A Small Number of Sooners For Romney
By Glenn Kessler
OKLAHOMA CITY--The aircraft hangar was vast. The crowd was not.
Of all the small rallies Mitt Romney has held in the past two days, this ersatz rally was the smallest. The former governor of Massachusetts touched down here on his way to California, hoping the refueling stop would add power to his race here for Oklahoma's 41 delegates.
All of the recent polls show him in third place, behind even Mike Huckabee, who Romney has suggested should drop out of what he calls a "two-man race."
Romney's rally barely filled one-tenth of the hangar. The crowd of a few dozen supporters was mostly gathered behind Romney, on a set of rafters, so he only addressed the eight television cameras arrayed in front of him. Before the candidate arrived, the crowd sounded very much like a large family picnic on a sunny day: About half of the people attending the rally were young children who won't be able to vote until a few more presidential cycles pass.
Toddlers wandered about while the older children held up hand-painted signs, declaring "Sooners 4 Romney" or "Romney, the Sooner the Better." One 10-year-old even held up a blue-and-pink sign that best captured the moment: "Kids for Romney."
The candidate, who has perfected the under-10-minute campaign speech, ran through his litany of attack lines against John McCain and his promise to keep the Republican party in "the House of Ronald Reagan." He mocked McCain for once saying the economy was "not his strong suit," and pointed to his past as a business executive. "The economy is my strong suit," he said.
Pointing to all the children surrounding him, Romney declared, "I'm running for all the little ones here."
Within seven minutes, the speech was done--just in time to hit the 6 o'clock news.
Posted at 6:45 PM ET on Feb 4, 2008
Share This: 
Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Get This Widget >>
Posted by: Ford1998 | February 5, 2008 2:54 PM
marinepatriot,
Apparently you have some real issues with those whom you call greedy corporations. May I remind you that corporations in America are falling apart, laying off employees, sales revenues are falling, which means less taxes to support war. These "greedy corporations" as you like to call them are businesses that provide weapons, munitions, equipment, clothes, etc. to our military personnel. It would be an interesting thing indeed to see what our military would be like without any of these "greedy corporations." Even the M-16 rifle, the M-102 Granade Launcher, you were likely trained with were products of one of those "greedy corporations."
Do you honestly think that every business in America is greedy? Businesses in America strengthen the value of the dollars you get paid for your service. They provide an economic force in the world that allows some chance for diplomatic solutions to work rather than sending our brave soldiers out to get shot at whenever conflict arises.
Don't fool yourself! Being a military soldier is as important as being an economic soldier to the freedoms we are both fighting for. You created military safety. I create economic safety. Both of us are needed to make America the best place to live and raise a family.
Posted by: ceo1 | February 5, 2008 12:19 PM
vote4mikehuckabee,
Your email is non-sense. I have known Mitt Romney and his family for 40 years. How about you? Mitt Romney changed his position on abortion when he discovered what stem cell research does to the unborn. Since then, he has chosen to be on the right to life. All of your supposed positions you think Romney believes in is a pack of lies. Tell me, is this representative of Christianity? I didn't know that Christ taught us all to lie. Isn't that called baring false witness? If memory serves, that is the 10th Commandment he gave to Moses on Mount Horeb.
Posted by: ceo1 | February 5, 2008 12:03 PM
Sgt. Dan Campbell,
Great video! But, it looks like it was edited a great deal. As one who has also served my country in the United States Army, I am still voting for Mitt Romney.
Mr. McCain does not seem to know exactly what he is doing other than destroying the Republican party. His liberal views would lead me to believe that he is doing something far worse than what others believe.
By moving the moderate Republicans into the center, he is essentially creating a government where the choices are between liberal and liberal perspectives. Tell me Sargeant, what happens if you get no choice in politics? The answer is Communism or Socialism. For more than a century there has been two different parties that has given us not only choice but also provided a balance in the policies and positions in American politics. With Senator McCain, there will no longer be a balance of power in Washington or in politics. It will be gone! So, what do you call large government, increased taxes, and one party? By definition it is Communism!
As one who is sworn to protect and preseve the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic, it strikes me that you would support McCain. He is an enemy of the Constitution and of freedom contrary to him being a prisoner of war in Vietnam. It almost makes a person wonder if some of that brainwashing got to him. Let's just put it this way, my feelings for him are about the same as those of our veterans who served in Vietnam prisons have towards Jane Fonda. He is a traitor to our nation and so are those who believe in him.
