Change Is Now Romney’s Mantra Too
EmailABC’s John Berman, Ursula Fahy, and Matt Stuart Report: Mitt Romney is hopping on Barack Obama’s bandwagon… sort of.
The former governor of Massachusetts who finished a distant and disappointing second in Iowa, landed in New Hampshire declaring that, like Obama, he is a candidate of change. Romney pointed to the Iowa victories of Obama, a Senate neophyte, and Mike Huckabee from Arkansas as proof that “people in this country are angry at Washington.”
“People want change,” he told reporters in Portsmouth. “Everywhere I have been, I have brought change.”
The blatant, repeated emphasis on “change” represents a change for Romney, who while always touting himself as an outsider and a “turnaround" master, has focused on his social, economic, and security credentials in recent days.
But Romney’s failure to win Iowa puts him in a position where he needs to turnaround his own campaign.
Romney advisers in New Hampshire say their internal polling data has shown them trailing Arizona Sen. John McCain in the Granite State. They have released a spate of negative television ads in recent days, which criticize McCain for his stance on immigration and for voting against the Bush tax cut. Romney advisers say the ads have helped them close the gap with McCain in recent days.
Romney is also using his apparent enthusiasm for the word change as a way to draw distinctions with McCain.
“There is no way Senator McCain is going to be able to come to New Hampshire and declare that he is the candidate of change,” Romney said. “He is Washington.”
One silver lining seen by the Romney camp is the enormous buzz surrounding Obama. They hope Obama will sweep-up independent voters in New Hampshire, who might otherwise be inclined to support McCain. In New Hampshire, independent voters can take part in either primary.
Romney attributed his loss in Iowa to the “natural constituency” that Huckabee had among evangelicals because of his past as a Baptist minister. Romney said Huckabee was able to generate much bigger numbers among evangelicals than his campaign expected. In fact, Romney claimed, he beat his own campaign’s turnout projections of what they thought hey would need to win.
When asked if he wished he had done anything differently in his Iowa campaign, Romney said, “No,” but “had I been a Baptist minister, I would have taken a different path.”
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Romney change his position, say it isn’t so!!!
Posted by: TimTom | January 4, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Let me just summarize here for the hard-headed in the Media and in Washington because I feel like we’ve reached a rare moment of clarity:
The press, the pundits, the privileged and the parties themselves don’t get it:
- It IS the economy, STUPID!
- Among leaders, voters demand authenticity and conviction of belief first and foremost.
- People are tired of partisanship and demand action.
- The people of America are not beholdant to the past or the institutions of status quo (media, republican party, democratic party).
- The American people ARE in control and guess what!? They KNOW it and WILL act when necessary to change the course of the future.
If you’re in Washington or running for office and you’re not a candidate who understands this, you are in for a rude awakening in 2008.
Posted by: Aaron Hassen | January 4, 2008, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
What a great shot of Romney “holding his finger up in the wind”. Hopfully voters can see him for the opportunist that heis, blowing in the wind ,saying anything to win an election.
Posted by: Dan Alejandro | January 4, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
The only think Romney can change is his stand on any given issue. Just more of the same old rhetoric designed to fool the voters that he deserves their vote. This man has changed his stand on the issues more than most people change their socks. Just another rich dude who wants to get into the White House so he can protect corporate interests. No thanks!
Posted by: Brian G. | January 4, 2008, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
I’m from the State Mitt Romney used to Govern. He made some changes alright, he made it illegal to opt out of the biggest rip off in American History. He made it law that everyone in my state, employed or not MUST buy health insurance or be fined monthly and loose their State Tax returns. I sure hope he don’t get the honor of making any changes at the federal level, my only way out would be suicide then. The only flip-flopper I’ve seen bigger than Romney is the last Massachusetts Democrat to run for President, that would be John Kerry.
Posted by: oobe | January 4, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Is this a critixism of W? How dare he! He’s not a good Republican.
