Starting Gate: GOP Gets Friendly In Florida
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
It may have been an amicable exchange but coming just days before Tuesday's important Florida primary it was hardly inconsequential. Some thoughts on the ballet in Boca:
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January 25, 2008 9:06 AM How non-confrontational were the Republican presidential candidates in last night's debate? They were so nice to one another that even Rudy Giuliani resisted the temptation to get into an argument with anti-war candidate Ron Paul. It was so friendly that the harshest comment came in the form of a joke by nice-guy Mike Huckabee when he suggested that Mitt Romney is chipping away at his children's inheritance by spending so much of his personal fortune on the campaign.
It may have been an amicable exchange but coming just days before Tuesday's important Florida primary it was hardly inconsequential. Some thoughts on the ballet in Boca:
The most recent polls have shown Romney building a very slight lead over the past few days and his debate performance can only help that trend. In a debate with almost no candidate-to-candidate attacks, Romney shined. His grasp of details on a range of issues and his optimistic disposition helped him stand out in a still-crowded field. It didn't hurt that he appeared to get the most time to speak. One trouble spot: Romney was yet again asked about how his Mormon faith might impact voters' willingness to back him. It wasn't a problem because of his answer but because it remains an issue for him. Still, if Romney wins on Tuesday, we might look back at last night as a key moment.
John McCain looked like the front-runner he is, at least nationally, and the rest of the field was very deferential to him, which gives him some gravitas everyone else lacks. And his strong stances on the war and flashes of humor serve him well in these debates. But McCain stumbled a bit on economic issues, falling back on generalities and well-worn rhetoric about spending restraint and bridges to nowhere.
For a candidate who may be facing his final days in the race, Rudy Giuliani didn't appear anxious to find ways to separate himself from the field. His appeal to Florida voters on issues like a national fund to help the state's hurricane insurance problems was clear but he didn’t find ways to hammer those points home. The most telling moment was when he compared his chances to those of the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Being that big an underdog at the most important moment in his campaign doesn't exactly project a lot of confidence.
Mike Huckabee's populist economic message may make a lot of sense to many voters but they're probably not the ones who will be voting in Florida on Tuesday – or many other Republican primaries to come. Sounding like FDR at times, Huckabee's suggestion that the federal stimulus package would be better spent building roads seemed out of place. Huckabee's biggest economic worry is the financial health of his own campaign, something that won't be corrected by anything he said last night.
It may have been an amicable exchange but coming just days before Tuesday's important Florida primary it was hardly inconsequential. Some thoughts on the ballet in Boca:
December 6, 2007 12:52 PM
Romney’s Speech: Heavy On History, Light On Mormonism
From CBS News' Scott Conroy, on the campaign trail with Mitt Romney:
For months, political pundits speculated about whether Mitt Romney would deliver the “Mormon speech.” But today’s address was not about the candidate’s faith. Romney only uttered the word “Mormon” once during his remarks in College Station, Texas, instead focusing on the role that religious diversity has played in American history and the importance of restoring faith in the public sphere.
The speech was likely the most important of Romney’s political career, and the event felt more like a State of the Union address than a campaign stop. Many of Romney’s Boston-based staffers made the trip to Texas, and the Secret Service was out in force to protect former President George H.W. Bush, who introduced the former Massachusetts governor. The campaign even released a photograph of Governor Romney making final edits to his speech, as if to draw attention to the enormity of this event.
Although the comparisons are inevitable John F. Kennedy’s iconic 1960 speech that dealt with the then Democratic nominee’s Catholic faith, Governor Romney only briefly alluded to President Kennedy and did not mention him by name.
“Like him, I am an American running for president,” Romney said. “I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.”
The biggest applause line from the invitation-only crowd of over 400 who filled the auditorium here came when Romney hearkened back to another political icon from his home state of Massachusetts—an American legend who achieved fame during the Revolutionary era, rather than the time of Camelot.
“Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot,” Romney said. “And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God, they founded this great nation.”
Romney has been reading Jon Meacham’s book on the Founding Fathers and the role their faiths played in establishing the United States, and it was clear from his many references to the early days of the nation that their ideals of religious tolerance were on the candidate’s mind.
“The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced,” Romney said.
While Kennedy’s 1960 speech emphasized the candidate’s belief in a firm separation of church and state, Romney’s speech promoted a symbiotic relationship between faith and American society. Romney said that rather than turning toward the “religion of secularism,” the United States should bolster the role that faith plays in the public sphere.
For months, political pundits speculated about whether Mitt Romney would deliver the “Mormon speech.” But today’s address was not about the candidate’s faith. Romney only uttered the word “Mormon” once during his remarks in College Station, Texas, instead focusing on the role that religious diversity has played in American history and the importance of restoring faith in the public sphere.
The speech was likely the most important of Romney’s political career, and the event felt more like a State of the Union address than a campaign stop. Many of Romney’s Boston-based staffers made the trip to Texas, and the Secret Service was out in force to protect former President George H.W. Bush, who introduced the former Massachusetts governor. The campaign even released a photograph of Governor Romney making final edits to his speech, as if to draw attention to the enormity of this event.
