I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Last election cycle, I sent some money to Ovide Lamontagne's campaign for the Republican nominee for Senator from New Hampshire. He lost—barely—to Kelly Ayotte. (I credit his campaign, which showed how surprisingly strong the conservative resurgence is in New Hampshire, for Ayotte's vote against the debt ceiling deal last week.)
Thanks to that money, I'm on a list of invitees to his PAC's "meet the candidate" series. He and his wife have hosted seven contenders in their modest home in Manchester, NH, over the course of the last several months. Since I live most of the year in Pennsylvania, I haven't been able to attend them, until last Friday, when Mitt Romney was the star attraction. (Former Governor John Sununu and his wife also made an appearance.) He's not my favorite candidate by any stretch. But I wanted to go nonetheless and see what was to be seen.
I think this may be the first time I have been to a campaign event of any kind.
There were perhaps 200 people present. Nice people. Totally normal Americans. Lots of cameras. Romney and his wife showed up and shook lots of hands. It struck me that it takes a very particular type to endure the rigors of a political campaign. It would kill me to have to smile and shake hands and have my picture taken with thousands of strangers--strangers whom I had to show respect and concern for and genuine interest in.
Ovide Lamontagne introduced Romney's wife, Ann, first. She made a very good impression. She's lovely and dignified without being pretentious. What she wanted to stress in her remarks was the goodness of Mitt Romney as a man, as a husband, and as a father and grandfather. She spoke movingly of the dark moment in their 43 years of marriage when (13 years ago) she was diagnosed with MS. She said she was scared and depressed. She said her husband bore her up and got her through it by assuring her, "I don't care what happens. I don't care if we eat toast and cereal every night for dinner. As long as we're together, we're okay." She spoke of her pride when she sees her sons raising their sons to be like their father--men of character, commitment and service.
In other words, without saying it directly, she understands that the crisis we are facing calls for a president not only of exceptional ability, but of exceptional personal character and virtue. She wants us to know that the man who has been her husband for more than forty years is such a man.
Then Mitt spoke. He, too, impressed me. He was relaxed and natural. Much less canned-seeming than on TV. He hit all the right notes. He mentioned his profound admiration for America's founding fathers and for the deep-seated patriotism of the American public. He said we are in crisis, but we're not defeated. We're scared, but we're not panicking. We're discouraged, but we're not despondent. The problems we're facing are not beyond us. We can fix them. We just have to make sure Obama is a one-term President, and elect someone who unleash American entrepreneurship.
In terms of practical policy, his speech was much more concrete and substantive than Perry's announcement speech yesterday, though it was no longer.
Nothing he said set off my hyper-alert "social issues" alarms. I liked the way he fielded questions. He took pains to treat every one with respect and kindness.
Overall what I sensed most strongly was his competence for the job. He is an experienced leader in both the private and public sectors. He is serious about doing good for this nation. He will do good if he's elected. Not all the good that can be done, but a lot of good. He'll repeal Obamacare for one thing. And he'll get the energy sector rolling again.
When I got to shake his hand afterwards I looked him in the eye and said as earnestly and pointedly as I could, "Mitt, keep morals in front money and you'll win. I believe it." To my surprise, I found I did believe it. He said in equally earnest reply, "Thank you, Katie." (It's uncanny how politicians master the art of looking at a name tag without seeming to and then saying your name as if they know and care about you personally.)
Perhaps I was just swept off my feet by charisma. But for the time being at least, I find I have become a Romney supporter.
Rick Perry gives me the creeps.
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Dec '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Rick Perry doesn't give you the creeps, the creeps just run as far as they can from Rick Perry. #RickPerryFacts
Jul '11
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Thanks so much for the thoughtful report. I have been critical of Romney in several posts but I don't doubt he's a good man. He's got a tough road to hoe in terms of reassuring people about his conservative bona fides, but his coolness and professionalism are reassuring in other ways. Those of us who really were hoping for a Ryan candidacy need to start accepting that the choice is essentially coming down to Bachmann, Romney or Perry. Personally, while I find myself more in agreement with Bachmann's positions, I'm fully aware that there's more to it than that. I'm grateful that there's still about 6 months before the first votes are cast to carefully weigh these candidates and hear them articulate their visions and demonstrate their character.
