Iowa moves way of ‘Mitt the Mormon’

[Omaha Steve]

Tony Allen-Mills, Cedar Rapids

WHEN the annual Iowa state fair opened in Des Moines last week the summer celebrations of America’s rich rural traditions included an “ugliest cake” contest. It may prove the only Iowa competition that is not won this year by Mitt Romney, the eye-catching former Massachusetts governor who is threatening to shake up the Republican race for the White House in 2008.

“I love everything that comes out of your mouth,” one adoring Iowa Republican cooed to Romney at an “Ask Mitt anything” fundraising dinner in Cedar Rapids. “I just think he’s such a smart man,” said Walter Willett after a breakfast meeting in Tama.

By gambling heavily on early success in the tortuous campaign for the Iowa caucuses - the key primary vote that traditionally launches the White House election season - Romney is hoping to wake up this morning with a largely symbolic but politically valuable victory under his silver-buckled belt.

As the overwhelming favourite to win yesterday’s Iowa straw poll - an informal vote of Republican supporters who are plied with a free barbecued hog roast to encourage them to turn out - Romney was assured a national spotlight that could transform the only Mormon candidate in the race from curious outsider to intriguing frontrunner.

Rudolph Giuliani, the former New York mayor, and Fred Thompson, the former senator and Hollywood actor, may be well ahead in the national polls, but in Iowa Romney has been sweeping all before him in an expensive bid to be taken seriously as the Republican successor to George W Bush.

An Iowa University poll last week gave Romney 26.9% of Republican voters likely to attend the state caucuses next January; Giuliani had only 11.3% and Thompson trailed with 6.5%. Both men decided not to invest in expensive campaigns for straw poll votes, but are headed to Iowa this week in a bid to make up lost ground.

FULL story at link.

[TwilightGardener]

1. "I love everything that comes out of your mouth"--this person must love bullshit in a big way, then.

[Colobo]

9. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Good one! LOL!

[jenmito]

2. Romney bought Iowa. I only HOPE he's the Repub. nominee!

He's flip-flopped on every position possible and was caught lying about his position on abortion. First he said he became "pro-life" after a discussion with doctors or scientists about ESCR but then said that he was ALWAYS "pro-life" but held pro-choice POSITIONS against his belief because he didn't think he should try to change the will of the people in MA. He's SUCH a phony!

[AlCzervik]

3. Eeewwwww. Mitt and his sycophants.

[PurityOfEssence]

4. Pretty Boy Droid

(I was positing on a different thread how the various Republican candidates looked like villain characters from Dick Tracy, and this one came to mind.)

Slick, rich, cute and on every side of every issue; it's a tiresome combination.

[Mz Pip]

5. Mittens

doesn't have enough money to buy the Presidency. He bought 4000+ votes in Iowa for 5+ million dollars. How much will it cost him to buy the White House. Do the math. I think it's more than he has.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[dugggy]

7. Iowa was his only chance to move amongst top tier candidates n/t

[Mz Pip]

8. For 5 minutes

maybe. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't see whatever bounce Mitwit gets from this translating into any long range support.

4,000 vote in Iowa won't win him the White House.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[dugggy]

10. The win in Iowa can't hurt Romney in any shape or form

You can bet the MSM will now give him more face time.

[dugggy]

6. Bring him (Mitt) on!

He will be the easiest to defeat. Easier than Rudy,
much easier than Thompson. McCain is out of it.