Keller @ Large: What You Need To Know About Romney
BOSTON (CBS) - It may be the least surprising news of the week, or even the year, but it was news nonetheless last night when we got word that former governor Mitt Romney will make his presidential candidacy official with an event next week on a farm in Stratham, New Hampshire.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
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I assume it'll be an outdoor event, which is pretty gutsy, considering it's black fly season in New Hampshire.
But even if the flies are biting, it's nothing compared with what the Romney campaign faces in the campaign ahead, based on what we've already seen.
Romney is a classic frontrunner in so many ways, money, organization, name recognition, the experience of running and winning 11 states in 2008.
Accordingly, he's a prime target -- of Obamacare haters who see Romney as its enabler; of populists who don't trust a venture capitalist, of others in his party and in the news media who, for whatever reason, just can't stand the guy.
And of course, Romney will be a target of Massachusetts Democrats from Gov. Patrick on down, and maybe even some Republicans who didn't like his style when he ruled their party here.
What's the truth about the Romney years here?
The good news was stuff like smart growth, incentives for development around public transportation hubs, an idea so good even Patrick praised it.
The bad news was talking a bigger game on job growth than he could deliver, especially with an obstructionist legislature.
Sounds a lot like the setup in Washington, doesn't it?
Romney's best moments here were when he stood on principle and made the status quo back off at the Big Dig and UMass.
He is a smart person and an honest one, as politicians go.
But so is President Obama.
Can Romney convince the skeptics he's the better miracle-worker?
If he can keep the flies at bay next week in Stratham, it'll be a start.
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.
