Romney Joins Race For White House

Former Massachusetts Governor Formally Announces GOP Presidential Bid

(CBS/AP)  Mitt Romney officially entered the 2008 presidential race Tuesday, a former one-term Republican governor of Massachusetts suggesting that his record of leadership inside and outside government uniquely positions him to tackle the country's challenges.

"I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician," Romney said, seeking to turn a potential liability, his limited political experience, into an asset. "There have been too many deals, too many favors, too many entanglements — and too little real world experience managing, guiding, leading."

Romney's remarks were also a veiled swipe at his chief rival for the GOP nomination, four-term Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

In elective office only four years, Romney is not nearly as well known nationally as McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, political celebrities who consistently lead popularity polls.

But Romney, a serious contender even though he is little more than a blip in such surveys, is seeking to convince Republican primary voters that his record of success in the private, public and voluntary sectors proves he has the know-how to lead a country at a crossroads.

If elected, Romney will be the nation's first Mormon president.

To many Americans, the Mormon church is an unknown — shrouded in secrecy and stereotype, dating back more than a century when Mormons were allowed to have multiple wives, reports CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger.

A CBS News poll shows that most Americans don't know enough about the religion to have an opinion, though more than two-thirds say they could vote for a qualified Mormon.

"We have lost faith in government, not in just one party, not in just one house, but in government," Romney said. "It is time for innovation and transformation in Washington. It is what our country needs. It is what our people deserve."

And, Romney said, he is the candidate who has proven he can deliver.

"Talk is easy, talk is cheap. It is doing that is hard. And it is only in doing that hope and dreams come to life," Romney added.

A successful venture capitalist who amassed a fortune and the savior of the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Romney hopes the party's conservative wing will focus on his deft managerial skills — and set aside any uneasiness it may have about his faith and his credentials on issues it holds dear.

In what amounts to a made-for-TV coming-out tour, Romney announced his candidacy in Michigan, the place of his birth and upbringing as well as an important stop on the path to the GOP nomination. He then heads to other states that hold early primaries and caucuses — Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina — before returning to Boston for a major fundraiser. The three-day swing intended to introduce the strikingly handsome candidate to the nation.

Opening the tour, Romney gave a speech to hundreds of supporters at the sprawling Henry Ford Museum outside of Detroit, the automotive capital and a site chosen for its emphasis on ingenuity that changed the nation.

Juxtaposing the present with the past, Romney stood on stage at a podium before an American Motors Corp. Rambler from yesteryear and a Ford Escape Hybrid in the airport-hangar-like Henry Ford Museum, as he invoked the memory of his late father. A Michigan governor in the 1960s and an AMC chief executive, George Romney made a short-lived attempt at the presidency four decades ago.

A son seeking to succeed where a father failed, Romney became an official GOP presidential candidate. He was flanked by his wife since 1969, Ann, their five sons and five daughters-in-law, and the Romneys' 10 grandchildren — a not-so-subtle message that he is a family man.

[standlee5]

He's a good man and he'd make a good president. The fact that he's a Mormon is no different than if was a Catholic or Lutheran.

[plowhandle]

The Republiscum Party is DONE in America for at least the next twelve years. This is the legacy their putrid lies and promised broken have brought them.

As far as this cross-eyed Mormon inbred, he can run if he wants to spend some of Holy Church's cash...but it will be for naught. The American people know ENOUGH about his gutter 'religion' to know that they will never be allowed out of the state of Utah.

Just like Tom Cruise and the rest of the followers of 'scientology,' Mormon zealots have NO place in American life.

Go chase your white salamander, Mitt.

[briannorwood]

Hey random_radar:

It's not no morals and no values. It's just not your morals and your values.

[briannorwood]

From moron to mormon. I think not!

[frankly6]

random_radar

Morals and values are just catch words that fit neatly on bumper stickers and help Republicans get elected despite what they really stand for. They've found that using such words that they can get people to actually vote against their own interests. Of course once these people get elected, morals are out the window and the only things they value is power and money.

[random_radar]

"I saw Romney on the today show this morning, and he was talking of morals and values, I think the country has had it's fill of morals and values ever since 2000 election. LOOK WHAT MORALS AND VALUES HAVE BROUGHT US.
Posted by rharrin1 at 08:06 AM : Feb 14, 2007"

So I guess we should try immorality and no values? And I suppose that the Democratic candidates are proposing to do that? Last I checked, all candidates TALK about morality and values. At least until the election is over.

