Reader comments
Hatch says Romney can win presidency

Hey Bob Bernick, I've got an idea. Do a story on Romney. You haven't done one in about two days.

John McCain is washed up, thank God. I think Mitt Romney will be one of the three finalists for the Republican nomination, along with Rudy Giuliani (the liberal) and Ron Paul (the constitutionalist). I still think Romney is the most "presidential" and "Reaganesque" of the lot. Paul would make a good running mate for Romney, and Giuliani would be a better Attorney General than Alberto Gonzales (then again, a crash test dummy would be better than Gonzales).

I hope Mitt Romney winns the election. I think he would be 100 times better H. Clinton.

Romney would be the best president out of the bunch however he has no chance because of the bigotry towards his faith. The Republican party is dominated by the southern , right wing, extremists and alot of these characters are as misinformed and bigoted as it gets. Too bad because Mit certainly has the best leadership qualities of any of the Republicans and has a proven track record of success in and out of government. The most likely outcome will be a Clinton vs Giuliani campaign with Clinton winning the whole thing. Giuliani doen't impress me. Romney does.

Recent poll numbers put Romney at 8% support in the Republican party. Giuliani is at 39% with second-place going to the guy who hasn't even declared his candidacy (21% for Fred Thompson). I disagree with Orrin Hatch that Romney could win the nomination. While I agree that many of the Christian conservatives hold the LDS faith of Romney against him, I disagree this is the main reason for his low poll numbers. Romney was a popular governor in a Deomcratic dominated state. During his tenure there, he had to address issues of gay marriage and civil unions, and I tend to believe that his record as governor on this issue is what is really haunting him at this time, not his LDS faith.

Although I am not a "Rebublican" by any means, Romney was the right politician for Massachusetts and set a wonderful example as to how government should work. Although it was against his personal views, Romney did what he was elected to do and represent the people. It was his contituents views on gay marriage that shaped his decisions as governor, rather than his own. This is what more politicians, including the aformentioned Orrin Hatch, need to remember and work toward. Representing contituents, not their own personal views.

The clincher with Romney is that he's poised and eloquant, he stays focused and can sniff out the curve balls that are thrown him; all qualities that Ron Paul doesn't have. Ron Paul doesn't have a clue. The only ones supporting him are party spoilers. If you watched the debates you would have sworn you were listening to a democrat. Huckabee makes a lot more sense as a potential choice for Vice-President.

I like the Idea that Romney could get the nomination, but we'll just have to wait and see. The rest of this interview just shows Hatch at his inside-the-beltway best.

We can rig a solution to the complaint by residents of Washington D.C. by having Utah play the petulant brat/child and rigging a compromise rather than addressing the concerns of D.C. residents through the proper channels - apply for statehood or a constitutional amendment.

Next we should raise the pay for federal judges from $165K to $250K because at $165K bureaucrats would be willing to take the jobs. Does he think that bureaucrats wouldn't be willing to swallow a $250K salary? Judges ought to get a living wage (and I live quite comfortably on a fraction of $165K), but it should not be a path to wealth - they should be serving for the good of the nation. I'm not sure where in our federal budget we've got money laying around to give federal judges a 50% pay increase. If Hatch has found that magic treasure trove he should put the money toward our national debt or reduce our deficit spending.

Except for RON PAUL, I do not think ANY of the Republican candidates have a good chance to win against the Democrat nominee in November because of the damage the GOP has done to its rank and file party faithful by REPUDIATING its PRINCIPLES (small government, humble foreign policy, etc.). Only Ron Paul, who understands the importance of adhering to the CONSTITUTION (minimizing collective government and maximizing individual liberty), securing our BORDERS, adopting a non-interventionist FOREIGN POLICY, and returning to an honest MONETARY SYSTEM, can win in November against the Democrat nominee.

Romney is "handsome and super clean, he's smooth"???

Since when did the nation's highest executive office depend upon his hgiene and attractiveness?

