Giving Mitt Another Look

(AP Photo)

I've met Mitt, at a small event in Chicago this spring, and liked him well enough. Since then though, I've been bothered that he seems kind of remote on the campaign trail. I think John Hinderaker at Powerline puts his finger on the problem--Mitt's an amateur at politics, even though he served as Governor of Massachusetts.

Some would say this is not a fair criticism, it just means he's not an actor. (Nor is he a lawyer, another plus.) But it is what it is. That's our politics these days.

But I do think it's also fair to give Mitt Romney another look. This weekend he spoke in Michigan, an early primary state now (Jan. 15th) where he was born and his father served as governor. (Michigan is no shoe-in for Mitt, as it has an open primary, and could attract some Hillary-hating crossovers if the Dem nomination is all but wrapped up. This election cycle Giuliani would probably benefit rather than McCain, who openly appealed to independents in his run against Bush.) Romney goes after the base, with an implied criticism of congressional Republicans, suggesting he's the conservative change agent. AP:

"When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses," he said. "We've got to start acting like Republicans, not earmarking Republicans, not big government Republicans, but like Reagan Republicans and Teddy Roosevelt Republicans."

As Hinderaker also says, he would make an excellent, very competent president. (A tad boring, but very refreshing.)

And so far he's the exception in the race (Michelle Obama is the leader of this dubious distinction)--no overeager TMI from Romney's family--that's a good thing.

UPDATE: WSJ: Romney Tries to Show Voters He 'Gets It':

Republican Reframes Democrat-Owned Issues in Reach for the Middle: A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll this month found that 47% of respondents viewed the Republican Party negatively, one of the worst scores since the poll began in 1990. The poll showed health care second only to the Iraq war as a concern in voters' minds. More broadly, surveys show economic insecurity ranking with national security as a top worry for Americans.

"One of the reasons we're gaining some traction is people are saying we need a Republican party that gets it," said Tom Rath, an adviser to Mr. Romney and an influential Republican in New Hampshire, one of the early nominating states where Mr. Romney has a lead in polls. Poor education or health care "are things that can cut against the strength of a family or economy," Mr. Rath said.

And so Mr. Romney calls for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage -- and for developing renewable energy and improving schools. He quotes Ronald Reagan's famous put-down: "It's not that liberals and Democrats are ignorant. It's just that what they know is wrong." But he also touts bipartisanship.

I thought this ad was an example of Romney going mainstream, appealing to voters (at least married women) around here. And according to the WSJ's story, Romney is very persuasive in small groups.

UPDATE: A related story on the battle for independents, citing the same poll. Yahoo News:

Independents are not a lock for Democrats. The two major parties are each viewed favorably by only about one-fifth of independents, according to a recent NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll. The survey also found that 42 percent of them have an unfavorable view of the leading Democratic presidential contender, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. — the highest among each parties' major hopefuls.

Swing voters vote for the lesser of two evils, so with Hillary the probable Dem nominee that gives the GOP an opportunity.

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