Host Chris Wallace came out swinging with Mitt Romney this morning. Mitt looked vibrant, alert and powerful. His voice sounded tired-not surprising after the yesterday’s marathon talking.
Chris focused on questions about the diminished victory without Giuliani in the straw poll and the smaller turnout. Mitt gave the two strongest and best responses possible. First, the Straw Poll is a test run for the Caucuses. Like a good businessman, Mitt argues that the Caucuses require organization and the message and both should be tested before the Caucuses. If you can turn out thousands of people months before the first vote it’s a sign that message and organization are working.
Second, Mitt argues that Rudy and McCain dropped Iowa out of weakness and not strength. Mitt thinks that yesterday’s victory is also a sign that he can win the big one in November. The Mitt theory is that Iowa is a purple state. If Republicans can’t win here we probably cannot win the presidency so building in Iowa early is also a good general election plan. Planning like that is on target and bespeaks good strategic insight, another attractive attribute in a Presidential nominee.
Wallace asked about the compressed schedule and its uncertain affect on Romney’s plan to build momentum during the campaign following wins in Iowa and New Hampshire. Romney advanced the theory that he would be helped by the compressed schedule, although its hard to say how it will play out. Mitt seems to think that he would have a significant advantage of controlling the message.
Romney defended his record-talking about what he has done and not just what he wants to do. Mitt’s explanation of his transition to a pro-life policy ideology was is as compelling as it g ets. The analogy to Reagan as transitioning to a pro-life position once he had to actually confront action that counted, throwing in George HW and Henry Hyde as examples of other Republicans who made the same journey. Wallace continued on the abortion issue for several questions, pressing Mitt hard. Romney held up well and concluded that the other campaigns that attacked him missed the mark because Iowans on a hot day accepted his message. More importantly, Mitt appears to believe that the issue has hit the high-water mark and people have already either accepted or rejected him over it.
Chris floated the usual questions about how Mitt would differ from W. Mitt said that he would bring in a real good team from different backgrounds. Mitt sounded like he was approaching the “C” word (“culture”) to describe the nature of our current global conflict. Mitt want to change Islamic culture through a non-military focus on bringing Islamic nations to modernity (which most reject). Mitt was still very short on details, however. Mitt talks enough about a tough military approach that I think the persuasion might be delivered by Boeing and General Electric.
Wallace pounced on population and economic statistics. It appears that the macro numbers weren’t good for the Bay State during Mitt’s tenure. Mitt’s response was that he inherited a basket case and left 238 companies moving into Massachusetts. Only time will tell on this defense. God knows that the liberals are doing to Massachusetts what they want to do to the entire nation and if Mitt could even change the trend a true miracle would have occurred in Massachusetts.
The panel discussion featured Mike Glover, Carl Cameron and Michael Barone (with whom I had a good talk yesterday-smart and funny guy to be sure) as the special panel (like the Warren Report panel). Barone also talked about the reduced attendance. Glover echoed Romney that the end of the Clinton years drove a higher turnout in Ames eight years ago. However, Glover went much too far in claiming that there is an “angst” in the Republican Party. Such a statement was grossly inconsistent with the crowd Mike witnessed yesterday-this is what I mean by “media bias”.
Carl Cameron also placed the Straw Poll in a true statistical light. Since 4,000 people turning out-more than 10% of the total Caucus turnout so is a massive event. Moreover, I think it was Cameron who described the affect the rules changes had on turnout.
Carl said Romney might be hurt by the compressed schedule and Romney helped because the news in the first four weeks could shift attention from Giuliani in the big states where he has a big advantage now. Glover was on point by describing Romney strategy as the “old” primary strategy (win early, build Big Mo) and Giuliani’s as new (survive early/win big states later). Barone wouldn’t say which approach was better, saying it was an “open question”. Barone reasoned that Rs are more fluid this time out its too hard to even predict in August.
Barone concluded that Huckabee’s eloquence was coming into play and yesterday creates a new political day. Carl and Barone both opined that Evita is trying to humanize her image (no one really liked Madam Defarge and most voter’s think Hillary is even colder) and both said she was growing stronger in the primary. Glover stated the obvious, Edwards is a one state candidate at this point. Edwards has established personal relationships with Iowans but it is quite undetermined if he can overcome questions about his electability.
The second panel topic was the political crises for Democrats that their admissions that the Surge is working in Iraq. The current Democrat current whine is the obvious military success the US and our allies are experiencing in Iraq creates a bad general election posture come next year. What more could evidence the inherently antithetical relationship between most Democrat leadership and the concept of patriotism? For the Democrats, victory in Iraq would bring huge political repudiation at home and the Pelosi, Reid, Kerry and Harkin post office congress has chosen the catastrophe of national defeat for political victory. Barone agrees, at least in part, by citing the very bad problem a political party has when it is identified with defeat.
Cameron said Ds base is hard core anti-war and the candidates are pandering. Glover pointed the distinction as well, by showing he difference in Ds running for President and Ds running in only the general election in November.
