Evangelicals for Mitt

I've heard that Evangelicals for Mitt is going to have a big story on the "Mass Resistance Deception" on January 2, 2007.

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

Mitt Romney's Interview with Human Events

As he ponders whether to seek the presidency in 2008, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday took a break from his family vacation in Utah to talk exclusively to HUMAN EVENTS about the War on Terror, his conservative beliefs and the role bloggers are playing in politics. He also clarified his views on abortion and gay marriage and addressed concerns about his healthcare plan.

Read the full article at Human Events.

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

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER

The 2008 GOP Primary conversation has taken an unproductive detour for some time now in regards to Romney’s so-called flip flops on abortion and gays. It’s probably not necessarily a bad thing, as we might as well get all the dirty laundry aired out early, but I think the conversation has gone on long enough.

Remember the choices are between:

John McCain -

I like John McCain. I have no animosity toward the man. I'm over the Keating 5 issue, and I think most Americans are too. The biggest disagreement I have with him is the gang of 14 compromise. I felt like it was snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, but hey, we've got John Roberts as chief justice (my #1 favorite accomplishment of the Bush administration's 2nd term) and Samuel Alito was confirmed as well. I would have liked to see more appellate judges confirmed, and that was what bothered me most about the compromise, but on the whole I understand the logic behind the decision.(Don't agree with the logic, but I'm basically over it.)

Rudy Giuliani

I like Rudy Giuliani too. Like most Americans my heart swelled with pride to see him charging into the fray on 9-11. Whatever shortcomings New York has, the government had its act together enough that the public employees were on the job, and came together in crisis. Compare that to Hurricane Katrina where huge numbers of New Orleans Police officers walked off the job. New York is a nicer place to live, and visit since Rudy served as Mayor there. Being electable in the Northeast is a good thing for a politician running for President.

Mitt Romney

Obviously I'm in favor of Mitt Romney. I think he has all the positives of both of the other candidates and then some. He also is missing some of the negatives.

Most Americans have at least some ambivalence on both the abortion issue, and the homosexual agenda. Most Americans believe that homosexuals should not be discriminated against. Most Americans also believe that refusing to redefine marriage doesn't qualify as discrimination. Mitt Romney doesn't hate gays. He doesn't advocate that we take away their right to vote. He doesn't advocate that we refuse to hire gay people. Mitt Romney isn't against gay people. Most Americans pretty much agree with this. Most Americans are not black and white on abortion either. Very few Americans would advocate making abortion illegal under all circumstances. Very few Americans would advocate making abortion unsafe. On the other hand, very few Americans are out there saying that abortion is a GOOD thing. Americans of all stripes, Democrat and Republican have varying shades of opinion on this issue, and very few of us have had to serve in public office and make decisions. I agree with the folks over at Evangelicals for Mitt that Romney's actions should speak louder on this issue.

What about the other issues?

Who is more likely to reach across the aisle and actually get something accomplished (universal healthcare in Massachusets as opposed to the gang of 14 compromise)?

Who is least likely to have an embarrassing personal scandal?

Who is least likely to put up with corruption in his administration?

Who will fight harder for tax relief?

Who is more likely to give us another John Roberts?

Who is more likely to get conservative judges appointed and confirmed?

Who is more likely to solve the Social Security mess?

Who is smarter?

Who is more personally likeable?

Romney wins on all the issues. I don't see any need to tear down John McCain, or Rudy Giuliani to make the case for Romney. Give me an issue Americans care about and Mitt Romney is a candidate with the ability to get the job done.

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

Bill Frist Aide to Lead Mitt Romney's Online Team

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a likely ’08 presidential candidate, has hired Stephen Smith to lead his online communications team. Smith most recently worked for Sen. Bill Frist at VOLPAC, where he oversaw the website and handled outreach to bloggers.

The tech-savvy Smith joins two other highly respected Republicans who recently signed on with Romney. Former RNC Research Director Matt Rhoades and Kevin Madden, who served as House Majority Leader John Boehner’s spokesman, form the nucleus of Romney’s likely campaign team.