We have an important decision ahead of us, and I'm glad you took the time to share your insights. They're helpful.
Jun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Katievs - Shouldn't you wait until you go to a Perry-for-President Tex-Mex BBQ before you make up your mind?
Is there something specific that "creeps" you out about Perry? Is it that his shirt collars seem to be too wide and too tight? Or he has a ring on his finger the size of an armadillo? Or that his hair might be more perfect than Mitt's? Or that he may or may not be packing his own heat? His friends? Anything specific? Just curious.
Jun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Damnation! why do you think politicians do gigs such as this? It's for the simple reason that once you shake a politicians hand there is better than an 80% chance that you will vote for that politician. Now, I grant that when you are running for president of the US you can't shake some fifty-five million hands, so the campaign managers set up gigs where they meet "opinion" leaders. You, by your contribution, became someone they class as having a more significant interest in politics than most people, so you became an opinion leader and that's why you were invited to the party. Now that you met Mitt, you have become enthralled, you shook the hand of a potential president of the United States, the only thing better is to shake the hand of the next president of the United States, and by thunder you now want to make it happen. Wake up and smell the coffee, Katie, Mitt Romney doesn't change because you shook his hand.
Edited on Aug 14, 2011 at 12:10pmJun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
When I was working local politics the marked list became pure gold. What's a marked list? Its a voters list that has voters who actually voted in the last election marked off. I would add that these are almost impossible to get, but we managed by hook and by crook to get our hands on them in most elections. Given voter turnout in local elections is always relatively low, the marked list would save us chasing after voters who never voted. In addition we could press the voters that did vote. The last piece in the puzzle was to get the candidate to either meet these voters or, as a poor second, speak to them on the phone. The reason we wanted our candidates to meet these voters is because of the high conversion ratio. This is possible only in local elections and not national elections, but you will note, Katie, that there is a big difference in polling numbers between likely voters and the general public. The reason polling companies select based on voting likelihood is they are approximating what we called a marked list.
Dec '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Funny, Romney creeps me out. Perhaps it's just my Texan coming out, but I'm still leaning way more toward Perry than the others. I like Bachmann on positions, but I really cannot see her surviving when the MSM goes nuclear on her, and they will. Romney's past bothers me too much, and he will always be the Stepford candidate to me.
May '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Enthralled is too strong a word for my tentative support.
May '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Perhaps, tho' I doubt I'll get the chance.
I don't know exactly. Maybe his accent? I didn't mind Bush's accent at all. But Perry's reminds me irresistibly of a televangelist. Maybe I've been influenced by what I've heard friends say of his open-borders, one-world order penchant.
His speech yesterday, as someone else pointed out elsewhere, seem almost entirely composed of clichés.
I'm certainly open to being persuaded, but I'm feeling very wary.
May '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Yes, that's just how I see it. I'm glad Bachmann is surpassing expectations. I hope it will give her more clout in the House. But I don't think she ought to be our nominee, much as I admire her courage and much as I agree with her positions.
The nominee has to be able to win the confidence of non-conservatives, and he or she has to be able to execute the office competently. That means executive experience, in my view, or something comparable.
Edited on Aug 14, 2011 at 1:57pmJun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Katie, you are an opinion-leader where I am concerned, thanks for the report.
Cas: How does that 80% conversion ratio explain T-Paw's extraordinary presence in Iowa with such poor results. Does it mean that 80% make a favorable decision or just that 80% make a firm decision about your candidacy?
May '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Romney used to creep me out too.
Maybe I'll get over it in Perry's case. If he ends up the nominee, I'll force myself.
Edited on Aug 14, 2011 at 1:58pmDec '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
katievs
Romney used to creep me out too.
Maybe I'll get over in Perry's case. If he ends up the nominee, I'll force myself. · Aug 14 at 1:34pm
For me it's very easy with Perry. He is exactly the people I grew up with. Romney is just too slick by half.
