Romney gives no hint of 2012 plans

By James Q. Lynch 

The Gazette

DES MOINES – There was no doubt about the sentiments of many of those at author Mitt Romney's book-signing at the Des Moines Public Library Monday.

“I'd be interested if he ran” for president again, Scott Newland of Des Moines said as he thumbed through Romney's “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.”

Among those waving Romney campaign-like signs and wearing Romney t-shirts, Shirley Woodruff was more direct about wanting to see the former Massachusetts governor make another run for the Republican nomination.

“He's at least honest,” she said, displaying a photo of herself and Romney's wife, Ann. “He has values.”

But Jason Kovac, a recent transplant from Alaska, was taking a more detached approach.

“I'm starting over since 2008,” the Des Moines resident said. “I have no preconceptions. I'm looking at all of the candidates passing through. I guess that's one of the perks of living here.”

It helped to hear Romney, Kovac said later, adding that he hopes to hear other potential candidates as they pass through. It appears he'll have plenty of opportunity as the stream of candidates continues.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., will be in Council Bluffs Tuesday. Other potential candidates visiting Iowa include former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty have all made recent visits.

Although Romney, 63, made no mention of his plans for 2012, the Iowa Democratic Party said “it seems like he does not want to campaign in Iowa in 2012.”

Noting this was his first trip back to Iowa since the precinct caucuses, the Democratic Party wondered “If Iowa isn't good enough to campaign in, why is it good enough to sell books in?”

In his remarks, Romney returned to many of the same themes he raised in the run-up to his second-place finish in the 2008 Iowa precinct caucuses: preserving freedom, reining in federal spending, limiting taxation and regulation, becoming energy independent, improve education and let consumers and the marketplace, not the federal government, drive health care reform.

Some of those issues have changed since 2008, said Rebecca Campbell of Des Moines, who supported Romney then. However, she wasn't sure if she would support him again.

“I'm interested in hearing about his book and where he is on some of those issues that have changed in the past two years,” Campbell said. “I'm interested to see where he is on health care which is at the forefront for everyone.”

Romney talked about health care for about 30 seconds, telling his audience of about 100 people essentially the same thing he said two years ago: If they liked the way the federal government has managed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the federal lending agencies, and the postal service, they'll like federal health care.

In Iowa, Romney attended a private fundraiser and also spoke at Iowa State University.