A source with knowledge of Smith’s hiring said Smith will play a key role in the design of a campaign website, should Romney decided to run. Romney is spending the holidays with his family in Utah and plans to make a decision shortly thereafter.

At VOLPAC, Smith was responsible for coordinating Frist’s interaction with bloggers, which included several one-on-one interviews, conference calls and a group meeting with bloggers that took place in the majority leader’s office. Smith was also responsible for several activism projects on VOLPAC’s site, such as Blogging for Bolton. He advised Frist to endorse Rightroots, the online grassroots fundraising effort that raised nearly $300,000 for conservative candidates.

Read the full story at Human Events.

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

Mitt Romney Takes Two

Beset by questions about his committment to social conservatism, Gov. Mitt Romney today adds two validators to his team.

Gary Marx, the current exec. dir of the Judicial Confirmation Network and formerly the Bush-Cheney campaign's chief staff liaison to social conservatives, will join Gov. Mitt Romney's PAC as an adviser, a Romney aide said.

If Romney runs for pres, Marx, along with Romney aide Peter Flaherty, will be in charge of outreach to the Republican base and will advise Romney on his contacts with them. Marx is a vet of Focus on the Family's VA affiliate and has also worked with Ralph Reed when Reed hung his shingle at Century Strategies.

Also, Jay Sekulow, a constitutional lawyer who's argued numerous cases of import to social conservatives before the Supreme Court, has endorsed Romney and will serve as an adviser. Sekulow is chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, although his endorsement does not mean that the organization is partial to Romney. Sekulow is close to Karl Rove and to virtually every conservative judicial luminary in the country. [MARC AMBINDER]

Copied from Hotline On Call.

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

Mitt Romney responds to Bush plan for Iraq

"I support the work the president has been carrying out to talk to people who have first-hand contact with troops at the front level and generals at the front level," said Romney, a Republican taking steps toward running for president. "And I look to the president to lay out options for our nation."

"We're not going to turn around and walk out of Iraq. That would be a mistake," he added. "I support the very general idea of following the lead of the Department of Defense and the president's administration that have the input of the generals on the front line."

Read the rest of the story at the DesMoinesRegister.com.

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

Mitt Romney is in Iowa Today

Republican presidential prospect Mitt Romney plans to be in Iowa today for a series of events with Des Moines-area GOP activists.

Romney, the governor of Massachusetts, is scheduled to headline a late-morning fundraiser for Dallas County sheriff candidate Chad Leonard. The trip is Romney's 11th to Iowa since the 2004 election and marks his fourth visit to Dallas County.

Romney then is expected to attend a reception with state Sen. Brad Zaun in Urbandale before speaking at a Christmas party in West Des Moines for supporters of his political action committee.

Romney is among a handful of potential Republican presidential candidates who have hired staff in Iowa as they approach decisions about whether to launch a run for the White House.

Romney has said he plans to announce his decision in early January.

Copied from the DesMoinesRegister.com.

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

Mitt Romney's View on Hugo Chavez (Video)

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

Students for Mitt

Click "here" to visit Students for Mitt!

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

John McCain's Michigan nightmare: Mitt Romney

John McCain played the spoiler in 2000, upending frontrunner George W. Bush in the February Michigan primary and momentarily casting doubt on Bush's party coronation.

As 2008 looms, McCain is the frontrunner - and, ironically, Michigan could prove his undoing.

That's because McCain's chief challenger in '08 is likely to be Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. With pro-life, pro-military pedigrees, both will appeal to the party base so crucial to winning GOP primaries (exit Rudy G). But as much as Michigan is war hero McCain's kind of state, it's also friendly territory to Romney. The Michigan Republican Party has already split between these two lions, with powerbrokers like AG Cox (McCain) and House speaker Deroche (Romney) marking territory.

Here's why the smart money is on Mitt in the mitt-shaped state:

Read the full story at The Detroit News.

