Massachusetts, Back in the Game

Massachusetts, Back in the Game - washingtonpost.com:
"Imagine: A state famous for producing hard-core political pros, practical precinct captains and worldly wise consultants may be on the verge of creating two new export commodities: an attractive central-casting conservative governor and a young passionate idealist. Anything to keep Massachusetts in the game."

Nationwide Mormon 'network' might prove risky for Romney

deseretnews.com Nationwide Mormon 'network' might prove risky for Romney:
"'Any candidate will use what networks he can tap into,' said LaVarr Webb, a Deseret Morning News conservative columnist. 'But this one (the Mormon vote) is especially risky for Romney.'"

Romney defends Mormon strategy

Romney defends Mormon strategy - The Boston Globe:
"``Clearly, I'm going to raise money from people I know, and that includes BYU alums, people of my church, people of other churches, Harvard Business School graduates,' Romney said in an interview, as he and Governor Jeb Bush of Florida campaigned for a Republican candidate for Florida's chief financial officer."

Article called inaccurate; church asserts neutrality

deseretnews.com Article called inaccurate; church asserts neutrality:
" 'He told them what they already knew — that neither the Church, nor BYU, nor any other direct arm of the Church would or could ever sponsor or publicly support a political candidate, and that our position of institutional neutrality was well-known and of long standing,' according to the transcript."

Mitt's LDS ties: Too close?

Salt Lake Tribune - Mitt's LDS ties: Too close?:
"Reports that Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's political advisers consulted with the LDS Church to boost his expected presidential bid could have a 'Manchurian candidate' backlash if voters perceive Romney as a church surrogate, a prominent political scientist warns. "

For Evangelicals, a Newly Sophisticated Approach to Politics

FOXNews.com - For Evangelicals, a Newly Sophisticated Approach to Politics:
"Whatever the outcome, it will also be an early bellwether of whether Evangelicals have the political maturity to vote for a candidate for president like Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who may share their political ideology but not their religious doctrines. Should the Methodist Sen. Hillary Clinton face the Mormon Romney, Evangelicals will be forced to decide whether their voting will be guided by doctrine or public policy."

The Boston Globe and A “Nationwide Network of Mormon Supporters” (Blog)

Article VI Blog » Blog Archive » The Boston Globe and A “Nationwide Network of Mormon Supporters”:
"Is this an effort to provoke religious concern — from Evangelicals and others — about Romney's Mormonism? In other words, whether they intend to or not, aren't Helman and Levenson pressing religious 'hot buttons' — invoking concerns about a vast coordinated effort by Mormons to get one of their own elected president– and thereby stoking the fires of religious prejudice, or at least religious misunderstanding and discord? "

LDS Church Denies Political Discussion With Romney

kutv.com - LDS Church Denies Political Discussion With Romney:
"The LDS Church is responding to a story from the front page of the Boston Globe. The article accuses an LDS Church apostle and faculty of BYU of helping Governor Mitt Romney in his possible run for president."

Globe Presses Romney and LDS Connection

Hotline On Call: The Daily Troika: '08 Buzz Of The Day:
"Fact: the accounts of Romney's advisers conflict in the story in way that's bound to extend the lifetime of the story, which means that the Romney universe (at an early stage, to be sure) lacks the rules and discipline that characterize smooth-functioning and tight presidential campaigns. (CF 'The Way To Win') . Fortunately, there's plenty of time."

Romney camp consulted with Mormon leaders

Romney camp consulted with Mormon leaders - The Boston Globe:
"Governor Mitt Romney's political team has quietly consulted with leaders of the Mormon Church to map out plans for a nationwide network of Mormon supporters to help Romney capture the presidency in 2008, according to interviews and written materials reflecting plans for the initiative."

Romney Tops McCain, Giuliani as GOP's Most Popular Speaker

http://www.humanevents.com/rightangle/index.php?id=17181&title=romney_tops_mccain_giuliani_as_gop_s_mos:
"Romney littered his speech with humor -- he opened with a joke -- and drew applause throughout. He gave a ringing endorsement of President Bush's handling of the War on Terror and spoke of his travels to states such as Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Michigan to campaign for Republican candidates. (This drew an upbeat response from attendees, who quickly discerned the importance of all four states in '08.) During his introduction, Mehlman said Romney has used his role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association to raise more money than ever before in the organization's history."

