President Mitt Romney

Airwaves in NH...

2011-11-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

Perry v. Bachman in Iowa...

2011-08-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

I had always thought that a Huckabee v. Palin slug fest would be the best scenario for Romney. Two candidates splitting up the social issue/evangelical vote. Now we have Bachmann and Perry, two candidates who will be in this to the death. My analysis is the same.

Iowa an Option?

2011-04-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

This Iowa poll has Romney winning amongst both Republicans and non-Republicans. That is a surprising result from someone who is perhaps not emphasizing that state.

Round Two

2011-04-15T22:23:00.001-07:00

Mitt at CPAC

2008-02-07T19:45:00.001-08:00

Rally for Romney tonight in Long Beach, CA

2008-02-04T12:45:00.001-08:00

If you live in the Southern California area, tonight is your chance to come out and show your support to Mitt Romney!

An airport rally is scheduled for 7:30 pm (or 7:50 pm, depending on the source).

Daugherty Sky Harbor
2801 East Spring Street
Long Beach, CA 90806

Bring your friends! Bring your family! Bring your favorite Ron Paul supporter!

Let's give Romney a enthusiastic rally and tomorrow, an enthusiastic victory in California.

Romney wins Gold in Maine

2008-02-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

Governor Romney:

"Today, the people of Maine joined those from across the nation in casting their vote for conservative change in Washington. All across the state, men and women gathered to help chart the future course of our country. Tonight, they have made their voice known and have endorsed our conservative vision for a stronger America. Like many Americans, the people of Maine are tired of Washington promises made but broken."

"The need for change in Washington is even more apparent today. With our economy facing uncertain times, we need a leader who actually understands how the economy works and how jobs are created. We also need a leader from outside of Washington who is ready to meet the long-term challenges facing our country. With a career spent working in the economy, creating jobs, turning around faltering institutions and imposing fiscal discipline, I am ready to bring conservative change to Washington. In this campaign, I am proud to have the support of the people of Maine."

Romney Winning in Florida...

2008-01-27T15:13:00.000-08:00

Considering the Florida debate, but minus the Governor Crist endorsement, Romney is winning in the most recent Rasmussent Reports numbers in Florida, 33% to 27% over John McCain.

In addition, Romney is leading the Rasmussen futures market for Florida, 58 to 40.7 at the moment.

Finally, Romney and McCain are tied in the latest Daily Presidential Tracking Poll for the nation.

Not so Straight Talking McCain

2008-01-26T12:51:00.000-08:00

McCain openly lied today about Romney's Iraq position. McCain strategy: If you can't win on the merits, try deception. Great quality for a President.

McCain the Democrat

2008-01-26T12:47:00.000-08:00

Republicans in Florida should think really hard about putting a Democrat in the White House with a Democratic Congress. From amnesty for illegal aliens, to restrictions on free speech, we will have to fight hard to prevent a slide leftward.

Rasmussen Reports Florida...

2008-01-24T13:25:00.001-08:00

Romney polling slightly ahead of McCain in Florida, according to Rasmussen Reports.

Romney Ad: "Winning Combination"

2008-01-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

Romney Ad: Conservative Change...

2008-01-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

Romney on Thompson's Withdrawal...

2008-01-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

"Throughout this campaign, Fred Thompson brought a laudable focus to the challenges confronting our country and the solutions necessary to meet them. He stood for strong conservative ideas and believed strongly in the need to keep our conservative coalition together. Ann and I would like to extend our best wishes to Fred, Jeri and their family and congratulate them on their efforts during this campaign."

Michigan Gold...

2008-01-15T18:53:00.000-08:00

To Mitt Supporters...

Today, Michigan voters went to the polls and cast their ballots for conservative change in Washington, change the American people are demanding.

They voted for my vision for strengthening America and changing Washington, and I’m humbled and grateful for their support.

The win in Michigan tonight was important for a few reasons. It means I have the momentum going into Nevada and South Carolina and a clear path to victory moving forward. I’m still the candidate with the most votes of all the Republicans, and the candidate who places first or second in each of the four caucuses and primaries so far.

For these reasons and more, I’m very optimistic that we will win the Republican nomination and the Presidency in November.

But we will need your support all along the way. Please consider making a contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50, or any amount you can afford today, so that I have the resources necessary to campaign to a winning finish. Your contribution will go to funding all of the critical elements of a winning campaign.

You also may help right now by inviting your friends to join Team Mitt, our group of grassroots supporters who work so hard to make victories like the one in Michigan possible.

Thank you so very much. Hope to see you on the campaign trail!

Mitt Romney for Michigan

2008-01-09T20:13:00.000-08:00

There is no candidiate for President who cares more about Michigan than Mitt Romney.

If you are a Michigan resident just getting geared up to vote in the Primary election there, consider the following from Mitt Romney:

"I recognize that when Michigan is hurting, it is a precursor of what could happen to the entire country. Because our manufacturing base, if it's threatened there, it's threatened everywhere. And so for me, Michigan is not just, oh, one state that I hope they're doing well. No, for me, Michigan is a state that has to do well. Michigan is a state going through a one-state recession."

"I'll make a commitment: if I'm president, that one-state recession is over."

"[Folks in] Michigan recognize, like people across this country, that Washington has failed them time and again. That Washington has made promises and not delivered on those promises and they are tired of waiting for change. And we will bring change. You heard about illegal immigration, they promised change there, they haven't delivered. You heard about reducing the tax burden on the middle class and burdens on the middle class, they haven't delivered on that. We've talked about improving our schools, that hasn't been delivered. Getting health care for all of our citizens, that hasn't been delivered. And one, that as you know, Michigan cares about most deeply, and that is rebuilding and strengthening our economy, helping elevate wages, growing our middle class, making sure that we lead the world in technology and innovation and design and patents. It's been promised time and again, and I will actually get the job done because I have done it before."

