Relaxed Romney Gets a Punch Line In
Romney, taking caucus day in stride. (Reuters).
By Michael D. Shear
DES MOINES -- It is Mike Huckabee, not Mitt Romney, who is known as the funny one. In fact, Huckabee had a series of good one-liners on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night.
But don't count out Romney just yet.
At an event in Des Moines on caucus day, Romney seemed more relaxed, and less buttoned down, than usual. He even -- gasp -- made a funny joke.
Talking about the combativeness of the campaign, he noted that Huckabee's campaign chairman had said "he'd like to knock my teeth out."
"My only comment to that is..."
Pause.
"...don't touch the hair."
The audience of employees at the Principal Financial Group laughed. So did the assembled press corps which has gotten used to the somewhat dry stump speech from the former CEO-turned-governor.
But coming this late, one has to wonder whether Romney might not be faced with such a severe challenge from the likable Huckabee if he had shown more of that humor earlier.
Posted at 12:34 PM ET on Jan 3, 2008
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Posted by: ApolloKnowsAll | January 3, 2008 5:46 PM
LOL! JakeD!
I did have reservations about using Trump!
Posted by: rat-the | January 3, 2008 4:14 PM
Are those the only two choices?
Posted by: JakeD | January 3, 2008 3:50 PM
If you are looking for a CEO, would you prefer George Carlin, or Donald Trump?
Posted by: rat-the | January 3, 2008 1:35 PM
Unfortunately for Romney (no offense to the Washington Post), Huckabee's jokes got a much larger audience last night -- I'm surprised Romney didn't try for a Letterman spot.
Posted by: JakeD | January 3, 2008 12:39 PM
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Romney.
If voting for last comic standing, Huckabilly.
Huck is just not presidential, unless you consider Bill Clinton's appearance on Arsenio Hall presidential...I was having flashbacks last night...sax...bass...sax...bass...sex...umm...
Mitt has taken failing companies and made them super successful. Huck enriched himself and even tried to take the furniture from the governor's mansion when he left (like Bill Clinton did in the White House...must be an Arkansas-thing)...
Mitt will be an excellent president. Huck will still draw laughs on the talk-show circuit. The world will be back in alignment.