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

Mitt on Fox News this Weekend

Mitt gave his first public interview in a few weeks this weekend.

He had yet to publicly respond to the lawn care nonsense and naturally, what interview would be complete without another negative Mormon poll? (Ugh!)

View the Video

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

Mitt Romney Responds to '94 Letter

From National Review Online:

Lopez: As you know, in recent days the Boston Globe and the New York Times, as well as the Boston newspaper, Bay Windows, have run pieces about your 1994 race against Ted Kennedy and your run for governor that appear to be in conflict with your current position against gay marriage. Are they?

Gov. Romney: These old interviews and stories have frequently been circulated by my opponents ever since I took a stand against the Massachusetts supreme-court ruling on same-sex marriage. This being the political season, it is not surprising this old news has appeared again. But I have made clear since 2003, when the supreme court of Massachusetts redefined marriage by fiat, that my unwavering advocacy for traditional marriage stands side by side with a tolerance and respect for all Americans.

Like the vast majority of Americans, I’ve opposed same-sex marriage, but I’ve also opposed unjust discrimination against anyone, for racial or religious reasons, or for sexual preference. Americans are a tolerant, generous, and kind people. We all oppose bigotry and disparagement. 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 and it is a debate about activist judges who make up the law rather than interpret the law.

I agree with 3,000 years of recorded history. I believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman and I have been rock solid in my support of traditional marriage. Marriage is first and foremost about nurturing and developing children. It’s unfortunate that those who choose to defend the institution of marriage are often demonized.

Lopez: And what about the 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans where you indicated you would support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and seemed open to changing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the military? Are those your positions today?

Gov. Romney: No. I don’t see the need for new or special legislation. My experience over the past several years as governor has convinced me that ENDA would be an overly broad law that would open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges.

As for military policy and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, I trust the counsel of those in uniform who have set these policies over a dozen years ago. I agree with President Bush’s decision to maintain this policy and I would do the same.

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

Mitt Romney to Announce Presidential Run

From The Hotline:

Top donors and prominent supporters of Gov. Mitt Romney have been told to expect a formal announcement of his presidential candidacy on the 8th of January. They've also been warned that the date could change. (Hotline sources).

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

MITT ROMNEY FIGHTS FOR MARRIAGE VOTE

This is a great video!



Let the people vote!

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

Mitt Romney on the Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 Club

This video is from earler this year, but is still worth watching.



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

Key People-Gov. Mitt Romney

P2008 updated their list of Key Members of Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC yesterday. It's quiet an impressive list of support!

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

Mitt Romney vs Hillary Clinton

WASHINGTON -- Democrats have an overwhelming favorable view of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, but she would be soundly beaten if she ran for president against Sen. John McCain, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

Underscoring the New York lawmaker's potential vulnerability, the poll also found that Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican little known to most voters, would give Clinton a run for her money.

And that's coming from the liberal media via the Los Angeles Times.

Also of interest:

Romney's religion — Mormonism — and McCain's age could be more problematic. Fourteen percent of registered voters said they could not vote for a Mormon. The same number said they could not vote for someone who is 72 years old, which will be McCain's age on election day in 2008.

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

A Blacklash Against A Mass. GOP McCain Endorsement

Copied from: New Hampshire Presidential Watch,

It appears that a crisis is brewing over the Massachusetts College Republicans endorsement of John McCain. A member of the executive board has e-mailed members with the following message (this is an excerpt of the e-mail):

Dear Fellow Massachusetts College Republicans/State Republican Party Leaders:

I write to you today about a very important situation of concern relating to Massachuetts College Republicans. As a member of its Executive Board, I learned with profound dissapointment today that Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans (MACR) State Chairman Michael Miltenberger, a Florida native, unilaterally decided that the MACR should prematurely endorse the presidential aspirations of U.S. Senator John McCain, a decision that was covered in today's edition of "The Hotline," a major national political news website

Endorsing one presumptive GOP presidential candidate over another when the race for our Party's presidential nomination is still more than eighteen months in the future is premature at best. However, the most dissapointing part of this endorsement is its snide tone and the perception it disingenuously offers. While he has not yet officially announced his intentions, many expect our Governor, Mitt Romney, to announce soon that he will seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Governor Romney has faced unfair and unwarranted criticism in recent weeks over the authenticity of his conservative beliefs. So you can imagine why national news outlets picked up on Governor Romney's homestate College Republican federation endorsing a likely presidential nomination opponent, Senator McCain, and noting his "authenticity" and "straight talk" - in a subtle but clear jab at the Governor.