Posted by: TSnow27604 | January 4, 2008, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
Every one of these politicians will say anything to get into office and then they don’t fulfill the promises they made to be elected. Even if they did, they would have to have the House and Senate work towards the same goal and that ain’t going to happen. One party fights the other party just because the other party came up with the idea – it’s ashame they don’t care what we the people that pay their salaries want. They immediately forget how they got where they are and who put them there.
Posted by: lovesanimals | January 4, 2008, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
Are we looking for best bass-player or ‘most likeable’ to run this country or are we looking for a person of ‘intelligence’ and ‘ability’ to take on the big issues this country faces. Mitt Romney has my vote as President of the United States of America!
Posted by: Michael | January 4, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
Romney will do ANYTHING to be elected…. I don’t trust this guy at all… This guy is much too into himself…
Changing his tactics? He’s changing his tactics to win, not to actually bring any substantial change to the USA.
He was a lousy governor of Massachusetts and would be a really bad President. God help us all!
Posted by: Brandon | January 4, 2008, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Mitt Romney was a great governor for us in Massachusetts, he fought hard against all the liberals in this state to get done what he did get done. Deval has yet to make true any campaign promise, but managed to waste alot of our tax dollars on himself(New Car, New Office and so on)
Mitt Romney will bring change to the US He will make a great president and I can’t wait. Go Mitt Go!!!
Posted by: Dennis | January 4, 2008, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
In addition to what Brian G. noted above our former Governor also left us with a 1.3 billion dollar deficit, scared away business and was not able to attract any all of the promises that he made to become the Governor of the Commonwealth. We rank 49th for jobs in the 50 state country – figure it out folks. He may be nice looking but is certainly rotten on the inside. The only wealth he looked out for was his own, especially his summer home up to Lake Winnepauske in New Hampshire.
Anyone who is considering a candidate look at the state that they came from, talk to people who live there find out what they said they did and compare it with reality.
Posted by: James | January 4, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Thank you James….. you are indeed correct….
Living in Massachusetts has been very difficult under Mitt’s glove. I am very happy that he is no longer the Governor here.
Posted by: Brandon | January 4, 2008, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
What a phony – Romney must first learn to be true to himself before he can be true to the American people, I would bet good money this guy has paid cash to illegal landscapers or house keepers , I am surprise the other canidates have not looked into this matter !
Posted by: TYSPOCK | January 4, 2008, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
The international community knows that Mitt Romney lead a troubled 2002 Winter Olympics to a smashing success. I feel Mitt Romney would help us repair our nations image in the world. He has lead a successful business and he has lead a stable family for over 30 years. What more can this country ask for. What other candidate has a proven track record like Romney. He also looks and acts presidential.
Posted by: Teresa | January 4, 2008, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
Michael …Do you have any clue as to what his record is??? Use your head before opening your mouth.
Posted by: Truth | January 4, 2008, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Teresa..you too!! You people you know nothing about Romney, he has a PROVEN history of screwing taxes up in Massachussetts and is the biggest flip flopper probably ever. Teresa, you are willing to vote for a man because he looks presidential.
Posted by: Truth | January 4, 2008, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Romney is a clear sign that many in the USA simply will NEVER GET IT… not even after GWB, these people will flounder aimlessly from snake-oil salesman to fortune-teller for answers… they simply DO NOT GET IT. This is the one draw-back to allowing ANYONE with a face and US citizenship to cast a vote. Heaven help us all.
Posted by: RW | January 4, 2008, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
I agree with Teresa, Mitt would definately help repair our nation’s image. Besides if any foriegner speaks ill of the good ‘ole U.S. of A. we always have Guantanamo. Heck, Mitt could personally finance doubling Guantanamo. Yep, our image abroad will be spectacular.
Posted by: Doug | January 4, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
No one said that Mr. Romney didn’t do a good job with the Olympics. His wife Ann is actually the best part of him – their 30 year marriage has nothing to do with his ability to run a country. He may look and act “presidential” however we truly need someone who isn’t going to continue the past several years and improve our standing in the world. If Mitt can’t deliver on promises for one state we cannot expect him to do so for all 50.
