Romney, Thompson: Duel or No Duel?
Sometimes it is not about policy statements or issue positions. In campaigning there is also the fact that giving a crowd what it expects is important. Gatherings of specific groups as opposed to those of the general public are such occasions. When The Young Republicans National Convention has two prominent Republicans attend their convention some pep talks and inspiration are more in demand than repetition of candidate stands that are already known. So no needs to criticize Fred Thompson for firing up the crowd with some good old-fashioned American ideals
The same can be said for Mitt Romney. There is no fault in eliciting a similar response from the YR’s by building enthusiasm for conservative values by reminding them of how those values will be addressed once in the White House. It was all about core values. Less government spending and tax cuts were the top offerings as well as a few examples on howthat happens. Leave it to Romney to find a way of discussing the drier side of politics and apply it to an audience’s daily life to render it important. That would be by empowering individuals to succeed by returning more of their money to them. (Did you like the use of that fad word - empowering?)
The author in the article below appears to be giving the edge to Romney and based on the articles’s title that was to be expected as a possibility. Candidates do what comes natural or what is a result of education and experience. If you get lucky you can have both. It may be unfair to judge the two candidates appearance at this event as a duel. You can put the guns down long enough to offer guidance and enthusiasm to a known entity like the YR’s.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
A Duel: Thompson and Romney
by Jennifer Rubin
Posted 07/09/2007 ET
On Saturday Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney ventured to the Young Republicans (YR) convention in Hollywood, Florida and we got a preview of two different types of candidates.Thompson offered a “red meat” speech-playing to the emotions of the young crowd and pulling out crowd pleasing lines. He intoned: “I’m getting tired of having to apologize for the United States of America around the world. I’m tired of other people’s perceptions that we need to apologize.”