Mitt Romney tries to dispel conservative doubts with letter from Mass. leaders

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

Facing doubts about his philosophical credentials, Republican Mitt Romney today released a letter from Massachusetts conservative luminaries aiming to clarify his record while the state’s governor.

The letter was released about two hours before Romney addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, and during a speech to the group by rival Rick Santorum.

Santorum has joined a third presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich, in casting Romney as a “Massachusetts moderate” rather than a guardian of the conservative ideals to important to Republican primary and caucus voters.

CNN and The New York Times also reported overnight that Romney met yesterday with some conservative leaders at the same hotel where CPAC is meeting in an effort to “reconnect” with them.

In addition, Romney appeared last night on the Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” program to make much the same pitch.

“Some press accounts and bloggers have described Governor Romney in terms we neither have observed nor can we accept,” wrote the authors of today’s open letter, which included former Boston Mayor Raymond L. Flynn, gay marriage opponent Kris Mineau, and Harvard Law School professor Mary Ann Glendon. “To the contrary, we, who have been fighting here for the values you also hold, are indebted to him and his responsive staff in demonstrating solid social conservative credentials by undertaking the following actions here in Massachusetts.”

The group goes on to say Romney “staunchly defended traditional marriage,” did not personally issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples (although they conceded he issued “thousands” of one-day justice of the peace authorizations to individuals wanting to perform a marriage ceremony but who are not a licensed minister), and tried to rally in favor of a constitutional amendment “defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

Furthermore, they say Romney promoted abstinence education, “affirmed the culture of life” with various anti-abortion moves, and “stood for religious freedom.”

They added: “For four years, Governor Romney was right there beside us, providing leadership on key issues – whether it was politically expedient to do so or not. He has stood on principle, and we have benefited greatly from having him with us.

“It is clear that Governor Romney has learned much since 1994 – to the benefit of our movement and our Commonwealth,” they added.