Governor Mitt Romney has been an amazing asset to Massachusetts Republicans of all ages these last four years, and many of our members are excited and eager to assist him with his likely presidential bid. But with Miltenberger's unilateral endorsement of Senator McCain today, I speak on behalf of many MACR members concerned that top Massachusetts Republicans supporting Governor Romney's presidential bid would look unfavorably on MACR members because of the imprudence of the current MACR State Chairman.

For the sake of the future of the MACR, the final straw must be today's imprudent act of profound disrespect towards Governor Romney by Michael Miltenberger. The Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans desperately cries for new leadership. This being the case, I submit the following requests:

*I call upon members of the MACR Executive Board and State Committee to join me in demanding Michael Miltenberger's resignation as State Chairman, effective immediately.

*I urge Massachusetts Republican Party leaders to do whatever is in their power publicly and/or behind the scenes to provide the MACR new statewide leadership.

Sincerely,
MACR Executive Board Member (identity withheld due to fear of retribution)

The Hotline notes that:

A spokesperson for Romney's PAC said they have nothing to do with the letter.

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

Mitt Romney signs agreement allowing state police to detain illegal immigrants

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has signed an agreement that allows state police troopers to detain illegal immigrants they encounter over the course of their normal duties.

Under the terms of the agreement, made with the U-S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, an initial group of 30 troopers will receive five weeks of federally funded training.

Romney, who is weighing a 2008 White House bid, has advocated building a wall along the U-S-Mexico border to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.

The duration of the new policy is in doubt because Romney leaves office early next month. His successor, Democrat Deval Patrick, has said he opposes placing the additional burden on the troopers.

Copied from :

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

GOVERNOR BLUNT TO LEAD PAC ADVISORY COUNCIL

December 5 , 2006 - Governor Mitt Romney’s Commonwealth PAC today announced that Governor Matt Blunt (R-Mo.) is the chairman of the PAC’s Governors’ Advisory Council.

“Matt Blunt’s leadership has made a real difference in Missouri,” Romney said. “His leadership has led to healthcare reform, hundreds of millions of dollars in new money for Missouri’s schools and a balanced budget without raising taxes. As the PAC focuses on helping state and local Republican organizations, I appreciate his willingness to lead our Governors’ Advisory Council.”

Blunt said, “I witnessed Mitt Romney’s optimistic leadership first hand while he served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. He is a strong conservative with a great vision for the Republican Party and America.”

Blunt became Missouri’s 54th governor in 2004. Born and raised in Missouri, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1993. Prior to becoming governor, Blunt already had a distinguished career in public service. He served as an active duty Naval Officer, as a member of the Missouri General Assembly and as Missouri’s 37th Secretary of State.

Blunt’s active duty military service included participation in Operation Support Democracy, involving the United Nations blockade of Haiti, missions to interdict drug traffic off the South American coast, and on duties involved in the interdiction of Cuban migrants in 1994.

A recipient of numerous military commendations, including four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, Blunt served for six months in Operation Enduring Freedom following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

When Blunt became Governor, Missouri faced a massive budget deficit of almost one billion dollars. In just two short years through responsible budgeting, efficient management of state government, and pro-growth policies that have stimulated the economy and created almost 40,000 new jobs, Blunt has created a substantial budget surplus without increasing taxes on Missouri families.

Copied from Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC.

