Video: Romney’s first campaign ad
posted at 11:21 am on February 20, 2007 by Allahpundit
The Iowa caucuses are 11 months away but it’s never too early when you’re in fourth place behind a guy who’s not even running.
This will hit the airwaves tomorrow in Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire and South Carolina. It’s fine, albeit completely generic. Exit question: if you’re running as the social con in the race and no one knows who you are, wouldn’t you want to at least mention abortion and gay marriage in your first ad?
Update: Meanwhile, Barry O’s picking up a little momentum. If Gore drops out and when Edwards drops out, Obama stands to inherit most of their supporters as the most liberal candidate left in the race. Note the number of undecideds, too.
Blowback
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I must say that I liked that message. He’s very well spoken.
Matticus Finch on February 20, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Anyone who is a Republican and can be elected governor to the liberal state of Taxachusetts certainly has a good chance in the presidential election. He seems to have it all. I don’t agree with all of his politics, but he puts national interest against terrorism as a number one issue. Let’s not forget that if we are not safe, we don’t have anything. My goodness, he is still married to the same women for many years. Good family man – husband, father and grandfather. I picked him out along time ago and am so glad that he is in the race. He has my support.
bjb on February 20, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Aimed directly at the Reganites. Taxes trump everything else.
The ‘Jihadist’ line was a total PC piece of crap. ‘Islamic Terrorist’ is old news I guess.
Limerick on February 20, 2007 at 11:34 AM
AP, are you paid staff for the Mitt man yet?
As for our confused AA runner…
B. Hussein Obama is a much better moniker than barryO, it is his real name ya know. Describes him well too.
shooter on February 20, 2007 at 11:35 AM
I like him less every time I hear him speak. Just gut feeling, but I can’t shake it.
CourtZero on February 20, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Meh, he seems just like every other a-hole politician in the universe. Here’s a little bit from his wife, here’s footage of him speaking in front of an American flag, he doesn’t like taxes or activist judges, “we’ve got challenges and it’s time for new leadership, strong leadership, butch leadership” blahblahblah. Watching this is like watching a Dick Lugar ad from 1999. Do we really think this dude has a chance against Rudy or McCain?
Enrique on February 20, 2007 at 11:46 AM
What the hell is a “Mitt”?
How can grow men be taken seriously while hanging on to their boyhood names?
Tru2my2 on February 20, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Me too, actually, and I’m not sure why. It’s not his policies; it’s just something about the way he comes across.
Allahpundit on February 20, 2007 at 11:48 AM
grow=grown.
groan.
Tru2my2 on February 20, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Something is missing…others have said the same thing. Is he too Stepford? Posished? Great voice, looks like a leader, great looking wife, intelligent, can win in a liberal state…but something is amiss. Maybe we are ready for a fighter, not so polished, someone that can get down to business. I dunno.
right2bright on February 20, 2007 at 11:58 AM
I really can’t stand when social moderates, such as Romney and McCain “re-think” their position and go more to the right, in order to with the Primary Election. Of course, they tack towards the center in the General Election, and then I’m no longer mad at them.
SO FAR, I don’t think Guliani has done much of that yet. That makes me even more interested in wanting him to win, I also do agree with his social positions as well (which I know is in deep disagreement with many on this board, but that’s what I think).
The Romney ad exaggerated just a bit. Warren Buffett is a business legend. Bill Gates is a business legend. Mitt Romney is not. Its speaks volumes (in a good way, I think) for a Republican to be elected Governor of Massachusetts, but it’s not like the state was in a shambles when he took it over, and now it’s the best-run state in the union. I don’t live in Massachusetts, but from what I read, he did a good job. Did he do a FANTASTIC job? I’m not so sure about that.
asc85 on February 20, 2007 at 11:59 AM
I think it’s his almost absolute lack of passion.
Slublog on February 20, 2007 at 12:00 PM
His real name is Willard Milton Romney. You think he should go with Willard instead? I could see Slick Willie part deux. How about Milton? Besides, Rudy was already taken.
If everyones favorite conservative can go by Newt, I can live with Mitt.
JackStraw on February 20, 2007 at 12:03 PM
I’m glad that I’m not the only one who likes him less everytime he opens his mouth.
Catie96706 on February 20, 2007 at 12:03 PM
He’s being too tenative. He speaks like a Reaganite but doesn’t hit the message hard enough. Yet. Some in the republican party hold Ronny in too high esteem and fear falling under his shadow by not living up to his name. Mitt will do better if he will campaign as “Mitt” and let the chips fall where they may.
