PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY:

Christmas with Grandchildren

As a contributor to MittRomneyCentral, one of my goals is to provide glimpses, where possible, into the lives of the Romney family in the hopes of revealing more of the human side of the man we know as “Mitt” and the woman we see introducing him at events whom we know as “Ann.” Many Americans have not followed the Republican race at all, and what they may have seen of the Romneys is likely to have been through the news media as they channel surfed TV channels. The image portrayed by the mainstream media of Governor Romney is that he is out of touch with average Americans and that he is rich. He is compassionate, a loyal family man, and he has many friends. Another look at Ann’s life:

To this end, please take a minute and watch this short video by Neil Cavuto about Ann Romney. Until I saw this clip, I was unaware that Cavuto has known Governor Romney since before the Olympics and that he has MS. This video clip is just one more “glimpse” into the life of the “better half” of Gov. Romney:

If you would like to get a little better understanding of Ann Romney (and Mitt), be sure to also watch this short video under the post titled, “Ann Romney, The Window to Mitt’s Soul”

Video H/T: Greg Stapley

Addendum from Ross: Watch Ann on Fox & Friends below the fold. Read more…

Both Rasmussen and Gallup released polls ending yesterday on Leap Day, and the results show a literal giant “leap” in support for Governor Romney. The swelling wave of momentum has come rather quickly since his dual victories in Michigan and Arizona just two days ago.

The Rasmussen poll, conducted entirely yesterday, gave Mitt a whopping +16 point advantage over Santorum, while the Gallup Poll, a five-day rolling average, puts him at a +11. (Expect that to climb higher in the next few days)

RealClearPolitics.com tallies and graphs the rolling average of the most recent national polls in the GOP primary – polls from the most recent week or two are typically included. With the release of the Rasmussen and Gallup polls today, combined with two older polls from last week that showed Santorum with a slight lead, the RCP average now has Romney taking the lead again – the sixth time in this race that has held top spot.

Milestones
Romney has broken through the 40 point barrier for the first time this season, and he has become the candidate to receive the highest RCP average for any given day – sitting today at 35.3%. Again, I would expect this to go higher in the next few days when the Gallup poll results start to factor out numbers from before Romney’s wins on Tuesday.

Has the last mole been whacked?
As the candidates announced their campaigns last year Romney started out in the lead in nation polls, and he retained that lead until mid-August. Since that time we have seen the lead change from Romney, to Perry, to Romney, to Cain, to Romney, to Gingrich, to Romney, to Gingrich, to Romney, to Santorum and then back to Romney once again. Candidates have each, in turn, surged to become the official challenger to Romney, only to disappear just as quickly as they came. After all, by definition a surge is only temporary, though Newt was lucky enough to get “two rides on the roller coaster”.

So, has the last mole been whacked? I don’t know, but I’ve got a good feeling about it going into Super Tuesday next week!

~Nate G.

Addendum from Ross: Watch Rep. Paul Ryan say Romney well on his way to GOP nomination below the fold. Read more…

THANK YOU to a frequent visitor of MRC, “GitchiGummi,” for this YouTube video. For those who have followed our Operation “Unravel the Sweater” some of these points are familiar. There are some new tidbits in this YouTube, making this video clip OUTSTANDING in my book!

Thanks GG! [GitchiGummi named this video: "Santorum the Enemy Within"]

“Washington, DC is to lying what Wisconsin is to cheese.” — Dennis Miller

Please Check Out These Other “Threads” in the #UnravelTheSweater Series:

• Series Intro: Operation #UnravelTheSweater
• Rick Santorum’s Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Hypocrisy
• Rick Santorum – #1 Recipient of Lobby Money
• Santorum: Separation of Church and State “Makes Me Want to Throw Up”
• Colleague Support for Rick Santorum? Crickets…
• Rick Santorum’s Effusive Promotion of Mitt in 2008
• Rick Santorum’s Serious Electability Issues
• Romney SuperPAC Hits Santorum on Spending – Fact Check Verified
• Santorum’s Courage Betrayed by Willingness to Sacrifice Core Principles
• Rick Santorum vs. Protestant Christians
• Santorum’s Poor Record of Charitable Giving
• Rick Santorum – Unprepared and Unqualified
• Rick Santorum – Lots of Rhetoric… Little Action
• Fleshing Out the Truth About Rick Santorum
• Big Government Rick Santorum is NOT the One

MY PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK. I love shots like this one!