Romney Leads Popular Vote

2008-01-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

With three states down, here are the numbers:

1. Romney: 105,955
2. McCain: 104,006
3. Huckabee: 67,601
4. Giuliani: 24,484
5. Thompson: 19,088

The New Hampshire numbers and the Iowa numbers are taken from the ABC News reports of results. I added in the Wyoming numbers by calculating the percentage from ABC using the Reuters estimate of 1,200 participants.

More people have voted or caucused for Mitt Romney than any other Republican candidate at this point. Clearly, Romney has the broadest appeal across the states. While McCain may pick off Michigan, and Huckabee or someone else may pick off South Carolina, Romney is proving he has what it takes to compete until Super Tuesday!

Mitt Romney: The Leader We Need

2008-01-04T19:13:00.001-08:00

As we approach the next several early contests, I want to re-explain just a few of the foundational reasons why Mitt Romney deserves to be the Republican nominee for President.

America is Facing Challenges Entirely New to our Generation. Mitt Romney is the Leader we need to Face these Challenges Successfully.

The next President will inherit a federal government staggering under the deficit and bloated with new entitlement programs. We can only expect that to increase with the Democrats now in Congress. Will we have a President who has proven ability to balance the budget? We know Mitt's track record.

The next President will need to act to protect local communities from the crime and other social harms created by illegal immigration. Will we have President who believes local law enforcement should have the tools to do their job ? We know Mitt supports protecting our communities.

The next President will need to deal with the continuing erosion of the traditional family or see the very foundations of our society undermined. Will we have a President who believes in marriage and wants to support it? We know we have a champion in Mitt.

The next President of the United States will take over a much different place than Bush inherited from Clinton. The next President will be our first post 9-11 President really. He will be the first one to shape our continuing response to the threats in the world from Kharijites (my term, not his). Will we have someone who believes in doing all we can to protect Americans from terrorists? We know where we stand with Mitt.

The next President will need to lead America to be more competitive in order that our businesses can compete within the world and maintain our quality of life. Will we have a President with extraordinary business acumen who has great insight the issues our country faces and will be able to construct innovative solutions? We know Mitt's abilities.

These are just a few of what I believe are the new generation of challenges we face. I am glad we have a candidate we can trust on these issues. I hope we will have a President who will do the same. If you want these same values in a President, vote for Mitt Romney America!

Romney Ad: Future

2007-12-28T11:30:00.002-08:00

Romney Ad: Ready

2007-12-28T11:30:00.001-08:00

President Mitt Romney

2007-12-24T12:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the site. I have been blogging for Mitt Romney for over a year. When I started this venture, Mitt Romney was a little known candidate in a field of heavyweights like McCain and Giuliani. He has worked like crazy. He has thrown his entire heart into this race. He has put forth a tremendous effort. As we approach the primaries and caucuses over the next several weeks I want to thank him for making me proud. I don't know what the future holds, but I have enjoyed the journey. Mitt Romney is a candidate worth working for. Mitt Romney would be a President worth working for.

If you are new to Mitt Romney, I encourage you to watch the video above. It tells about his experiences, the causes he has worked for, his family. Learn about Romney. Compare his record to other candidates. Think about the challenges the country faces. You will see that he has the abilities, experience and courage to solve the new generation of challenges we face as a country.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-21T18:31:00.001-08:00

Romney Tied in South Carolina...

2007-12-17T16:41:00.000-08:00

I mean, really folks. Did you think a year ago I would be able to even write that headline? Romney and Huckabee are tied at 23% in South Carolina. That is really incredible. You know, one thing this election has shown is that Romney is the only candidate not prone to violent swings in his polling numbers. We have seen the rise and fall of several candidates in this election season. Romney is on a good path here. Huckabee peaked a little early.

New Hampshire Poll...

2007-12-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

Romney is still leading the pack in New Hampshire. Voters there prefer him 3-1 to Huckabee. In addition, the poll finds a Romney nomination would be much moresatisfying to Republicans than a Huckabee nomination. Go Mitt!

Law Enforcement Beware...

2007-12-10T12:51:00.001-08:00

Huckabee has been surging in Iowa, challenging Romney's longstanding lead there. As someone working in law enforcement, I have to say, I fear for our country. There are bad candidates, and then there are bad candidates when it comes to being tough on crime. Huckabee is the worst kind of politician when it comes to law enforcement. Romney is the best kind.

Democrats Love Huckabee...

2007-12-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

Elect Romney in 2008 makes the case that the Dems are aching for a Huckabee nomination.

Giuliani Loses Credibility on Crime

2007-11-26T17:08:00.000-08:00

Giuliani Falsely Claims That "Violent Crime" Went Up In Massachusetts:

Yesterday, Giuliani Falsely Claimed That "Violent Crime" Went Up In Massachusetts. "'Gov. Romney did not have a good record in dealing with violent crime.' Giuliani pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket that listed FBI crime statistics for Massachusetts while Romney was governor. Murders were up 7.5 percent, robbery was up 12 percent, he said. 'He had an increase in murder and violent crime while he was governor,' Giuliani said. 'So it's not so much the isolated situation which he and the judge will have to explain _ he's kind of thrown her under the bus, so it's hard to know how this is all going to come out. But the reality is, he did not have a record of reducing violent crime.'" (Charles Babington, "Romney Calls On Judge He Appointed To Resign After Washington State Murders," The Associated Press, 11/24/07)

FACT: According To The FBI Statistics, Overall "Violent Crime" Decreased In Massachusetts Under Governor Romney:

Under Governor Romney, the violent crime rate in Massachusetts decreased by over 7%. The violent crime rate was lower than the national average. Prior to Governor Romney, the violent crime rate was increasing.

