidency, and what sort of person would you want in charge?

2. Fiscally conservative: When he took over as Governor of Massachusetts, it had huge budget deficit problems. In one term, he worked with a Democratically controlled legislature and turned the deficit around. He also worked on and passed a health care proposal with the legislature that would provide health care for all Massachusetts citizens. This new program was hailed as a ground-breaking success by liberals and conservatives.

Why is this important to me? Because the Federal U.S. government is heading toward bankruptcy: almost $9 trillion in debt and that is projected to grow quickly to $40 trillion in a few decades if Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid is not fixed. This is a huge problem and must be addressed. Who else is better capable to solve this than Romney who saved the 2002 Olympics from bankruptcy, and balanced the Massachusetts budget (with a Democratically-controlled legislature)?

Oh, and did I mention...he is the co-founder of Bain Capital, a private equity firm that financed start up business like Staples, Domino's Pizza and Sports Authority. Romney knows how to budget and manage money, and he has proven track record of this. Cheney recently said the war on terror may last 50 years. How is the U.S. going to pay for that? We need some one who is going to help set a long term strategy and budget for a conflict that may last over several Presidential terms.

3. Socially conservative: Any one who doubts this (particularly because of the promise he made not to overturn Massachusetts' abortions laws when he ran for governor) just does not know Romney. He has made it very clear that he will make no such promises again. And beyond abortion (which should be decided on a state level any way if we as a people still believe in the principle of Federalism), Romney is clearly and adamantly a social conservative. I hope that any conservative Christian who considers Romney and has any doubt about this will research Romney's positions on social policy.

With that said, Romney's positions on social policy are primarily of importance to me because there are still a few US Supreme Court Justices (particularly that awful Stevens) who will be retiring soon, and we need more Justices like Scalia, Roberts, Thomas and Alito. There is a pernicious theory of interpretation advocated by liberals that the Constitution is a "living document" that is to be interpreted far too liberally than for what that document is intended be interpreted. Justices should NOT be legislatures, but that has been the trend for decades now; Justices have usurped power that is not theirs and this undermines the very foundation of the Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances and the Rule of Law in our Constitutional government. We must have Justices that exercise judicial restraint and not overstep their judicial bounds.

Guaranteed that if Stevens steps down or dies at age 80 or 90 something, Romney will appoint a qualified Justice with the proper judicial restraint. Beyond that, I'm not a fan of implementing social policy through the government (nor is Romney, I think)...And if it is to be done, more often than not, it should be done at a state-level where it belongs. Otherwise, what is the point of Federalism and separate states? Let Vermont recognize civil unions if that's what its citizens want; and let Texas disallow alternative relations if that's what its citizens want.

4. Qualified: Eagle Scout; father of five; BA with Honors & Valedictorian from BYU; MBA and Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School; JD cum laude from Harvard Law school; co-founder of Bain Capital; CEO of 2002 Olympics; Republican! Governor of Massachusetts...what else? Did you know that before he ran for governor, Romney almost beat Senator Ted Kennedy in a race for senator? Did you know that Romney's father was former chairman of American Motors, Governor of Michigan and ran for President back in the 1950s and 1960s?

5. Pro-active Public Relations: Consider, for example, how Romney handled the construction death on the Massachusetts "Big Dig" highway versus how Pres Bush handled the Katrina disaster: day and night. Romney was out there the next day with hard hat on inspecting the tunnels and firing the construction manager while Bush couldn't seem to figure out how to quiet his Katrina criticisms. Romney and Bush may not be much different in what actions they would take, BUT in the world of business and politics, you must sell, promote, market or advertise that you are in charge and you know what you are doing and why you are doing it. Romney understands this and knows how to do this.

6. No special-interest agenda: First, Romney does not bow to any political mandates from LDS Church leaders. Any one who is LDS knows that the LDS Church absolutely will not support any political party or candidate, and that is stressed in official statements and from the pulpit from time to time to remind the members not to use the Church or its resources to promote parties or candidates. The Church takes this policy seriously, or, for example, it loses it's charitable-tax-exempt status. Not to mention other strong reasons from Church history why this policy is followed. Hopefully, non-Mormons will recognize that Mormons and the LDS Church take this seriously too.

Second, Romney is new to the political arena, and so he is still relatively an outsider to big lobbyists. I'm sure Romney will get lobbied heavily by special-interests, but Romney is mostly a self-made man, and owes no one favors and is not beholden to any one. He will have to make compromises just like any politician has to make compromises to get things done, but his agenda will be what is best for the American people...not necessarily what is best for himself, big business, the Republican party, pacifists or war-mongers, or whatever else. Compare that to current President Bush who I think was groomed to run for President much like he was groomed to help revive the Texas Rangers baseball team several years ago...in too many ways Bush was supported in his Presidential run by ideologues with an agenda.

Romney has stated his vision and agenda, and among other things at the top of his list is to keep the USA an economic powerhouse. With the European-Union in place and countries like China and others coming of age, it's a much more competitive global environment, and the US must strive hard to stay competitive. Romney knows this and wants to improve the U.S. situation. Other important issues to him are illegal immigration (not "undocumented workers") and the war on terror.

An anecdote from Romney regarding terror: in September, Romney as Governor absolutely (and rightly so) refused to lend any protection or assistance for a former Iranian President Khatami who was invited to speak at Harvard despite the fact that Khatami is a recognized terrorist and was welcomed into the U.S. by the State Department to give a hate-filled speech directed at the U.S.