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

McCains people attacking the Champion of Traditional Marriage

From The Caucus Cooler:

Ahhh, politics on a Saturday night in December. Only in Iowa! As you may know, an article is being circulated today by supporters of Sen. John McCain as an attempt to mislead voters about Governor Mitt Romney's unwavering support for traditional marriage. In fact, his record of defending marriage is unassailable, and frankly is unmatched by any other political figure in America.

Governor Romney has NEVER supported civil unions or gay marriage -- not only has he not supported it but he has been THE champion battling to preseve traditional marriage on the frontlines. He does believe, however, that we should be a tolerant nation. America is not a punitive, mean-spirited, or bigoted country. Mitt Romney is 100% committed to a federal marriage amendment, while other possible candidates for president, including Senator John McCain, are not.

Then Schlinger goes on to list a litany of facts about Romney's record and closes with...

Thanks for taking the time to listen on a Saturday evening! As we all are, I'm still extremely disappointed about the results of the elections last month. It's easy to see why voters were fed up with months of negative ads. The circulation of this article today reminded me so much of that ... and we have to change if we are going to win!!!!

Read the full post at The Caucus Cooler.

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

Mister PowerPoint Goes to Washington

Today, Mitt Romney says he’s prouder of this investment than any other...

The episode highlights what would become the defining characteristic of Romney’s career as a venture capitalist—and later as a government executive. He was willing to pursue—and analyze—data that others wouldn’t bother to chase down. His dogged persistence paid off. During the 14 years Romney headed Bain Capital, the firm’s average annual internal rate of return on realized investments was a staggering 113 percent...

Read entire article at The American

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

Mitt Romney Lands Another GOP Hill Insider

Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) continues to pick up staff talent from Capitol Hill, hiring Joe Wall to serve as assistant political director for his all-but-certain 2008 presidential bid.

Wall was Majority Whip Roy Blunt's (R-Mo.) floor assistant during the recently concluded Congress -- meaning that he was on the House floor during most votes and developed strong relations with lawmakers.

A Nebraska native, Wall did a stint at the National Republican Congressional Committee before joining Blunt's staff. He joins Julie Teer, Commonwealth PAC's political director, at the soon-to-be campaign.

In recent weeks Romney has also hired Republican National Committee research director Matt Rhoades and Majority Leader John Boehner's (R-Ohio) press secretary, Kevin Madden.

Read the rest of the story at The Fix.

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

Mitt Romney, the Real Deal

This summer, governor Mitt Romney sat down with Red County for a one on one discussion. Our conversation covered the gamut. From the politics of health care, immigration, and government spending to the importance of compromise and the influence of his late father, the governor was engaging and impressive. Most importantly, he seemed to clearly understand how his vision, his leadership, and his policy changes could impact those on the west coast. Specifically Orange County and California.

We did not discuss his personal presidential aspirations or his religious faith. On the former, I had no illusion that the governor was going to tip his hand and suddenly deviate from a well-scripted, “I’m flattered, but…” response. On the latter, the mainstream media has been oddly fixated on the well known fact that Romney is a devout Mormon. It’s old news and does not feel pertinent at this stage.

Romney’s faith is also old news in part because of his approach to the topic. It includes a potent combination of candor, seriousness, and a disarming sense of humor. In a speech earlier this year, he was asked how his religion might affect his campaign should he decide to run for president. He quipped, “You may have heard that I’am Mormon,” then added, it’s “very difficult being Mormon” in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legalized. “You see for us, marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman and a woman and a woman…”. the crowd laughed.

Should Romney declare his candidacy early next year, there will be plenty of time for a complete examination of how he will reconcile his politics, his experience, his leadership skills, his values, and yes, his religion.

So without an official public declaration of his candidacy and the field of potential rivals shuffled by the events of the November election, Romney appears to be taking all of the requisite steps of a would-be presidential candidate. From lining up grassroots support and raising money on behalf of his PACs to traveling the country and speaking on all matters both foreign and domestic, Romney has his ducks in a row.

