Spring Break
Comparing the candidates: Obama vs. Romney
Part 2 of the WC's weekly coverage of 2008 presidential hopefuls
Feana Kotter
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Growing up in an American minority is not easy. As the nation grapples with defining issues like war, health care and religion, one Republican candidate is still not a household name.
Willard Romney, or Mitt as most people know him, is one of the GOP presidential candidates. He is also a Mormon, and among the least-known standing beside names like Obama.
Romney's faith is one of the main concerns voters have with him. In a recent Newsweek poll, 72 percent of Republicans in Iowa said they would vote for a Mormon nominated by the GOP, but only 45 percent say the nation is ready for a Mormon president.
The former Massachusetts governor also faces increasing criticism about being politically similar to the current president.
"I'm different than President Bush in a number of dimensions despite the fact that I respect him as a fine man and a fine leader," Romney told Newsweek.
Elected as the Massachusetts governor in 2002, Romney was successful in numerous areas. He reversed a staggering unemployment rate and attracted new businesses to operate in the state. By the time he left office, 60,000 new jobs had been created, according to mittromney.com.
Romney also created the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program, which awards free tuition at any public university or college in Massachusetts to the Top 25 percent of high school graduates in the state.
In his quest for the White House, some critics have accused Romney of "flip-flopping" his stance on issues both as a governor and candidate. Romney said changing his stance has more to do with learning from experience than misleading voters.
"I've taken a position where, once upon a time, I said I wanted to eliminate the Department of Education," he said. "As I've been a governor and seen the impact that the federal government can have … putting the interests of the kids and the parents and the teachers first, I see that the Department of Education can actually make a difference."
Romney also changed his stance on abortion, though he defends his conservative view on the issue.
"I changed my position. And I get tired of people that are holier-than-thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have," he said.
While Romney faces a long and uncertain year of campaigning, he is ready to face his opponents and defend the GOP.
"I don't think Hillary Clinton is aimed in the right direction," he said. "I'd love to debate her. (I) look forward to it. But I think our party has the right answers."
Willard Romney, or Mitt as most people know him, is one of the GOP presidential candidates. He is also a Mormon, and among the least-known standing beside names like Obama.
Romney's faith is one of the main concerns voters have with him. In a recent Newsweek poll, 72 percent of Republicans in Iowa said they would vote for a Mormon nominated by the GOP, but only 45 percent say the nation is ready for a Mormon president.
The former Massachusetts governor also faces increasing criticism about being politically similar to the current president.
"I'm different than President Bush in a number of dimensions despite the fact that I respect him as a fine man and a fine leader," Romney told Newsweek.
Elected as the Massachusetts governor in 2002, Romney was successful in numerous areas. He reversed a staggering unemployment rate and attracted new businesses to operate in the state. By the time he left office, 60,000 new jobs had been created, according to mittromney.com.
Romney also created the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program, which awards free tuition at any public university or college in Massachusetts to the Top 25 percent of high school graduates in the state.
In his quest for the White House, some critics have accused Romney of "flip-flopping" his stance on issues both as a governor and candidate. Romney said changing his stance has more to do with learning from experience than misleading voters.
"I've taken a position where, once upon a time, I said I wanted to eliminate the Department of Education," he said. "As I've been a governor and seen the impact that the federal government can have … putting the interests of the kids and the parents and the teachers first, I see that the Department of Education can actually make a difference."
Romney also changed his stance on abortion, though he defends his conservative view on the issue.
"I changed my position. And I get tired of people that are holier-than-thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have," he said.
While Romney faces a long and uncertain year of campaigning, he is ready to face his opponents and defend the GOP.
"I don't think Hillary Clinton is aimed in the right direction," he said. "I'd love to debate her. (I) look forward to it. But I think our party has the right answers."
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