I keep asking myself what can I do to help him get elected? I know that if he doesn't get elected, I will regret it if I didn't do much of anything to help. I know that he must raise a lot of money EARLY (like NOW BEFORE he announces his intention to run in early January) in his campaign or he won't have enough funds to get the support he needs AND more importantly to make himself known. I'm sure if he can get the money he needs, he will be able to make himself and his platform known, he will win the Republican Primary and then the Presidency.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt O'Sphere Update

The for O'Sphere continues to grow! We now have a total of 12 bloggers on this blog! There are now at least 26 States with a blog, website, or yahoo group promoting Mitt Romney in 2008! Among the latest states to join are:

Arizona
Rhode Island
Virginia

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

2008 Power Rankings: November 22, 2006

Here is what they had to say about Mitt Romney, who is number #2 on their list:

Romney has delayed an announcement about his ‘08 plans until January, but that isn’t keeping him from closing the gap on McCain. He recently took his first shot, referring to McCain’s position on gay marriage as “disingenuous” and positioning himself as the only top-tier candidate on the right side of immigration, campaign reform, and detainee interrogation. Even Newt, a potential contender himself, has suggested Romney could be the one to offer a clear conservative voice. He’s polling better than six months ago and has a formidable infrastructure on the ground in key states. He trails McCain by less than a length.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney's Support From Bloggers Continues to Grow

A blogger in Texas, and another blogger in Washington have thrown their support behind Mitt Romney!

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney Wants Courts to Force Vote on Gay Marriage

BOSTON — Gov. Mitt Romney said Sunday he would ask the state's highest court to order an anti-gay marriage amendment question onto the ballot if legislators fail to vote on the matter when they reconvene in January.

Romney said he would file a legal action this week asking a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to direct the secretary of state to place the question on the ballot if lawmakers don't vote directly on the question on Jan. 2, the final day of the session.

Romney, an opponent of gay marriage who decided not to seek re-election as he considers running for president, made his announcement to the cheers of hundreds of gay marriage opponents at a rally on the Statehouse steps.

"The constitution quite plainly states that when a qualified petition is placed before them, the Legislature 'shall vote.' It does not say 'may vote,' or vote if procedures permit a vote, or vote if there are enough of the members in the chamber. It says, 'shall vote."' Romney said.

Read the rest of the story at Fox News.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Gov. Mitt Romney to Decide 2008 White House Run After Holidays

BOSTON — Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, said Friday he's bringing his top financial advisers to Massachusetts this weekend to thank them for helping him raise money.

Romney, who has been traveling extensively as he considers a campaign, said he will not be affected by Arizona Sen. John McCain or former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, fellow Republicans who announced this week they were establishing presidential exploratory committees.

"I'm not planning something of that nature anytime soon — not within the next few weeks," the governor said after a news conference on a local project.

Romney said the focus of the weekend meeting, first reported by The Boston Globe, is to thank the people who helped raise $8.75 million for the Commonwealth PAC. Romney has used the committee to finance his travel and make donations to candidates in critical presidential states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Michigan.

As for when he will announce his decision, the governor stuck with his previous statement that it will most likely be after New Year's Day. The governor is hosting his five sons, their wives and his nine grandchildren for Christmas at his vacation home in Deer Valley, Utah.

"I'm planning on making my decision sometime after the holidays," Romney said.

This is not the transcript from the interview that just took place on Fox News.

Copied from: Fox News

Kevin Davis Jr.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Rick Santorum: No oval office run

Don't expect to see Sen. Rick Santorum's name on the 2008 presidential ballot.

"Absolutely, positively not. Absolutely not," Santorum said yesterday on The Michael Smerconish Show on WPHT-AM (1210). "My wife would throw me out of the house if I do anything in '08."

It looks like you can cross Santorum off of the VP list for 2008.

Copied from: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Hat tip to: PrezPolitics

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

The U.S.S. NR Straw Poll

At a 2008 panel, Kate O'Beirne asked for a show of hands from our 450 cruisers on the major GOP presidential candidates. Romney clearly did best with about 2/3 of the crowd supporting him. My impression was that Giuliani was second, and McCain and Gingrich tied in distant third. Fwiw...

If you're a presidential candidate for 2008 and your name is Mitt Romney, your future is looking great!

Copied from: The Corner on National Review Online
Hat tip to: Evangelicals for Mitt

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

From last night’s Special Report with Brit Hume:

MORT KONDRACKE: I think [Giuliani's] got a shot. I wouldn't say he's favored by any means — I think McCain is favored.


BARNES: I think he has a good shot. I think, look, who draws the big crowds? I mean, he campaigned for everybody, so did McCain, so did Romney they were campaigning for Republican candidates all over the country. All I heard was . . . Giuliani was getting the big crowds, particularly in the South, where supposedly his social views, which are very liberal, would cause him trouble. . . . If they're looking for some guy who's a proven leader and someone who stood up during a crisis like 9/11, well then you have Giuliani.

HUME: How big a problem would Mitt Romney's Mormonism be with that element of the Republican base?

KONDRACKE: Look, Richard Land who's with the Southern Baptist Convention said all Mitt Romney has to do is have a Houston Council of Ministers session like John F. Kennedy did so explain that his Catholicism was not going to govern in his presidency and he does the same thing with the — a large Evangelical audience and he can get over this in the situation that they're going to be tolerant of him.

MARA LIASSON: I think Romney has been, by all accounts, running an excellent campaign. He's been out there, he's developing all kinds of infrastructure that Giuliani is only now just beginning to do and he has a policy achievement under his belt, health care and he's an executive . . .

Copied from: The Corner on National Review Online
Hat tip to: Evangelicals for Mitt

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney is Meeting With His Advisers and Leading Supporters

With just seven weeks left in office, Governor Mitt Romney is bringing together his advisers and leading supporters for a postelection powwow this weekend as he nears the most important decision of his political career.

Romney, widely expected to launch a 2008 presidential bid in coming weeks, is convening the meetings at an undisclosed location. Aides to his Commonwealth Political Action Committee refused to say who is attending or how big a gathering it is.

