Politico is reporting that the pro-Romney SuperPAC, Restore our Future, is launching a massive $3.1 million TV and radio ad buy in Iowa.
Here’s the first ad, which begins airing today:
Ah, December… The time of year when Obama sends his verbal Christmas card to Congress. The threat this time: “If you don’t reach an agreement on the payroll tax cut and jobless benefits, we’ll be working over Christmas.”
Uh, except the ’we’ means everybody except Obama. It’s a case of do what I say, not what I do with our Golfer-in-Chief president. He’s heading off to Hawaii for a staggering 17 day vacation. (Must be the pressure of all that fundraising and opposition research on Romney… The Obamas do like to kick back – Martha’s Vineyard, Spain, Vail, the Hawaiian Islands…):
THE WHITE HOUSE TRAVEL OFFICE
Trip of the President to Honolulu, Hawaii
December 17th, 2011 to January 2nd, 2012
Trip Overview
On Saturday, December 17th, 2011, the President will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii. He will return to Washington, DC on Monday, January 2nd, 2012. …
… [N]o public events are scheduled during the trip. …
Yesterday, during Governor Romney’s tele-town hall in Iowa, he said this to Obama:
“I have to feel that this president has been a failure. The other day I understand that Chris Christie said that he was a bystander president, that he watches affairs and has not guided affairs. And in some respects, his idea of a ‘hands on’ approach to the economy is getting a grip on his golf club. He’s going off for seventeen days in Hawaii. He’ll be playing a lot of golf. He told Congress that they need to stay in session and pass his tax breaks for the payroll tax and that they shouldn’t leave for vacation until they did that. And yet, he’s going off for seventeen days and for golf in the sun and I just think it’s time to have a president whose idea of being ‘hands on’ doesn’t mean getting a better grip on the golf club.”
► Jayde Wyatt
Check out last week’s endorsement from Niall Ferguson below the fold.
Governor Mitt Romney smiles after speaking with a supporter during his “let’s earn it” door-to-door campaign rally in Manchester, NH on Friday, Dec 2, 2011. (photo/Reuters/Adam Hunger)
On Saturday, Governor Mitt Romney hit the streets in Manchester, New Hampshire to kick off a day of door-to-door campaigning. The day’s theme of “let’s earn it” challenged Newt Gingrich’s grandiose “I will be the nominee” belief:
[...]
Hours before Herman Cain suspended his campaign for presidency, Mitt Romney’s team was full steam ahead in New Hampshire. Exercising the work horse discipline that they have come to be known by up here – despite their sizable lead in the state – the campaign called today “Earn it with Mitt” day, fanning out hundreds of volunteers across the state, in hopes of making 12,000 phone calls and knocking on 5,000 doors on Romney’s behalf.Before the group set out, Romney held a rally at Theo’s Restaurant in downtown Manchester, which is owned by alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur. He was joined by campaign co-chair Tim Pawlenty and former N.H. Gov. John Sununu on stage, when he revved up the crowd. He began his remarks by addressing the fact that President Obama has announced he is going on a two and a half week vacation over the holidays.
“You know we heard some news yesterday the president indicated he’s going to be going on vacation… When you consider all the golf, all the vacations, a new 17 day vacation I’m thinking of that old song back in the 1960s… remember that the one that was called ‘My Boyfriend’s Back.’ And they said in there my boyfriend’s back he’s going to give you a permanent vacation. That’s what we’re going to give Barack Obama — a permanent vacation.”
Romney also hearkened back to his days of running the 2002 Olympics, when Sara Hughes won a gold medal in figure skating. Romney said that she thanked God and then told him that “She’d never been able to do it like that before and that’s what we’re going to have to do. To get these guys ripped out of the power they want so desperately to hold on to we’re going to have to carry out the campaign performance of a lifetime. All of us, we’re going to have work hard, we’re going to get the job done you guys.“
(emphasis added)
A report from Reuters: Romney Flexes New Hampshire Muscle
(Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney flexed his campaign’s organizational muscle in the key early voting state of New Hampshire on Saturday, unleashing hundreds of volunteers to knock on doors and make phone calls on his behalf.