Taking a chance that the American people are, in their heart of heartss, conservative, is not a mistake! THAT is what made Ron successful. He communicated ideals that regular americans could identify with and they gave him the trust a president needs to accomplish his goals. Bush has utterly failed at that with everyone except those of us who understand the stakes that are at risk. Mitt needs the trust of the regular folks who don’t have the time or inclanation to be politically involved. The best way to do that is to speak to their minds with logical ideas.
Mitt has a year to figure it out and if he needs an example other than Ron, just take a look at Newt.
csdeven on February 20, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Ya gotta admit, though – the hair? Very presidential.
Farmer_Joe on February 20, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I thought it was an okay first ad.
BUT, no one is going to give him props for using the term Jihadists?
…maybe if in his ad he dressed like Rambo and shot guns at targets of Illegal aliens and Osama bin laden? jeez folks…
What I wanna see is the debates I think he will mop the floor he is very articulate!
-Wasteland Man
WastelandMan on February 20, 2007 at 12:39 PM
I don’t know if I’m at that point YET about disliking him more upon each subsequent exposure to him, but he defnitely doesn’t do anything for me. The big flip-flops don’t help, that he’s from Massivetwoshits doesn’t either. Combine that with a wide-spread reservation about the Morman religion and I just don’t know how electable he is.
Perhaps people are skittish on him because we heard a lot of good conservative talk when Bush was running, and look how that turned out.
The best and strongest conservative around, IMO, is Newt. I think he’d scorch the primary and if given a half-way fair shake in the press (yeah, right) would destroy any democrat opposition. He’s smarter than them all, and extremely articulate.
Yet, is anyone more electable and largely palatable than Rudy?
Darksean on February 20, 2007 at 12:45 PM
He comes across too much as “we’ve got this act polished and focus-grouped down to the smallest detail”. May not be true, but it feels too much like that. I feel the package more than the man.
A shame, because Romney says some good stuff. But I lack the grit, rough-edges and sense of honesty I felt in W in the primaries, that made him stand out. I doubt Romney has the ability to get through this campaign unscathed.
Halley on February 20, 2007 at 1:03 PM
What, I missed something? Gore is running? Again? What? Whoa.
emmaline1138 on February 20, 2007 at 1:03 PM
I feel exactly the same way, and NO, it’s not because I like McCain. I WANT to like Mitt. I want him to be able to beat Hillary. I mean he agrees with me on every issue and it’s nice that he is still married to the same woman, but there is something there I just can’t put my finger on.
Maybe it is that stepford thing. I just don’t know.
Rightwingsparkle on February 20, 2007 at 2:03 PM
He gives me the creeps for some reason. He may win me over b/c I vote with my head, but he just seems too groomed for the job somehow. If he comes out with guns blazing and throws caution to the wind he might get my vote. Otherwise I won’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth.
RW Wacko on February 20, 2007 at 2:09 PM
Still on the fence about Mitt. But I find it amusing people want him to come out “guns ablazin’”. Usually when people do that they have a Howard Dean moment and are quickly out of the race…Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!
b4itsover on February 20, 2007 at 2:48 PM
Maybe what Romney needs is a Dukakis/Bernard Shaw moment.
ccwbass on February 20, 2007 at 2:50 PM
There is an useful interactive map at this link that states his positions on various topics. It’s on the left margin of this site. In case anyone is interested.
Guardian on February 20, 2007 at 3:04 PM
I think it’s because Mitt lacks charisma. Ultimately, he’s just this guy who had some jobs and did pretty good at those jobs and was responsible, etc. He’s pro forma.
Guiliani is like God to all patriotic Americans – Mitt’s just this dude. I’m sure he’s a nice dude, but when you’re thinking about the next President, you gotta shoot higher than nice dude.
Enrique on February 20, 2007 at 6:54 PM
It’s creepy the way he sort of awkwardly shuffles his feet around to turn his whole body, instead of just turning his head.
Tanya on February 20, 2007 at 8:32 PM
Hopelessly contrived. Did he really just start an ad with “Mitt Romney, Business Legend…”? Please.
Jaibones on February 20, 2007 at 9:26 PM
It’s too soon to dismiss him out of hand. It is not even March 2007, folks. There is plenty of time to see what he has in his head, his heart, and in his platform.
While I am currently leaning toward Rudy, Mitt might not be a bad person to consider for a possible VP slot. But like I said, it is still waaaaaaay too early to be making snap decisions for a race that is still many moons away.
itzWicks on February 20, 2007 at 11:33 PM