"What I can say is it's an effort to thank those who have been supporters of the Commonwealth PAC over the last year," said PAC spokesman Jared Young.

The Commonwealth PAC, whose stated objective is to support Republican candidates around the country, says it raised $8.8 million and gave away $1.3 million to candidates and party organizations in the just-completed two-year election cycle.

For the full story, go to The Boston Globe.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney, Mormonism and the Evangelical vote

Richard Land had some interesting comments about Mitt Romney’s presidential chances today when talking about the 2008 field with Bill Bennett. (Land is the president of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), the public policy entity of the Southern Baptist Convention.)

Land mentioned Romney with McCain and Brownback as someone who might be able to get the evangelical vote. Contrary to the assumptions of the media elite Land thought Romeny’s mormonism wouldn’t be a problem. According to Land:

I have people tell me well you know a Mormon can’t be elected. Well, I disagree with that. I think that if you look at the polling that says that thirty-seven percent of Americans would not vote for a Mormon, the majority of those are seculars who don’t like religion anyway and look at Mormonism as religion on steroids. Most evangelicals understand that we’re voting for a commander-in-chief and not a theologian-in-chief, and it’s going to depend on where they stand on the issues whether or not they’ll get the support of Evangelicals.

I think Land is right. The issues a candidate stands for matters more than the church they go to to most evangelicals. Just ask Harriet Meiers.

Copied from Sounding the Trumpet.

Sounds just like what Evengelicals for Mitt has been saying for months.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney hires ex-Bush ad man

Yesterday's rumor is now fact:

Governor Mitt Romney, who continues to sign up big-name political consultants for a probable presidential run, has hired bare-knuckles GOP ad man Alex Castellanos, a veteran of presidential campaigns known for his tough ads against Democratic candidates.

Widely considered one of the country's more influential Republican image-makers, Castellanos has produced television spots for President Bush, presidential candidate Bob Dole, and former senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina. Romney's move to recruit him sends a strong signal that the governor plans to mount a serious national campaign for 2008, political observers say.

This is interesting:

Romney knows Castellanos's work well. The media strategist produced a glowing video about Romney's four years as governor that the Massachusetts Republican Party showed at its convention in Lowell this spring. Romney's political action committee, the Commonwealth PAC, then bought the rights to the video, and it is now featured prominently on the PAC's website.

Read the rest of the story at The Boston Globe.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Governor Mitt Romney Makes A Key Hire For His 2008 Presidential Campaign

From Race 4 2008:

According to sources, Republican media guru Alex Castellanos has been hired by the Governor Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign to run their advertising shop.

Castellanos is a veteran of big time Republican campaigns at virtually all levels and someone who is known to be as hard hitting as he is conservative. He is perhaps most famous for his “white hands” television ad during a re-election campaign for United States Senator Jesse Helms in which an employment rejection letter is crumpled up on screen by two white hands as the narrator explains how this person lost a job they needed and were qualified for because of affirmative action. The ad was controversial because the Democrat opponent of Helms in that campaign was black, in addition to being a supporter of racial preferences - former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt. Of course Helms was undefeated in his Senate campaigns and had a first-rate political team - a team that single-handedly revived the presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan in 1976 that was on virtual life support until it won the North Carolina Republican primary againt incumbent President Gerald Ford.

With Castellanos on board, I would expect some very tough ads from the Romney campaign questioning the conservative credentials of primary opponents Giuliani and McCain, who had better be ready to respond in kind and play hardball. Castellanos uses a “take no prisoners” approach and is a tone-setting kind of campaign principal. It ought to be very interesting.

Is this rumor fact or fiction?
Time will tell.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney To Take Part In Rally Aimed At Forcing Gay Marriage Vote

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will appear at a rally on the steps of the Statehouse Sunday to demand that lawmakers vote on a ballot question that would end gay marriage in Massachusetts.

The Legislature last week again refused to take up the question during their constitutional convention. Instead, they voted to recess until January second, a move gay marriage supporters say all but kills the measure because a vote then is unlikely.

Romney opposes gay marriage and has called on the Legislature to vote on the question several times, but has been ignored.

More than 170,000 people signed a petition in support of the ballot question, which would define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Supporters of the question say the state Constitution requires lawmakers to take a vote.

Lawmakers who support same-sex unions say there's no such mandate.


Copied from WCSH-TV

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008, Gay Marriage.

Mitt Romney - a Newt Conservative

Suppose the GOP candidate in ‘08 were a conservative who communicates better than George W., has excellent executive experience, knows how to appeal to a wide range of voters, and runs on constructive conservative ideas? Of all the current candidates, only Governor Mitt Romney fits that bill.

To read the rest of the article go to The American Thinker.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Matthews Proflies Eight for 2008

From Broadcasting & Cable:

With the ink hardly dry on the ballots, Washington is already turning to the 2008 race, with Chris Matthews in hot pursuit.

Beginning Nov. 19, The Chris Matthews Show, the weekend, half-hour roundtable public affairs series produced by NBC News and syndicated by NBC Universal, is launching an eight-part series of profiles of potential candidates.


The lineup will be: ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)--who last week declared he was exploring the possibility; Sen. John McCain (R-AZ); Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R); Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY); former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards; Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill); Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del); and New Mexico Democratic Governor Bill Richardson.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Mitt Romney Building Arizona 'Network' for Possible Presidential Bid

From The Business Journal:

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney met with Valley business and Republican leaders Monday, part of an effort to build a "network of people" in states with primary elections early in 2008.

Romney, who declined to run for gubernatorial re-election, is seen as a potential GOP presidential candidate and a more hard-line conservative than likely frontrunners Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former New York City Mayor Rudy Guliani.


"I'm keeping the option open," Romney said Monday to a small group of reporters inside Vestar offices at the Camelback Esplanade.