Playing games with the kids

My wife and I often discuss how it is frustrating that so many people have the entirely wrong image and impression of Governor Romney. One of my goals as a contributor here at MRC is to reveal more of “the real” Mitt Romney so that Americans can make a more informed decision (it is why I include photographs of him with his family at home or at play — as above). Our frustration is expressed from time to time by others on the campaign trail. Just yesterday in Ohio a Romney supporter was anxious to ask Gov. Romney a question to prompt him to speak about his “heart.”

I found this article as a tip from an MRC “chatter” with the call sign: “WookieOnline” — THANKS Wookie!

NOTE: Be sure to click on the link (“The Note“) and scroll to the bottom of the article to watch the video to see Gov. Romney’s unusually candid comments about his service as his congregations pastor.

ABC News published this article and video here under THE NOTE.

David Muir reported on “World News with Diane Sawyer” a town hall in Bexley, Ohio provided to be a surprisingly candid moment for the candidate.

During the question and answer portion of the campaign event supporter Greg Davis took his turn at the microphone to share his frustration with how his candidate of choice is being portrayed.

“We have seen that you are very successful. It seems like the media portrays you like you don’t have a heart. I’d like you to share with all the American citizens what you have done in your life, where you have received no compensation, to show the American people that you have a lot of heart and you love Americans,” Davis told Romney.

“One of the challenges in a presidential campaign is that most people just see you in the debates,” Romney replied. “And in settings like that, people don’t get to know you very well. And in settings like this, with questions like that, you can get to know me a little better. By far the most important thing in my life is my wife Ann and I fell in love young, we’re still in love. We have a marriage still filled with love.”

As Muir reported on “World News” Romney went on to talk about his sons and grandsons, and then in a rare moment Romney brought up his Mormon faith, something he rarely discussed on the campaign trail.

“My religion is an unusual one in a number of respects, but one in particular, we don’t have a paid ministry in our church. So we don’t have a minister that is full time. And instead, the church head quarters asks certain members to serve as pastor of the congregation. So I was asked to do that for a certain period of time. And of course that is done without compensation. It would be around 20-40 hours a week. So on top of my job, I was pasturing people in my congregation,” explained Romney.

Many political observers looking to the weeks, and possibly months, ahead in this campaign say that this type of candor and emotion is exactly what Romney needs to better relate to voters.

[emphasis added]

Note: Governor Romney has spent much of his career in positions in which he served without pay. In addition to his serving in several unpaid church leadership positions, he took the Olympics out of $400 million in debt over three years without pay; he served four years as governor without pay; well after he left Bain, it had financial troubles and he was asked to come back and lead it out out of trouble, which he did without pay.

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan…” — Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address — March 4, 1865

Note: Following is an opinion piece written by a good friend who happens to also be a colleague of my son’s. Leland Bruce is an expatriate currently residing in the nation of Chile (see facts he quotes below contrary to Herman Cain’s assertions of his “999″ plan). Leland also supported Governor Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign — See Leland’s brief bio at the end of his Op-Ed.

[See the latest of Michael Ramirez's brilliant political cartoons at the end of this post]

By Leland Bruce

I admit it. I am frustrated. However, unlike many of the self-proclaimed conservatives that make up the GOP base, I am not frustrated with the “weak field of Republican candidates” as FOX News would have me believe or the lack of “stance on issues” that the GOP base continues to air on left leaning media outlets or the constant mantra “I don’t know what he believes in” that talking head street conservatives encountered by CNN will spout out at a moment’s notice.

Leland Bruce

No, I am not frustrated with the horrible media coverage that constantly berates, injures, typifies, castigates, and bemoans the field of Republican candidates (including and most importantly FOX News) because after all, it’s expected. In summation, it’s not all of those frustrations that bother and annoy me, get under my skin, drive me crazy or cause me to scratch my head in disbelief.

No, what frustrates me is that the United States of America finally has a candidate who is one of the most prolific chief executive officers in the history of the world, who actually wants to run our country for love of freedom and democracy, who actually has a vision for the future of America and how to rebuild our superpower status, and the media has led the public to be more interested in selling subscriptions to Occupy Wall Street.

Really?

In my world, I believe that “markets” are great predictors of the future. “Smart” money is usually tracking winners and as you all know, the house always wins. Herein lays my confusion. Read more…

The former Massachusetts governor was the favorite of 39 percent of the 2,108 caucus goers, while former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum finished second with 32 percent. Texas Rep. Ron Paul had 21 percent, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had 8 percent. The situation in Wyoming is really confusing, but these are the only results we’ll have for awhile, and it’s great to have another win for Mitt heading towards Super Tuesday.

