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Inquisitive NH Voter Reacts To Giuliani Remark

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(WBZ) BOSTON Giving the little people a chance to face off with "big people" is what makes the New Hampshire primary famous.

Rudy Giuliani is the latest candidate to get caught off guard by a cut-to-the-chase question from a voter.

I spoke with the Derry, New Hampshire woman who brought him up short, and she's feeling the heat for her question.

Katherine Prudhomme-O'Brien says she was just curious about the apparent lack of support for their father's candidacy by Giuliani's son and daughter from a previous marriage, but that query and Giuliani's dismissive reply have been the buzz of the political world all weekend.

"I asked him how he'd expect the American people to give him loyal fellowship if he was having a hard time getting it from his own family."

Giuliani's response: "There are complexities in every family in America. The best thing I can say is kind of leave my family alone, just like I'll leave your family alone."

Keller: What did you think of his answer?

Katherine: I thought it was a little defensive. I guess he's still not ready to talk about the whole thing because it's very uncomfortable for him.

And apparently for others, as well. Katherine's question has been criticized by some pundits as inappropriate.

Katherine: When George Stephanopolous said I was a professional heckler, that was crazy, because I don't recall every heckling anybody.

She did once ask then-candidate Al Gore to comment on Bill Clinton's personal misbehavior, a fact that's been used to discredit her.

Keller: You're not a kook or a wacko?

Katherine: I don't think I'm a kook or a wacko.

Keller: You're not a plant by some other campaign?

Katherine: No, this is a plant (pointing to a nearby plant), I'm not a plant.

In fact, Katherine wonders why she had to be the one to raise long-simmering questions about Giuliani's personal character. "I'm very frustrated by the media. I think maybe they want to maintain access, so maybe they're selling their soul for access and not doing their job."

How true. Concerns about Giuliani's temperament are one of the key barriers he faces in his run for president, and stories about his estranged son and Obama-supporting daughter have been out in public for awhile.

It's outrageous Katherine has been taking heat for politely asking about it. And it's testimony to the value in forcing candidates out of their media bubble once in awhile to take blunt questions from fearless voters, New Hampshire style.

Katherine Prudhomme-O'Brien says she was just curious about the apparent lack of support for their father's candidacy by Giuliani's son and daughter from a previous marriage.

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Paul Schmitt from the daily Alini: "Mitt Romney: The best solution to America's ills"

Mitt Romney: The best solution to America's ills

By Paul Schmitt

Posted: 8/21/07 Section: Opinion Columns

When your daughter is lost in Manhattan, overdosed on ecstasy, where do you turn? While the NYPD and other run-of-the-mill solutions are probably a safe first choice, I suggest another option - Mitt Romney. Sure, Mitt Romney doesn't wield an M9 or wear a sleek uniform, as far as I know, but he has proven himself again and again at handling crisis situations. Perhaps by the end of this column, you'll be nominating him to handle our country's current crisis situation.

According to NewsMax Magazine, a bastion of respected journalism, Romney handled such a crisis in 1996 when the 14-year-old daughter of his business partner went missing in New York City. Romney sprang into action assembling a crack team of more than 20 of his employees and friends from Bain Capital, his multibillion dollar venture firm, to find the girl. While the girl was perhaps saved only hours from death thanks to Romney's quick thinking and vast resources, what's more impressive is that this story is a concentrated example of the types of wonders that Romney has been working throughout his life.

Many in Illinois, infected by Obama Fever (symptoms include: hyper behavior, uncontrolled enthusiasm and an inability to name any of the candidate's accomplishments), may wish that the Republicans would play dead this election cycle. However, upon reviewing the credentials of those in the race on both sides, the Mormon from Massachusetts (of all places) deserves a second look. Though Mitt Romney faces a long road with Giuliani and Thompson as adversaries, his ability to surprise and achieve may carry him further than most expect.

Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has proven himself as a leader, in and out of government. In 2002, Romney was called on to save the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, which had been scandal-ridden and destined for financial chaos. The Olympic Committee had accepted more than $1 million in bribes before Romney was called in to clean things up. When he was done, the projected deficit of $379 million was transformed into a profit of $56 million. While Romney's miracle could be attributed to his savvy business skills, he has brought similar success to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

While the Republican governor of a state claiming only 13 percent of her population as registered Republicans, Romney balanced the state's budget and eradicated a deficit of $3 billion. NewsMax reports that Romney even left the governor's office with a "rainy day fund." Additionally, Romney labored over landmark legislation that created a statewide health care program that covers 99.5 percent of Massachusetts' residents. Not only has Romney accomplished some very un-Republican objectives in a partisan state, he accomplished it all without ever raising taxes or driving businesses from the state - perhaps our grandiose-goaled governor could take a tip from Romney's style.

Though many have questioned Romney's record as a social conservative, after all, he did once support a woman's right to choose regarding abortion, it may be important to remember that even Ronald Reagan was once pro-choice. Romney's conversion to the pro-life cause is likely legitimate; he claims the importance of the sanctity of life on abortion dawned on him during a debate in Massachusetts over cloning. Perhaps it takes some extreme madness to show us how far we've drifted from our roots.

