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The Romney Revamp
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ShareJanuary 08, 2008 11:04 AM
ABC News' John Berman, Ursula Fahy, and Matt Stuart Report: On the Thursday-night flight from Iowa to Portsmouth, N.H., Mitt Romney couldn't sleep. So he watched re-runs of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."
It wasn't a good night for the former governor of Massachusetts, and it wasn't because of the stale jokes from Will Smith.
He had just been upset in the Iowa Caucuses -- a surprise to him and his staff. About two weeks before, the Romney campaign saw itself slipping behind Republican presidential rival John McCain, R-Ariz., in New Hampshire. The campaign was so concerned with the trends in the Granite state -- where Romney had led all fall -- that they shifted the post-Christmas schedule to allow for two days of New Hampshire campaigning (the earlier plan was designed to be in Iowa the whole time).
While waiting to greet Romney while he was in the air watching the "Fresh Prince," New Hampshire advisors lamented that McCain was locking-in support.
"He is running for governor of New Hampshire," they would say, meaning that McCain is so popular still from his 2000 primary win here, and had spent so much time here, that he's almost a local.
The Romney campaign scheduled a long afternoon session with Romney for that Friday at the Portsmouth Sheraton. It was supposed to be for debate-prep to get ready for the ABC News debate on Jan. 5th. Instead, as soon as Romney walked in the room, it became a reclamation project: how to turn things around in New Hampshire?
It was Romney, aides say, who saw the success Barack Obama had in Iowa against more experienced Washington politicians, who pushed the group to come up with something to tap into that energy.
And so the "Washington is Broken" theme was born, which they thought could work for several reasons. It let Romney latch-on to the wave of "change" which seems to be the mantra of campaign 2008. It also played to his comfort-zone. He is a management consultant by training. Change is what he did for a living -- an extremely good living. He is always the most relaxed while talking about management style, structure and decisions. Finally, it was a distinction, they thought, from McCain who had been in Washington for 25 years.
Saturday morning, the campaign unveiled its "Washington is Broken" banner and literally shined a spotlight on it. They also posted a 12-item "to-do" list, which Romney walked through on the stump as if it is a Power-Point presentation (which he is addicted to). Finally he repeated the word "change" on the stump and to reporters to the point of exhaustion. If Romney had a sixth son, he would probably name him "Change."
His renewed push was slowed a little by a nagging cold all weekend, and an old-fashioned mauling by his foes at the ABC debate. But by Monday night, his aides were not quite as despondent as before. Romney seemed more energized, relaxed, comfortable, or as they put it "presidential" on the stump, and aides say it might be the winning message for him, if not in New Hampshire, then maybe after.
Some aides wonder if he should have been pitching this message sooner, instead of trying to sell himself as a stalwart social conservative.
"Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda," one adviser said.
The Romney team has a plan to fight until Super Tuesday, on February 5th: keep selling the "change" message as long as they can, capitalize on residual affection for the Romney family in Michigan, and outspend their opponents by a wide margin.
A close second place finish in New Hampshire will allow them to fight on, they claim. Though from the outside, it seems a bad loss would mean Romney will have the time to watch the "Fresh Prince" as much as he likes.
January 8, 2008 in Palin, Sarah | Permalink | User Comments (4)
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Sorry, Mitt, but you can't run as both the continuation of Bush-style conservatism and also be the change candidate.
Posted by: Chuck | Jan 8, 2008 11:51:55 AM
Hey Chuck,
If you haven't noticed, the only one running on Bush-style conservatism is the Huckster. That is not a compliment. Bush's "Compassionate Conservatism" is one of the reasons we're in this mess. The only really good thing he did for the economy was the tax cuts, which I applaud. But he increased federal spending but an amazing amount.
Now, as for Romney, he will not only continue cutting taxes, but he will also cut spending and streamline the government. How do I know that? Because all I have to do is look at what he did in the business world, with the Olympics and in Massachussetts.
That is why Mitt Romney will get my vote for President!
Posted by: Dan | Jan 8, 2008 2:33:06 PM
Mass. doesn't like what Romney did for them. I don't like a candidate who is always willing to "change" his "beliefs", to say what he thinks will best fool us into voting for him. He doesn't have to keep his word, because who can keep track of the "changes". In all fairness, Mitt was raised that way, he thinks it's normal.
Since he vows to live by his religion, voters need to look deep into it and see why he's so comfy with all his "changes". His church used to hate Christians and called them an abomination. They've always had a big political agenda, with an eye always on the White House. When they realized the political, ecomonical and recruiting advantages of appearing to be Christian, they suddenly changed into Christians. Their Book of Mormon has been changed 4,000 times over time, as modern knowledge proves them wrong. They even claim LDS men can "change" into gods (but only the "Mormon Elite" like Mitt), just like their god Elohim did.
The only way Mitt Romney will ever have the slightest hope of being president is if he disavows his "religion" and joins a Christian church that believes in the Biblical Jesus, not the Mormon Jesus who is the brother of Lucifer (and of us). He's surprised he's not doing well because Mormon leaders prophesized they'll take over our country and save the Constitution. Change all you want Mitt, if you remain LDS it will never be enough. The Good News is, if you do "see the light", you'll get to know the real God of the bible.
Posted by: Deb | Jan 8, 2008 6:35:50 PM
I will fall off my chair if Mitt Romney comes 1st place in any of the primaries!
Posted by: Joanna Garzilli | Jan 9, 2008 4:14:04 AM
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