Tote Board Column -- 8/23 -- White Elephants

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• LorenzoJennifer said:

  "White Elephants"?  (Alan Keyes rises to object . . . )

  Michigan's moving up its primary date indicates the possible influence of Willard Mitt Romney.  Born in Michigan, son of a thrice-elected governor, he's headquartered his presidential campaign in Michigan.

  Romney has mounted intensive efforts in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina - getting to the nomination one state at a time - a political primary "domino theory."

  His Mormon faith will be tested as a political factor in South Carolina.  Yet, when he ran against Kennedy in 1994, for governor in 2002 and throughout his one 4-year term, I can't recall it getting much mention around here.  Indeed, when George Romney - his father - ran briefly in the 1968 presidential primaries, seems that Mormonism wasn't an issue then either.  John F. Kennedy spoke before a Greater Houston ministers group in September 1960 and put the Catholicism issue to rest.  Romney may be well-advised to do something like that.  

  Th flip-flop on major issues can be explained away by Romney as he was a "liberal" in 1994 and a "moderate conservative" in 2007. 13 years gives a respectable distance in which to change one's opinions.

  Romney looks like the eventual nominee as he personifies the values highly held by most Republicans.  From a good family, squeaky clean personal life, well-educated, wed once with five sons and ten grandchildren, the first successful businessman-candidate in decades, the legacy candidate who looks like a president.  Romney is a throw-back to the 1950s - the era of Ozzie and Harriett, Father Knows Best and Leave It To Beaver - a time of peace and prosperity, stability and optimism.    

  John McCain can thank the extended pre-primary season for giving him time to re-invent himself.  While New Hampshire may again get him a victory as it did in 2000, he should do well in South Carolina, home to so many retired military personnel.  The success or failure of the Iraq troop surge is a predictor of McCain's success as he's its most ardent backer.

  Rudy Giuliani?  Disagree about his being the strongest candidate in a general election.  In addition to all that's been said about his personal life, his limited electoral experience and being to-o-o-o New Yawk, he's been out of public office for 6 years and has a manner as intense and polarizing as Hillary Clinton.

  August 23, 2007 8:39 PM

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