Romney has visited the Grand Canyon State four times in the last 18 months and said he will make an announcement on whether he'll run for the GOP nomination after the holidays.

During the 30-minute interview, the Massachusetts governor talked about his views on Iraq, the federal debt, immigration and other domestic and national issues, while pointing some policy differences between him and McCain.

Romney supported the Bush tax cut, while McCain did not. He also isn't in favor of the McCain-Feingold finance reform bill, saying now "there's more money in politics, not less."

Romney also said he doesn't support same-sex marriages or civil unions and would only extend rights or benefits pertaining to hospital visitations.

He said last week's elections sent a message to the Republican Party that it strayed from its hallmarks of fiscal conservatism, strong national defense and small government, and maintained that "Republicans shouldn't go liberal."

Romney applauded President Bush's motion to assemble a team to analyze, debate and recommend changes to the Iraq war policy, but fell short of saying that should have happened years ago.

"I'm glad it's happening now," Romney, 59, said. "We need definitive measurements to see if we're making progress."

Romney said he was against a military draft, but admitted, "our military is stretched thin," specifically pointing out the National Guard.

He said the federal government should issue a biometric employment card to every noncitizen in the country, deport criminals who are illegal residents, and give welfare and Medicaid timetables for noncitizens to get off those programs or face deportation. And for those law-abiding, tax-paying illegal immigrants who have been here for years, he wants to see them go to the back of the line to apply for legal status.


"We have to secure our borders and have a policy we can control," he said.

He said the four biggest challenges facing the country are jihadists, Asia's emergence as a competitor, reliance on oil and the federal debt.

"The financial crisis is not far from our doorstep," he said.

Romney, an outspoken member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serves as the chairman of the Republican Governors Association and is honorary chairman of the Commonwealth Political Action Committee. Before becoming governor of Massachusetts, Romney rose to prominence in an unsuccessful 1994 campaign against Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. and as chief executive and organizer of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Romney's term as governor ends Jan. 4.

Impressive! Is January 5th the day that Mitt Romney announces that he is running for president?

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Illegal Immigration, Iraq, Federal Debt, Arizona, Election 2008.

An Article 6 Blog Interview: John McIntyre of Real Clear Politics

The Article 6 Blog has an interesting interview with John McIntyre of Real Clear Politics. They discuss Mitt Romney and the possible "Mormon Issue".

Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

McIntyre:I think the unknown here is the degree to which Mitt Romney’s opponents, maybe not openly but operatives and supporters of his opponents, may try to make the Mormon issue something that could move voters in Republican primary. I think it’s just an open question.

McIntyre:Well, not entirely, but I mean, I should clarify that. I mean, what I’m saying is social conservatives are out there thinking, who’s their guy, and for a while the thinking was maybe Senator Allen was going to be their guy. Well, he stumbled. Okay, so he’s not in the top tier right now, so who are they turning to? They don’t like McCain. They don’t trust McCain, they don’t like him. Giuliani is just liberal across the board on issues that are very important to social conservatives. I mean, in many ways, Romney’s the guy by default.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

Another Democrat Considers Mitt Romney to be a "Scarry Nominee"

From Evangelicals for Mitt:

From Saturday's Washington Journal on C-SPAN, via an EFM reader...

C-SPAN: "Who do you fear the most on the Republican side as your 2008 nominee?"

DONNA BRAZILE: "Mitt Romney."

[MICHAEL STEELE discusses the Democratic side, mentioning Clinton and Gore.]

C-SPAN: "And why Governor Romney?"

BRAZILE: "He's an interesting personality…"

STEELE: "Yeah."

DONNA BRAZILE: "…he looks the part, and again, in a post-9/11 world I think people will also question his experience, but I think John McCain will flame out before the primaries even begin."

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

The Fix: Presidential Rankings

Here is what the washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog "The Fix" has to say about Mitt Romney:

Mitt Romney: The Massachusetts governor had a nice year of his own, unfortunately capped off by broad Republican losses in gubernatorial races, including in his home state. While McCain has released the names of his '08 supporters in drips and drabs, Romney has gone for shock and awe with his announcements -- massive lists in Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan filled with impressive and influential names. Romney is the best raw candidate in the Republican field and he is the equal of Obama and Edwards when it comes to charisma. He still must answer doubts among conservatives about his time in Massachusetts and seeming flip-flops on some social questions. And then there is the Mormon question to which we have no answer just yet.

By the way, they ranked Mitt Romney #2 among Republicans!

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

ABC News 2008 Presidential Poll...

Go to "ABC News" and vote for Governor Mitt Romney!

Hat tip to Ann Marie at Elect Romney in 2008!

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Election 2008.

2008 GOP Primary Straw Poll - October 2006 results

Mitt Romney won the 2008 GOP Primary Straw Poll for October 2006 in terms of net votes!

15775 ballots cast Net Votes 1st Choice + Votes - Votes
Romney______7996_(+50.7%)
Giuliani____7102_(+45%)
Gingrich____6494_(+41.2%)
Allen_______3892_(+24.7%)
Tancredo_____756_(+4.8%)
Brownback___-620_(-3.9%)
Huckabee____-746_(-4.7%)
Frist______-4682_(-29.7%)
McCain_____-6709_(-42.5%)
Pataki_____-6822_(-43.2%)
Hagel______-8125_(-51.5%)

But wait theres more! In a 3-way race between John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Mitt Romney among the Arizona voters, Mitt Romney won!

3-Way Race:
Romney____210_(47.4%)
Giuliani__190_(42.9%)
McCain_____38_(8.6%)
____________5_(1.1%)

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, 2008, Presidential Election.

STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY

November 8, 2006 - Americans spoke last night and Republicans are listening. Americans have not become less conservative, but they believe some Republicans have. As a party, we need to remember who we are and the principles that have always led our party and our country to success.