[skyk-2009]

STICK A FORK IN THE REPUBLICANS THEY ARE DONE FOR 08 THEY COULD RUN THE POPE AND HE WOULD LOSE! AMERICA DOES NOT WANT THEIR LIES AND HATRED!
Posted by bluestardad at 09:52 AM : Feb 14, 2007

Done for 08? If the Republican Party continues to have the Religious Reich as their King Makers, they are toast for as long as this generation has memory! Despite what Dobson, Falwell and the rest say, America is NOT Iran and DOES believe in the Seperation of Church and State....always have and always will.

[bluestardad]

STICK A FORK IN THE REPUBLICANS THEY ARE DONE FOR 08 THEY COULD RUN THE POPE AND HE WOULD LOSE! AMERICA DOES NOT WANT THEIR LIES AND HATRED!

[rharrin1]

Republican morals and values that is all we heard out of the coward in office before 2000 election. We really do not need anymore.

[rharrin1]

I saw Romney on the today show this morning, and he was talking of morals and values, I think the country has had it's fill of morals and values ever since 2000 election. LOOK WHAT MORALS AND VALUES HAVE BROUGHT US.

[michellem99-2009]

I don't beleive in Mormonism . The golden plates I don't think so. I won't vote this man. I will not ever become a Mormon as it is wrong for me. I love my hot cup of tea. BE CAREFUL. Joseph Smith was a crook. There is records of this. They brain wash persons into becoming Mormons. I have seen /felt the pain of others who was forced to live their life style. It ain't for me. I hope Romney don't win for persoal reasons. I am sure he is happy. Mormons tent to be pushy with their church. I worship God and His Son as I see fit. I have that right.

[jsilver2th]

Wait until the Bushes roll Jeb out- I tell you they don't want Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton- they want Bush, Clinton, Bush, Bush and more Bushells of money. McCain is yesterdays news already.

[moxford0]

The same people that ushered in intelligent design also brought us the war in Iraq. Of course it's God's will. What else could it be?

[hawksprings]

I always heard the golden plates are at the temple in Salt Lake City.
We oughta tell Mr. Romney that we'll automatically make him president if the Mormon church will let some scientists have a look at those plates and verify their validity.

[seachurn]

He sounds like a good candidate.

[scott4261]

As far as Mike Huckabee is concerned: as a resident of Arkansas, I can tell you that he has been a mixed bag here. On his watch, Medicaid was expanded to cover all uninsured children (with some seed money from the '90s tobacco settlement to start the project) and consolidating some school districts to improve educational opportunity in our public schools. (In both cases, he was dragged by more liberal forces to do the right thing.) Still, he is typical of southern religious conservatives when it comes to abortion and gay rights. He even had this weird "covenant marriage" - which is supposedly stronger than regular marriage because you are supposed to jump through more hoops before divorce - a couple of years ago. He also pardoned Wayne Dumond, who was a death row inmate who went on to murder again. He doesn't stand a chance at being president.

Mitt Romney really is the only true social conservative in the race. True, those fundamentalist Christians who buy this message will probably not vote for this man, should he be the nominee. They would prefer to stay at home than to vote for a member of a "cult."

Many fundies DO view Mormanism as a cult. They also believe his shift to social conservatism is in the interest of political expediency (they may be right about that one). At any rate, they'll stay home and the Democratic nominee will be our next president. Simple as that.

[random_radar]

"Huckabee is the only candidate that I think can survive the scrutiny of the ultra-right Christian conservatives. Without them, no Republican can win in this political climate. Sorry.

Posted by frankly6 at 01:01 PM : Feb 13, 2007"

I doubt the ultra-right is going to have much influence in this election. Whoever positions themselves in the center will win. Last I heard, Democrates still get to vote and they aren't all wild-eyed liberals any more than Republicans are all neofascists maniacs.

I personally will vote for Mickey Mouse as usual though.

[random_radar]

"Anyone who believes that an angel handed Joseph Smith the Book of Mormon in the form of gold tablets and that it later burst into flames destroying the evidence is too nutty to run the country. Sorry.

Posted by frankly6 at 12:33 PM : Feb 13, 2007"

I heard he handed the plates back to the angel after translating them. Like I said before, the stuff people post about Mormons here wouldn't make the grade in the National Enquirer.

This all sounds like the Kennedy campaign. Thankfully we elected a Catholic president and got that over with. Maybe in this election we will get either a Woman, a Mormon, or an African American as president and put another issue behind us.

I think the best indicator of what a candidate will do is what she has already done. Leopards really don't change their spots unless public opinion polls tell them too--and isn't that what being a representative of the people is all about?

[johnshaft4]

At least Psycho Bush heard from 'voices' from "God". Romney and his 'religion' get their marching orders from talking lizards (salamanders)...

[frankly6]

Huckabee is the only candidate that I think can survive the scrutiny of the ultra-right Christian conservatives. Without them, no Republican can win in this political climate. Sorry.