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Michigan-born Republican joins presidential race
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Erik Westlund GVL Assistant News Editor News 2/18/2007 9:53:44 PM
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| Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney returned to his native Michigan last week to announce his candidacy for president. He stood at the podium flanked by his wife, five sons and their wives and his 10 grandchildren — a representation of his family values. Romney cast himself as a Washington, D.C. outsider with the business experience and ability to transform a flawed government. “To have government change and transform, to have innovation come into government, you’ve got to have somebody who’s spent their lifetime innovating and transforming,” he said. Romney’s political resume is short. He served one term as governor and did not seek re-election, but said he is counting on his business experience to prove his worth as a candidate. He may be best known for taking over as president and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics after the games were marred by controversy and then-president and CEO Frank Joklik was forced to resign. “I think he has an impressive background thus far in his life,” Grand Valley State University College Republicans Vice President Todd Jennings said. “He turned the 2002 Winter Olympics around from a financial disaster to a successful event. He has also had a very successful business life.” Romney is seeking to use his lack of political experience to his advantage by distinguishing himself from his top two opponents in the Republican primary — Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. “I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician,” Romney said. “There have been too many deals, too many favors, too many entanglements …and too little real world experience managing, guiding (and) leading.” Jennings said he agreed Washington, D.C. needs some transformation, but does not see Romney’s approach of “being an outsider” as a benefit in the primary election. Romney faces several challenges in his bid for the presidency after running as a moderate in a failed 1994 senate campaign, where he was vocally pro-choice and in favor of gay rights. Three years ago, as governor, Romney changed his stance and declared himself pro-life and an opponent of gay marriage. He vetoed embryonic stem cell legislation and opposed a state Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage. Jennings said Romney is running as a strong pro-life candidate, posturing himself as the most socially conservative of the top three candidates, but his previous positions could harm his prospects for presidency. GVSU College Republicans President Amanda Zaluckyj said Romney will appeal to many Republicans who think McCain is too moderate, and she does not think his previous position on abortion will harm him. “He certainly has changed his opinion, but I don’t think that should hurt him,” she said. “Ronald Reagan, for example, used to be pro-choice — so I certainly think people can change.” Romney is running a campaign similar to that of Reagan, a social conservative calling for smaller government and stressing the importance of family values. If elected, Romney would be the first Mormon president. The choice to announce his presidential bid in Michigan is no coincidence. His father, George W. Romney, was the governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969 and the lost the 1968 Republican presidential nomination to Richard Nixon. |
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