Romney’s Strategy in Michigan is Optimism

Mon, January 14, 2008 - 1:17 PM

On the eve of Tuesday’s Michigan Republican primary, Mitt Romney today will continue to play up that he has a more optimistic view of the future of the auto industry in that state than does John McCain.

In a speech this afternoon to the Detroit Economic Club, Romney will even blame domestic automakers’ problems, in part, on Washington politicians.

The former Massachusetts governor will say that his presidency would not only shun pessimism -- but also do something to turn the industry around -- in several not-so-veiled swipes at McCain.

Romney's comments today will be the latest in a back-and-forth that began last week when the Arizona senator reacted to Mitt Romney’s talk about reviving some Michigan industries. McCain suggested some simply can’t be resurrected.

“I've got to give you some straight talk: Some of the jobs that have left the state of Michigan are not coming back,'’ McCain said, in widely reported comments. McCain explained he is just being realistic, and that new types of jobs need to be created.

But there have been signs that Romney’s focus on McCain’s pessimism is now causing McCain’s “straight talk” in Michigan to take a U-Turn?

By Saturday, The Detroit News was quoting McCain as saying, “We can restore Detroit’s Supremacy … I’m optimistic.”

But in today’s speech, Romney will continue to highlight his optimism, versus the pessimism of others.

"Washington politicians look at Michigan and see a rust belt. But the real rust is in Washington," Romney will say, according to excerpts of his speech sent out by his campaign.

"There is no one silver bullet. When it comes to getting Michigan back on track and building a stronger America, we must address every problem I've spoken about. And I will,” Romney will also say.

Romney also will say that McCain has been part of the problem.

"For example, Senator McCain and Senator Lieberman have a bill pending in Congress that unilaterally imposes new high energy costs on U.S. manufacturers, with no safety valve," Romney will claim. "The Energy Information Agency estimated that this bill would raise electric rates by as much as 25 percent and gasoline prices by 68 cents a gallon. And the cost in American jobs – over 300,000. So it would not only kill jobs, it would make it harder for families to make ends meet."

In response, the McCain camp just issued a statement on its behalf from former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift.

"Michigan voters shouldn't be fooled by Mitt Romney's latest campaign promises of economic development and job growth. They need to look closely at his record in Massachusetts, where manufacturing job growth was third-worst in the country and taxes and 'fees' increased by over $700 million per year. Mitt Romney even advocated a new SUV tax that would have hurt the same American auto industry in Michigan that he now claims to champion," Swift said.

"Mitt Romney has a reputation of saying anything to win. A comparison of his record versus his rhetoric on the economy shows why," reads Swift's statement.

This final push in Michigan could be critical for Romney – who has finished second in the Iowa caucuses and in the New Hampshire primary. He is banking on strong ties to the state -- including that his father was a Michigan governor in the 1960s.

But McCain is hoping to keep his momentum from winning the New Hampshire primary alive Tuesday with another win in Michigan, a state he captured in his 2000 race against then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

Latest polls show a tight race. The Detroit Free Press on Sunday released its final pre-primary poll, showing Romney leading McCain among Republican primary voters 27 percent to 22 percent, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 16 percent.

And a Mason and Dixon Polling and Research poll released on Sunday that had Romney leading McCain among Republican primary voters 30 percent to 22 percent, with Huckabee at 17 percent.

But as Romney himself explained on Sunday, in an appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Michigan’s GOP primary is not limited to Republicans, as independents and Democrats also can choose to cast their ballots in the race.

"I plan on winning Michigan, and there's no question, if it were just Republicans and independents, I'd win Michigan. But Democrats also get to vote in the primary here, so you can't be 100 percent sure,” Romney told host Bob Schieffer.

But Romney went on to say that he won’t quit the race even is he loses Michigan, promising to go on to South Carolina’s Jan. 19 GOP primary, Florida’s Jan. 29 primary, and then the Feb. 5 primaries in 21 states.

-- Billy House