The former Massachusetts governor also criticized the U.S. attorney general, calling for Eric Holder to resign or be fired over “Fast and Furious,” the botched law enforcement action aimed at disrupting gun-trafficking networks on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Standing before a poster reading “Earn It,” Romney said his campaign had already placed 200,000 phone calls in the state of 1.3 million people, and planned to call an additional 12,000 potential voters on Saturday.
Romney has held a wide lead in most polls of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary of the 2012 presidential contest on January 10. Republican hopefuls are vying to challenge President Barack Obama in the November 2012 election.But in a survey taken last Monday, former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich pulled to within 10 percentage points of Romney following an important newspaper endorsement.
Gingrich recently added advisers in New Hampshire, but his grass-roots apparatus there pales next to that of Romney, whose volunteers aimed to “knock on 5,000 doors … and put together 10,000 yard signs” on Saturday alone.
[...]
Romney also criticized Attorney General Eric Holder’s handling of the Fast and Furious debacle after Friday’s White House document dump revealed some Justice Dept. officials had not been truthful in their denials of involvement. Romney also said Holder should resign or Obama should remove him.
Romney also released a new video today, highlighting some of his hard work in The Granite State:
3,500 town hall attendees. 15,000 yard signs. 30,000 doors knocked. 275,000 phone calls. Thanks to all the volunteers for your continued hard work. We can’t do this without you! Let’s continue to earn it.
A supporter holds a sign for Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at the Dec 2 rally. (photo /AP/Adam Hunger)
► Jayde Wyatt
Mitt Romney was up bright and early for an excellent interview this morning on Fox & Friends (FOX News). He was asked about his recent interview with Bret Baier, Newt-I-will-be-the-nominee-Gingrich, poll numbers, Obama and unemployment numbers, and more:
● Wall Street Journal – Gingrich backed Freddie Mac in 2007, (subscription required to see full article):
“When you need government, sometimes you need government to help spur private enterprise and economic development.” – Newt Gingrich
● Washington Post – Mitt vs Newt by Charles Krauthammer
So what is he [Romney]? A center-right, classic Northeastern Republican who, over time, has adopted a specific, quite bold, thoroughly conservative platform. His entitlement reform, for example, is more courageous than that of any candidate, including Barack Obama. Nevertheless, the party base, ostentatiously pursuing serial suitors-of-the-month, considers him ideologically unreliable. Hence the current ardor for Gingrich.
Gingrich has his own vulnerabilities. The first is often overlooked because it is characterological rather than ideological: his own unreliability. Gingrich has a self-regard so immense that it rivals Obama’s — but, unlike Obama’s, is untamed by self-discipline.
Take that ad Gingrich did with Nancy Pelosi on global warming, advocating urgent government action. He laughs it off today with “that is probably the dumbest single thing I’ve done in recent years. It is inexplicable.” This will not do. He was obviously thinking something. What was it? Thinking of himself as a grand world-historical figure, attuned to the latest intellectual trend (preferably one with a tinge of futurism and science, like global warming), demonstrating his own incomparable depth and farsightedness. Made even more profound and fundamental — his favorite adjectives — if done in collaboration with a Nancy Pelosi, Patrick Kennedy or even Al Sharpton, offering yet more evidence of transcendent, trans-partisan uniqueness.
[...]
The second, more obvious, Gingrich vulnerability is electability. Given his considerable service to the movement, many conservatives seem quite prepared to overlook his baggage, ideological and otherwise. This is understandable. But the independents and disaffected Democrats upon whom the general election will hinge will not be so forgiving.They will find it harder to overlook the fact that the man who denounces Freddie Mac to the point of suggesting that those in Congress who aided and abetted it be imprisoned, took $30,000 a month from that very same parasitic federal creation. Nor will independents be so willing to believe that more than $1.5 million was paid for Gingrich’s advice as “a historian” rather than for services as an influence peddler.
