From The Road
December 9, 2007 2:40 PM

King of Spain, Ortiz Among Romney's Hispanic Heroes

By
Scott Conroy
Topics
Mitt Romney
(CBS)
From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

MIAMI -- At rally in Miami this afternoon before tonight's Univision debate, Mitt Romney listed some of his Hispanic heroes to a crowd of about 125 supporters.

Romney mentioned former Chairman of the Republican Party Al Cardenas, Mexican revolutionary general Pancho Villa, former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Aznar and David "Big Papi" Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox.

Also making Romney's list was King Juan Carlos of Spain, whom the former Massachusetts governor praised for his recent confrontation with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

"People who are kings, you know, you don't typically spend a lot of attention hearing what they say—you just sort of look at them and say that's a cool life—but in this case, the king of Spain, Juan Carlos, said something that needed to be said a long time ago," Romney said. "He turned to Hugo Chavez and said what he should have heard a long time ago: 'Shut up.'"

Romney was joined by his wife Ann and his youngest son Craig, who served as a Mormon missionary in Chile and addressed the crowd in Spanish.

Governor Romney does not speak Spanish, but he did show off his French when he spoke to a supporter who was of Haitian decent.

  • Scott Conroy

    Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.

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