Posted by: James | January 4, 2008, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Mitt/Mint is a boob, whatever the religion. Bye bye now, you scheming loser.
Posted by: Jasper vonDropcloth | January 4, 2008, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
Romney is slick, dishonest, snake oil salesman who has nothing in common with the average American. He only cares about himself. We mean nothing to him. He has lied over and over again during this campaign. He lies about his opponents. He changes what his beliefs are depending on who is listening. He is a CON ARTIST and a hollow, shame of a person. He ran away when the country was drafting for the Vietnam war, he grow up rich and screwed up everything he touched. His record is not what he says it is. He is the WORST candidate in the GOP race.
Posted by: mike | January 4, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Mitt’s like a magic 8 ball – you get a different answer every time :) I love the fact he proudly states he never issued a pardon in MA because he stands by the law and our court systems. He then pandors to conservative voters by saying he would pardon Scooter Libby convicted by the US Federal Court for leaking the name of a CIA operative to the press. Oh Mitt – maybe you can “see” your way to the truth like you “saw” your father marching with Martin Luther King :)
From my view Mike Huckabee seems to be the stand-up candidate representing the Republicans in the Iowa Caucus.
Posted by: Dave | January 4, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
How can you not believe a person who thinks that Jesus rose from the dead and popped up in the middle of America among the American Indians, that his version of the bible is true and the ‘other’ bible is false, that his magic underwear brings him closer to his God, that a 14 year old kid who thought having 10 wifes who are his slaves found magically stones in the middle of the woods with writing that ONLY he can see (i.e. no one could see anything because it was just a stone). He belongs to a cult- just like Scientology.
Posted by: stacy | January 4, 2008, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Mitt Romney’s real problem: He looks like he sleeps in a shirt and tie.
Posted by: Chas | January 4, 2008, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
If we watched the turnout of Independents we can see that the Democrats have a 2to1 advantage in voters. The Republicans can’t afford that kind of turnout going forward. They have to pull in Independents to have any hope of winning the general election. Otherwise you can pretty much count the Democrat’s nominee as the next President.
Posted by: lorax_mbell | January 4, 2008, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
I had an epiphany – finally. Passion is the sure test of irrationalty. The passion with which some people criticize Mitt – clearly shows how much they hate his religion. It is the same hatred which made caucusers to show up in hordes in Iowa caucus.
With so much religious antipathy, Mitt’s only chance is to run an Obama like campaign… focussing more on independents and non-bigot conservatives. The bigots – who have never understood Christ message of universal love – will never support him
Posted by: Dash | January 4, 2008, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
The joys of being an Independent is that you look at all of the candidates, not just voting for a “party”. I intend to vote for for the person who I think brings the best qualifications to the job. I’m not currently looking at Party other than to determine who the top few are on each side and read up on them.
Everyone should evaluate candidates in the hopes that whomever we collectively pick will do the least amount of damage while they reside at 16oo Pennsylvania Ave.
Perhaps we should revert to a system where there was no party, whoever got the most votes was President and whoever got the next highest amount was Vice-President and eliminate the Electoral College.
Posted by: James | January 4, 2008, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
The Republican Party really doesn’t have much of a chance. Huchabee’s base cannot carry him in the general election; especially when running against Obama. The evangelicals will split on racial lines. Romney has a problem with evangelicals spitting on his faith and other opposition counts him as member of the upper class even though he has worked and earned his way; apparently no one should be an over achiever. McCain is representative of the old guard and does not carry a banner for a significant change. Thomson is coming across as tired and won’t be able to see any viable change through. Paul represents change that seems to be too radical and that worries allot of people. From my perspective Obama has to do something really stupid for the Republican Party to have a chance. But that chance won’t be with Huckabee or McCain. Romney has do a better job in presenting his credentials by showing people why he has been successful and Paul needs to appeal to moderates and independents.
