Romney pins hopes on Michigan
By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
Former Senator Jim Talent delivered a pep talk and analysis of Mitt Romney's campaign today to supporters gathered in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center for a national fund-raising phone-a-thon.
He likened Romney's plan to win the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary to a boxer trying to knock out his opponent in the early rounds. Now that Romney has finished second in both those contests, he said the nomination contest will be more like NASCAR's Nextel cup -- in other words a longer race to collect delegates from later states.
"The issue is not primary finishes so much any more," said Talent, a Missouri Republican who is now a Romney adviser. "The issue is delegate count."
Romney, addressing the group, said he was optimistic about the next state. "We are going to win Michigan," he said. "We're going full steam ahead."
"This is the group that's gong to do it!" he cheered. "Well, you've done it before and you're going to do it again."
In a preview of what will likely be his stump speech in Michigan, Romney emphasized that he is a native son and the son of a Detroit auto executive and three-term governor of Michigan. He recalled that he worked as a plant guard at Chrysler in high school and returned there after graduate school to work in Chrysler's marketing division.
"That's part of my DNA," Romney said. "I love that industry. I know that industry."
He decried Michigan's economic woes, saying it is unacceptable that the state has long been suffering a recession before the rest of the country and losing its manufacturing jobs. He blamed in part the state's Democratic governor,
Jennifer Granholm, saying taxes are going up in Michigan and unemployment is rising.
Calling himself, "somebody who knows cares and loves that state," Romney said: "I will make a commitment: if I'm president, that one-state recession is over."
"I recognize that when Michigan is hurting, it's a precursor of what could happen to the nation," Romney said. "For me, Michigan is a state that has to do well."
Talent said Romney was surprised by the rise of Mike Huckabee in Iowa and was then waylaid in the state trying to fend him off, while John McCain campaigned vigorously in New Hampshire, overtaking him.
"We did not foresee Governor's Huckabee's rise in Iowa. The governor got occupied in Iowa, as he needed to be," Talent said. In New Hampshire, Talent said, "We were surging in the end, and I think had the election been two three days later, we would have won."
Romney is the only Republican that could win against any Democrat..
Go Mitt! As governor in MA you turned a deficit into a billion dollar surplus, you created more jobs, you increased test scores, and stood up for what you believe in. You are the best candidate for President, and there is no doubt voters in the next primary states will realize that. Congrats on being the overall delegate leader thus far.
I am a new Romey supporter because he's intelligent and extremely impressive. The only candidate who has the brains to stop illegal imigration by sending them back to their original country. We have rules and they should be enforced not changed to accomodate so many illegal imigrates. America needs and welcomes good people entering legally which is extremely important for our national security. He has the values, intelligence and business experience to turn this country around. I believe his strong business background is what this country needs and he has my support.
I have already voted absentee here in California....It turned out to be any easy choice...Mitt Romney. Dan Ryan
GO ROMNEY!!! He is the best candidate! He is one of the few candidates that wants to get down to the issues and not just throw the "Change" catch phrase out there. Everyone is trying to use their niche support to win, be it the Black vote for Obama, the Female vote for Clinton, or the Evangelical vote for Huckabee, but Romney is taking this one with the most presidential character and regard.
Romney 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a Romney backer and wished he would make a showing in Grand Blanc. I can't believe that the people of Michigan would not vote for Mitt.
As every politician, it is interesting to see this.
http://www.trueromney.com/
Mitt Romney is a very intelligent man who has sold his soul for political
profit and now has neither. I think his campaign is over, as it should be, but he
doesn't know that it is dead yet. As Massachusetts Governor he consistently
played the anti-immigrant wedge issue in an ugly and polarizing way and
he has only done worse on the campaign trail while reversing other positions in a way that shows that he is either being deeply cynical now or was lying when he ran for office in a state where other positions served his political ends more effectively. People notice.
I think he should look at the example of his father, who told the truth about the
war in Vietnam, at great cost, and was willing to risk and lose his job in the
Cabinet by a positive civil rights strategy against residential segregation that
was rejected when President Nixon decided to exploit suburban racial fears
and fire George Romney. His Dad was never President but left a legacy of
deep integrity and compassion. Mitt's unrestrained ambition has left him
unmoored and even the people he is trying to pander to recognize it. A good
last act might be to talk about some hard truths about the issues the country
really needs to face, some of which, like housing and health care, he knows
a lot about, and give some policy capital to a party whose cupboard seems
pretty bare right now.
Gary Orfield
He did nothing as governor of Massachusetts except run his presidential campaign. The budget surplus turned out to be a myth. He left the schools in such a poor financial condition that some districts can only keep their schools open for 4 1/2 days a week. Lots of budget cutting and loss of programs in the schools. He was afraid to stand up to and fire Matt Amorello of the Mass Turnpike authority until the tunnel collapse. If Romney was couldn't stand up to Amorello, what happens with the Iranians? He also left Massachusetts with crumbling highways, roads, and bridges. He also raised taxes - he just calls them service fee hikes. Don't take my word for it - do some research for yourself and stop listening to his lies. Romney is a low-life just out to satisfy his ego.
Have you have seen the family guy episode where Peter is followed around by that guy calling him a phony, because he preteneded to play the piano in toy store? The people who go from aticle to artice and spam that Mitt is a phoney are exactly like that character on Family Guy, and might I add that they are the phoney's, and people can see through their less than objective point of views. OMG! Mitt's a phoney!! Gimme a break
Reasons why I am still voting for Romney...
* An experienced and successful businessman like Romney with a very impressive resume can do better for a recession and for our economy than any other candidate.
* Strengthening our borders to prevent illegal immigrants and terrorists from entering our country. Can you imagine we’re still talking about this 6 and a half years after 9/11? If it doesn’t get done, 9/11 will be repeated and maybe 10 times worse.
* No amnesty for illegal immigrants.
* Supports keeping the Bush tax cuts permanent.
* Rein in excessive government spending and balance the budget.
* The only politician and businessman to create a health care plan for everyone without raising taxes. The rest just talk about it. Finally someone, Romney, did something about it.
* He serves no one religion just as he did as Governor.
* Distinguished record of accomplishments, success and service, with no divorces, no affairs, no scandals. He has a clean image. The real thing.
* Works well with Democrats and others who may not hold the same views as he does and stills works to get things done.
* A fresh look for changing our Government because of his experience and success in changing businesses.
* Intelligent speaker and he has two graduate degrees from Harvard.
* Admits when he’s been wrong and changes and he learns from it. Other politicians use political talk and stay the course when they are wrong. That is scary. They need to be thrown out of Washington. They will never learn and we will suffer for it.
* Best chance to beat the Democrats.
To balance the budget without touching military spending, he'd have to be a Houdini economical contortionist - which he surely isn't.
He won't even say how much the deficit has grown to, just how to fix it in his way.
Can people be that stupid?
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