Jun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
I don't profess to really know Mitt Romney, but I did have a chance to interact with him a couple of times during the run-up to the 2002 Olympics. I found him to be a genuinely decent man. Ironically, he comes across less so in large groups, but in a small group I think you see the real man. His wife is a terrific person (very authentic, in the Laura Bush manner).
As between Mitt and Huntsman, I'd take Mitt any day. Mitt passes Hilary's 3 AM call test--Huntsman doesn't.
I'm still keeping my powder dry on my favorite candidate (I'm still having big problems with Romneycare). But if there is a big question about whether there is a "creep" inside him waiting to get out, I don't believe there is.
He's got to sell himself to the electorate, but I know I'm safe in saying that Romney would be, in the words of Dr. Evil, "one million" time better than Obama (the least genuine politician in the history of multiverse).
Edited on Aug 14, 2011 at 1:45pmJun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
katievs
Enthralled is too strong a word for my tentative support. · Aug 14 at 1:21pm
Tentative support based on what?
May '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Why, thanks, Pilgrim. I consider that a high compliment, coming from you.
May '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Cas Balicki
Tentative support based on what? · Aug 14 at 1:54pm
Are you asking on what I base my support or why it's tentative?
May '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
The King Prawn
katievs
Romney used to creep me out too.
Maybe I'll get over in Perry's case. If he ends up the nominee, I'll force myself. · Aug 14 at 1:34pm
For me it's very easy with Perry. He is exactly the people I grew up with. Romney is just too slick by half. · Aug 14 at 1:42pm
Were there no shysters in Stanton? No Hucksters?
Romney doesn't come across as slick in person. I like to think I have a pretty sharp inner bogosity meter. But maybe I'm kidding myself.
Ovide Lamontagne, BTW, will be the next governor of New Hampshire. You heard it here first. His wife is the incarnation of my vision of the perfect First Lady.
Jun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
Pilgrim: Katie, you are an opinion-leader where I am concerned, thanks for the report.
Cas: How does that 80% conversion ratio explain T-Paw's extraordinary presence in Iowa with such poor results. Does it mean that 80% make a favorable decision or just that 80% make a firm decision about your candidacy? · Aug 14 at 1:31pm
I haven't thought in terms of T-paw and Bachmann, which present contradictory results given that Minn. and Iowa are neighbouring states. Both Bachmann and Pawlenty should have benefited to the same degree from their home state's proximity to Iowa. Still, Bachmann, if I am not mistaken, can claim Iowa roots, which would give her the advantage in a straw poll. I believe one should never underestimate the proximity factor as a voter inducement in elections. A clue to the straw poll may come from Ron Paul's position as well as the straw poll's poor record of prediction. It would seem to me that it is more a wildcard than a predictive indicator, as those polled have nothing to lose in letting their radical-chic hang out.
Apr '11
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
I surprised myself by coming away from the recent debate (and the first that I'd seen) being deeply disappointed by Pawlently but really coming around to Romney. I'm glad somebody else out there is feeling wary of Perry on a gut level but is still willing to give him a chance! I promise that in the end my vote will be informed by more than gut instinct but I don't think it's to be entirely discounted either...
Jun '10
Re: I Think I Might Be for Mitt
katievs
Cas Balicki
Tentative support based on what? · Aug 14 at 1:54pm
Are you asking on what I base my support or why it's tentative? · Aug 14 at 2:01pm
I know, or at least I think I know, what you base your tentative support on from reading your post, and that's why I used the word enthrall. This is not a pejorative by any stretch of the imagination, it is simply a natural follow-up to such an intimate meeting. In fact, I would be surprised if you had reacted in any other way. It is only when you have met more than one candidate that this sort of reaction begins to moderate and you develop a sense for the candidates' mutual contradictions. Ask yourself this, if I had met Nicole Kidman or Jude Law in person yesterday would I, today, be more or less interested in their film careers. It's the connection that renders the abstract concrete.
Edited on Aug 14, 2011 at 2:34pm