Posted by: lorax_mbell | January 4, 2008, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
**Attention Mitt Romney Supporters** Look I just want to say that everything is going to be ok moving forward. Don’t let, as Ronald Reagan used to say, the “doom and gloom” from the press get you down”.
Mitt did as well as he possibly could have in Iowa even if he had spent another 50 million dollars the result would have been the same. Historically the only “issue” that Republican Iowans ever vote on is “Who’s the most Evangelical candidate?”. Look I’m an evangelical Presbyterian and I can tell you that Mitt being Mormon didn’t have anything to do with why folks voted the way they did. Back in 1980 Ronald Reagan came in second in Iowa and the reason why he did was because he to had flipped flopped on abortion as Governor of California so instead George Bush won. George Bush was the most “evangelical” candidate running so he gets the vote and the Gold while Ronald Reagan got the Silver.
So Romney supporters don’t sweat it and don’t loose that “passion” that you have for Mitt Romney. The anti-Mitt propaganda that we are all exposed to now coming from the wolfpack press is intended to demoralize, erode, and destroy “YOUR” COURAGE!. Don’t let it destroy your courage because Mitt Romney is the very best candidate running in 2008 and a candidate that would change not only our country but the world if given the chance.
So lets all “maintain!!” and keep everything in perspective
Posted by: Allen Ridge | January 4, 2008, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
How fast was it that all the candidates jumped on the CHANGE message last night? I could have been an advisor last night to all those who flip-flopped like fish just hauled in. ME TOO…ME TOO they crooned. I doubt that Edwards or Obama would serve as the other guys VP, but perhaps they have thought about it by today at noon. Keep on keeping on Dennis K and try and keep the slate level-headed. The MAINSCREAM media hates a landslide and will do everything possible to skirt one of those deals…
Posted by: daddyblue | January 4, 2008, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
CORRECTION: My last posting should have been addressed to STACY, not DAVE. My apologies to you, Dave, for my mistake.
Posted by: Adam | January 4, 2008, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
Thank you Adam, but I think it was Stacy that posted that comment. So, Stacy, I am also frightened that you have a political voice. Do they preach this stuff to you in church? What would Jesus do? Talk bad about other religions? No. I don’t get it. The one place where you are supposed to go to learn more about Jesus, teach you how to hate Mormons.
Mitt is great for the presidency. Look at him! He’s the smartest and brightest! The most confident! Some people are mistaking that for “into himself.” Well if you were going into surgery would you want a doctor telling you, “I THINK I can do this job.” No way! You would want a confident doctor. Mitt is confident. He has a worth of over 100 million. That is success! Don’t we want that in america and in a leader? Oh I get it, we want someone working at McDonalds to be our President because he’s more like us. We don’t want someone like us! We want someone who’s succeeded more than us in life to lead us! We want a president that says I can do this for America! And that is Mitt! GO MITT!
Posted by: natalie | January 4, 2008, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Please! Anybody but Huckabee. I am a diehard Republican that likes all of the candidates but Huckabee. If he wins, I will vote for Obama. What kind of a person votes for a person just because of his religion. Its the definition of ignorance.
Posted by: S Gillette | January 4, 2008, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
The claims that Mitt has only recently “jumped on the bandwagon” of change is just another attempt by the media to wrongly portray him as a flip-flopper. Romney has been talking about change for months. Just go to his website and see the first time his add titled “Change begins with us” aired.
He has been preaching for a long time that Washington is broken and change is needed. That is one of the central themes of his message.
Look closely at his record. Romney is not the flip-flopper that he is made out to be. He has been more consistent on the issues than any other candidate. The one change he did make was on abortion. This was a flip, not a flip-flop.
Recent presidents who have changed their positions on abortion:
Reagan
Bush Sr.
Clinton
Other politicians who have also changed their positions on abortion:
Al Gore
Dick Gephart
Jesse Jackson
Romney’s record is impeccable. He has never had any hint of ethical misconduct or scandal. The only thing people can pin on him is to wrongly call him a flip-flopper. Look at his record. He is the most qualified to run the government.