Violent Crime Rate Per 100,000 Residents
Massachusetts	National Rate
2002 – 484.4	2002 – 494.4
2003 – 473.1	2003 – 475.9
2004 – 458.8	2004 – 463.2
2005 – 457	2005 – 469
2006 – 447	2006 – 473.5
Source: FBI Crime in the United States Website, "Crime in the United States, 1987-2006," http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_01.html, Accessed 10/12/07

FACT: According To FBI Statistics, The Overall Crime Rate Decreased In Massachusetts Under Governor Romney:

Under Governor Romney, The Overall Crime Rate Fell By 8% Over His Four Years In Office. "Car thefts and larcenies also were down, in line with national trends, and helped contribute to an overall 8 percent decline in crime during Romney's four years, according to the FBI stats." (Dave Wedge, "Crime Up During Romney Tenure," The Boston Herald, 9/26/07)

FACT: According To FBI Statistics, Other Crimes Were Down Under Governor Romney (2002-2006):

Assaults Down 15%. (FBI Crime in the United States Website, http://www.fbi.gov/ucr, Accessed 10/12/07)

Rape Down 2%. (FBI Crime in the United States Website, http://www.fbi.gov/ucr, Accessed 10/12/07)

Larceny/Theft Down 6%. (FBI Crime in the United States Website, http://www.fbi.gov/ucr, Accessed 10/12/07)

Motor Vehicle Theft Down 32%. (FBI Crime in the United States Website, http://www.fbi.gov/ucr, Accessed 10/12/07)

FACT: This Isn't The First Time Giuliani Has Used "Fuzzy … Math":

ABC News: Giuliani Uses "Fuzzy Healthcare Math" In Radio Ad. "To hear Rudy Giuliani describe it in his new radio ad, the British medical system is a scary place. 'My chance of surviving prostate cancer – and thank God I was cured of it – in the United States: 82 percent,' Giuliani says in a new radio spot airing in New Hampshire. 'My chances of surviving prostate cancer in England: Only 44 percent, under socialized medicine.' But the data Giuliani cites comes from a single study published eight years ago by a not-for-profit group, and is contradicted by official data from the British government. According to the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics, for men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1999 and 2003, the 'five-year survival rate' – a common measurement in cancer statistics – was 74.4 percent." (Rick Klein, "Rudy's Fuzzy Healthcare Math," ABC News, 10/29/07)

The Annenberg Public Policy Center: Giuliani Wrongly Claims He Left A Budget Surplus. "Giuliani's radio ad also asserts that he 'turned a 2.3 billion deficit into a multibillion-dollar surplus' in New York. Well, not if you're comparing what he inherited with what he left, which would be a logical way to look at it. When he took office in 1994, Giuliani was indeed facing a $2.3 billion deficit for the next fiscal year. But Giuliani's last budget, issued in May 2001 – before 9/11 – for fiscal 2002, projected a deficit of nearly $2.8 billion in fiscal 2003, the first budget year the new mayor would face. The IBO estimated the deficit would be even larger, about $3.3 billion." ("Giuliani's Tax Puffery," FactCheck.org Website, www.factcheck.org/, 7/27/07)

The Washington Times: Giuliani Exaggerates Tax Cutting Number. "Mr. Giuliani repeated his claim that he 'cut taxes 23 times when I was mayor of New York.' It turns out that many of those cuts were instigated by Republican Gov. George Pataki and the state legislature. One of several glaring flaws in Mr. Giuliani's record on taxes was, as the Club for Growth says, his 1994 'opposition to Republican [gubernatorial] candidate George Pataki's proposed cut in the state income tax,' whose rates were among the highest in the country." (Editorial, "Romney And Giuliani," The Washington Times, 10/14/07)

Immigration...

2007-11-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

Romney's Business Experience

2007-10-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Rasmussen Polling

2007-10-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Romney is looking really good recently in the Rasmussen Report. He is tied for second with Thompson.

Michigan Debate...

2007-10-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

Make sure to catch Mitt at the Michigan debate today on CNBC. It is starting now! Check out the updates from My Man Mitt's Jason Bonham through out the event.

McCain on Religion...

2007-09-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

John McCain's sorry attempt to pander to Christian conservatives.

Ann Romney in Irvine...

2007-09-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

I was at the Rally for Romney in Irvine last night, calling everyone I know to donate money to Mitt. Here is a short video with Ann Romney imitating the Mitt bobblehead dolls.

Rally Romney...

2007-09-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

I am here at the Romney Rally in Irvine tonight. One last push before the end of the third quarter.

Romney Running for Victory

2007-08-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

Romney Rally

2007-08-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

A Rally for Romney is coming to a city near you. Get your rolodex (if you still have one), your Treo or iPAQ (that's what I have) and make sure to sign up to participate at a call day close to you. Click here to sign up.

After signing up, you will be able to select a public team to join, create your own team, or simply be a team on your own. I joined a team.

Finally, you will be introduced to QuickComMitt and be able to track donor contributions.

Good Times Rolling in Nevada...

2007-08-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

Romney has taken a strong lead in Nevada, one of the pre-Super Tuesday Primaries. This is excellent news for Romney. The momentum is building. Can you feel it Romney supporters?

Straw Poll Victory!!!

2007-08-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Romney cleaned house at the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa yesterday. This really is an exciting event. Since I started blogging for Romney last year, it is worth reflecting a little on the amazing achievement yesterday. A year ago Romney was evidently thinking about running for President. His term was wrapping up in MA. He had a succesful run as the Chair of the Governor's Association and had run the effective Commonwealth PAC. Nevertheless, at that time, other than perhaps seeing him speak at the 2004 Republican National Convention or hearing him mentioned in relation to the Salt Lake City Olympics, you might not know much about him at all. How quickly that has changed.

See the run down at www.MittRomney.com.

From Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove...

2007-08-06T18:08:00.001-07:00

Best moment of the debate. Video at Breitbart.

Want to Talk Religion?

2007-08-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

I understand the frustration. It is up to Mitt how much he wants to emphasize his own religion. I get the impression that if he wanted to, he could discuss it at length and in detail with the capability of some of the best theologians. Instead, he wants to talk about America. That is what is important in this race. Go Mitt!

