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Change Is Now Romney's Mantra Too
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ShareJanuary 04, 2008 1:15 PM
ABC's John Berman, Ursula Fahy, and Matt Stuart Report: Mitt Romney is hopping on Barack Obama's bandwagon... sort of.
The former governor of Massachusetts who finished a distant and disappointing second in Iowa, landed in New Hampshire declaring that, like Obama, he is a candidate of change. Romney pointed to the Iowa victories of Obama, a Senate neophyte, and Mike Huckabee from Arkansas as proof that “people in this country are angry at Washington.”
“People want change,” he told reporters in Portsmouth. “Everywhere I have been, I have brought change.”
The blatant, repeated emphasis on “change” represents a change for Romney, who while always touting himself as an outsider and a “turnaround" master, has focused on his social, economic, and security credentials in recent days.
But Romney’s failure to win Iowa puts him in a position where he needs to turnaround his own campaign.
Romney advisers in New Hampshire say their internal polling data has shown them trailing Arizona Sen. John McCain in the Granite State. They have released a spate of negative television ads in recent days, which criticize McCain for his stance on immigration and for voting against the Bush tax cut. Romney advisers say the ads have helped them close the gap with McCain in recent days.
Romney is also using his apparent enthusiasm for the word change as a way to draw distinctions with McCain.
“There is no way Senator McCain is going to be able to come to New Hampshire and declare that he is the candidate of change,” Romney said. “He is Washington.”
One silver lining seen by the Romney camp is the enormous buzz surrounding Obama. They hope Obama will sweep-up independent voters in New Hampshire, who might otherwise be inclined to support McCain. In New Hampshire, independent voters can take part in either primary.
Romney attributed his loss in Iowa to the “natural constituency” that Huckabee had among evangelicals because of his past as a Baptist minister. Romney said Huckabee was able to generate much bigger numbers among evangelicals than his campaign expected. In fact, Romney claimed, he beat his own campaign’s turnout projections of what they thought hey would need to win.
When asked if he wished he had done anything differently in his Iowa campaign, Romney said, “No,” but “had I been a Baptist minister, I would have taken a different path.”
January 4, 2008 in Palin, Sarah | Permalink | User Comments (43)
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Romney change his position, say it isn't so!!!
Posted by: TimTom | Jan 4, 2008 2:05:38 PM
Let me just summarize here for the hard-headed in the Media and in Washington because I feel like we’ve reached a rare moment of clarity:
The press, the pundits, the privileged and the parties themselves don’t get it:
- It IS the economy, STUPID!
- Among leaders, voters demand authenticity and conviction of belief first and foremost.
- People are tired of partisanship and demand action.
- The people of America are not beholdant to the past or the institutions of status quo (media, republican party, democratic party).
- The American people ARE in control and guess what!? They KNOW it and WILL act when necessary to change the course of the future.
If you’re in Washington or running for office and you’re not a candidate who understands this, you are in for a rude awakening in 2008.
Posted by: Aaron Hassen | Jan 4, 2008 2:09:22 PM
What a great shot of Romney "holding his finger up in the wind". Hopfully voters can see him for the opportunist that heis, blowing in the wind ,saying anything to win an election.
Posted by: Dan Alejandro | Jan 4, 2008 2:14:04 PM
The only think Romney can change is his stand on any given issue. Just more of the same old rhetoric designed to fool the voters that he deserves their vote. This man has changed his stand on the issues more than most people change their socks. Just another rich dude who wants to get into the White House so he can protect corporate interests. No thanks!
Posted by: Brian G. | Jan 4, 2008 2:19:00 PM
I'm from the State Mitt Romney used to Govern. He made some changes alright, he made it illegal to opt out of the biggest rip off in American History. He made it law that everyone in my state, employed or not MUST buy health insurance or be fined monthly and loose their State Tax returns. I sure hope he don't get the honor of making any changes at the federal level, my only way out would be suicide then. The only flip-flopper I've seen bigger than Romney is the last Massachusetts Democrat to run for President, that would be John Kerry.
Posted by: oobe | Jan 4, 2008 2:28:56 PM
Is this a critixism of W? How dare he! He's not a good Republican.
Posted by: TSnow27604 | Jan 4, 2008 2:44:32 PM
Every one of these politicians will say anything to get into office and then they don't fulfill the promises they made to be elected. Even if they did, they would have to have the House and Senate work towards the same goal and that ain't going to happen. One party fights the other party just because the other party came up with the idea - it's ashame they don't care what we the people that pay their salaries want. They immediately forget how they got where they are and who put them there.