Hotline On Call: The Daily Troika: Daily 2008 Buzz

Hotline On Call: The Daily Troika: Daily 2008 Buzz:
"Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) was in Michigan yesterday raising money for the GOP. The state party chair, Saul Anuzis, writes on his blog that 'Last week, RNC Chairman introduced Romney at a D.C. event and said he was the most sought after Republican speaker in the country. After his performance in Grand Rapids, it was obvious why to all.'"

Kathryn Jean Lopez on Mitt Romney & 2008 on National Review Online

Kathryn Jean Lopez on Mitt Romney & 2008 on National Review Online:
"If Liberty Sunday in Boston is any indication, there may be something to Romney’s optimism — there may, in fact, be no Mormon problem. To put it less than Christianly: It’s the issues, stupid. Perhaps, despite polls and chatter suggesting hesitancy among evangelicals or others to vote for a generic Mormon, once they see that the Mormon is a politician with a in-sync record who gives a stirring speech, singing the right tune, at an already rockin’ black evangelical church, the so-called Mormon problem may be a moot point. "

"Cult" Following

The Corner on National Review Online:
"Incidentally, I would not be surprised if just about every evangelical leader who wants to be taken seriously winds up being publicly warm to Romney — and early on. That doesn't mean endorsing him — though I think some will wind up doing so — but making clear that him being a LDS-er is not a disqualifier for them to consider him."

There's More Than Buzz About Mitt

USNews.com: Inside Washington: Paul Bedard: : There's More Than Buzz About Mitt:
"There's been a lot of political buzz about Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's 2008 bid for the Republican presidential nomination, and now I know why: In one swoop, his Commonwealth PAC this week hired what could be the A-team of political consultants."

Romney Bulks Up Front End Of Commonwealth PAC

Hotline On Call: Romney Bulks Up Front End Of Commonwealth PAC:
"Gov. Mitt Romney bulked up the front end of his Commonwealth PAC today, adding four veteran Republican straregists to the committee.
They include one of Jeb Bush's closest advisers, Sally Bradshaw; a former speechwriter for Pres. Bush, Noam Neusner; former RNC strategist/DoJ comm. dir. Barbara Comstock, and press secretary Jared Young."

And your 2008 hopefuls are ...

Townhall.com::And your 2008 hopefuls are ...::By Kathryn Jean Lopez:
"At the same time, back on the right side of the political spectrum, my blog colleague John Podhoretz and I relentlessly make the case for our favorite presidential candidates. In his recent book, 'Can She Be Stopped ?' (Crown Forum, 2006) -- she being Hillary Clinton -- Podhoretz insists Rudy Giuliani is the only one who can beat Hillary. I'm not so sure. Fact is, unlike political dorks, most normal Americans don't even know the alternatives to the celebs whose names are so often floated for the White House. There's time, in other words, for them to get to know Mitt. "

Attack on gay marriage: Gov blasts Bay State in his own backyard

BostonHerald.com - Local Politics: Attack on gay marriage: Gov blasts Bay State in his own backyard:
"“The price of same-sex marriage is paid by the children,” said Romney during a brief but peppy speech from Boston duringa forum hosted by the Family Research Council. “The child’s development is enhanced by the nurturing of parents of both genders. Every child deserves a mother and a father.” "

DC Notebook: For Utahns, it's not easy pleasing greens

Salt Lake Tribune - DC Notebook: For Utahns, it's not easy pleasing greens:
"Now, Roll Call, a newspaper covering the Hill, reports that Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, also a Mormon, has been participating in 'Senate kitchen Cabinet' meetings with McCain in anticipation of a 2008 bid. Roll Call didn't mention Smith's faith, but it's worth pointing out that of all the senators out there for McCain to consult with, he picks one of four GOP Mormon senators. "

Republican Governors Flex Their Fundraising Muscle

Republican Governors Flex Their Fundraising Muscle - washingtonpost.com:
"Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.), the RGA chairman, has also tapped his vast fundraising network to benefit the group and leaned heavily on a handful of fellow governors, including Sonny Perdue (Ga.), Matt Blunt (Mo.) and Haley Barbour (Miss.).
'No one has worked harder than Mitt Romney to ensure the financial success of RGA,' Musser said. 'The results speak for themselves.'"