Surge of Support

2007-08-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

We have read recently that the surge in Iraq, while not solving all of the problems, is netting some results. Now, Romney is inviting us to participate in a surge of support for our troops bravely trying to serve the Iraqis.

"When I was recently in Colorado Springs, I spoke with a man whose son is serving in Iraq. He said the criticism at home of the war effort was demoralizing. He made the point that as our fighting men and women are defending our liberties overseas, we as Americans need to stand by them. Afterwards, my nephew suggested there should be a "surge of support" to go along with the troop surge. I told him that I couldn’t agree more."

The Romney site has a list off suggested organizations to utilize in order to show your support:

A Soldier's Wish List

USO Care Packages

These sites offer opportunities to donate frequent flyer miles, adopt a troop, send get well cards, sew a cooling necktie, and fulfill a wish among other things. Check them out and do something today for the people risking their lives for you.

Debate Forthcoming...

2007-08-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Apparently, August 5 is the next Republican Presidential debate. You would hardly know by the media coverage though.

Virginia...

2007-08-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

Romney has turned some attention to Virginia as his focus expands beyond the early primary states. The Washington Post also discusses Romney v. Thompson in Virginia.

Homeland Security...

2007-08-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Romney discussed the problems with the Department of Homeland Security today:

"At a coffee-and-donuts meeting with about 100 supporters, Romney said the department does some things well, but it has challenges rooted in the fact that it is made up of different agencies 'stuck in one big bureaucracy.'"

"'There is such duplication in Washington that you'd really like to take the place apart and put it back together, just smaller and simpler and smarter,' Romney said. He said if he was president he would expect the department to survive, but 'it probably needs to be streamlined.'"

"'When we talk about homeland security, we hear about money coming from Washington, which is fine, coming to the states and localities — and most of it goes to buy interoperable radios, mobile command centers, firetrucks — and that's fine, but all that's going to be used after the bomb goes off,' Romney said. 'What I want to do is make sure we're spending money to keep the bomb from going off.'"

I agree with Romney 100%. Its not just a matter of a particular failure of the current administration, it is a matter of difficulty changing large bureaucracies. Creating Homeland Security may have been a good idea, but not someone with Romney's expertise needs to come in and make it work like it should.

Not Thompson Fans...

2007-07-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Check out this story about Thompson's campaign. What I found so interesting is the comments section, which is very negative about his campaign.

Funny Line...

2007-07-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

A line from Romney media consultant Alex Castellanos: “If Rudy is the tough mayor of New York, Fred is the guy they would hire to play Rudy on TV.”

Families for Romney

2007-07-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

I am starting the Family Challenge today. I have been thinking about a new way to think about fundraising. I have already asked the obvious people. I have even asked some of the not so obvious (my Democrat, Catholic Grandmother-in-Law actually donated). But how do I get more donors.

For voters who want a leader who has strong values in their personal life, Mitt Romney is the only choice amongst the viable Republican contenders. Does anyone really have a serious doubt about this? There may be a variety of reasons why someone won't vote for Romney, but they aren't because there is a more pro-family candidate out there.

Romney has a wonderful family who is standing behind his Presidential run with all of their energy. I want my family to be as united as his in support for his candidacy. So, the answer I came up with is the Family Challenge.

The Family Challenge is this, I am setting a goal to encourage 100% participation from every single member of my extended family to contribute to Mitt Romney's campaign. I hope that everyone considers donating a substantial amount of money, but in the end, my goal is 100% participation, regardless of the amount. The deadline is the end of the third quarter.

Now is the time to act. The press has been hounding our candidate because he is spending money to increase his name recognition. Well, I don't expect him to hold back. Keep on campaigning, my friend. We need to work harder than ever to make sure you have the funds needed to get your message out.

So, today, I announce the first Family for Romney. The Cross Family. If you want to sign your family up, do so at My Mann Mitt in the comments.

Somebody is Lying...

2007-07-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

There is a fascinating dispute about Fred Thompson's lobbying work done on behalf of pro-abortion groups. The truth is unclear. Why? Because there are vehement denials this ever happened from Thompson's camp. Well, they can't both be right.

Read the article here.

Why do Romney supporters care? Because we don't want anyone to reject the most qualified candidate under the false assumption that Fred Thompson is more conservative.

The Romneys and the Clintons

2007-07-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Funny encounter with Bill and Hillary in Iowa reported at Politico:

Senator Clinton: "You've got this built-in campaign team with your sons, boy I tell ya,"

Future President Romney: "There's nothing like it, if we had known, we would've had more."

At this, Ann Romney got a look on her face is if to say, "not so fast" and everybody enjoyed a good laugh.

"We'll see you guys some more," Mitt Romney said. "Yes, you will," Sen. Clinton quickly shot back.

Democratic Press Releases

2007-07-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

There is a case to be made that the candidate attacked the most by the DNC is the one they fear most. Check out the numbers at My Man Mitt.

On the Trail in Iowa...

2007-07-05T12:31:00.000-07:00

For those of us who don't get to see much of the candidates, this piece at Politico is very intresting. Some excerpts:

—Romney loves his wife and likes cars a lot, too. As close watchers of the GOP race know, he gushes over Ann Romney at public events, calling her "sweetheart" and even explaining how "they're still going steady." But watching Romney interact with her out of the direct public eye reveals an even greater depth of devotion. He unfailingly opened doors for her, graciously introduced her and whenever he had a moment along the parade route would turn around and tease her for riding in the air-conditioned "Mitt Mobile." "Real hard for Ann this time," he joked.

He's the son of an automobile executive and it shows. At each of the three stops — Clear Lake, Ames and Waukee — his eye was caught by an old-fashioned car and every time he rattled off the model and guessed the year. "Boy, look at that, a Buick Skylark," he enthused in Waukee, arching his neck to get a look down under the hood to see what year it was.

