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Mitt Mellows Out

BY ADAM REILLY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2004, NEW YORK -- Last night, Mitt Romney got angry. But today, as he sang hymns of praise to George W. Bush and showcased his own political chops at a National Republican Senatorial Committee luncheon, the governor was affable and conciliatory. Romney made a point of praising John McCain and Rudy Giuliani --both of whom present serious obstacles to Romney's presumed desire to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 -- saying both men made strong cases for an offensive anti-terrorism policy during their speeches last night. Romney also kept his references to gay marriage relatively oblique, praising Bush for fighting to protect the "fundamental nature of the family" but steering clear of terms like "activist judges" and never uttering the words "gay" or "homosexual." He even praised Ted Kennedy -- by way of bashing John Kerry, yes, but still a bold move given the venom Kennedy elicits from most Republicans. "He fights for the things he believes in, he does not vacillate, and you know where he stands," Romney said of Kennedy. "And he fights for our state. Some of you may not like to hear that, but he goes out and fights for Massachusetts."

Romney being Romney, he had the occasional goofy moment. "These are challenging times," he said at one point. "Things are going so well for so many people that it's easy to forget how challenging they are." Note to Romney's handlers: the governor should shelve that line when the press is in the room. After recounting how he and the state Legislature cooperated to turn a $3 billion deficit into a $700 million surplus (get used to that line, because whatever Romney does next, you'll hear it ad nauseum), he referred to Massachusetts as "our little state." Way to build yourself up, Mitt. And, in his wrap-up, Romney shifted into his No-Human-Should-Be-This-Square mode: "Boy, we need to keep the majority in the Senate! Boy, we need to keep the White House!"

The executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Jay Timmons, had pegged Romney as a future Senate candidate in his introductory remarks. "You know," Timmons told the governor, "We're always looking for recruits at the NRSC. And we'd probably like to talk to you in a few years." (Of course, veteran Romney watchers assume the governor has bigger plans.) Talking to the Massachusetts media after his speech, Romney acknowledged that his ambitions go beyond Massachusetts. "I'd like to be able to have an influence on the national [Republican] party," Romney said, adding that he'd like to expand the size of the Republican tent. But he also asserted -- kind of -- that he wants to remain governor for a while. "My aspirations are to get re-elected in 2006," Romney said. A point worth noting: "aspirations" is a usefully vague term.


Issue Date: August 31, 2004
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