Not only does this show how far we've drifted as an electorate if we find such things to be important; it also shows what a baffoon Hatch, an elected leader, really is if he thinks that they are of value.

I wish I wanted to vote for Romney but he between his major changes of policy (trying to please Dems in Mass. and now the Republicans) really bother me. I'm guessing his business experience would help things, but his position on immigration is unsupportable to me (and I know I appear to be a minority Republican here). I can't see his position as reasonable or humane. I think we need to make it harder to get in to the country illegally, but easier legally and do something with those who are here. It's not rationale to try to send them all home. My $0.02

Cameron: "I wish I wanted to vote for Romney but he between his major changes of policy (trying to please Dems in Mass. and now the Republicans) really bother me."

I felt the same way and was sitting on the fence until I watched Governor Romney's off-air YouTube interview w/radio talk show host Jan Mickelson referenced in Tuesday's Des News. After listening to his detailed explanation regarding his public positions vis-a-vis his personal convictions, it makes total sense to me. Romney DOES need to give the complete explanation to the public, and I think most will agree with me that it's much ado about nothing.

Upping judicial pay is Hatch cronyism at its finest. His friends probably want to be paid more money. The argument about bureaucrats seeking the jobs is spurious. I would rather have someone willing to take a job on principle than someone looking for a high salary. I don't pity the poor judges only making $165K.

Connor, I sure wish that a presidents appearance didn't sway people to vote, but history has dictated just that on quite a few presidents. JFK, Clinton, Reagan just to name a few. Granted the Bush family is anything but smooth, but the far majority of presidents in the past century have been just that, smooth and clean cut.

Besides, when you end up at name calling (baffoon? Gotta love it), you loose credibility.

I do find it interesting that Ron Paul has been brought up as a contender though. He's no where near close to being close to the big 4 for president with the polls. We're still over a year away from elections and it's too soon to decide anything, even for Hatch.

Romney changes his tune much too much. He is a different man than he was as governor of Massachusetts. It will be a tough fight for him but he still could have a chance at it. His Mormonism will hurt him in the south and the northeast. Most people in these areas do not consider Mormons as Christians...and now with Big Love on HBO.....and there will be a third season of Big Love....it really shows the LDS church in a negative light.

Romney is the most feared Republican and I have read that insiders/Democratic strategists recognize this fact. Many of the liberal based media including CNN also recognize that fact and are very negative in their reporting of the Romney campaign. The last story I saw them report was "Romney will say anything to be President..." Because of negative media coverage and religious obstacles in the South I still think he is a longshot.

As for Judges being paid more...I agree, you want the best and the best will seek jobs in the private sector if the Federal Government will not pay. If the Jazz refused to pay only slightly more than the minimum they, well, you get the drift...

Keep doing stories on Romney!

He can use the name recognition in Utah where it should be a no-brainer, but I sense there are unfortunately a few doubters out there that need additonal education on him.

We are doing what we can in Zion East.

Cary, NC

Keep doing stories on Romney!

He can use the name recognition in Utah where it should be a no-brainer, but I sense there are unfortunately a few doubters out there that need additonal education on him.

We are doing what we can in Zion East.

Cary, NC

Why is it Republicans will turn on Romney because he used to support abortion then accept Rudy who still supports it? Makes absolutely no sense. Face it folks, this race right now is nothing more than a name recognition contest! Besides, when Rudy had the chance to run against Hillary in NY he chickened out. Guilani won't stand up when this race really heats up.

I am so sick of hearing people call Romney a flip-flopper. Flip-flopping is changing your mind, changing it back again, and then back again and again....etc. Romney changed his mind once. That's all. He is not a flip-flopper. Who hasn't changed their minds before? Only closed minded ignoramouses. Giuliani is the huge flip-flopper (I like this wife, no that wife, maybe this wife...I mean the New York liberals love the liberal in elephant clothing.

I really think Rommey is a faker and a political charlatan.