—His wit is quick and, for all his aw-shucks'isms, can be biting. "Give it to somebody who you may get a vote from," Romney suggested to a Tancredo backer offering a lapel sticker for his candidate in Clear Lake. When a local TV reporter stuck a microphone in his face during the course of the parade and asked him a long-winded question about Iraq, Romney gave her a short answer before noting that it was "a major issue," but "probably not a parade issue." Later, in Waukee, he encountered a not insignificant amount of horse manure along the parade route. "Look at what somebody in the media did," he told me, averting the pile.

Financials...

2007-06-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

Interesting CNN article covering some business and fundraising history.

Weighing...

2007-06-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

I would rather have the CEO over the lobbyist.

BCRA (McCain's Law)...

2007-06-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Supreme Court has struck down part of the so-called Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (Otherwise known as McCain-Feingold. Slip opinion here). Romney had this to say:

"Score one for free speech. Today the Supreme Court reaffirmed the First Amendment by rejecting a key feature of McCain-Feingold. The law trampled the basic right of the American people to participate in their democracy. It also purported to reduce the influence of money in politics, but we now know that influence is greater than ever. McCain-Feingold was a poorly-crafted bill. Today's decision restores, in part, to the American people a right critical to their freedom of political participation and expression."

The law limited "issue ads" that name a candidate for office within a time period before the election for the named candidate. The specific ads in this case attack filibustering of judicial nominees and ask citizens to contact certain federal officials to express their displeasure.

McCain and Appellants contended that the folks who want to run these ads should have the burden of showing their speech is burdened, the court should use a subjective test in determining if these ads are the functional equivalent of express advocacy, and that in any event, these ads were the equivalent of express advocacy because they asked voters to contact an incumbent candidate for office. In rejecting McCain et al.'s arguments across the board, the court declared the following objective rule,

"[A] court should find that an ad is the functional equivalent of express advocacy only if the ad is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate."

This should go a long way to protecting issue ads from those who would suppress political speech because, "Given the standard we have adopted for determining whether an ad is the 'functional equivalent' of express advocacy, contextual factors ... should seldom play a significant role in the inquiry."

Because the court has never recognized a compelling state interest in regulating speech that is not the functional equivalent of express advocacy for a candidate, McCain-Feingold, as applied to issue ads is Unconstitutional.

It should be noted that the opinion was by C.J. Roberts, joined by A.J. Alito, and Concurred in by A.J.'s Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy. Scalia and Co. wanted to trash the law in its entirety. Of course, the rest of the court like restrictions on political speech.

Fundraisers who are Sued...

2007-06-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

There is an article about one of Romney's finance Co-Chairs in Utah (basically a fundraiser) being sued in federal court over boarding houses he owned or operated for troubled teens. The implication that there is something wrong is ridiculous. Money legitimately raised in individual contributions from legal citizens of the country with the right to donate by someone who happens to be sued is just as good as any other money. There should not be a "Have you ever been sued?" requirement before donating or raising money.

New iAd...

2007-06-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

Mitt Romney's Presidential Website has a new iAd on it today. Basically, when you go to the home page Romney walks in from the side and talks to you about the website, including the Five Brothers Blog and Mitt TV. He also used an iAd when we were elisting 24,000 new supporters after the second debate. It is a nice way to make the site more interactive.

Nevada Primary...

2007-06-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

While recent news has focused in on Romney's lead in Iowa and New Hampshire, Romney is announcing his Nevada Campaign Leadership Team. You may not have heard much about Nevada yet, but it is currently third in the presidential primary schedule, behind D.C. and New Hampshire. The last Zogby poll of Nevada showed Romney tied for second with McCain (with Giuliani in a double digit lead). A poll released today though has Romney at 20%, Giuliani at 26% and Thompson at 29% (I, of course, think Fred is just riding Tommy's name recognition). McCain was posting 11%. This is pretty good for Romney and I think he has room to improve. So, while other major candidates eschew New Hampshire and Iowa in hopes of running a "super tuesday" campaign, you may see Romney also pick up Nevada along the way to winning the primary.

Mitt Report...

2007-06-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Since the Mitt Report linked to the following endorsement of their website, I fell obliged to confess, I read the Mitt Report as much as the Drudge Report, which is multiple times a day.

California Poll...

2007-06-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

I continue to be blown away at this poll. Romney is showing a double digit lead in California. At first I thought the polling technique must be suspect but the numbers for Giuliani from their last poll, February 15, are consistent with what other polls were saying at the time. I still want to wait and see if this number is born out in other polls, but the mere fact that any poll shows Romney ahead, let alone with a sizeable lead, should be serious cause for other campaigns to, shall we say, freak out! Maybe that is why the guns are suddenly drawing and some candidates seem so trigger happy at the moment.

Good Quote Today...

2007-06-15T16:27:00.000-07:00

A Co-Worker who I have been trying to convince to support Romney told me today, "Our whole country is quickly becoming the Utah Olympics. We need Romney as president." I thought that was an apt way of putting it.

The View...

2007-06-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

I am informed by my wife that there was an exchange on The View today about the Republican contender's wives. I haven't found anything related to that online, but apparently, they discussed Thompson's well endowed trophy wife as well as Giuliani's wife and asked whether they would have the same public role they sort of expect the first lady to fulfill. In the end, they concluded that the candidate's wives don't matter as much anymore since Mitt Romney, who has been married so long to his childhood sweatheart isn't polling that high nationally.

Virtual Town Hall...

2007-06-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

Now this is cool. Romney held a virtual town hall meeting with South Carolina voters today.

"The trick? A new technology from the Washington-based company Tele Town Hall. The firm uses patented technology to allow a candidate to speak directly to thousands of voters at once. In this case, the Romney campaign provided the firm with more than 35,000 phone numbers of likely Republican primary voters."

"Romney spokesman Terry Sullivan said the campaign did not screen the numbers to include only Romney supporters. Sullivan said that more than 8,500 South Carolinians were on the call over the course of an hour."

