SIOUX CITY JOURNAL: ROMNEY BEST CANDIDATE “FOR A STRONGER ECONOMY AND THE RESTORATION OF FISCAL SANITY IN WASHINGTON”
“Mitt Romney Stands Out As Best Choice”
Sioux City Journal
Editorial
December 3, 2011
http://siouxcityjournal.com
In our endorsement of Mitt Romney before the Iowa Caucuses four years ago, we wrote of America's need for a president possessed of "energy, intellect, vision, charisma and experience" to lead the nation in meeting "formidable, complex, divisive, political and dangerous" challenges.
Since then, the nation's challenges - in particular, its domestic economic challenges - have grown still more acute.
Within this year's Republican presidential field, Romney again stands out as the candidate who is best prepared through experience, skills and qualities to lead the country. Today the Journal endorses the businessman, former Massachusetts governor and former Winter Olympics CEO in the Jan. 3 caucuses.
…
Through successful, executive decision-making experience in both the private and public sectors, Romney understands economics and fiscal principles in a real-world way. In other words, he's walked the walk. In this year's Republican field, he is the candidate most capable of not only articulating a blueprint for a stronger economy and the restoration of fiscal sanity in Washington, but of assembling a high-caliber team of advisors, forging consensus within Congress and rallying the nation in support of it.
…
Do not discount the importance of personal traits in a candidate for president. As we said in our 2007 endorsement of Romney, if a presidential candidate is a polarizing figure within the halls of Congress and devoid of the personal characteristics necessary to inspire Americans to listen and follow, his or her plans have little to no chance of success, regardless of how detailed and well-conceived they might be. Like the popular Ronald Reagan, Romney combines a pragmatic conservatism with confidence (not arrogance) and an easy, comfortable style and manner, even charm.
If as a Republican your No. 1 priority is the defeat of Obama, consider this: Romney is the candidate within this field who is best-positioned to win general election votes from not simply Republican voters, but from the all-important Independents in the middle, as well as from moderate Democrats on the left.
…
Through a plethora of summer and fall Republican debates, we have taken the measure of the candidates alongside one another, as well. In each one, Romney has been poised, informed and reasoned. In our view, his debate performances also have set him apart from the rest of the pack.
