It’s pouring rain the morning after the Nashville debate and we’re hitting the road pretty early, even for us. Flight leaves at 6am for Detroit.
We’re excited to head back to Michigan, a place where the Governor and his family are very popular. Almost everyone we meet has some personal connection to the Romneys. Still pouring, we land in Detroit and jump on the rental car shuttle. The driver immediately introduces himself to the Governor saying, “I know you got places to go” and drives the bus away from the terminal (leaving behind a few whistling customers).
After a couple hours in the car, we arrive at a Harley dealership near Lansing for an event for Congressman Tim Walberg. The Governor and Congressmen take some time to discuss the economic crisis with reporters and then both jump into the cab of an antique Chevy pickup truck which has been turned into a makeshift stage. Romney tells the crowd that the one-state recession that has been gripping Michigan for many years has now spread to the rest of the country and Congressman Walberg has the knowledge and leadership ability to deal with it. Afterward, the two climb down off the truck and say hello to some old friends. Saul Anuzis, the Michigan GOP chair, and Katie Packer, who headed up the Romney Michigan effort, were both on hand to greet the Governor and join him for a lunch of delicious BBQ.
Later, we head over to Michigan GOP HQ to meet with the volunteers and snap some pictures, and then it’s off to Grand Rapids for dinner with some old and new friends. We’ve now driven from the eastern side of state all the way west, from one lake to another.
On Thursday morning, it’s another early start. We are headed to an event at a local employer for our old friend, Congressman Pete Hoekstra. Rep. Hoekstra is the Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee and spent a lot of time in the Mitt Mobile with us, especially in Iowa. He’s gathered a group of 60 businessmen and women to participate in a discussion about the health of the American economy. The Governor really admires Congressman Hoekstra and speaks of how he bicycled all throughout his district, praised him for his support of conservative ideals and thanked him for going to Iowa four separate times to campaign for Governor Romney.
The Congressman quickly corrects him, “It was five, Governor.”
After a quick press conference, we stock up on cinnamon buns and Hoekstra bumper stickers and head to the airport.
I attended last night's Presidential debate at BelmontUniversity in Nashville. Not at all like a real Town Hall meeting, but then TV has a hard time with "real."
Senator McCain distinguished himself on at least two topics.
First, he called for a program that would halt the decline in home values and help homeowners with upside down mortgages. It's a bold initiative and I will be interested in seeing how it works. Of course, there's not enough money in Washington to bail out everyone who made an imprudent investment, nor would that be a good idea.The Treasury secretary was given the power to grant such relief in the recently passed $700 billion financial stabilization package. These funds, together with those previously appropriated in last summer's housing bill, may be more effective if they were used to enhance the free market cooperative I spoke of during my own campaign. I look forward to learning more about the details of the McCain plan.
The other point that caught my attention was Senator McCain's unhesitating support for Israel. Asked whether they would wait for the UN or act unilaterally to defend Israel from attack, Senator McCain was unequivocal in his support: "We will not allow another Holocaust." Senator Obama was characteristically nuanced, focusing on Iran. Hopefully, those who care about our allies and friends took notice.
Again on the stump, this time in Nevada, Mitt Romney led a rally at BoulderCityHigh School for Congressman Jon Porter, locked in a tough battle for re-election. Porter was supposed to be on hand, but had to interrupt his campaign to go back to Washington for a climactic House vote on a Wall Street rescue plan.
In a meeting with local reporters, Romney praised Porter for his "leadership" and "courage" in supporting a Wall Street rescue plan that will stabilize the economy. If nothing is done, "it has the potential of really unraveling our system," Romney said.
Later in the day, following a luncheon fundraiser for Porter at a private home overlooking Lake Mead, Romney boarded a Beechjet 400 for a bumpy flight to Elko to lead a pre-VP debate rally for the McCain-Palin ticket. More than 400 people turned out at Great BasinCommunity College to listen to Romney and attend a potluck debate watching party.
