Home Field Crowd Gives Romney Big Welcome

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Mitt Romney

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

SOUTHFIELD, MICH. -- For Mitt Romney, a candidate who is trying to recover from disappointing losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, coming home sure feels good.

Several hundred people cheered and banged thundersticks as the former Massachusetts governor spoke at Lawrence Technical College, only about ten miles from Bloomfield Hills, where he grew up.

"This is the best crowd I've had in Michigan all week!" Romney said, clearly buoyed by their energy. "You guys are fabulous."

Romney has been making the case that he is the only GOP candidate who has the private sector experience needed to bring jobs back to the state. He will lay out his plan for reviving Michigan's economy tomorrow afternoon in Detroit, and while today's speech was light on specific proposals, it was high on optimism.

"I will commit this to you," Romney said. "If I'm President of The United States, I will not rest until Michigan is back."

Romney took a brief detour from his remarks to point out a man standing on the balcony who was holding a Ron Paul sign. The crowd started booing, but Romney asked them to allow him to stay and make his point.

"If any of you need a doctor, Ron Paul was a doctor — he's got experience there," Romney said. " … But if Michigan needs somebody who will fix the economy, you need somebody who's worked in the economy, who's had a job in the economy, who cares about Michigan and will get the job done."

The crowd roared and broke into a chant: "Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!"

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by dcuptoejuice January 16, 2008 5:55 PM EST: I guess running your own medical practice isn''t being part of the economy. Ron would school Mitt in an economy debate.; Reply to this comment


by marinepatriot January 14, 2008 8:37 PM EST: MICHIGAN ROMNEY BACKER SWITCHES TO HUCKABEE
by John Gizzi
Posted: 01/14/2008

As most polls of likely primary voters in Michigan now show a near-tie between Republicans Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and John McCain, the Romney camp got a jolt Saturday as a key backer announced he was switching his support to Huckabee.

With three days to go before the primary, State Rep. Fulton J. Sheen of Allegan County, introduced Huckabee at the Amway Grand Hotel and announced he was changing to the former Arkansas governor from native Michigander Romney. In an exclusive interview the evening before his announcement, stalwart conservative Sheen -- namesake-nephew of the legendary Roman Catholic bishop in the 1940%u2019s and 50%u2019s -- said that Romney%u2019s attacks on Huckabee%u2019s Fair Tax proposal convinced him to switch to the Arkansas man.; Reply to this comment


by giantrobot2 January 14, 2008 10:06 AM EST: Alert *** Alert *** Alert ***

Question:
Would you like to own a brand new high definition 60" LCD / Plasma TV with reclining chair with large cup holder for your cold beverage of your choice?

Answer:
Huckabee! He is the ONLY candidate out of the presidential field willing to implement the "Fair-Tax" system.

Look at your paycheck and see how much they are taking out of your paycheck for taxes... go ahead go look at it now.

Now take the cost of a brand new 60" LCD / Plasma high def TV and reclining chair (& cup holder) and divide that number by how much taxes they are taking out.

Example:
$3,000 (TV cost, chair) / $325 tax holding each week = 8 weeks

That''''s it, only 8 weeks to get this great deal!!!

But if you vote for any other candidate it will take years to save up for this! Say you put away $10 each week, well that''''s 4 years!

So if you want to become poorer then vote for McCain, Romney, Thompson, Guiliani, Paul, Clinton, Obama, Edwards..... but if you want to become richer vote for Huckabee!; Reply to this comment


by PainfullyAware January 14, 2008 12:53 AM EST: Ron Paul has the plan and the record of following through with what he intends.

I vote for virtue; I vote for Ron Paul.; Reply to this comment


by jlb148 January 13, 2008 7:13 PM EST: Mitt Romney is correct when he says "%u2026 But if Michigan needs somebody who will fix the economy, you need somebody who%u2019s worked in the economy, who%u2019s had a job in the economy, who cares about Michigan and will get the job done.%u201D
We need to vote for someone who is familiar with issues of:
Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology, and on Energy and Commerce, on Financial Services. Along with being familiar with Oversight and Investigations in government.

Yes, Mitt Romney is right and that''s why I will be voting for Ron Paul. He has been involved with all these issues. Check it out for yourself.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_Financial_Services
http://financialservices.house.gov/subassignments.html; Reply to this comment


by fudwamper January 13, 2008 7:03 PM EST: I had to look at Mitt''s response twice. By his logic everyone can fix the economy because we all work in it, even Paul.

The bigger question to ask is how many books has Romney written on economics?

Then find out how many books Ron Paul has written.

Has Mitt told people what economic philosophy he studies or practices?

It is much easier to work and make large sums of money when you come from large sums of money. It doesn''t mean you understand the complexities of actually running the economy.; Reply to this comment


by robcbs4 January 13, 2008 6:24 PM EST: The problem with Romney''s response is that it''s one-sided. Using his logic, Ron Paul was a doctor and he''s worked in the medical field. Therefore, we need a doctor to save health care.; Reply to this comment