Romney golden to GOP in blue state

By Christina Bellantoni

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

August 21, 2006

LOS ANGELES -- California Republicans believe a handsome, blue-state Republican such as Mitt Romney would turn the presidential map upside down in 2008, appealing to the voters on both coasts who normally back Democrats in national elections…

"He's got the charisma Kennedy had and the morals we wish Kennedy would have had," said Republican Donee Chabot of Los Angeles, who works in real estate…

He also told them how he cut more than $3 billion in government waste without raising taxes or borrowing money and touched on a wide scholarship program approved under his watch. He also portrayed himself as an optimist with the right ideas to fix the nation's problems during its most critical period...

After the speech, the audience of nearly 700 erupted in chants of "Run, Mitt, Run" and the governor was surrounded by adoring fans hoping to snap a picture of the grinning, salt-and-pepper-haired politician. He worked the room for nearly an hour as chattering Republicans said things like "What a realist..."

When asked if his remarks were the makings of his first presidential stump speech, Mr. Romney told The Washington Times: "No, no. We're just having fun getting Republicans elected."

The governor's comedy shtick included jokes about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's muscles, gentle ribbing over the Cal Tech-Massachusetts Institute of Technology rivalry and a crack about his ambitions.

"Thank you. I accept the nomination," he said when opening his speech, to roaring laughter. "Wrong convention, sorry."

He also defended President Bush for fighting "extreme Islamists" without specifically mentioning his position on the Iraq war.

"Thank heavens we have a president who understands the nature of this risk," he said, lauding Mr. Bush's "bold and uncompromising mission of offense."

Robert Lanfranco II, 26, a Lake County resident, said Mr. Romney has a wide appeal for coming from the same left-leaning state as liberal Democratic Sens. John Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael S. Dukakis. He said Mr. Romney has been a bridge builder with his state's Democrats, attracting independents.

Iowa native-turned-Californian Kate Wright praised the governor but cautioned that her adopted state is ultimately irrelevant: "If you can't make it in Iowa, you can't resonate in America."

Another Republican privately worried Mr. Romney's Mormon faith would be a deterrent. The activist said Mormonism will be a difficult thing for the nation to get behind, a tougher religion to sell than President Kennedy's Catholicism.