We must return to the common sense Reagan Republican ideals of fighting for hard working Americans, lowering taxes, shrinking government, curbing out-of-control spending, promoting the traditional values of faith, family and freedom, and providing a strong national security with all the necessary tools to protect the American people and win the War on Terror.

This country wants resolute leadership to tackle tough issues and a positive vision for a better future here at home and around the world. They want leadership that trusts the American people, keeps America strong and moves our country forward.

Americans across the country over the past year didn’t say they want higher taxes. They didn’t say they want more run-away wasteful spending or a Congress that continues irresponsible pork projects. Nobody ever said that this nation needs a bigger deficit.

Americans didn’t say they wanted more activist judges who legislate from the bench and they don’t want less secure borders.

No one said they want more rights for terrorists, nor did they ask that we stop terrorist surveillance … and nobody suggested that we should make life even harder for our brave men and women fighting terror around the world.

We didn’t hear a mandate for a more liberal direction because the Democrats didn’t present one. Americans don’t share those liberal ideas.

What voters told us is that America is stuck and Washington is broken. Voters told us to move forward by embracing our conservative convictions that Americans agree with and value – and we will.

Americans are looking for more fiscal responsibility, less government and sound traditional values. They want leadership and vision with conservative principles. You don’t develop a vision by looking backwards. I’m keeping my eyes on the horizon – where the future is, and where America is going.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2006, 2008, Presidential Election.

Mitt Romney Sets Agenda For Final Weeks

From TheBostonChannel.com.

Eliminating Tolls On To-Do List

BOSTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney, preparing to leave office early next year, said Wednesday he wants to move forward with a plan to eliminate Massachusetts Turnpike tolls outside Route 128.

The Republican chief executive also said he plans to push for approval of a new liquid natural gas terminal site before leaving office on Jan. 4.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election.

INTERESTING ARTICLES ON IRAN

Kevin just posted an interview with Bill O'Reilly and Mitt Romney. In that interview O'Reilly talked about how Iran is training people, and supplying rebels with weapons with the intent of disrupting our democritization efforts in Iraq.

Most of the time in big media when I hear or read about Iraq it is portrayed as a quagmire that we have no way to win. And if Iraq is a quagmire, we don't even want to mess with Iran (which the critics are saying is an even bigger threat than Iraq ever was), and we REALLY don't want to mess with N. Korea. The administration has botched the war so badly (say the critics) that our nation is less safe now than it was on Sept 12, 2001.

After the midterm elections we are definitely going to be hearing about how a course correction is necessary in Iraq, even if that means we begin withdrawing our troops according to a scheduled timetable.

The critics ridicule statements by Dick Cheney that no matter what happens in the midterm elections it is "full speed ahead" in Iraq. How naive! How pitifully ignorant of the administration to be so blinded to reality!

But what if the democritization efforts in Iraq aren't nearly as misguided as the critics would have us believe? What if, despite the mistakes we've made, we're actually doing okay from a global perspective on the war on terror?

I just wanted to point out a couple of interesting articles to faithful readers of Texans for Mitt Romney. Both are on commentary magazine and can be found at the following links:

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article.asp?aid=12204030_1

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article.asp?aid=12204023_1

The authors argue that the leverage points we have on Iran are much stronger than most Americans know or believe. They also argue that the Iranian leadership is much more afraid of success in Iraq, and America, and their own people than most Americans believe. Furthermore the population in Iran (and N. Korea) supports the government far less than a hard left wing democrat in the northeast supports the GOP.

One of the things I like most about Mitt Romney is his belief that America has the competence, the know how, and the ability to still do great things around the world. These two articles, although written by people who may or may not be supporters of my man Mitt, at least give us reasons to believe that America isn't in as big of a quagmire as the MSM would have us believe.

But it sure would be nice if we had an administration, and congressional leadership that could articulate their positions persuasively, instead of giving us tripe like "Stay the course!" If only we had someone with the intellectual mojo of Bill Clinton, but without the character flaws. If only we had someone with the charm and optimism of Reagan.

We need someone like Mitt Romney in the White House.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Iran, Commentary Magazine,

Mitt Romney Enters the "No Spin Zone"

Great interview!

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Illegal Immigration, War On Terror, Iraq, China, Iran, Mexico, Fox News, Bill Oreilly.

Mitt Romney On The Issues: "Gay Marriage"

June 4, 2006 6:58 PM

The Importance of Protecting Marriage
Romney encourages the Senate on FMA.

An NRO Primary Document

Editor's Note: Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has sent the following letter to United States senators on Friday in anticipation of this week’s vote in the Senate on a Federal Marriage Amendment.


Dear Senator,

Next week, you will vote on a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution protecting the institution of marriage. As Governor of the state most directly affected by this amendment, I hope my perspectives will encourage you to vote “yes.”

Americans are tolerant, generous, and kind people. We all oppose bigotry and disparagement, and we all wish to avoid hurtful disregard of the feelings of others. But the debate over same-sex marriage is not a debate over tolerance. It is a debate about the purpose of the institution of marriage.

Attaching the word marriage to the association of same-sex individuals mistakenly presumes that marriage is principally a matter of adult benefits and adult rights. In fact, marriage is principally about the nurturing and development of children. And the successful development of children is critical to the preservation and success of our nation.

Our society, like all known civilizations in recorded history, has favored the union of a man and a woman with the special designation and benefits of marriage. In this respect, it has elevated the relationship of a legally bound man and woman over other relationships. This recognizes that the ideal setting for nurturing and developing children is a home where there is a mother and a father.

In order to protect the institution of marriage, we must prevent it from being redefined by judges like those here in Massachusetts who think that marriage is an “evolving paradigm,” and that the traditional definition is “rooted in persistent prejudices” and amounts to “invidious discrimination.”

