Posted by
wiselady on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 1:06:21 AM
Mitt and team win big in the Iowa Straw Polls . But the sour grapes comments coming in from disappointed supporters of the herd of candidates who didn't show good numbers try to cast a shadow on this significant milestone. Criss crossing the state, visiting all 99 counties, answering pointed and demeaning questions, enduring snippy press reports, opening up to "Ask Mitt Anything" forums from one end of the state to the other all yielded a positive response when the numbers were tallied.
One-on-one contacts, a thoughtful ad campaign that highlighted his core values, and even a supposedly "off the record" radio interview all worked together to get the Romney message out - that he is a serious and hard-working candidate for the Presidency of this country. His endearing wife (with a brain) and his enthused five sons were active elements in Mitt's success. Under the radar was his hard-working, smart team on the ground working the phones and smoothing the daily campaign wrinkles. What helped Mitt appear so polished was the unity and focused effort of his family and his great team.
The mercurial press was baffled; no dirt - no scandals to offset Mitt's insightful comments and outstanding debate showings Here was a candidate and his family + team of clean cut individuals working hard, paying the price to get their message out, wearing out their tires and shoe leather, and being civil under difficult conditions; new political images for the press! Imagine, using your own money to campaign. Refreshing, to say the least.
Some reporters searched the ancestor tree, some the financial connections, some the religion vs the state dead-horse issues when they had no gossip or scandal to milk. Slowly, day by day, public acceptance of who Mitt is and what he stands for got communicated to the state of Iowa. His past expedrience matched the man the people were meeting. Mitt was smart but also warm. He was fearless and called it like it was. He took time with people and didn't treat them like objects. The camera showed people still smiling as he walked away. If he'd been insincere, the camera would have caught those images. The warmth between him and his family members was obvious and refreshing - no posturing image of Hillary dancing with Bill in her bathing suit that was supposed to convince us of their .... (you fill in the blanks, etc., etc.) He ran a smart, business model campaign.
The overall message was that he has both a brain, a heart, and courage. Dorothy's friends in storybook lane entertained us in OZ. in their search for these precious items. Romney has all three in abundance. Iowa liked what she saw and expressed approval in the poll. It is really very simple.
It will be fun to see his message take hold state after state until he is the choice of people in all 50 states who are looking for the candidate with the Brain, Heart, and Courage.