Although the comparisons are inevitable John F. Kennedy’s iconic 1960 speech that dealt with the then Democratic nominee’s Catholic faith, Governor Romney only briefly alluded to President Kennedy and did not mention him by name.
“Like him, I am an American running for president,” Romney said. “I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.”
The biggest applause line from the invitation-only crowd of over 400 who filled the auditorium here came when Romney hearkened back to another political icon from his home state of Massachusetts—an American legend who achieved fame during the Revolutionary era, rather than the time of Camelot.
“Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot,” Romney said. “And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God, they founded this great nation.”
Romney has been reading Jon Meacham’s book on the Founding Fathers and the role their faiths played in establishing the United States, and it was clear from his many references to the early days of the nation that their ideals of religious tolerance were on the candidate’s mind.
“The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced,” Romney said.
While Kennedy’s 1960 speech emphasized the candidate’s belief in a firm separation of church and state, Romney’s speech promoted a symbiotic relationship between faith and American society. Romney said that rather than turning toward the “religion of secularism,” the United States should bolster the role that faith plays in the public sphere.
December 3, 2007 4:56 PM 
From CBS News' Scott Conroy, on the campaign trail with Mitt Romney:
Mitt Romney began his day in New Hampshire by delivering a lengthy presentation on fiscal policy. But the swarm of reporters at the Manchester Rotary Club was only interested in asking the Mormon candidate about one thing: his upcoming speech on religion, scheduled for Thursday.
Romney plans to discuss religion and politics at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, on Thursday. The move instantly drew comparisons to John F. Kennedy's 1960 speech on his Catholic faith, but Romney said he would focus on a separate but related topic: the role of religion in American society.
Romney said he wouldn't seek to demystify his own beliefs because he isn't seeking a religious office.
“Because I’m not running for pastor in chief,” Romney said. “I’m running for commander in chief. And there are ample opportunities for people who want to learn about a particular religion and its beliefs by going on Web sites or reading books. That’s really not the job I’m running for. That’s not the responsibility or the job I would take if I were president either. My job is to follow the Constitution and the rule of law and to do what’s best for America.”
Romney went on to take what might be considered an indirect jab at Mike Huckabee, whose campaign is running a TV advertisement that touts the Baptist minister’s resume as a “Christian leader.”
Romney Previews "The Speech"
(AP)
Mitt Romney began his day in New Hampshire by delivering a lengthy presentation on fiscal policy. But the swarm of reporters at the Manchester Rotary Club was only interested in asking the Mormon candidate about one thing: his upcoming speech on religion, scheduled for Thursday.
Romney plans to discuss religion and politics at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, on Thursday. The move instantly drew comparisons to John F. Kennedy's 1960 speech on his Catholic faith, but Romney said he would focus on a separate but related topic: the role of religion in American society.
Romney said he wouldn't seek to demystify his own beliefs because he isn't seeking a religious office.
“Because I’m not running for pastor in chief,” Romney said. “I’m running for commander in chief. And there are ample opportunities for people who want to learn about a particular religion and its beliefs by going on Web sites or reading books. That’s really not the job I’m running for. That’s not the responsibility or the job I would take if I were president either. My job is to follow the Constitution and the rule of law and to do what’s best for America.”
Romney went on to take what might be considered an indirect jab at Mike Huckabee, whose campaign is running a TV advertisement that touts the Baptist minister’s resume as a “Christian leader.”
October 11, 2007 12:48 PM
Is Romney Gaining Ground With Evangelical Leaders?
CBS News' Scott Conroy reports:
The morning papers carried two pieces of news that indicate Mitt Romney, whose Mormon faith has been an issue in this campaign, is making progress in winning over evangelical Christians.
The New York Times reports that Mark DeMoss, a prominent evangelical publicist, wrote a five-page letter to 150 conservative Christian leaders urging them to rally around Romney’s candidacy.
“After spending months researching his life and his record, and hours with him (and his wife and staff) in his home, his office and on the road, I am convinced his values practically mirror my own,” DeMoss wrote.
Meanwhile, The Washington Times reports that two other big-name evangelicals heaped praise upon Romney yesterday. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and American Values President Gary Bauer praised Romney while criticizing Mike Huckabee — the GOP candidate and Baptist minister whose theology might be most in line with theirs.
The morning papers carried two pieces of news that indicate Mitt Romney, whose Mormon faith has been an issue in this campaign, is making progress in winning over evangelical Christians.
The New York Times reports that Mark DeMoss, a prominent evangelical publicist, wrote a five-page letter to 150 conservative Christian leaders urging them to rally around Romney’s candidacy.
“After spending months researching his life and his record, and hours with him (and his wife and staff) in his home, his office and on the road, I am convinced his values practically mirror my own,” DeMoss wrote.
Meanwhile, The Washington Times reports that two other big-name evangelicals heaped praise upon Romney yesterday. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and American Values President Gary Bauer praised Romney while criticizing Mike Huckabee — the GOP candidate and Baptist minister whose theology might be most in line with theirs.
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