Although the full impact of same-sex marriage may not be measured for decades or generations, we are beginning to see the effects of the new legal logic in Massachusetts just two years into our state’s social experiment. For instance, our birth certificate is being challenged: same-sex couples want the terms “Mother” and “Father” replaced with “Parent A” and “Parent B.”

In our schools, children are being instructed that there is no difference between same-sex marriage and traditional marriage. Recently, parents of a second grader in one public school complained when they were not notified that their son’s teacher would read a fairy tale about same-sex marriage to the class. In the story, a prince chooses to marry another prince, instead of a princess. The parents asked for the opportunity to opt their child out of hearing such stories. In response, the school superintendent insisted on “teaching children about the world they live in, and in Massachusetts same sex marriage is legal.” Once a society establishes that it is legally indifferent between traditional marriage and same-sex marriage, how can one preserve any practice which favors the union of a man and a woman?

Some argue that our principles of federalism and local control require us to leave the issue of same sex marriage to the states—which means, as a practical matter, to state courts. Such an argument denies the realities of modern life and would create a chaotic patchwork of inconsistent laws throughout the country. Marriage is not just an activity or practice which is confined to the border of any one state. It is a status that is carried from state to state. Because of this, and because Americans conduct their financial and legal lives in a united country bound by interstate institutions, a national definition of marriage is necessary.

Your vote on this amendment should not be guided by a concern for adult rights. This matter goes to the development and well-being of children. I hope that you will make your vote heard on their behalf.

Best regards,

Mitt Romney


Copied from National Review Online.

"Remarks by Governor Mitt Romney
Liberty Sunday: Defending Our First Freedom
October 15, 2006

Welcome to this historic city. The authors of liberty recognized a Divine Creator who bequeathed to us certain inalienable rights. They affirmed freedom of religion and proscribed the establishment of any one religion. Today, there are some people would like to establish a single religion for America . . . the religion of secularism. They not only reject traditional religious values, but also the values of the founders. And they set aside the wisdom of the ages. Their allies are activist judges. Here in Massachusetts, activist judges struck a blow to the foundation of civilization, the family. They ruled that our constitution requires same sex marriage. I believe their error occurred because they focused on adult rights. If adult heterosexual couples can marry, they reasoned, then to have equal rights, adult homosexual couples must also be able to marry.

But marriage is not primarily about adults. Marriage is primarily about the nurturing and development of children. A child’s development is enhanced by the nurturing of both genders. Every child deserves a mother and a father. Of course, the principal burden of the Court’s ruling doesn’t fall on adults. It falls on children. We are asked to change the state birth certificate. To prevent “heterocentricity,” mother and father would become parent A and parent B. An elementary school teacher reads to her 2nd graders from a book titled “The King and King” about a prince who marries a prince. And a 2nd grader’s father is denied the right to have his child removed from class while that book is being read. Our state’s most difficult-to-place adoptive children may no longer be placed by Catholic charities because they favor homes where there’s a mother and a father.

The price of same sex marriage is paid by children. Our fight for marriage, then, should focus on the needs of children, not the rights of adults. In fact, as Americans, I believe that we should show an outpouring of respect and tolerance for all people, regardless of their differences or their different choices. We must vigorously reject discrimination and bigotry. We are all God's children. He abhors none of us.

Massachusetts is the front line on marriage, but unless we adopt a federal amendment to protect marriage, what is happening here will unquestionably enter every other state. The spreading religion of secularism and its substitute values cannot be allowed to weaken the foundation of family or the faith of our fathers who more than life their freedom loved."

Copied from Elect Mitt Romney in 2008!

Romney also said he doesn't support same-sex marriages or civil unions and would only extend rights or benefits pertaining to hospital visitations.


Copied from The Business Journal.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Gay Marriage.

Mitt Romney On The Issues: "Illegal Immigration"

"O'REILLY: Would you build a wall between Mexico and the United States and would you put the National Guard on the border?

ROMNEY: Absolutely. We'd put the National Guard there because we don't have the wall yet. You have to have a wall or a fence or electronic surveillance. And you have to have a tamper-proof document to make sure that people who are here are aliens are identified and registered, and people can not hire them unless they're here legally."

Copied from BILLOReilly.com.

"Immigration has been an important part of our nation's success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America."

Copied from Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC.

He said the federal government should issue a biometric employment card to every noncitizen in the country, deport criminals who are illegal residents, and give welfare and Medicaid timetables for noncitizens to get off those programs or face deportation. And for those law-abiding, tax-paying illegal immigrants who have been here for years, he wants to see them go to the back of the line to apply for legal status.


"We have to secure our borders and have a policy we can control," he said.

Copied from The Business Journal.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election, Illegal Immigration.

Michigan 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination Polls

Some polls of intrest.

Michigan Poll (11/02/06)

16. For the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination whom would you support? (Republicans Only)
John McCain 37%
Rudy Giuliani 24%
Mitt Romney 16%
Newt Gingrich 5%
Bill Frist 1%
George Allen 1%
George Pataki 1%
Rick Santorum 1%
Chuck Hagel 1%
Undecided 13%

Michigan Poll (11/06/06)

16. For the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination whom would you support? (Republicans Only)
John McCain 33%
Rudy Giuliani 25%
Mitt Romney 17%
Newt Gingrich 6%
Bill Frist 1%
George Allen 1%
George Pataki 1%
Rick Santorum 1%
Chuck Hagel 1%
Undecided 14%

The results for the 4-day period:

John McCain -4%
Rudy Giuliani +1%
Mitt Romney +1%
Newt Gingrich +1%
Bill Frist 0%
George Allen 0%
George Pataki 0%
Rick Santorum 0%
Chuck Hagel 0%
Undecided +1%



Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election.