Wipe off the smirks, Ds. We haven not yet egun to fight.
Chris focused on questions about the diminished victory without Giuliani in the straw poll and the smaller turnout. Mitt gave the two strongest and best responses possible. First, the Straw Poll is a test run for the Caucuses. Like a good businessman, Mitt argues that the Caucuses require organization and the message and both should be tested before the Caucuses. If you can turn out thousands of people months before the first vote it’s a sign that message and organization are working.
Second, Mitt argues that Rudy and McCain dropped Iowa out of weakness and not strength. Mitt thinks that yesterday’s victory is also a sign that he can win the big one in November. The Mitt theory is that Iowa is a purple state. If Republicans can’t win here we probably cannot win the presidency so building in Iowa early is also a good general election plan. Planning like that is on target and bespeaks good strategic insight, another attractive attribute in a Presidential nominee.
Wallace asked about the compressed schedule and its uncertain affect on Romney’s plan to build momentum during the campaign following wins in Iowa and New Hampshire. Romney advanced the theory that he would be helped by the compressed schedule, although its hard to say how it will play out. Mitt seems to think that he would have a significant advantage of controlling the message.
Romney defended his record-talking about what he has done and not just what he wants to do. Mitt’s explanation of his transition to a pro-life policy ideology was is as compelling as it g ets. The analogy to Reagan as transitioning to a pro-life position once he had to actually confront action that counted, throwing in George HW and Henry Hyde as examples of other Republicans who made the same journey. Wallace continued on the abortion issue for several questions, pressing Mitt hard. Romney held up well and concluded that the other campaigns that attacked him missed the mark because Iowans on a hot day accepted his message. More importantly, Mitt appears to believe that the issue has hit the high-water mark and people have already either accepted or rejected him over it.
Chris floated the usual questions about how Mitt would differ from W. Mitt said that he would bring in a real good team from different backgrounds. Mitt sounded like he was approaching the “C” word (“culture”) to describe the nature of our current global conflict. Mitt want to change Islamic culture through a non-military focus on bringing Islamic nations to modernity (which most reject). Mitt was still very short on details, however. Mitt talks enough about a tough military approach that I think the persuasion might be delivered by Boeing and General Electric.
Wallace pounced on population and economic statistics. It appears that the macro numbers weren’t good for the Bay State during Mitt’s tenure. Mitt’s response was that he inherited a basket case and left 238 companies moving into Massachusetts. Only time will tell on this defense. God knows that the liberals are doing to Massachusetts what they want to do to the entire nation and if Mitt could even change the trend a true miracle would have occurred in Massachusetts.
The panel discussion featured Mike Glover, Carl Cameron and Michael Barone (with whom I had a good talk yesterday-smart and funny guy to be sure) as the special panel (like the Warren Report panel). Barone also talked about the reduced attendance. Glover echoed Romney that the end of the Clinton years drove a higher turnout in Ames eight years ago. However, Glover went much too far in claiming that there is an “angst” in the Republican Party. Such a statement was grossly inconsistent with the crowd Mike witnessed yesterday-this is what I mean by “media bias”.
Carl Cameron also placed the Straw Poll in a true statistical light. Since 4,000 people turning out-more than 10% of the total Caucus turnout so is a massive event. Moreover, I think it was Cameron who described the affect the rules changes had on turnout.
Carl said Romney might be hurt by the compressed schedule and Romney helped because the news in the first four weeks could shift attention from Giuliani in the big states where he has a big advantage now. Glover was on point by describing Romney strategy as the “old” primary strategy (win early, build Big Mo) and Giuliani’s as new (survive early/win big states later). Barone wouldn’t say which approach was better, saying it was an “open question”. Barone reasoned that Rs are more fluid this time out its too hard to even predict in August.
Barone concluded that Huckabee’s eloquence was coming into play and yesterday creates a new political day. Carl and Barone both opined that Evita is trying to humanize her image (no one really liked Madam Defarge and most voter’s think Hillary is even colder) and both said she was growing stronger in the primary. Glover stated the obvious, Edwards is a one state candidate at this point. Edwards has established personal relationships with Iowans but it is quite undetermined if he can overcome questions about his electability.
The second panel topic was the political crises for Democrats that their admissions that the Surge is working in Iraq. The current Democrat current whine is the obvious military success the US and our allies are experiencing in Iraq creates a bad general election posture come next year. What more could evidence the inherently antithetical relationship between most Democrat leadership and the concept of patriotism? For the Democrats, victory in Iraq would bring huge political repudiation at home and the Pelosi, Reid, Kerry and Harkin post office congress has chosen the catastrophe of national defeat for political victory. Barone agrees, at least in part, by citing the very bad problem a political party has when it is identified with defeat.
Cameron said Ds base is hard core anti-war and the candidates are pandering. Glover pointed the distinction as well, by showing he difference in Ds running for President and Ds running in only the general election in November.
Wipe off the smirks, Ds. We haven not yet egun to fight.
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