"Romney spoke for a few minutes at the beginning, Sullivan said, and than took 10-15 questions from callers. The technology allows callers to press a button if they wish to ask a question and they get placed into a queue. The questions were not screened, Sullivan said."

The Five Brothers...

2007-06-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

There has been a recent spate of news coverage on The Five Brothers blog featured on Mitt Romney's Presidential Website. This has not been lost on Tagg who pointed out:

"The [Washington Post] column claims we are more Brady Bunch than Simpsons, obviously oblivious to the fact that I get most of my expressions from Ned Flanders, that Ben named his high school band (he was a drummer) after Milhouse (who in turn was named after Richard Milhouse Nixon, in whose cabinet my grandfather served as Secretary of HUD), that my son Thomas is as mischevious as Bart and my daughter Allie as smart as Lisa, or that my son Joe has an appetite for jelly doughnuts.…"

That is the fun part about the blog. It is a very unique feature and window into the family and campaign life of Mitt Romney.

I wrote sometime back on Mitt's greatest asset, Ann Romney. In a similar way, Romney's sons give a personal connection to the candidate in a way that normally only the candidates themselves can do. In this way, it is as though there are 6 Mitt Romney's campaigning across the country.

Exit Strategy...

2007-06-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Mitt Romney - Road to the White House.

UltiMitt...

2007-06-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

Check out the new Romney information hub at UltiMitt. It has a news center with polls, endorsements, press releases, latest news and latest videos. If they can keep the information up, it should be a great source for one stop Romney information shopping. They also have a networking portion that bears some resemblance to Facebook groups but promises to be less chaotic. So far, the forums at MittSpaces and elsewhere haven't been that active so, it will be interesting to see if this catches on. To encourage this, they have come up with "awards" for the best communicators.

Stem Cells and Cloning in MA...

2007-06-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

Gov. Patrick of MA once again demonstrates Romney's pro-life credentials by replacing a Romney Science Board Appointment.

Long Term Plans in Iraq

2007-06-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

Romney said some very interesting comments recently about the war in Iraq. This seems to continue Romney's flexible and results oriented approach:

"'Our objective would not be a Korea-type setting with 25-50,000 troops on a near permanent basis remaining in bases in Iraq,' the former Massachusetts governor told the Associated Press."

"'We have communicated to the people in the region and the country that we're not looking to have a permanent presence in Iraq and I don't think we want to communicate that we were just kidding about that,' he said."

"'This is a time when it would be helpful for the American people and the people of Iraq to see that we are actually making progress if that's what's happening,' Romney said."

"Helpful measurements could include power-sharing with the Sunnis, division of oil revenues, the status of certain militias, as well as the numbers and training levels of Iraqi military and security forces, he said."

"'If you don't publish any kind of milestone or benchmark,' Romney said, you leave people thinking 'you're only telling us the things that you wanted to tell us.'"

Read the whole AP article here.

Romney Getting Play...

2007-06-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

Romney is on the top headlines of the Yahoo! home page tonight:
"Mitt Romney bemoans damage to U.S. image overseas."

I am glad Mitt is pointing out that we can do better with our foreign relations because the next President will need to build relationships with countries that have decided they just don't like Bush. Romney is a pure diplomat. He is a very refined and polished individual who will do a good job representing us abroad.

Immigration Follow-Up...

2007-06-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

Romney took part in an interview after the debate last night. His position on immigration is dead on:

"Romney repeated his criticism of an immigration compromise brokered by one of his rivals, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Romney said the bill, as currently drafted, would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the country indefinitely."

"Asked how he would eliminate that group, estimated at 12 million, without a roundup, Romney said there were two alternatives: make a registration visa proposed in McCain's bill temporary instead of permanent, or wait for attrition created by efforts to secure U.S. borders and new efforts to force employers to verify the legality of their workers."

"'No loss of workers necessary,' the former governor said. 'The idea is a gradual and humane replacement of illegal workers with either U.S. citizens or legal immigrants.'"

Romney is 100% correct here. What no one has pointed out other than Romney is if we secure our border, the problem of illegal immigration does go away on its own. That's because if there are not new illegal immigrants coming, there eventually won't be any illegal immigrants. In addition, those that are here illegaly often can be sponsored for a family based green card under the current system anyway. So, they don't stay illegal forever. The one answer to illegal immigration: secure the border.

Iowa

2007-06-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

Word today in the Des Moines Register is that Giuliani has snubbed the Iowa Ames Straw Poll and will opt to run on his celebrity status as opposed to grassroots support (my interpretation; AKA why compete when you are going to lose?).

Some of the commenters seemed to support this move which engendered this interesting response from the Flying Dutchman (I assume of this blog) as to the importance of the straw poll, which I wholeheartedly endorse:

"Rick, Your post is puzzling. Due to the frontloading of the Presidential Primary process, the candidate whom wins the early states of Iowa and NH will go into Tsunami Tuesday with a groundswell of support."

"Look at the case of Kerry in 04. He won Iowa..took that momentum..won New Hampshire big, and from there it was a fait accompli that he would win the nomination."

"The Iowa Straw Poll this year is limited to voting ONLY from Iowans...the only year that the Straw Poll was open to anyone was 1995...so you're wrong on that assertion."

"The Straw Poll is a test of organizational strength. If a campaign can get people there..get them to vote for them..its pretty indicative of the grassroots level of support that a candidate has built in Iowa."

"As I stated earlier..Giuliani has only visited the state 6 times since November 04...some of his opponents have been here nearly 5 times as much as Giuliani has in the same period. He has no Iowa office..He has very few Iowa staffers."

"Giuliani is starting to make the same mistakes that McCain did in 2000. He alienated Iowans..and as a result..Iowans decided not to support him..and doomed McCain's chances in 2000."

"Rick, I'm going to bet that you're not an Iowan. Otherwise, you'd understand what the caucuses mean. We're the testing ground for those who seek to be President. If someone can't come here..face people, look em in the eye and tell them what they believe in...nine times out of ten..they've failed to become President."