Giuliani and Thompson would probably both serve effectively in the Oval Office. However, Romney's accomplishments in an executive role make him tailored for the challenges faced by a president. Working in the severe minority with a legislature in Massachusetts also gives Romney the skills to unite a country long polarized by political ideology.

He may not be the media darling that Obama is, or the dynasty candidate that Hillary Clinton is, but Romney leads with a type of modest confidence that has been lacking from the White House for many years.

Romney's efforts in the campaign could be fruitful for America. Even if he isn't the perfect choice for conservatives or isn't progressive enough for moderates, for Republicans, Romney brings with him the cure to Obama fever - practical experience.

Hedgehog Report: Romney Surges In Gallup Poll

Romney Surges In Gallup Poll

Who says the Iowa straw poll didn't matter? A new poll from the people at Gallup shows Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee gaining while the other top three candidates dropped (difference from Aug 3-5 in parentheses).

PRESIDENT - NATIONAL - GOP PRIMARY
Rudy Giuliani 32% (-1)
Fred Thompson 19% (-2)
Mitt Romney 14% (+6)
John McCain 11% (-6)
Mike Huckabee 4% (+2)
Ron Paul 3% (+1)
Duncan Hunter 2% (+1)
Chuck Hagel 1% (NC)
Sam Brownback 1% (NC)
Tom Tancredo 1% (NC)

This latest poll was done August 13-16 among a bunch of registered voters. Even better news for Romney, his favorable ratings have improved among the General public, and more importantly in the short term, among Republican voters. He went from net -9% favorable rating to +7% favorable rating among the public at large. Among Republican voters, his favorable rating is at 49% in this poll, up 13% form the previous Gallup poll. But before the Romney crowd starts wonder, he still trails Giuliani, McCain and Thompson in favorability ratings.

Favorable-Unfavorable Opinion (among GOP voters)
Giuliani 77%-14%
John McCain 59%-28%
Fred Thompson 50%-7%
Mitt Romney 49%-16%
Mike Huckabee 30%-8%
Sam Brownback 14%-13%

Regardless, it is clear Romney continues to make gains from his victory in Iowa. While he didn't have to contend with the other top candidates, it has clearly given him a boost.

Posted by Dave Wissing at 1:04 pm
Filed under: Election 2008 - Polls |

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1. I think its about time that the candidates not getting 5% of the vote should drop out entirely.

   Also, Obama was a very big winner in the most recent debate.

   Comment by Tina — 8/19/2007 @ 1:17 pm

2. In my opinion, it was not the Straw Poll, at all. What is making the difference for Gov. Romney is that he has infused his campaign with a lot of cash, and has spent it in Iowa and New Hampshire.
   And, he has put a good organization on the ground. Very important. Ground organization translates into votes.

   Comment by Tim — 8/19/2007 @ 1:51 pm

3. Agree with BL on F. Thompson. I also think that his appearance at the Iowa Fair (shown on Fox with Carl Cameron) was a disaster. Wearing Gucci loafers, and being shuttled around in a golf cart? Get real.

   Comment by Tina — 8/19/2007 @ 3:40 pm

Mitt Romney's Mormon Religion Hurting Him?

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Mitt Romney's Mormon Religion Hurting Him?

A funny thing happened to Mitt Romney, one of the most conservative candidates in the GOP field, on the way to the Republican nomination for President. What? The fact that he is a Mormon is hurting Mitt Romney with some hardcore conservative evangelical Christian voters and even after months of trying to change there minds, Mitt Romney is still having a tough time moving his poll numbers up to the area of Rudy Giuliani and the yet to announce Fred Thompson.

What Mitt Romney is going though with a certain segment of the GOP is something other mainstream Christian Republicans have learned the hard way too and that is many social evangelical Christian voters are just as stubborn in their extreme conservative political views as the liberal kooks with crazy ideas in Hollywood are in the democratic party. However, with Mitt Romney there is another added problem and that is his Mormon religion has been criticized in some churches for years as being more akin to a cult than a real religion.

If Mitt Romney was not a Mormon, I believe he would be leading Rudy Giuliani is the race for the GOP nomination. However, Mitt Romney is a Mormon and in a small way he might be a winner even if he does not win the GOP nomination next year. How? He is paving the way for future Mormon candidates for high political office in the future. John Kennedy made it possible for Catholics to seek the presidency and win, just like Jesse Jackson is helping Barack Obama this year because he first tired and failed to win the job of President of the United States in the past.

I have met many Mormons in my life and I have yet to meet a person that has been raised a Mormon that was not kind to me and also every single person I have met that follows strict Mormon teachings have very high levels of personal moral values and integrity.

Read more about Religion:

Church State Issues
Religion Gone Wrong
War About Religion
Following Blind Faith
So Much Extremism

Posted by Mark Hutcherson at 10:35 AM