Mitt Romney launched his presidential campaign, because Washington desperately needs a leader whose favorite food is iceberg lettuce. Shortly thereafter, the thrice married, gay-friendly, crossdressing "Saturday Night Live" host called the kettle black when Rudy Giuliani questioned Romney's conservative bona fides. Chuck Schumer is taking on Dick Wolf while Jack Reed is taking on the Sun God Ra. And we eagerly await Bill Keller's first column as a full-time Times writer: "I Was Receiving An Award The Other Day When Someone Told Me How Stupid Tumblr Is." This is HUFFPOST HILL for Thursday, June 2nd, 2011:
A day after President Obama met with the House Republican conference, he huddled with their Democratic counterparts this afternoon. Nany Pelosi and Steny Hoyer told reporters afterward that the meeting was "very productive," adding that they stressed that Medicare not be overhauled. Responding to questions about the debt ceiling debate, Steny Hoyer said that he "welcome[s] Mr. Boehner's comments that we oughta get it done by the end of the month." A House Democrat in the meeting tells Sam Stein:
"President Obama said that uncertainty over the debt ceiling, together with all the other weakness in the economy, could lead to a worse financial crisis than the one in 2008, with an even worse recession as a result. He said housing was the main thing dragging down the economy, with Geithner nodding solemnly like they'd done everything humanly possible for the last 27 months to fix the housing market."
Utahans are excited and confident that Mitt Romney could become the next president of the United States. Romney took the first step towards that goal announcing his candidacy in New Hampshire. “Romney is strong and he has been a great fundraiser,” said state GOP party chairman Thomas Wright. “He's been out working it. He has a whole bunch of people who know how to win elections working for him and he's been to this rodeo once before."
And that may be why Romney is both a presidential front runner nationally and easily, here in Utah. Political observers say Romney has learned lessons from his unsuccessful presidential bid in 2008. Back then, he tried to be everything to everyone. This time, the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics said Romney's focused. “This time it's all about the economy and that's Mitt's sweet spot,” said Kirk Jowers. “And you will hear him talk about the economy, non-stop.”
But he has baggage and Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin came out swinging on his announcement day. She's critical about Romney's mandated health care program in Massachusetts when he was governor. “I think Mitt Romney is going to have a difficult time running for president,” said David Kirkham, Utah’s Tea Party organizer. “I think he's going to have a difficult time getting support of the Tea Party." Then there's the issue of Romney's religion. He and possible candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. is Mormon. “Could a Mormon be a president? I think that's been played out,” Wright said. “I don't think that's going to be the story. Our country has some significant issues facing it.”
sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/02/huffpost-hill---mitt-romn_n_870609.html
http://www.abc4.com/mostpopular/story/Romney-A-Utah-favorite/0ZoC5PiWw0yafssPkGcVaQ.cspx