Romney's Polling Holds Steady...

2007-06-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

I recently hypothesized at My Man Mitt that Romney's supporters are more loyal than Giuliani's and McCain's. Rasmussen is now tracking that exact prediction as Thompson enters the race and catches a bump.

"With former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson taking his first formal steps towards a Presidential run and the immigration debate creating challenges for Arizona Senator John McCain, the race for the Republican Presidential nomination has an entirely different look this week."

"Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top, but his support has slipped to 23%. That’s down two points from a week ago and is his lowest level of support all year. Earlier, Giuliani had consistently enjoyed support in the mid-30s. That was before Thompson’s name was added to the mix and before Giuliani stumbled on the abortion issue in the first GOP debate of the season."

"Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the top choice for 15% of those likely to vote in a GOP primary. That’s little changed from the last couple of weeks and keeps him a single-point ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain who is preferred by 14%."

Return of the Romney: Episode III

2007-06-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is debate numero tres tonight on CNN! The lead-up CNN article is here. What they failed to mention is that the Granite State is Romney country.

Immigration and the MSM...

2007-06-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

There is a pathetic article in the San Francisco Chronicle today that seeks to support McCain's Z-Visa Amnesty plan by claiming Romney, one of its biggest critics, has supported the plan in the past because he has previously said illegal immigrants should register so we know who they are. Nothing is further from the truth. The article states...

"In his March interview with The Chronicle, Romney offered some views on the problem, stressing 'there should be no special pathway for illegal immigrants here' -- but saying that as president he would want such immigrants to register with the government."

Get ready for the big change in position...

"Romney, who has been highly critical [sic] McCain's support for the immigration proposal now being debated in the Senate, highlighted three immigration reform priorities this week: securing the U.S. border, putting in place an 'enforceable employment verification system' to ensure that employers hire only legal workers, and allowing 'no special pathway or privilege to citizenship for those here illegally.'"

Did you catch the big flip? Neither did I. Registering and tracking illegal immigrants better is part and parcel to both the first and second priorities; securing the border and putting in place an employment verification system.

Either way, supporting registering of illegal aliens to learn more about them is not the same as giving them a visa to stay here on!

The difference between Romney and McCain: Romney wants to fix illegal immigration by decreasing incentives for people to come here illegally. McCain thinks giving them all visas to stay here legally will decrease illegal immigration. It will decrease illegal immigration, because McCain will have made everyone who comes here illegally into legal residents; AKA Amnesty.

Romney's Business Experience...

2007-06-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

The NY Times has an interesting read on Romney's business experience (further on, they discuss how Romney may be attacked over it):

"Bill Bain, founder of the Boston consulting firm Bain & Company, called Mr. Romney into his corner office to say that the partners had picked him to start an investment fund to cash in on the huge gains their clients were making in the stock market."

"To Mr. Bain’s surprise, Mr. Romney, then 36, seemed wary. He worried about giving up his comfortable salary for a venture that might fail and, later, that investing would pose conflicts for a consulting firm."

"Mr. Bain had been determined not to cede any control of the investment fund, but over months of talks Mr. Romney persuaded him to do just that. Mr. Romney emerged as head of an independent sister company, Bain Capital. And Mr. Bain protected him financially while assuming the most risk."

"Two decades later, Bain Capital is one of the nation’s five largest private equity firms, and Mr. Romney, who left its management eight years ago, is making his success there a cornerstone of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination."

Read the whole article here.

Thompson...

2007-05-30T14:22:00.001-07:00

Given that Fred Thompson might jump in, all I have to say is, are we going to have eleven candidates in the debates now? I suppose he can take Ron Paul's place. But I actually sort of enjoy having something to contrast the current candidates with. I fear Thompson will be much like McCain, in substance, but without the drive to President. Of course, he will run on his moderate positions on abortion and as an original sponsor of McCain-Feingold, campaign finance reform.

Apparently, Romney was just asked about this: "'All I can say is, 'Come on in, the water's fine,'' Romney said in a Des Moines interview."

"Romney disagreed with pundits who said Thompson's relatively good standing in polls reflected Republican voters' dissatisfaction with the slate of announced candidates."

"'I think it reflects instead that he's a well-known and respected person,' Romney said. 'He was a U.S. senator for a couple of terms, and you know, once a week we see him put away bad guys on TV.'"

Romney Picks up Key Endorsement...

2007-05-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

Actor Ben Affleck has, well not exactly endorsed, but predicted Romney for the GOP nomination.

“He says he doesn’t like abortion and he’s all clean-cut and he looks like a Ken doll,” said Affleck who was doing a rather amusing imitation of our ex-gov during the Romney rant.

“The Mormonism thing is really suspect,” he added, “but they’ll take it at this point. I mean, who else do they have? Crazy (Rudy) Giuliani and (John) McCain who’s completely insane? They don’t have any other options.”

Well said Ben. Well said.

National Polling...

2007-05-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Some significant polling from Rasmussen. A lot of people have been skeptical of Romney' s leads in Iowa and New Hampshire because he continues to trail in national polling. I think that will continue to change.

Giuliani 25%
Romney 16%
McCain 15%

In Private...

2007-05-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

I have an idea, lets elect a President who we can all be proud of when word about what is being said behind closed doors gets out. I still remember my mother talking about the Nixon tapes being released. She had supported Nixon up until that point. When she heard him talking that way, she changed her mind. It was, of course, a hidden side she had never seen before.

Who can beat Hillary?: Romney!

2007-05-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

Many have consternated over whether Romney can beat Hillary in the general election. I think the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, Romney is in a statistical tie with Hillary in the recent Rasmussen Report and is gaining ground. All of this, in spite of the fact that a substantial percentage of voters still don't know enough to even render a favorable/unfavorable opinion about him. The answer to the familiar querie, who can beat Hillary?: The best candidate, Mitt Romney, can.