I would much rather vote for Hillary Clinton then John McCain. At least she claims to be a liberal and is proud of it. John McCain has no idea what he is. He makes me ashamed I ever wore a uniform of the United States military. I expect better from someone who has worn the uniform.
I am a veteran of the war in Kewait and Iraq. My family has served in every war the United States has ever had. My family participated in the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Mayflower Compact. I am as patriotic as any person in the United States. It is a part of my family heritage.
Posted by: ceo1 | February 5, 2008 11:56 AM
The simple fact that bigots like Perkins, Dobson and the FRC are supporting Huckabee is enough to remove him from consideration, IMO.
I am very conservative, but despise what people like the abovementioned have done and are doing to my country.
Posted by: sendrossmail | February 5, 2008 11:52 AM
I must say that I find this artical very biased...why focus on the smallest rally?
All that I really get out of this is a front by the Post to say let's pick the most insignificant rally and talk about that.
While I'm not going to claim to be an educated man does anyone else see this.
Why not talk about the biggest rally held in the last couple of days?
Or heck maybe a comparison of both rallies. The smallest and the biggest? That seems to give the right perspective. I could be wrong I'm not a fancy pants liberal Post reporter
Posted by: us123456 | February 5, 2008 8:57 AM
Steve:
What makes Romney such a superior candidate to McCain and Huckabee is that he does the math and pays attention to the little details that others ignore.
Nevada has more delegates than SC, but your guys thought the voters there didn't matter. Romney thought they did matter, so he won. Your guys thought the people of Wyoming didn't matter and that the people of Maine didn't matter. They focused where the media wanted them to, and not on the facts.
Up till Florida Romney was totally cleaning up in the delegate count. He's still not that far behind now.
And I totally don't mind that Romney is willing to put his money where his mouth is. Can your guy say the same...? Nope.
Posted by: carolm62 | February 5, 2008 2:23 AM
Oh yes, that hotly contested Maine caucus, can't understand why the media wasn't focused on this. Why is that Romney seems to win all the "whatever" votes. That big win in Wyoming, where nobody campaigned. Ditto for Nevada, where Romney ran to after he realized his millions went nowhere in South Carolina, the place everyone focused on. He did Michigan, his home state, big coup there. So funny, to look at the "golds", mostly in states none of the other candidates bothered to notice.
Romney has NEVER drawn big crowds, always smaller than the others. This is a campaign made on personal investment, rather than personal appeal. The guy is outspending everyone ten, twenty to one in the competitive states and still losing. It's amazing, the manufactured relevance. Yes Maine, what a triumph.
Posted by: steve_valeriote23 | February 4, 2008 11:04 PM
Dan Campbell,
I see you attack adds everywhere there is an article about Mitt Romney. You never give SUBSTANCE for your attacks and you twist the truth just like slick Huckleberry. Face it, Huckleberry will NEVER get elected outside the backwards state of Arkansas. Here are the FACTS why people DO NOT SUPPORT HUCKLEBERRY.
1. 1033 pardons, including 12 Murderers. Fact that shows he doesn't care about the VICTIMS. Dumond is the worst case. And he lied and said he wasn't involved.
2. There were several ETHIC probes while he was in office.
3. He encouraged illegal immigration by setting up a Mexican Consulate.
4. He sponsored scholarships for Illegals.
5. He raised taxes by 500 million. Not a conservative.
6. He claimed he was the "Christian" candidate. Give me a break.
7. Huckleberry is just a spoiler for McCain. Between McCain and Huckleberry they are moving the Republicans to the LEFT. No thank you.
Huckabee will NOT win the nomination. A vote for Huckleberry is a vote for Juan McCain.
Posted by: JohnJacobs99 | February 4, 2008 10:45 PM
Did anyone know that Romney TROUNCED McCain in Maine over the weekend? McCain even came in behind Ron Paul (whom I highly esteem, BTW).
But I had to do a search for that news. The media doesn't seem to want anyone to notice....
Posted by: carolm62 | February 4, 2008 10:16 PM
Some businessman ... acquire companies and fire everyone. I guess he thinks he could run the country that way.