Our conversation took place in a small anteroom adjacent to his official office. The governor appeared buoyed by the recent passage of his health care plan, a landmark piece of state legislation that seeks to provide near universal health care for the residents of Massachusetts without raising taxes. At the time of the interview, Romney had long since announced his intention not to seek reelection and his efforts to help Republicans in the mid-term election season had not yet reached a fever pitch. Romney was busy with the business of governing.

Since then, Governor Romney has visited Orange County on a number of occasions and has raised a significant amount of cash on behalf of his PAC. During one OC event in late summer, Romney organizers raised nearly $1 million. In the process, he has also gained the support of influential business and community leaders and impressed political enthusiasts
with a series of speeches that clearly and articulately conveyed his grasp of the important issues. In short, presidential candidate or not, Mitt Romney is the real deal.

The article was created by Red County, and you can view the rest of the article at Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC.

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

Mitt Romney to form Presidential Exploratory Committee

From CNN:

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Massachusetts GOP Gov. Mitt Romney will form a presidential exploratory committee in early January, a GOP source tells CNN.

I was hoping that Mitt Romney would skip the "Presidential Exploratory Committee", and announce that he is running for President.

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

Texans for Mitt Romney

I upgraded the blog to the beta version and the other 11 bloggers are still bloggers on this blog, they just need to log in and update their account to beta for their profile to appear.

Three Named To PAC's Florida Steering Committee

December 7 , 2006 - Governor Mitt Romney’s Commonwealth PAC today named three key individuals to its Florida Steering Committee. Florida’s current Lt Gov Toni Jennings, former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense, and former Florida GOP Chairman Al Cardenas all join the Commonwealth PAC team as advisors.

“I greatly appreciate these three Floridians joining my team,” Romney said. “During their years of service, they each have made an incredible impact for their state. I look forward to working with them to help strengthen the Republican party – especially in Florida.”

The three join Floridians Sally Bradshaw and Ann Woods Herberger, both former top political advisors to Governor Jeb Bush, who began advising the Commonwealth PAC earlier this year.

Toni Jennings, serves as Governor Jeb Bush’s Lieutenant Governor in Florida. She is the first woman to hold the office. A native of Orlando, Jennings began her professional career as a public school teacher and later successfully ran her family owned construction business, Jack Jennings and Sons. She later served two terms in the Florida State House, and was then elected to the Florida State Senate – a seat she held for 20 consecutive years. During that time, Jennings served as Florida’s only two term State Senate President. Since becoming Lt. Gov., Jennings has been a key figure in shaping the state's agenda for educational excellence and for affordable, accessible healthcare. She was also the co-chair of Governor Bush’s Task Force on Access to Affordable Health Insurance, and led a year-long review of the state’s aerospace industry which led to the creation of Space Florida. Jennings has chaired Task Forces on Property Casualty Insurance reform and Workforce Training and chaired the Universal Pre-kindergarten Education Advisory council.

Allan Bense served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives for the last two years. As Speaker, Bense was a close partner with Governor Jeb Bush. He is a strong fiscal conservative, and as Speaker an advocate for spending cuts and tax cuts. He was also a proponent of continued education reform, including school choice. Bense is a native of Panama City, where he is active in community and civic affairs. He embodies the classic American success story, working his way up from humble beginnings and becoming one of the most successful businessmen in the Florida Panhandle. Currently, he remains involved in commercial development and serves as a member of the Council of 100, Florida Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Florida State University Board of Trustees.

Al Cardenas is the former two-term Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. While in this role, he was appointed by the Republican National Committee Chairman to serve on the Executive Committee, the highest policy-making board at the RNC. He was the first Hispanic to head a major state party and remains the only Hispanic Republican Party Chairman in Florida history. Prior to serving as Chairman, Cardenas was a three-term Vice-Chairman for the State Party. In 2004, he served as the Co-Chairman of the Bush-Cheney ’04 Florida campaign. He is a regular opinion editorial columnist for El Diario, the largest circulating Spanish-speaking newspaper in America. He has appeared frequently on many English and Spanish TV news programs. Cardenas has represented Florida at every Republican National Convention since 1976 and held positions for both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush appointed him as a member of the Board of Trustees to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. He is also a national board member of the American Conservative Union. He currently is a partner in the law Tew Cardenas law firm which has offices in Miami, Tallahassee and Washington D.C.