Thanks to Californian's for Mitt Romney for President 2008 for the link.

I like Mitt Romney on Immigration...

2007-05-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

Shattered the Goal...

2007-05-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it. Well, not much me. Mitt did it! He managed to pull off signing over 24,000 volunteers up since yesterday. Really, that is extraordinary. Check out www.mittromney.com for the details.

In other news, Romney is leading in Iowa. Read about it at My Man Mitt.

Sign up America...

2007-05-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to visit www.mittromney.com and sign up as a supporter and if you can, donate any amount of money possible. We have 24 hours to sign up 24,000 new volunteers so when you have signed up, email all of your friends and encourage them to do the same.

The Republican debate in South Carolina tonight highlights the strength Mitt has and the need to push him more into the spotlight at this point. The pot shots taken by other candidates demonstrate Romney is becoming the candidate to beat. But Romney remains less well known nationally than McCain and Giuliani. He needs to get his message out to voters and you can help do that. Sign up today America!

Romney Stumping...

2007-05-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

Mitt Romney talks about his vision in a recent Iowa visit. Video is sketchy at points but it is worth it:

Biggest applause for "Simpler, Smarter, Smaller" comment about government, and for Immigration doesn't make sense.

60 Minutes...

2007-05-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

At 7:00pm ET/PT on Sunday night, Governor Romney and the Romney family will be featured on CBS' "60 Minutes with Mike Wallace." Make sure to watch Mitt on Sunday!

CNN on Sharpton and Mormons...

2007-05-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

CNN summarizes the controversy about Al Sharpton saying the people who really believe in God would defeat Romney in the election. They do a good job discussing the issue and even give a fairly accurate basic description, from what I know, of Mormon beliefs in the article. The article included this interesting quote from James Carville:

"'The main point here is that Mormons have served this country honorably and with integrity for a long, long time, and ... it would be a very big mistake not to vote for someone based on their faith -- Mormon faith or any other faith'."

New TV Ad...

2007-05-09T13:14:00.001-07:00

Some Nevada News...

2007-05-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Romney seems to be polling strong in Nevada.

Another Assemblyman is on board.

Regents University Speech...

2007-05-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

"Mitt Romney... urged Regent University graduates Saturday to seek the rougher but more satisfying 'deep waters' of life. But along the way, he may have picked up a vote."

Quick article here.

Hannity and Colmes Tonight...

2007-05-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 07, 2007

At 9:00pm EDT tonight, Governor Romney will be a live, in-studio guest on Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes." Make sure to watch Mitt tonight on Fox News Channel!

Leading in new Hampshire...

2007-05-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

Romney is proving himself and it is bring results.

"According to a SurveyUSA poll of 551 likely Republican Primary voters, Mitt Romney gathered 32%, followed by Rudy Guiliani at 23% and John McCain with 22%. Fred Thompson finished fourth with 11%."

"Compared to a similar poll released in January, Giuliani and McCain have each lost 10 points. Romney is up 11 points, resulting in a 21-point swing for Romney among likely GOP Primary voters."

My Man Mitt has the ground game info for New Hampshire.

The Debate is Great...

2007-05-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed the debate tonight. Romney starting to hone his message. On point, not meandering. Speaking very clearly. Military, Economy, and Families. If you care about those issues, you have found your candidate.

The Debate...

2007-05-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

The First Republican Debate coming from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley will be on MSNBC tonight at 8:00 pm Eastern time.

Some thoughts from Politico on the debate.

Tonight Show Review...

2007-05-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

Nice review of Mitt's Tonight Show appearance last night at NewsMax.

"As for his image of being 'a cardboard cut-out' of a 'too-perfect' candidate, Romney said his family may differ with that description."

"'I am far from perfect,' Romney said. 'I can kick back and have a good time, but you’re not going to hear about it.'"

"'What goes on in Disneyland, stays in Disneyland,' he said."

Reminder About Tonight...

2007-05-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Sign up America...

2007-05-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

On May 15th... the Romney campaign is encouraging people to take action and sign up 24,000 new supporters. To help jump start this effort they have invited fans across the country to host "Sign-up America" parties on the night of the South Carolina debates (May 15th.) Click here for more information.

Books...

2007-05-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

I have heard Romney asked about and talk about tons of books that he has read or consider interesting. Now there is discussion because he read "Battlefield Earth" and found it an enjoyable read. It is obvious he is not taking it too seriously but he is being bashed nonetheless.

I can think of quite a few books that I may be attacked for reading and enjoying. What of the Heinlein novels I read? I even read the Hare Krishna book I was handed in the airport. I enjoyed reading Heidegger. Didn't he get caught up with the Nazi's later? So, even if I disagree with his very bad decisions in life, am I no longer able to think about his philosophy? Does reading martin Buber and Albert Schweitzer make up for the other books? I don't know but I find the whole discussion rather silly. It is something I think mainstream voters could care less about and opponents of Romney are just looking for anything to poke Romney with.

The Hunt for Osama...

2007-05-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Recently, there has been some roe over Romney's remark that "it's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person." He emphasized that there needed to be a wider strategy because someone would replace him even if he were captured. He was right.

McCain felt obliged to respond saying, "[I]t takes a degree of naivete to think he’s [bin Laden] not an element in the struggle against radical Islam." McCain would be right, if thats what Mitt was saying.

All of this is a long way of saying, McCain is unnecessarily trying to attack Romney when Romney was clearly right, and I would hope that McCain, of all people, recognizes that there is a borader fight here. Resources are limited and need to be employed in a smart way in order to ensure the greatest propbability of success.

Jay Leno...

2007-05-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Romney is scheduled to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tomorrow night, Wednesday, may 2nd. The show airs at 11:30pm eastern and pacific time and 10:30pm mountain time.

Official Romney Gear...

2007-04-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

Make sure to order the very reasonably priced Romney gear here.

TV...

2007-04-25T18:25:00.001-07:00

National Ads Coming. I think this is a good decision.