Romney to ‘let the citizens take over again’

Republican candidate Mitt Romney kicks off his shoes.

By Allie Blood

Published Feb. 5, 2008

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney met constituents at Dave & Busters restaurant on Sunday to rally support for his campaign.

Romney, after taking off his shoes, stood on a table and spoke to a room of supporters. After taking off his own shoes, Gov. Matt Blunt joined Romney, introducing and endorsing his campaign. Blunt said McCain was too moderate and that conservatives should vote for Romney.

“We don’t want any conservatives to throw a vote away and have their voice not be heard,” Blunt said.

Blunt said Romney’s conservative supporters and record of supporting conservative policy make him more reliable than other Republican candidates.

Romney spoke from atop the table, without a microphone, about Super Tuesday.

“We’re battling from coast to coast, the polls have me ahead in California,” Romney said.

Citing the Maine caucuses, Romney said that while the Maine senators endorsed McCain, the people voted for him. Romney won the Maine caucuses on Saturday with 52 percent of the vote.

He said that in his presidency, he wants to fix Washington.

“I want to get rid of politicians and let the citizens take over again,” Romney said.

He then compared his goals to those of former President Ronald Reagan. He said he wants to fix social security, balance the budget, eradicate pork barrel projects, give affordable health care, stop dependence on foreign oil and end illegal immigration.

Next, he spoke to the press in a separate room.

Romney said that he is planning on winning the Republican nomination on Tuesday, because people are uniting behind him.

“I anticipate that I will get the delegates that I need,” Romney said. “Conservative voices whether in radio or magazine or elected offices are saying that this is the man we want to lead our party.”

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., spoke about Romney, saying that he is the man to help the Republicans find their stride.

“We do not want to be the party we were in the ‘60s and ‘70s, we were floundering in the wilderness as cheap Democrats, basically,” Santorum said.

Blunt said Romney is the correct candidate for students to vote for because of his experience and leadership.

“Gov. Romney is the one with that experience because of his business expertise, fixing the broken Olympics, leading a state government, he knows what it takes to be competitive in a highly global economy,” Blunt said.

Students attended the Super Bowl Sunday rally, showing their support for Romney. Students said they favored Romney because of his age and knowledge of the issues.

“He’s one of the younger candidates,” Washington University student Nate Ferguson said. “The only reason that might hinder him is that he reminds you of your boss, instead of like McCain who reminds you of your grandpa.”

The economy is also an important issue to students.

“He is for the Bush tax cuts and wants to keep it that way and get our economy strong again,” Columbia College student James Steinlage said.