[...]
(emphasis added) Read more here.
● CBS News – Mitt Romney and George H.W. Bush enjoy “a visit between friends” by Sarah B. Boxer:
Though Bush officially remains neutral in the Republican presidential race, many of his connections are on board with Romney:
• Two of Bush’s children – Doro and Marvin – have already donated to the Romney’s campaign.
• According to Federal Election Commission data, Romney holds a wide lead over other GOP presidential candidates in donations received from the 939 “Pioneers” and “Rangers” who raised at least $100,000 each for George Bush’s presidential efforts.
• Romney received the endorsement today of the elder Bush’s first cousin, former U.S. Ambassador George H. Walker III. Walker was among 29 local leaders in Missouri to announce their support of Romney this morning.
Continue reading here.
Gov Mitt Romney visits with former Pres George H.W. Bush, wife Barbara, and dogs Mimi and Bibi in Houston,TX. Dec 1, 2011
(Photo AP/Pat Sullivan)
► Jayde Wyatt
Audio from Mitt on Hannity’s radio show below the fold. Read more…
Favorite tough dog Chris Christie was in West Palm Beach yesterday to stump for Mitt Romney and attend a fundraiser. He was asked about Newt Gingrich’s rise in the polls; as usual, Christie didn’t pull any punches…
Christie: Gingrich Has Never Run Anything
December1, 2011
With Newt Gingrich’s popularity growing in Florida, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came to South Florida today to campaign for Mitt Romney and dismissed the former House speaker as the “newest flavor of the two weeks.” Speaking to FLDemocracy after headlining a fundraiser for Romney in West Palm Beach, Christie hit into Gingrich’s experience, noting that, unlike Romney, “Gingrich has never run anything.”
Asked to compare his candidate and Gingrich, Christie noted that Romney has “executive” experience. “Speaker Gingrich has never run anything. And he’s been a legislator. I have to tell you– I don’t think being a legislator is the best calling card. Look at the guy we have in the White House now: he never ran anything and was a legislator.”
Christie seemed unconcerned about new polling in the state showing Gingrich with a considerable lead. “These Gingrich poll numbers are as solid as the Cain numbers were, as solid as the Perry numbers were, as solid as the Bachmann numbers were.”
Notoriously blunt and unscripted with media, Christie is the very antithesis of the highly polished, on-message Romney. Still, he said the two are developing a close relationship and they exchanged e-mails last night. He said he gives Romney advice when he can.
Christie, who endorsed Romney in October after declining to seek the nomination himself, said he couldn’t imagine being tapped to be VP, saying his “personality doesn’t ooze number two.” However, Christie also didn’t shut the door on the idea of joining the ticket. “If it is offered, I’d make the decision I thought was best for me and my family and the country,” he said before adding: “I can not imagine it happening. I think someone else will be running with Governor Romney. Not me.”
(emphasis added )
Love ya, Governor Christie!
Romney was also campaigning in Florida on Mon/Tue of this week. Click below the fold to view grassroots video of one of his speeches.
Here’s the new ad Governor Romney is running in Iowa…
From MittRomney.com, 31 seconds of focus on fixing the economy with Mr. Fix-it-Mitt:
“I spent my life in the private sector. I’ve competed with companies around the world. I’ve learned something about how it is that economies grow. We’re not going to balance the budget just by pretending that all they have to do is take out the waste. We’re going to have to cut spending.”
It’s high time the USA elects a successful, private-sector businessman to be in the White House. Don’t get side-tracked, America. No more career politicians!
► Jayde Wyatt
Mitt Romney is a conservative businessman who understands how economies grow. He knows that stopping the growth of the federal government is essential for growing the private sector.