THIS IS ADMIRABLE, NO?

Saturday, November 04, 2006
THIS IS ADMIRABLE, NO?
Did you guys see that Gov. Romney transferred funds from his own office account to make up a shortfall in the account that pays a life insurance benefit to Massachusetts National Guard members? Here is the scoop:



Romney took the action since the Legislature is not meeting in formal session and to ensure that National Guard members continue to receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

There is a $64,000 deficiency in the account that reimburses up to 50 percent of the cost of life insurance for National Guard members serving on active duty in the war on terror. The benefit was part of the Welcome Home Bill signed into law by Governor Romney last year. The deficiency occurred because of an increase in National Guard members due to recruitment efforts.

Romney said the transfer is possible because of the success in reducing spending with the Governor’s Office, freeing up funds for other purposes. Spending in the Governor’s Office has dropped from $5.6 million in FY02 to $4.6 million in FY06. Spending is anticipated to drop again in the current fiscal year.

“All of us in elective office recognize the service of our Massachusetts National Guard troops, and one of my greatest honors is to serve as their commander in chief. They have dealt with every dangerous assignment that we have given them, both at home and abroad. It is a privilege to be able to transfer funds from my office to avoid any interruption in benefits to our troops,” said Romney.


Posted by Nancy French at 12:28 AM on November 04, 2006

For more great articles like the one above visit Evangelicals for Mitt.


Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election.

George Will: Romney Emerges from the Crowd

In a Townhall article, journalist George Allen asserts that Mitt Romney is the beneficieary of Senator George Allen's tough reelection campaign.

Even before the votes are counted, over the Republican Party a "thick darkness broodeth" -- words from a Victorian hymn, for a party with a Victorian tendency. But one Republican, who is not running for anything this year, will emerge from this bruising season with enlarged prospects. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's hopes for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination have been enhanced by Virginia Sen. George Allen's difficulties.

Romney's most formidable rival for the Republican nomination is John McCain, who needs a crowded field of Republican aspirants to prevent the conservative majority of the party's nominating electorate from quickly coalescing around a single candidate. Allen once seemed likely to compete with Romney for conservatives' support.

Allen's radically reduced prospects will make it less likely that McCain can duplicate his 2000 triumph in New Hampshire's primary. As one seasoned New Hampshire Republican says, "It is difficult to capture lightning in a bottle twice." It will be particularly difficult for McCain to do so because there is apt to be a spirited New Hampshire contest on the Democratic side. This would draw independent voters who were crucial to McCain in 2000, when he thrashed George W. Bush, receiving 115,606 votes (48.53 percent) to Bush's 72,330 (30.36).

So the presidential field is uncommonly open, and there is a palpable desire in the country to shuffle the political deck. In their new book "The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008," Mark Halperin of ABC News and John F. Harris of The Washington Post suggest why:

"When the current President Bush completes his full second term, it will be the first time since James Madison and James Monroe almost two hundred years ago that back-to-back presidents both served all eight years of two elected terms. Put another way, two of the most divisive figures in this country's history will have commanded the White House for sixteen consecutive years."

Such circumstances should entice many aspirants into the race. Yet with Allen much diminished and perhaps out of contention, and with Rudy Giuliani not yet doing serious groundwork for a national campaign, the Republican field is already down to two. That is good for only one of them: Romney.

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election.

RunMittRun Progress Report, November 2, 2006

RunMittRun Progress Report, November 2, 2006





Good things are happening very fast.



This morning “The Boston Globe” did a major piece entitled “Romney Consults Evangelical Leaders” which featured several paragraphs devoted to our organization. "link" The article quotes portions of the last email progress report we sent to all of you and positions our grass-roots effort alongside those of Governor Romney’s campaign operation and the Public Affairs department of the LDS Church.



And yesterday George Will made bold comments about Mitt’s increasingly bright prospects, declaring that “the Republican field is already down to two [Romney and McCain]. That is good for only one of them: Romney.” "link"



Thanks to all of you for making our effort matter. Onward and upward!



Mitch



P.S. Please forward this email to everyone you know.

Volunteer "link".

Refer friends "link".

Donation "link".

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney, 2008, Presidential Election.

One Pastors Take On Mitt Romney

I had the rare opportunity to sit down with about a dozen other pastors in our area to meet and talk with Massachussetts Governor and hopeful 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney.

He's a level-headed conservative with an impressive track record in Massachussetts. He revolutionized health care in his state by - get this - removing government regulations and allowing the market to provide affordable products for individuals.

How a conservative Mormon even lives in Teddy Kennedy's neck of the woods is impressive enough.

Romney shares many of our current president's values, and at the same time, seems to have a better managerial philosophy - especially when it comes to the War on Terror.

I wonder if being a conservative person without the "evangelical" or "fundamentalist" labels will work to his advantage with people who vote conservatively when it comes to social and fiscal issues.

It will definitely be interesting to see how the next presidential election comes down.

Right now it seems like the Republican hopefuls are John McCain, Rudy Giulliani, George Allen, Mitt Romney, and possibly Mike Huckabee.

The problem is: half of these guys won't ever have enough cash to campaign - especially against Hillary Clinton, who will have truckloads of money delivered to her from Hollywood and the Unions.

Thanks to Jeff Hamrick Online for his opinion!


Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney's Letter To South Carolina

From the National Journal's Daily Troika.

MA Gov. Mitt Romney, who campaigns in Greenville, SC for GOPers today, sent more than 1,000 Republicans in the state a glossy, eight-page brochure that reads like a campaign solicitation and lays out what amounts to a 10-point plan to reinvorgating the conservative movement. The 10/30-dated latter includes a message-testing "State of South Carolina Survey" that asks recipients to agree or disagree with 20 issue statements.

The letter also asks for money, with proceeds being directed to Commonwealth PAC affiliates in Iowa and Michigan.