Posted by: lovesanimals | Jan 4, 2008 2:49:16 PM
Are we looking for best bass-player or 'most likeable' to run this country or are we looking for a person of 'intelligence' and 'ability' to take on the big issues this country faces. Mitt Romney has my vote as President of the United States of America!
Posted by: Michael | Jan 4, 2008 2:50:56 PM
Romney will do ANYTHING to be elected.... I don't trust this guy at all... This guy is much too into himself...
Changing his tactics? He's changing his tactics to win, not to actually bring any substantial change to the USA.
He was a lousy governor of Massachusetts and would be a really bad President. God help us all!
Posted by: Brandon | Jan 4, 2008 2:57:24 PM
Mitt Romney was a great governor for us in Massachusetts, he fought hard against all the liberals in this state to get done what he did get done. Deval has yet to make true any campaign promise, but managed to waste alot of our tax dollars on himself(New Car, New Office and so on)
Mitt Romney will bring change to the US He will make a great president and I can't wait. Go Mitt Go!!!
Posted by: Dennis | Jan 4, 2008 3:15:12 PM
In addition to what Brian G. noted above our former Governor also left us with a 1.3 billion dollar deficit, scared away business and was not able to attract any all of the promises that he made to become the Governor of the Commonwealth. We rank 49th for jobs in the 50 state country - figure it out folks. He may be nice looking but is certainly rotten on the inside. The only wealth he looked out for was his own, especially his summer home up to Lake Winnepauske in New Hampshire.
Anyone who is considering a candidate look at the state that they came from, talk to people who live there find out what they said they did and compare it with reality.
Posted by: James | Jan 4, 2008 3:16:35 PM
Thank you James..... you are indeed correct....
Living in Massachusetts has been very difficult under Mitt's glove. I am very happy that he is no longer the Governor here.
Posted by: Brandon | Jan 4, 2008 3:27:54 PM
What a phony - Romney must first learn to be true to himself before he can be true to the American people, I would bet good money this guy has paid cash to illegal landscapers or house keepers , I am surprise the other canidates have not looked into this matter !
Posted by: TYSPOCK | Jan 4, 2008 3:29:39 PM
The international community knows that Mitt Romney lead a troubled 2002 Winter Olympics to a smashing success. I feel Mitt Romney would help us repair our nations image in the world. He has lead a successful business and he has lead a stable family for over 30 years. What more can this country ask for. What other candidate has a proven track record like Romney. He also looks and acts presidential.
Posted by: Teresa | Jan 4, 2008 3:32:05 PM
Michael ...Do you have any clue as to what his record is??? Use your head before opening your mouth.
Posted by: Truth | Jan 4, 2008 3:35:18 PM
Teresa..you too!! You people you know nothing about Romney, he has a PROVEN history of screwing taxes up in Massachussetts and is the biggest flip flopper probably ever. Teresa, you are willing to vote for a man because he looks presidential.
Posted by: Truth | Jan 4, 2008 3:38:14 PM
Romney is a clear sign that many in the USA simply will NEVER GET IT... not even after GWB, these people will flounder aimlessly from snake-oil salesman to fortune-teller for answers... they simply DO NOT GET IT. This is the one draw-back to allowing ANYONE with a face and US citizenship to cast a vote. Heaven help us all.
Posted by: RW | Jan 4, 2008 3:39:50 PM
I agree with Teresa, Mitt would definately help repair our nation's image. Besides if any foriegner speaks ill of the good 'ole U.S. of A. we always have Guantanamo. Heck, Mitt could personally finance doubling Guantanamo. Yep, our image abroad will be spectacular.
Posted by: Doug | Jan 4, 2008 3:41:15 PM
No one said that Mr. Romney didn't do a good job with the Olympics. His wife Ann is actually the best part of him - their 30 year marriage has nothing to do with his ability to run a country. He may look and act "presidential" however we truly need someone who isn't going to continue the past several years and improve our standing in the world. If Mitt can't deliver on promises for one state we cannot expect him to do so for all 50.
Posted by: James | Jan 4, 2008 3:44:12 PM
Mitt/Mint is a boob, whatever the religion. Bye bye now, you scheming loser.
Posted by: Jasper vonDropcloth | Jan 4, 2008 3:51:51 PM
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