Mitt Romney: “I spent my life in the private sector. I’ve competed with companies around the world. I’ve learned something about how it is that economies grow.
“But we’re not going to balance the budget just by pretending that all they have to do is take out the waste. We’re going to have to cut spending. And I’m in favor of cutting spending, capping federal spending as a percentage of GDP at 20 percent or less, and having a balanced budget amendment.
“The right answer for America is to stop the growth of the federal government and to start the growth of the private sector.”
Here’s the Iowa version:
Newt Gingrich has taken a bit of heat for his comments on immigration the other night. More than a few have equated his comments with amnesty.
I would normally leave this topic alone, except that Newt Gingrich has decided to hit back against Romney by tweeting the following:
@Newt Gingrich: .@MittRomney Here’s a trip down memory lane: http://t.co/lFaAQrFz So what’s your position on citizenship for illegals again? (I oppose it.)
The video takes you to a 14 second youtube clip that makes it appear like Romney supports amnesty for illegal citizens. The problem is the video is clipped mid-sentence and is taken entirely out of context.
Here is a transcript of the Romney answer on immigration – the bolded part is what the clip left out:
My own view is consistent with what you saw in the Lowell Sun, that those people who had come here illegally and are in this country–the 12 million or so that are here illegally–should be able to stay sign up for permanent residency or citizenship, but they should not be given a special pathway, a special guarantee that all of them get to say here for the rest of their lives merely by virtue of having come here illegally. And that, I think, is the great flaw in the final bill that came forward from the Senate.
AND here’s video that shows both the deceptively trimmed portion plus the rest of the answer (more than what was quoted above) for the entire context:
So to answer Newt’s question on what is Romney’s stance on citizenship for illegals… he is against it, and you knew that Mr. Gingrich. Your trip down selective memory lane is nothing but a false attempt to tag Romney as something he is not in order to promote your own candidacy.
Unfortunately the shortened clip of that make it appear that Romney supports amnesty has racked up 10,000 views in the last 24 hours since it has replayed on a number of news sites. It will be the duty of Romney fans to share the correct information with those who continue to try to cast Romney as pro-amnesty.
~Nate G.
Mayflower, engraving, c. 1905
“Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles & miseries therof, againe to set their feete on ye firme and stable earth, their proper elemente. …
But hear I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amased at this poore peoples presente condition; and so I thinke will the reader too, when he well considered ye same. Being thus passed ye vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation (as may be remembred by yt which wente before), they had now no friends to wellcome them, nor inns to entertaine or refresh their weatherbeaten bodys, no houses or much less townes to repaire too, to seeke for succoure. …
What could not sustaine them but ye spirite of God & his grace? May not & ought not the children of these fathers rightly say : Our faithers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this willdernes; but they cried unto ye Lord, and he heard their voyce, and looked on their adversitie…” ~ Eyewitness account of the arrival of the Pilgrims at Cape Cod as they disembarked from the Mayflower December 21, 1620, written by William Bradford.
The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer
On this treasured day of national gratitude and especially in these troubled times, may we remember the bounteous goodness of a beneficent creator, for that which our Founders created and bequeathed to us, our precious freedoms, for small beginnings and how far our nation has come, for crops harvested, for our brave military whose sacrifice we oft take for granted, for dear family and friends, for the hope and will to create better days ahead, and so much more.
Message from Mitt Romney:
Today, as we gather with friends and family in the comfort and safety of our homes, we give thanks to all those who, in the service of our country, are far from home, facing hardship and danger. On Thanksgiving, we celebrate the bounty of America, but let us never forget that our peace, prosperity and plenty have been hard earned by countless men and women who have put country before self.
Last night’s Hannity Show on FOX News featured Governor Romney in an interview for the entire duration of the program. I have not seen the interview yet but have only heard very good things about it on Facebook and Twitter. Enjoy!
UPDATE – Here’s another appearance from Sen. Ayotte
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Recent Comments