Debate buoys Romney fans

More than 100 Utahns gathered Thursday to cheer on former Salt Lake Olympic leader Mitt Romney during the first Republican presidential debate — and he didn't disappoint them.

None of the three top GOP candidates — Romney, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain — appeared to make any significant missteps during the 1 1/2-hour debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

Nor did the seven other participants, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, and Reps. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Duncan Hunter of California and Ron Paul of Texas.

"I don't think there was anything in the debate that would dramatically alter the early handicapping," said Kelly Patterson, director of Brigham Young University's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy.

Patterson said Romney used the debate to define himself to a broader audience, one that likely doesn't know him as well as many Utahns do as a result of his leadership of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

"Romney did a very good job because you could walk away saying he is for strengthening the family, strengthening the economy and strengthening the military," Patterson said, referring to the campaign theme that Romney repeated throughout the debate.

Patterson said Romney, Giuliani and McCain emerged looking presidential. But for the Utahns who were asked for a suggested contribution of $100 each to attend a Romney fund-raising event in a downtown Salt Lake office building, there was a clear winner Thursday.

"Of course he won," said Romney backer John Miller, CEO and an owner of National Beef Packing Co., calling him "a man who obviously has tremendous leadership skills. He is TV friendly. He looks comfortable in his own skin. He is not afraid to tackle tough questions."

Abortion was the question asked by moderators from the MSNBC cable news channel and The Politico Web site that most sharply divided the candidates. Only Giuliani answered that "it would OK" if the Supreme Court upheld the 1973 landmark ruling legalizing abortion.

Romney joined the rest of the 2008 hopefuls in opposing abortion. But he said that while he has always been personally pro-life, he wasn't sure whether the government had a role in that decision until he started studying cloning a few years ago as governor of Massachusetts.

The issue presents a challenge for both candidates, Patterson said, because while the Republican base may not like Giuliani's pro-choice position, they may also question Romney's explanation for his change of heart.