Posted by: Phil | January 4, 2008, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
This is NOT a new ‘mantra’ for Mitt. It has long been at the center of his campaign and the article admits it, talking about his success as a turnaround genius. Why they are trying to make it sound like he’s is just jumping on a bandwagon I don’t know.
Mitt is clearly the smartest candidate in this race.
Posted by: Steve | January 4, 2008, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
Romney is now whining that he lost in Iowa because there were so many of those funny Evangelicals there and there are fewer in New Hampshire so he will win there even though the leading newspaper there calls him a phoney. This from a Mormon, a group that many Christians, non-Evangelicals, see as a cult. Smart move Williard.
Posted by: Luke | January 4, 2008, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
Why is that the only polically correct religion to bash is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Would the same type of comments be tolerated about Jews, Quakers, Hindus? How about other races? Please exercise common decency rather than spewing your ignorance about people that share the same values you claim to treasure so much.
Posted by: Chris | January 4, 2008, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
I don’t get it. Romney has had change as his mantra for months now. What is all the hype? He don’t borrow it from Obama.
Romney did wonders in Massachusetts and the fact that it was extremely liberal is another plus. It might be 49th in union for job creation, but you have to look at the deficits and the negatives in Massachusetts to understand this. There are very strong unions that are overly paid which makes it very difficult to bring businesses into the state. Why? The liberal state that it is. Romney actually slightly increased jobs, but what you don’t get is all the fiscal changes he did that brought a balanced budget. Complain all you want, but he made dramatic and important changes to Massachusetts. If you don’t like the health care there then maybe you don’t understand that he brought it with little cost to the poor. All of a sudden even if people get low cost health care they start to complain. Liberals want to have health care for free for all. Mitt did a more intelligent health care system that was very different and being looked at by many other states.
The ads that say he supported abortion in that health care system are out right lies. This was mandated by the state courts. Of course, Huckabee, “The Positive Condidate”, never clarified this in his negative stump speeches. Cough on the word “Positive” for him.
Posted by: ArtMe | January 4, 2008, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
The phony “Christians” have to pick on his faith because they can’t fault his accomplishments. It is the same mentality that destroyed homes and left destitute women and children to die. Apparently some still don’t have a heart.
Posted by: lorax_mbell | January 5, 2008, 1:59 am 1:59 am
This isn’t about religion. I went to school with Mormons and several of them were close friends. As the family of a Protestant minister (who is not Mormon) we’ve had many great interactions with Mormon missionaries and I applaud their tremendous dedication to Christian service and family. However, like most groups, there’s a bad apple in every bunch… and unfortunately, there the ones who usually have all the power! I lived in Massachusetts during the Romney era and have seen firsthand that he is a charlatan who will say ANYTHING to get elected. I am a New Hampshire voter and he will NOT get my vote in the primary… or in any election for that matter. If you want real change, take a look at Obama or Edwards.
Posted by: Kathi | January 5, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am
Mitt Romney will maintain our nation’s prosperity by fixing our economy. Mitt Romney definitely has my vote!!
Posted by: Rich | January 5, 2008, 11:26 am 11:26 am
I sincerely believe that the liberal leaning press of our great country wants a weak, banjo-playing snake oil huckster to be the republican nominee. that way all the liberal democrats can destroy our country like nancy palosi and reed. MITT ROMNEY is our only chance to have a decent president when bush leaves office. romney had to spend his own money and that of the public donors, but huckster huckabee got the free media. we have to win this contest everyday to save our republic from the “free press”. May God bless our country and MITT ROMNEY.
Posted by: sue england | January 5, 2008, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
This article goes to show how lame the media really is when it comes to reporting politics. Mitt Romney has been preaching “change” since the beginning of his campaign. You people need to stop listening to the press and start listening to the candidates!
Posted by: Susan | January 5, 2008, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm