Posted by student JAMES MITCHELL- Former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney pulled up to the Pleasant Hill home of Patty Richardson in his “Mitt Mobile” yesterday. Romney took a break from the routine Iowa stump speech by spending the day speaking in the living rooms of his supporters.
The Richardson’s hosted Romney for a “football watching party” for nearly an hour in their home just outside of Des Moines. Although a TV in the corner of the room showed a college bowl game, the crowd gathered in Pleasant Hill focused exclusively on the former governor.
Romney seemed relaxed and charismatic in front of the crowd of Iowa Republicans and members of the national media. Standing in the downstairs living room of the Richardson’s home, the former governor stressed the value of his private sector background, claiming that his experience revitalizing failing companies had taught him to overcome complex challenges. He went on to say that it was this private sector leadership that allowed him to improve the state of Massachusetts while governor. He argued that being a successful executive in both the private and public sectors had prepared him more than any other candidate for the office of the president.
Romney characterized himself as a proven leader with a track record of success. He told the crowd that this election in Iowa ” is a serious election with serious consequences.” He stressed the gravity of the challenges faced by America, likening Islamic Jihadists to a malignant cancer that must be wiped out. He asked the crowd to decide for themselves who can win in November and to avoid the temptation of supporting a “one-hit wonder” candidate (presumably referring to Mike Huckabee, Romney’s primary competition in Iowa).
With Huckabee continuing to command a strong lead in Iowa and the caucuses just a day away, Romney should hope that his living room tour can somehow slow down the roll of the Huckaboom.
James Mitchell is a Clinton School student covering the Iowa Caucuses for the Clinton School Blog.