The letter, written in Romney's name, states that conservatives "agree on a couple of very important things." They include a belief that "our government" is "growing again." Spending "in too many places is out of control." Also:


The US "cannot fail to defeat radical and violent Muslim extemists" worldwide.

The US "can and must secure our borders first" and "must also ensure our laws promote legal immigration."

"Affirming America's Culture and Values"

The US "must use every energy asset we have" and "develop alternatives that help our nation" on "the road to energy independence."

Conservatives must keep "taxes low" and simplify the tax code.

"Extending health care to all Americans" by "using market-based programs."

The US "must treat teaching as a true profession"

The US must "meet the economic rise of China and Asia head-on.

The US must continue "investing in technology."

Commonwealth PAC spokesman Jared Young said the letter was meant as a both a "survey of what issues are important to folks" as well as "a fundrasing letter." After 11/7, said Young,. "I think it's be safe to assume that the commonwealth pac will continue to help Republican candidates."

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney consults evangelical leaders

Governor Mitt Romney is convening meetings with small groups of evangelical leaders to seek guidance for his possible presidential run, as Romney and Mormon supporters intensify efforts to allay concerns about his faith.

Romney, who is ramping up preparations for a 2008 campaign, huddled privately at his Belmont home last Thursday with about a dozen evangelicals, including conservative activist Gary Bauer, president of the group American Values, and Richard Land, a prominent leader in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Two weeks earlier, Romney met with about a dozen Baptist pastors at a private club in Columbia, S.C. Today, he is set to meet with more Christian leaders at an activist's home in Greenville, S.C.

The meetings have touched on several themes, participants say, but two topics being discussed are Romney's religious beliefs and how he should address his faith as the campaign progresses.

Romney's meetings with evangelicals, which are reminiscent of a similar effort by President Bush before he ran for president in 2000, take place as groups and individuals separate from Romney's political team are trying to improve the public perception of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Polls indicate that the religion is widely misunderstood and viewed skeptically by many in the United States.

Read the rest of the article at The Boston Globe

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney

FOX NEWS INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY (R-MA) INTERVIEWER: JOHN GIBSON

MR. GIBSON: With me now is someone who knows Kerry very well, the Republican governor of Kerry's home state of Massachusetts, Governor Mitt Romney.

So, Governor, do you buy the sincerity of Kerry's apology today? Sort of late, but there it is.

GOV. ROMNEY: Well, it's awful late, to begin with. And secondly, ask yourself, why couldn't it just be a straightforward apology? I'm happy to get any apology. I think our men and women in uniform deserve an apology. But what came out seems like kind of an attack apology. He's attacking people for misinterpreting supposedly what he said, but what he said was as plain as plain could be. And he really ought to issue an apology that's as plan as plain can be, but you know, he's done what he's going to do now. And unfortunately, the damage is done. What he's communicated is that somehow that old idea that our military is not up to the national standard is underlined, and frankly, it's wrong. The military that serve from our state -- active duty, Reserve and National Guard -- are bright, capable, professional people. We ought to be proud of them, not denigrating them. ...

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Read the rest of the story at the Federal News Service.


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Mitt Romney Media Appearances today

Received this note from a friend:

Governor Romney will be interviewed by Sean Hannity at 5:05-5:15pm today on the Sean Hannity radio show regarding current news and Senator Kerry's remarks regarding U.S. soldiers. Please check your local programming as it will be broadcast locally at different times or you can listen live on-line.

He will also be interviewed live at 5:30pm on Fox News with John Gibson on the "The Big Show" regarding the same topic.

I'm assuming these times are EST? Like it says . . . check your local listings.

Jeff

Addendum:

The TV appearances happened yesterday.

Sorry.


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Presidential aspirations become clearer as Romney stumps for GOP

If any West Virginia Republicans doubted Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s desire for the party’s 2008 presidential nomination, they didn’t after Monday.

Romney, a first-term governor, now has The Phillips Group working to give him the edge in the Mountain State for 2008. Elkins resident Bill Phillips, who heads the consulting firm, successfully engineered Cecil Underwood’s 1996 election as governor and George W. Bush’s stunning West Virginia victory over Democrat Al Gore in the 2000 presidential race.

“I’m lined up for Romney,” Phillips said.

Read the rest of the story at The Charleston Gazette.

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Governor's Barbour and Romney in Ft. Smith Saturday

From the Arkansas Family Coalition- ArkFam.com:

Asa's campaign sent out a notice this afternoon that Asa, Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi, and Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, will host a "Get Out the Vote" rally and watch party on Saturday for the University of Arkansas vs. South Carolina football game.

It will be at the Expo Center at Kay Rodgers Park (4400 Midland Blvd.) in Fort Smith and doors open at 5 p.m.

Food and entertainment will be provided, dress is casual, and the public is invited to attend.

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Allen's Fumbles, Romney's Gain

This article at The Washington Post start's of with:

Even before the votes are counted, over the Republican Party a "thick darkness broodeth" -- words from a Victorian hymn, for a party with a Victorian tendency. But one Republican, who is not running for anything this year, will emerge from this bruising season with enlarged prospects. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's hopes for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination have been enhanced by Virginia Sen. George Allen's difficulties.

Romney's most formidable rival for the Republican nomination is John McCain, who needs a crowded field of Republican aspirants to prevent the conservative majority of the party's nominating electorate from quickly coalescing around a single candidate. Allen once seemed likely to compete with Romney for conservatives' support.

And the article ends with:

Such circumstances should entice many aspirants into the race. Yet with Allen much diminished and perhaps out of contention, and with Rudy Giuliani not yet doing serious groundwork for a national campaign, the Republican field is already down to two. That is good for only one of them: Romney.

For the rest of the story go to The Washington Post.

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