Mitt Romney today made the following statement on the results of the Wyoming caucuses:

I want to thank the voters of Wyoming who took the time to participate in their state’s caucuses, and who gave me their support. It is a thrill to have taken first place in Wyoming. Our country is engaged in a great debate about its future direction. The voters here have spoken loudly and told the rest of the country that they want change, and they want a leader who understands that fixing the nation’s economy, and ending Obama’s runaway spending and borrowing, is priority number one.

Update: Mitt Romney interview with WNWO’s Hubert Wiggins (VIDEO 02-29-12)

Finally, check out the latest cartoon from Mitt Fitts below the fold. Read more…

Why did liberal Democrats in Michigan vote for Rick Santorum?

The adept Romney for President Digital Team today released a new web video answering that question. It’s titled “Liberal Democrats for Santorum.” Democrats voted in the Michigan primary because they know Governor Romney will be the stronger candidate in the general election. These voters did not vote for Rick Santorum; they voted for four more years of President Obama.

Text:

Voter: “My name is Krista Larsen. I’m a Democrat.”

Voter: “I’m Joe Disanno. I’m a democratic strategist in the state of Michigan.”

CNN’S Dana Bash: “Gary Zulinski.”

Tony Trupiano, progressive radio host: “I’m Tony Trupiano. [unintelligible]”

Bash: “And you voted for Rick Santorum?”

Voter: “I sure did.”

Bash: “…Went in there and you voted for?

Voter: “Santorum.”

Voter: “The last seven days we’ve been organizing and creating a list of Democrats who have committed to vote for Santorum in today’s election.”

Voter: “You know, it’s my way of protecting Obama.”

Trupiano: “I think Rick Santorum would be a weaker candidate. Of course he would be.”

Gary Zulinnski, Democrat: “It’s going to throw the GOP into some turmoil.”

Bash: “It’s not just going to be Michigan. The liberal blogs, they’re saying start in Michigan, but there are several other contests coming up with the same kind of open primary rules.”

Text: “Democrats voted for Rick Santorum because they want four more years of Obama.”

Text: “Defeat the Obama Political Machine.”

Text: “Donate to the One Term Fund today. OneTermFund.com”





This new video also goes hand-in-glove with Paul’s excellent article Let Me Repeat: Vote for Mitt; a Vote for Santorum is a Vote for Obama.

As early election returns began coming in last night, FOX News commentator Rich Lowry (National Review Online editor) commented on the tactic that sickened so many Republicans and Romney supporters – that Santorum himself had issued a rallying cry to Democrats to vote for him in order to stop Romney.

THEN, Lowry went on to say he was put-off by the way Romney “whined” about it.

I don’t know what Lowry was referring to. Romney had a very brief window of time to get the news out about Santorum. He stated the facts on Santorum’s gutter tactics, offered a brief opinion on said tactics, and moved on. NO whining.

As evidenced today, Romney’s new video focuses on Democrats’ correct perception that – should Santorum become the GOP nominee – Obama would clean his clock. The video does not mention Santorum’s own despicable doings in Michigan’s primary.

Lowry is flat-out wrong.

If any candidate should be entitled to a bit of whining, as Ross pointed out, it’s Mitt Romney.

The Gov isn’t a whiner. He’s a winner.

► Jayde Wyatt

Last night’s vote revealed a lot. Here’s a few interesting tidbits that we noticed:

1) Democrats in Michigan boosted Santorum’s vote tally by 4.8% overall. That is a significant boost, but it was still not enough to counter the strong support for Romney in the state. That means that without the Democrats, Romney would have beat Santorum by almost 7% rather than the 3% result last night. If Democrats hadn’t voted in the Michigan primary, then Romney would have trounced Santorum.

2) The shameful tactic employed by Santorum to appeal to Democrats and Pro-Union workers of the UAW failed. Not only did it fail, but it gave Romney powerful tool to use against Santorum in the coming weeks.

3) By Santorum appealing to Democrats and the Big Unions in Michigan, Santorum revealed his support for Pro-union agendas. Not a good stance in a Republican primary. Also, Santorum seemed to join forces with Michael Moore and Democratic leaders in the state by encouraging Democrats to vote against Mitt Romney. Michael Moore is not the kind of ally a politician wants to have in a Republican election.

4) Romney surpassed the number of voters that supported him in both AZ and MI compared to 2008.

5) Exit polls in AZ show that Romney continued to do well with conservative voters despite the medias continued attempts to claim the contrary. Romney swept nearly every category of voters in AZ. Thank you Arizona!!!

