Published: Sunday, April 29, 2007 12:23 a.m. MDT
Pignanelli & Webb
Pignanelli: The only time I met
Mitt Romney was an encounter on a South Temple sidewalk in 2001. I said hello to him, and he responded with the "Who the hell are you?" look and stepped around me. (I am not offended since my children do the same every evening.) Because of his leadership role in the 2002 Olympics, Utah is an element of his campaign — for good and bad.
When campaigning for governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Romney blanketed Massachusetts with televised endorsements from Mayor Rocky Anderson. This tactic persuaded enough Democrats that Romney was a moderate Republican, acceptable to liberals like Rocky. Next year, Romney returned the favor and endorsed Rocky. Television commercials of Romney praising Rocky were aired frequently and played an instrumental part in the re-election campaign. Rocky frequently mentioned Romney in his speeches — depending upon the audience.
Earlier this year, Romney disparaged Sen. John McCain for teaming with Ted Kennedy and other Senate liberals on legislation. McCain's campaign team responded with details of Romney's relationship with Rocky. Mitt was forced to back off from similar attacks. Romney's opponents understand his coziness to Rocky is a weak spot to be utilized.
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Romney possesses attractive qualities that keep him a contender in the presidential contest. As with all politicians, he has compromised and changed his policies. But even ardent supporters admit his inability to articulate understandable rationale behind these reversals. Romney needs to exercise discipline and stop overreaching (i.e., the stupid claims of hunting expertise). Republican activists, hungry for a champion, will accept his newfound conservatism if he respects their intelligence through honest explanations. But the Romney/Rocky partnership is a huge barrier in this endeavor. Romney solicited the support of Rocky. If Rocky was a quirky but quiet liberal, there would be no threat. Romney helped to re-elect the public official now demanding impeachment of President Bush — among other activities antagonistic to Republicans. Romney tries to explain his relationship with Rocky as one of respect for mayoral accomplishments. On any level, no aspect of the Anderson administration is attractive to conservatives.
Alone, this issue does not prevent Romney's nomination. However, this controversy is an additional piece to Romney's past that can only be overcome through better communications from the governor. The warm embrace between these two very different politicos is a bizarre example of political expediency.
• Contrary to my assertions last week, the governor must choose a replacement for a vacant Senate seat from the list submitted by
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