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Romney's Risky Venture | |
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THE CONSERVATIVE REVIEW
December 7, 2007
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Romney's Risky Venture
By Robert D. Novak
Townhall.com
WASHINGTON - Two weeks ago it was settled policy within
Mitt Romney's campaign that his speech dealing with his
Mormon faith would be delivered much later -- if at all
-- and only after primary election victories. Romney
suddenly overruled his advisers to undertake that risky
venture today [Thursday] in College Station, Texas, for
one reason: Mike Huckabee's ascent in Iowa.
Romney had been told by campaign strategists that flooding
television screens with ads financed by his ample funds
could win the critically important Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses
for the former governor of Massachusetts in a state where
Mormons comprise 0.5 percent of the population. That was
working as Romney led the state's polls until former
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister,
came from nowhere to challenge Romney for first place.
Surveys detect substantial anti-Mormon bias.
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Iowa is crucial to Romney's delicately balanced strategy
to overcome anemic support nationally by winning first in
Iowa and then in New Hampshire five days later. The snap
decision to deliver the "Mormon speech" left intractable
puzzles for the candidate to solve as he personally drafted
the speech in private this week. How could he defend his
lifelong religion without plunging into murky waters of
theology? How could he plead for tolerance without branding
those voting against him as bigots? (Incidentally, why is
he delivering the speech deep in the heart of Texas,
instead of somewhere in Iowa?)
Romney's Mormon problem has been obvious for two years,
though just two months ago he was still in denial, claiming
only journalists asked him about his religion. One month
ago, he changed his tune, telling campaign contributors he
liked "the idea" of a speech but "at some point" in the
future because "the political advisers" tell him "it's not
a good idea."
These advisers still think it's a bad idea, recommending
that any speech should have been preceded by Romney winning
in Iowa, New Hampshire or both. They think Romney is over-
reacting to the surge of Huckabee, who probably tops out
at 25 percent in Iowa. They believe Huckabee's support is
pro-Evangelical rather than anti-Mormon, boosted by his
support of "fair tax" reform to eliminate the federal
income tax (countermanding his high tax record in Arkansas).
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To schedule the speech at the George H.W. Bush presidential
library at Texas A&M University is puzzling. Romney aides
say it was the idea of Ron Kaufman, longtime Republican
National committeeman from Massachusetts and faithful aide
to the elder Bush. Kaufman told me it was scheduled there
because Romney had mentioned a possible speech on religion
when he spoke at the Bush library in April. Others in the
campaign indicate the paramount reason is that Romney will
be introduced in Texas by the former president, in what
might be interpreted as a tacit endorsement. Romney's Iowa
supporters would have preferred the candidate speaking in
their state, addressing an audience of voters.
But what can Romney say? He will no more explore Mormon
theology than John F. Kennedy dissected Catholic doctrine
in his 1960 Houston speech to Protestant preachers, and
he will avoid the slippery slope of discussing whether a
Mormon is a Christian. Huckabee should not be criticized
for dodging that question from George Stephanopoulos on
ABC Sunday. To answer that Romney is a Christian would
have earned the former Baptist preacher obloquy from
Protestant and Catholic clergy alike.
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All that is left for Romney to write is a speech that
asserts the Constitution imposes no religious test for
the presidency. However, that runs the risk of implicitly
indicting anyone who votes against Mitt Romney as a bigot.
As he awaited the Texas speech this week without knowing
what Romney will say, one adviser hoped that the candidate
would come across as a man of faith and integrity.
That adviser is hoping to reverse Romney's performance in
last week's dismal Republican presidential debate at St.
Petersburg, Fla. Romney no longer is called the perfect
candidate hampered solely by religious prejudice. After
a half-hour immigrant-bashing duel with Rudy Giuliani,
he looked like somebody who would say anything to be
nominated. At College Station today, Romney will try to
correct that impression, even if he does not win over
bigots.
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