The Note: Romney (Re)Considered

— -- WASHINGTON, Feb. 13

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) officially declared his presidential candidacy at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI at 9:00 am ET.

Later, Romney travels to Iowa where he delivers remarks at 2:00 pm ET at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines.

The AP's Liz Sidoti raises the curtain on Romney's announcement by offering a Romney 101 course for those just tuning in. LINK

The Michigan papers are oddly absent of tee-up coverage, and the Boston Globe's piece is short and almost indifferent, although the paper gets in this hostile (if factual) graph:

"Recent polls show Romney has significant ground to gain. A Detroit Free Press-Local 4 (WDIV-TV) poll earlier this month put Romney a distant fourth behind McCain, former New York City mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, and former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who hasn't committed to running. Romney's campaign downplayed the results, saying it was early in the nomination fight. But political observers were surprised he didn't fare better." LINK

Mitt Romney's biggest asset in this race: he has the eye of the tiger.

And his CEO and gubernatorial experience give him the executive mindset that voters have chosen in seven of the last eight presidential elections.

Along with John Edwards, he most closely embodies the totality of the sign in the Little Rock War Room: 1. Change versus more of the same. 2. It's the economy, stupid. 3. Don't forget about health care.

So Romney has a lot to offer. Here's what some of the other candidates would like from him:

John McCain wants Romney's: vigga (as they say in Massachusetts)
Rudy Giuliani wants Romney's: hair
Hillary Clinton wants Romney's: success on health care
Barack Obama wants Romney's: ability to eschew cigarettes
John Edwards wants Romney's: placement in his party's horserace

But Romney is not flawless. Here's what Romney would like from some of the other candidates:

Romney wants McCain's: war record
Romney wants Giuliani's: ability (so far) to avoid real scrutiny on heretical positions
Romney wants Clinton's: fundraising capacity
Romney wants Obama's: Oprah connection
Romney wants Edwards': killer instincts

Shortly after Romney outlines his vision for the nation before in his native Michigan, the team of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) shows its own killer instincts when he receives the support and endorsement of Michigan elected officials at a press conference organized by his presidential exploratory committee at the Radisson Hotel at 11:30 am ET in Lansing. Sen. McCain will not be in attendance.

The House of Representatives was scheduled to begin floor debate on the Iraq War Resolution at 9:00 am ET. Speaker Pelosi is expected to take the floor around noon ET.

"At the end of the debate, we will vote on a straightforward proposition: whether we support the President's plan or oppose it. That vote will signal whether the House has heard the message the American people have sent about this war; the current policies have not worked, will not work, and must be changed," Pelosi is expected to say, according to excerpts of her planned remarks released by her office.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) delivered 8:30 am ET remarks at the AARP's annual policy meeting at the Reagan Trade Building in Washington, DC.

Sen. Clinton also was expected to hold a news conference at the Capitol to introduce the Calling 2-1-1 Act with Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), United Way president Brian Gallagher, United Way Board of Trustees Chairman Rodney Slater, and United Way of the Midlands chairman Jamie Moore.

Tonight, Sen. Clinton receives a "National Service Lifetime Leadership Award" at a 6:30 pm ET reception of a coalition of national service and AmeriCorps organizations at Union Station in Washington, DC.

President Bush participates in a 10:00 am ET briefing on volunteerism at the White House, and visits the Anthony Bowen YMCA in Washington, DC at 3:00 pm ET.

Former Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA) delivers a major speech on energy security to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, CA at 2:30 pm ET, where he will also outline his plan to run an Al-Gore-style carbon-neutral campaign.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) delivers an 11:30 am ET speech at the opening ceremonies of the World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA.

RNC Chairman/Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) talks Iraq and other topics with Tucker Carlson on MSNBC at 4:45 pm ET. Chairman Martinez plans to dedicate some of his afternoon to doing national radio calls as well.

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) plans to appear on Bloomberg's "Money and Politics" from Santa Fe, NM at 5:36 pm ET. The conversation is expected to focus on energy independence, his plans for immigration reform, and the economy.

Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) is expected to appear on MSNBC at 11:00 am ET.

At 9:30 am ET, The Commission on "No Child Left Behind" released its final recommendations for reauthorization of the law, with former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI), Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), and former Gov. Roy Barnes (D-GA among participants. Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Miller hold a news conference to introduce a bill to boost college scholarships at 12:00 pm ET.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) hold a briefing in his office on Iraq and Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts at 11:00 am ET.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn, Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, and Caucus Vice Chairman John Larson hold a 1:30 pm ET press availability.

The Senate Democratic and Republican party luncheons occur behind closed doors in the Capitol at 11:30 am ET.

2008: Republicans: Romney announces:
"More members of Congress have announced support for Romney than for McCain: 26, including former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)," write the Los Angeles Times' Janet Hook and Tom Hamburger on Romney's increasing support inside the Beltway.LINK

John Weaver and Mark Salter have to wonder where all the gratitude went for all those trips their guy did on behalf of House candidates in the last few cycles.

The Des Moines Register's David Yepsen on the "meaty" questions Romney faces on social issues. LINK

On "Good Morning America," ABC News' Kate Snow looked at Romney's history and prospects.

On "Today," NBC News' Campbell Brown did the same.

"Plenty has been written about Romney's conservative conversion on social issues, but you in the New Hampshire GOP have historically been more concerned with how a candidate's record affects your wallet than your bedroom. And on that score, Romney's candidacy should give you pause," opines self-avowed "Republican operative turned journalist" Virginia Buckingham in her Boston Herald column. LINK

USA Today's Jill Lawrence Notes a new USA Today/Gallup Poll, which shows Romney's Mormonism as a potential hurdle in his presidential bid, where 72 percent of those polled say they would vote for a qualified nominee who is Mormon, compared with 94 percent for a black nominee and 88 percent for a female nominee. LINK

"Mitt Romney's flip flops are enough to make John Kerry blush," reads a Brownback campaign press release distributed to reporters on the eve of Romney's formal entrance into the presidential race.

Politics of Iraq:
USA Today's Susan Page reports on the latest USA Today/Gallup poll, which reveals 63 percent of those polled calling for a timetable for troop withdrawal by the end of 2008 and 57 percent who want a cap on troop levels while 58 percent oppose cutting off funding for troops. LINK