Copied from Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC.

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

Some state (Florida) GOP leaders think Mitt Romney is it

TALLAHASSEE - More Florida Republicans are lining up behind the presidential aspirations of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

On Thursday, Romney's Commonwealth PAC announced that outgoing Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, former House Speaker Allan Bense, and former state GOP chairman Al Cardenas were joining his Florida steering committee.

"I greatly appreciate these three Floridians joining my team," Romney said in a statement. "During their years of service, they each have made an incredible impact for their state. I look forward to working with them to help strengthen the Republican Party - especially in Florida."

Romney has already lured former Jeb Bush advisors Sally Bradshaw and Ann Woods Herberger to advise his likely 2008 presidential bid.

Visit PensacolaNewsJournal.com to read the full story.

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

Mitt Romney in South Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican considering a presidential bid, met with South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Cho Jung-pyo in Seoul on Thursday.

Cho is working as acting foreign minister of the country, while his boss Song Min-soon is accompanying President Roh Moo-hyun on a trip abroad.

"We are honored to have a close partnership between our countries. And hopefully we will be successful in growing our economies and securing peace," Romney said in the beginning of his talks with Cho, which the media were allowed to cover.

The U.S. governor arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a two-day stay, and he was also to pay courtesy calls to Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok.

Read the rest of the story at Yonhap News.

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

Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney spending time, money in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A potential presidential candidate, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has been spending lots of money in Alabama and will soon spend more time in the state.

Romney used his Commonwealth PAC to make $143,500 in campaign contributions to Republican candidates and party organizations during this year's elections, campaign finance reports show.

Romney is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech when the State Republican Executive Committee meets Feb. 9 in Montgomery. He visited Alabama once during 2006, appearing in Tuscaloosa at dinner honoring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

Montgomery lobbyist Claire Austin, who is advising Romney's PAC on the Alabama political landscape, said Alabamians will be seeing a lot of Romney in the future.

"He's like a rock star. He's got it going," she told The Birmingham News.

"He's like a rock star. He's got it going,"Mitt's a big hit!

Romney's PAC contributions in Alabama were larger than those of another likely GOP candidate, Arizona Sen. John McCain, whose Straight Talk America PAC distributed $117,750 to Alabama candidates and party committees in 2006.

Can John McCain keep up?

Read the rest of the story at Kansas City Star

Kevin Davis Jr.

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

Mitt Romney's Campaign Manager

From Hotline On Call:

Gov. Mitt Romney 's top aide, Beth Myers, is likely to serve as campaign manager if he decides to run for president, Republican sources said.

Myers is currently the exec. dir of Romney’s Commonwealth PAC. She had been his gubernatorial chief of staff. Republicans familiar with the decision said Myers has Romney’s total confidence and an ability to keep her eye on the big picture. She's known as a tough manager, complimenting Romney's executive-oriented decision-making style.

Myers was formerly chief of staff to Mass. Treasurer Joe Malone. Myers got her start in Texas politics. A PAC spokesman declined to comment. [MARC AMBINDER]

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

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt Joins Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC issued a news release Tuesday saying that Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has joined on as chairman of the PAC's Governors' Advisory Committee. That's a nice way of saying that Blunt has essentially endorsed Romney's expected presidential bid.

Read the rest of the story at The Salt Lake Tribune.

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

Mitt Romney Continues D.C. Talent Raid

Romney Continues D.C. Talent Raid
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has hired Matt Rhoades to serve as a senior communications strategist in his all-but-announced presidential bid, according to sources familiar with the internal workings of the campaign.

"He will be in a top level, inner circle position," said one source close to Romney operations. Rhoades joins Commonwealth PAC executive director Beth Myers, PAC political director Julie Teer, Republican Governors Association executive director Phil Musser, Commonwealth finance director Spencer Zwick, policy director Sally Canfield, Ron Kauffman of the Dutko Group, media consultant Alex Castellanos, microtargeting expert Alex Gage, pollster Jan van Lohuizen, and national press secretary Kevin Madden in Romney's ever-expanding inner circle.

Rhoades served as research director and deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee in the 2006 cycle and is a highly-regarded and fast-rising operative in Republican presidential circles. He had previously worked as research director for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.

"Matt Rhoades is one of the most creative, hard working, intelligent and principled people in politics," said outgoing RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman

Read the rest of the story at The Fix.

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

The media’s case against Romney can be summed up in one word: Mormon!

Lisa De Pasquale of Human Events makes a great point:

Forget Mormonism, the real groupthink hurting the country is on the left. Liberals and their followers in the media aren’t scared of Romney because he’s a Mormon. They’re scared of him because he could win.

What a perfect statement!


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

Would You Vote for a Mormon in 2008?

MSNBC did a recent poll. The poll's question "Would you vote for a Mormon for president?". On the same page was a picture of "Mitt Romney". After more than 70,000 votes the answer is "YES", by more than 90%.

Edit:

Sorry I spoke to soon. The poll is still open.

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

Will Team Frist Hop on the Romney Express?

Can Frist himself be far behind the “Romney Express” if his top campaign team is poised to hop on? According to the same source that tipped us on “Team Frist,””The Leader [what intimates call Frist] will back Mitt Romney, in part because he can’t stand John McCain.”

read the full story at The Right Angle on Human Events.

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

Mitt Romney assembles wide-ranging team

WASHINGTON - One is a top Iowa lawmaker, another a South Carolina political strategist and a third is a former spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.
All have signed on as part of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's political team in anticipation of his presidential bid.
The Republican is expected to announce in January he will run for the White House, and he's already assembling a far-flung team. The list includes some big names who combined have decades of experience running presidential and other high-profile political races.
"I think he's been able to attract to his team some really top-notch people," says Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants, a Romney supporter and adviser.
While Romney's Mormon faith is expected to be a big hurdle in his race, his campaign is not stocked with those of his own religion.
There's a broad spectrum of faiths.
Romney's front man for the media, Jared Young, for example, is a Southern Baptist who graduated from the fundamentalist Bob Jones University.

Here's my favorite part from the article:

Tom Rath, a former attorney general of New Hampshire and a Roman Catholic, has also joined Romney's team. He says Romney's faith wasn't a big concern when he decided to back the governor. "To me he's a man of faith and a man of principle," Rath said.
"The team around him - this is a group that knows how to get it done," Rath says. "It's a good mix of grizzled-old hoots like me and a lot of young people who understand the technology."

To read the full article, please visit the Salt Lake Tribune.

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

Mitt Romney to visit San Diego

Mitt Romney will speak at The Republican Party San Diego's annual Christmas Party and reception.

To learn how to R.S.V.P., visit the The Republican Party of San Diego County on the web.

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

No "Freaky Religion Vibe" with Romney!

Yet another talking head confident that Mitt Romney's Mormonism isn't going to hurt him in the presidential election.

My favorite part: Mitt Romney will do well in South Carolina because he "doesn't send out the freaky religion vibe."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15936002/

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

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt: is he about to endorse Mitt Romney?

Romney’s camp has been more tight-lipped about who is in their corner among the gubernatorial ranks, but one close supporter said that the RGA chair has the as-of-yet undeclared support of around a dozen of his colleagues. Among them is Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. The first-term governor said in an interview today that he would make a public endorsement “probably in the next few days.” Asked for which candidate, Blunt replied that he had “a great deal of admiration for Gov. Romney.” Blunt, the son of House Republican Whip Roy Blunt, said he wants “to elect a conservative candidate” and Romney is “the most conservative of those” in the field who are “credible.” Asked if McCain was also a conservative candidate, Blunt chose to talk about Romney.

Read the full story at National Review Online.

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