National Review endorses Romney
Mitt Romney has won the endorsement of National Review, the magazine that carries much influence among conservatives, his campaign announced this afternoon.
"Our guiding principle has always been to select the most conservative viable candidate," Review editors say in their endorsement. "In our judgment, that candidate is Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. Unlike some other candidates in the race, Romney is a full-spectrum conservative: a supporter of free-market economics and limited government, moral causes such as the right to life and the preservation of marriage, and a foreign policy based on the national interest."
The Review editors says Romney's main rivals all have flaws. Rudy Giuliani isn't conservative enough on social issues, Mike Huckabee isn't on economic ones, and John McCain has strayed on campaign finance reform, taxes, and immigration, the editors say. Fred Thompson is as conservative as Romney, but lacks executive experience and has waged an uninspiring campaign.
"More than the other primary candidates, Romney has President Bush's virtues and avoids his flaws," the endorsement concludes. "His moral positions, and his instincts on taxes and foreign policy, are the same. But he is less inclined to federal activism, less tolerant of overspending, better able to defend conservative positions in debate, and more likely to demand performance from his subordinates. A winning combination, by our lights. In this most fluid and unpredictable Republican field, we vote for Mitt Romney."
The endorsement, which comes with a flattering portrait on the cover, should provide a boost for Romney, who is trying to stave off a challenge from Mike Huckabee in Iowa and who is still lagging in national polls.
Mitt Romney weathered the McCain serge last year, he weathered the Giuliani surge earlier this year, he weathered the Thompson serge this past summer, and he has weathered the short-lived Huckabee serge that is quickly fading into a puff a smoke. This should be no surprise given the mighty challenges that Mitt Romney has weathered in the past, including the Olympics and the Massachusetts budget crisis. I'm voting for Mitt Romney on February 5th because he weathers the storm when others get swept out to sea.
National Review just endorsed the flopper. That says a lot! No amount of endorsement can change how people feel about Romney and his ever changing positions with the political winds
This is a very consistant trustworthy publication. I also have heard plenty of good about Mitt Romney and his qualifications and am pleased to hear such wonderful commentation about him. Very impressive candidate.
I respect the Staff of the National Review and am glad they have chosen to endorse Governor Mitt Romney. I was partly undecided about whom to vote for in Iowa, but as the election gets closer, I think I have found a viable candidate in Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney has a proven record in business and government and knows the positive benifits of leadership by example. As a father and husband his example should be celibrated in today's society.
GO MITT!!!
Let's be honest Greg All of the candidates have changed positions in order to be in play for the nomination. Romney is the best leader in this group, and deserves the nomination from our party.
I agree with the editors that all the candidates have flaws, but Gov. Romney is far away the best qualified to serve as President. He will also be the best voice for conservative values. It's time to rally around a leader and Romney is that leader. He has my vote!
I couldn't agree more with the assessment of the National Review. The media and many politicians love to create labels to define issues and candidates. If you get beyond the labels and make an independent assessment of the candidates, Mitt Romney clearly rises to the top in his qualifications to be President. Finally, a candidate who shares my conservative views, has the smarts to articulate the vision, and the executive experience to get the job done in Washington. Far from a lesser of evils, Mitt is one of the most exciting candidates for President in my 40 years of following politics.
The NR editors said it well when they asserted that all the current candidates shifted their views upon entering this race to court the current republican primary base. Their compelling statement that Romney's record as governor show a pro-family, fiscally conservative leader are important. The media often overstates the shifting nature of Romney convictions. He is a competent, intelligent, fiscally and morally conservative leader with the best qualifications of any candidate. I will be voting for Romney here in California.
I one hundred percent agree with the National Review. I believe that Mitt has what it takes to beat the Democrats this year. He is honest man who believes in family values. He has turned around many businesses and saved the Olympics. Our country needs someone who can turn around this country at this time.
What else can i say that hasn't been said? Mitt Romney is the BEST canidate for the republican nomination, he will get my vote in 08.
wow, I hope the Evangelicals see a vote for Huckabee at this point might be a vote for Hillary. The Reagan conservative staring you in the face is Romney-oh and he's a member of the LDS church-GET OVER IT!!!
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