by Rick Pearson
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa—Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney told a holiday reception of supporters that he won't predict whether he will win Iowa's first in the nation caucuses but has appreciated the campaign experience.
Speaking to several hundred people at a suburban hotel ballroom, Romney, who is locked in a tough battle in the nation's lead-off state with former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, continued to promote his campaign as one portraying strength.
"This is a time for calling on the goodness of America and the strength of America," the former Massachusetts governor said. "My campaign is about strengthening America, our jobs, our military, our families, our values."
Romney did not mention his challenge from Huckabee. Instead, he spoke about the importance of family and maintained that the country's culture helps to make it the most powerful nation on earth. The reason, he said, is "what we learn in our homes, what moms and dads teach their kids."
With only two weeks left in the Iowa campaign, Romney said he has appreciated Iowans and the "experience" his family has had in the state.
"I can't tell you whether I'm going to win or not. It's probably in your hands," said Romney, who was once the longtime frontrunner in Iowa before being eclipsed by Huckabee. "I don't know how many folks will be out there voting for me at the caucus but if it's more than two or three, I'm still appreciative."
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Comments
Wow...Pretty certain Willard won't be getting any endorsements from Christopher Hitchens:
http://www.slate.com/id/2178568/
http://www.slate.com/id/2165033/
Posted by: TheReamer | December 19, 2007 9:28 PM
Penalties for meth dealing in Arkansas under Governor Huckabee were far greater than the penalties in Massachusetts under Governor Romney. Governor Huckabee carried out the death penalty 18 times, something Governor Romney never had to do. Governor Huckabee is the right man at the right place at the right time! He has pledged not to raise taxes ever, to defend the United States and Israel against Iran and use a military strike if necessary, and to uphold traditional Christian values. GOVERNOR HUCKABEE IS THE NEXT RONALD REAGAN!
Posted by: Anand | December 19, 2007 9:33 PM
Huckabee is the next Howard Dean. Reagan was in no shape or form ever liberal, as Hickabee is on crime, illegal immigration, and taxes. Huckster's a panderer who speaks in platitudes and parables and is about to watch his candidacy sink back to Ron Paul status faster than fatburgers disappear from the Huckabee family picnic, judging from that photo on Drudge today, lol.
Posted by: Ron R. | December 19, 2007 10:29 PM
Mitt Romney has the brains, talent, organization and leadership to make agreat president. He has always been personally a social conservative and has never waivered on that issue despite the retoric being used to label him.
In Massachusettes, if a republican wanted to win there, he needed to concede on the abortion issue. I suppose liberals would just have republicans cede the race there.
Mitt will do a great job as president.
Posted by: Scott R. | December 19, 2007 10:30 PM
"GOVERNOR HUCKABEE IS THE NEXT RONALD REAGAN!"
Reagan must be turning in his grave with such a comparison. Reagan was not a religious bigot like the Huckster has become. Huckleberry cannot defeat Clinton so Iowa better wake up to that fact and vote for a candidtate who can.
Posted by: BEB | December 19, 2007 10:31 PM
I think Romney still has a strong chance of taking Iowa. As the people learn more of Huckabee's liberal-fiscal leanings, his numbers will deflate over time. Romney is the best organized and the smartest candidate, and he also has the strongest team and deepest pockets to win the nomination.
Posted by: David W. | December 19, 2007 10:41 PM
I think that when the dust settles on Iowa, the GOP even in the
evangelically influenced Iowa, is too smart to commit "Huckacide". Check out
the attached article and you decide if, when you check your gut, whether
Huckabee is the GOP hopeful.
Romney should not be condemned for being successful in every business
venture he has led and from that success drawing money to then serve the public good.
He never took a salary as Governor. He donated back the salary for saving
the deeply in debt 2002 Olympics and bringing them over 100 million in the black. Now, what he spends from his own pocket to show his commitment to this nation is painted as elitism?
He puts HIS money where his mouth is and does not rely
on pastors campaigning in churches across Iowa. (separation of church and
state....indeed!)