Addendum by Nate: The Romney campaign published one of their “takeaways” nicely in this video: Liberal Democrats for Santorum

Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, the UAW, President Obama’s Super PAC, Gingrich’s Super PAC, Santorum’s Super PAC, Michael Moore, Fox News, Red State, and the dirty tactics of Santorum’s own campaign couldn’t beat Mitt in Michigan where polls show the fact that Mitt was born here didn’t factor very largely in the decision of voters.

I don’t know if I can remember a candidate surviving and continuing to win when faced with such adversity. Michigan’s results are truly amazing. Despite an onslaught of outrageous attacks from both sides and the media giving voters virtually no where to turn to for the truth, that fact that Mitt still won must strike fear in the heart of the Obama campaign. Even with Catholics across Michigan getting inundated with robocalls calling Mitt a baby-killer, Mitt won the majority of Catholic votes. Mitt ended up winning among republicans by over 10%, he and drastically increased his vote totals from 2008 despite 3 years of sustained attacks by the local and national press claiming that Mitt wanted Michigan and Detroit to fail and lose all of our auto sector jobs. President Obama fears that Mitt could carry Michigan in the general which would make his path to re-election basically impossible. President Obama’s campaign and Super PAC had laid the groundwork to defeat Mitt Romney in Michigan for years, and they failed.

Mitt Romney emerges from this primary as the only acceptable candidate. Newt Gingrich and his Super PAC have disqualified themselves with their blatant dishonest on Bain Capital and with the robocalls they ran against Mitt about the 2nd Ammendment. Rick Santorum has disqualified himself by running robocalls aimed at democrats admitting he is a weaker general election candidate. That is not an appeal to democrats that will result in extra votes in November. It is an admission that Sen. Santorum has no business in the race if even he admits he doesn’t stand much of a chance against President Obama in November. He can argue that he was playing off media stereotypes, but he could’ve let the UAW, Michael Moore, the democrat lawyers, and several other democratic leaders in Michigan make that argument. I cannot recall any instance of an actual Presidential campaign doing what Sen. Santorum’s actual campaign did. Republican voters across the country will not forget and will not forgive Sen. Santorum in time for him to regain momentum. Ron Paul, the only other candidate with an organized and professional campaign, is satisfied with the opportunity to spread his ideals, and has also indicated that Mitt Romney would make a fine and acceptable President.

This race should be over! Mitt continues to build a huge delegate lead while Sen. Santorum’s campaign spent every last penny in Michigan. However, the dishonest media continues to propagate the narrative of Mitt being “wounded”, a “weak-frontrunner”, “stumbling”, or “unable to excite the base”. The media has worked tirelessly to elongate this process in order to increase ratings and/or to stop Mitt Romney from getting the nomination. Their claims don’t hold any water. It must be clear to any honest clear-thinking individual that Mitt is the only candidate that can beat President Obama. Rick Santorum and the actions of the democrats all admit it. It’s time we all rally to Romney.

Election night, Feb 28, 2012 – From Mitt Romney and Team: “Thank you to all our #Mitt2012 friends.” (TwitPic / Zac Moffat)

Mitt Romney supporters are anxiously awaiting the results of today’s primary elections in Arizona and Michigan. We’re optimistic about a win in The Grand Canyon State. Polling in The Great Lakes State between Governor Romney and Rick Santorum is razor thin. From The Washington Post:

Of the two, Michigan is by far the more competitive race – the candidates have been spending the bulk of their time there in recent days, and both Romney and Santorum hold their primary-night parties there tonight.
[...]
Newt Gingrich , who all but bypassed Michigan, is spending the day in his home state of Georgia, where he holds three campaign events, two news conferences and a primary night rally.

And Rep. Ron Paul , who campaigned only lightly in Michigan, is spending his primary night in Springfield, Va.

We hope Michiganders vote for the non-Democrat backed Mitt Romney.

Poll closing times:
Michigan – 8:00 pm ET
Arizona – 9:00 pm ET

CNN will air television coverage at 6:00 pm ET and is airing a livefeed here. Their twitter hashtag is #cnnelections. Don’t forget to include #mitt2012 and #UnravelTheSweater.

FOX News is also airing television coverage at 6:00 pm ET. Check back for additional livefeeds.

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We’re anticipating a long night ahead of us, so get the popcorn ready! As events get underway, we invite Romney supporters to join us on our chat forum.

Update: Mitt won among republicans by more than 10%, and he received a lot more votes than in 2008.