Kinda funny listening to him excoriating McCain for wanting to do something about global warming .. and blustering that no, he never held a position on Iraq even mildly congruent with the wishes of the American people ...
Posted by: chrisfox8 | February 4, 2008 10:15 PM
Huckabee supporters don't want to hear it, but he has no way of being elected. He is way to tied to the evangelicals and no one else. It is 100% true that a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain. McCain might win, because the conservatives are divided. Lets support the one that has a chance. Mitt Romney 08!
Posted by: niqueie | February 4, 2008 10:10 PM
Marinepatriot, loved the video. Huckabee is a lot more conservative than I will ever be, but his sincerety and conviction are much more attractive than the baloney spewing forth from the other candidates. Pleased to see you see through Romney. Apparently, some people are more attracted to labels like "Conservative" than to the content of each candidate's character.
Posted by: Ford1998 | February 4, 2008 9:50 PM
WOW THAT IS EMBARRASSING! This shows that Romney is supported by greedy Corporations, not the every day people of America.
PLEASE, someone post pictures of this (event?)
Posted by: marinepatriot | February 4, 2008 9:42 PM
The irony of the electorate losing interest in Mitt Romney -- just as he lost interest in serving as Governor of Massachusetts. Bob1, if you believe that it's better to have an incompetent "conservative" than somebody who will actually lead, then feel free to throw away your vote on this shallow huckster...
Posted by: Ford1998 | February 4, 2008 9:35 PM
*** ALERT ****
Tony Perkins and James Dobson of FRC (Family Research Council) value voters guide that I just received today clearly shows they are supporting Mike Huckabee for President.
Out of all the questions they asked of Republicans and Democrates, Mike Huckabee scored 100% in all questions.
It also shows that Mitt Romney''s liberal positions are still showing through him in the questioning.
It says Mitt Romney supports human cloning and embryo destruction. Plus it says Mitt Romney would vote for passage to water down the Federal Marriage act of 1996.
Plus it says Mitt Romney will vote to allow passage of law that allows the Government to take away private land of it''s citizens whenever it wants to.
Do Republicans want a liberal like Mitt Romney running our party or a true conservative like Mike Huckabee running our party?
It''s clear that Tony Perkins and Dr. James Dobson are supporting conservative Mike Huckabee in the value votes results I just received today.
If you are a conservative who has admired what Tony Perkins and Dr. James Dobson has down for the nation, please go vote tomorrow for Mike Huckabee who they are clearly showing they are supporting.
Posted by: vote4mikehuckabee | February 4, 2008 9:26 PM
I HAVE SERVED MY COUNTRY FOR OVER (13) YEARS IN THE MILITARY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO WATCH (1) VIDEO FOR ME. (THIS IS NOT A R. PAUL VIDEO)
THIS VIDEO HELPS MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN ROMNEY, MCCAIN AND HUCKABEE.
I SERVED YOU AND MY COUNTRY, WILL YOU TAKE JUST 1 MINUTE TO HEAR ME?
HERE IS MY QUICK VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnU3G-HCf9w
SEMPER FI
Dan Campbell
Sgt., USMC
Posted by: marinepatriot | February 4, 2008 9:25 PM
It is not flip-flopping when you change positions; and besides his changes were to become even more Conservative. If people want a Conservative in office vote Romney. If you want destructive Liberalism vote for McCain, Huckabee, Hillary, or Obama. As for me I choose Romney!
Posted by: bobi1 | February 4, 2008 9:07 PM
Even worse, the two dozen people were stuck there on a lay over. Romney said today you could feel something in the air, he had momentum. All I feel, the air leaving this flip flopping windbag once and for all.
Posted by: steve_valeriote23 | February 4, 2008 7:13 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
ceo1, your closeness to the Romney family has evidently blinded you to the fact that your argument about John McCain applies doubly to Mitt Romney. Who in the world knows where Mitt Romney stands? It's fine for reasonable people to change their positions, but Mitt, by misrepresenting what is generally a defensible record in order to pander to "conservatives", has lost credibility. Thank you for your military service, but I must point out that it in no way makes you an expert on the constitution. And it's very nice, but absolutely pointless, that your ancestors have been here since the Revolution.