Advisers' impact: Romney faith speech decision

CONCORD, N.H. — Republican Mitt Romney said Monday he's the decider, yet the

presidential candidate has put aside his desire to deliver a speech about his

Mormon faith on the advice of political staff — a move that speaks volumes about

his campaign.

The former Massachusetts governor provides the money and persona, but he has

largely yielded tactical decisions about what to say and when to say it — even

on the subject of his personal faith — to a cadre of Washington insiders.

Romney bristled Monday at the suggestion he, a multimillionaire businessman

but national political novice, was not the chief decisionmaker in his

enterprise.

"I make my own decisions," he said before participating in a Veterans Day

ceremony at a retirement home.

But asked Saturday by a New Hampshire voter about delivering a speech to

explain his Mormon faith, Romney said: "I sort of like the idea myself. The

political advisers tell me no, no, no — it's not a good idea. It draws too much

attention to that issue alone."

The result runs counter to much of the decision-making that permeated Romney's

business background.

He talks often about hiring smart people, letting them debate all sides of an

issue and then making his own decisions.

In the case of a presidential campaign, though, Romney has proven willing to

surrender his judgment about big things like whether to make a speech discussing

his faith, or small issues like whether to answer a reporter's question on the

way out the door.

"You know I can't talk to you without Eric's permission," the presidential