Posted by: Kelly Warnick | December 19, 2007 11:12 PM
In an article on realclearpolitics.com by Rich Lowery, he wrote,
"The ghost of Howard Dean haunts the pundit class. As soon as a candidate of either party spikes up in the polls, he is compared with Dean, who had a spectacular boomlet in the second half of 2003 only to deflate as soon as people began to vote in early 2004.
After many false prophecies, Dean circa 2008 has finally arrived. He is former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Not because he will inevitably blow himself up in Iowa. But because, like Dean, his nomination would represent an act of suicide by his party.
Like Dean, Huckabee is an under-vetted former governor who is manifestly unprepared to be president of the United States. Like Dean, he is rising toward the top of polls in a crowded field based on his appeal to a particular niche of his party. As with Dean, his vulnerabilities in a general election are so screamingly obvious that it's hard to believe that primary voters, once they focus seriously on their choice, will nominate him."
See entire article at:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/huckacide.html
Posted by: Kelly Warnick | December 19, 2007 11:38 PM
Anyone interested in what Huckabee is really like face to face should try this funny (but it actually happened) column:
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/02/title_14
Posted by: lane filler | December 20, 2007 12:11 AM
Some people say IOWA stands for idiots out walking around. Please prove us wrong. Anyone except huckleberry.
Posted by: Jason | December 20, 2007 3:18 AM
Amazing, even the Romney supporters can only seem to bash Huckabee with negative attacks that distort the facts. Like candidate, like supporter I guess. I like what Romney has to say on many of the issues, thats what he should be vocused on. When he uses out of context bits to try to paint a false picture of his opponents for his own profit, thats dirty. Thats the same as telling lies, and why I won't vote for him
Posted by: Edward V. Molinar | December 20, 2007 5:01 AM
There is something seriously flawed with people in this country when they want a president to defend traditional Christian values. Those who claim to defend it are so right-winged, they make radical Muslims look normal.
Posted by: RomanB | December 20, 2007 9:21 AM
Mike Huckabust is being exposed for what he is; A WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING"!
Posted by: Chris Gagne | December 20, 2007 11:19 AM
Was it just me, or did any one else notice that the very same day Mitt Romney was using the "L Word" - calling Mike Huckabee a "liberal" - Ron Paul was calling Mike Huckabee a "fascist". Mitt is just a self-serving flip-flopper whose millions are not going to buy him the White House. The ends don't justify the means (your half-truths, distortions,exaggerations and lies), Mitt. Give it a rest!
Posted by: Hizway | December 20, 2007 8:57 PM
The most intellegent, the most experiance, the best hope for Americas future!
Mitt Romney
Posted by: Dan Garcia | December 21, 2007 2:26 AM
Wow...Pretty certain Willard won't be getting any endorsements from Christopher Hitchens:
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Posted by: TheReamer | December 19, 2007 9:28 PM
Not that I'm a Willard fan (because I'm not), but Who really gives a rat's ass (pun intended) what Christopher Hitchins thinks?
Posted by: John W. | December 21, 2007 8:13 AM
Some people say IOWA stands for idiots out walking around. Please prove us wrong. Anyone except huckleberry.
Posted by: Jason | December 20, 2007 3:18 AM
Are you going to say the same thing when Iowans choose a Democrat candidate too?
This is both offensive and idiotic. Prove that you aren't a nitwit.
Posted by: John W. | December 21, 2007 8:38 AM
Mitt says he's Bush's best buddy now! He LOVES what Bush has done to the country.I can undesrtand - it IS hard to criticize the the person who is single handedly responsible for the next depression that will be sweeping the country a year or so from now when he's safely out of office. The person who added TRILLIONS to our national debt and committed us to TRILLIONS more keeping Iraq safe from terrorism (HAH!) when 20 of the 24 9-11 hijackers were SAUDI. The guy who made the whole Islamic world unite against us, sure be hard to find fault with that. Good thing Romney supports him - the rotten little sneaks should all be readily identifiable. He's probably using his warrantless wiretapping now to help Romney campaign. Any Republican with a shred of integrity would have Bush impeached and imprisoned for his war crimes partly, but mostly for his crimes against the Constitution! Support the Constitution - Vote Ron Paul!
Posted by: Louis Nardozi | December 22, 2007 1:11 PM