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'Iowa first' — Romney's future may depend on results of 3 state contests

Most Utahns already have decided they want GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney to win the White House in 2008? Give me a break.

Most Utahns have been burned in the past by automatically choosing the nominee served up by the Republican party (George Bush) and many have decided to think for themselves rather than voting the party line.

Ron Paul consistently gets picked in straw polls as the most thoughtful, ethical candidate seeking to become the Republican nominee. Ron Paul is a true conservative and doesn't pander to his audience. He is authentic, true to his beliefs and appeals to more and more conservative voters each day.

The readers of the Deseret Morning News deserve better than this; more insighful and thorough analysis of all the candidates, their positions on the key issues and how they match up against each other.

Romney is head and shoulders over any other candidate. Democrats fear him because he is smart, well educated, knows how to run a business, start a business, take over a losing one and making it profitable. He did a good job in Massachusetts where he set a very standard in ethics and good governance. If he secures the nomination he will unite the country and will win the presidency. Whereas other candidates and past presidents have problem with family members, Mitt has set such a good example, his wife and are so nice that I would not mind seeing them on TV all the time. Can you say that about any of the other candidates, Democrat or Republican, in this election?

As a Democrat, I WANT the Republicans to nominate Mitt Romney. Please, please, please nominate this flip flopper.

more insighful and thorough analysis of all the candidates, their positions on the key issues and how they match up against each other.

Yup I am still for Romney

Romney would be a great GOP nominee. Hilary would make 'ol Huck look like a Mayberry character from Arkkansas. Common sense tells us that. It's funny how some use the old worn out cliche of "flip-Flop" any time someone changes opinion. I see this as re-evaluating important issues.It demonstates maturity. Romney makes no excuse as to who he is. The Dems had a flip-flopper in the white house. Remember Bill? He never inhaled. Hilary never supported the Iraq war either.

Hahahaha, oh man, Romney would make ANY of those possible Democratic hopefuls look like the inexperienced morons that they really are. Romney is doing great and will continue to.
Paperboy, I have heard this Ron Paul diatribe a little too often for my liking. I have a very good friend who is all about Ron Paul for the same reasons you say you are. Because he talks a game you like and says he believes in what you believe in. Which is great and all, but I ask you the same question I ask my friend; What has Ron Paul ever DONE? Who listens to him? How does he communicate? Why does he lose his temper every time someone asks him a question? How has he demonstrated an actual ABILITY to rally real, far-reaching support? He hasn't. He just hasn't. Ron Paul could really be a great guy. I agree with a lot of what he says. I agree more with Romney, but I really need to see Ron Paul be more of a political success before I give him my vote to go out to try to beat the democrats and to bring this country together.

viking | 12:53 a.m. Dec. 30, 2007
Romney is head and shoulders ( Is that what he uses in his hair?) over any other candidate. Democrats fear him because he is smart, well educated, knows how to run a business (layoff thundreds of US citizens), start a business (and then deposit it in off shore accounts), take over a losing one and making it profitable. He did a good job in Massachusetts (you have the internet , do you read the Mass newpapers) where he set a very standard in ethics (Hires illegals) and good governance.
Just thought I would help you out on you comment.

Personnally, I think both Huckabee and Ron Paul have some really bizarre ideas. Huckabee wants to eliminate the IRS, and Ron Paul has these "interesting" consipracy theories... too weird for me.

As a Democrat, I would love the Republicans nominating Romney as their Candidate. Utah, might be the only state Romney would win against any of the leading Democratic candidate. If the Republicans are smart and want to really win the White House, they should nominate John McCain and not some flip flopper who seems to switch positions every other day.

PaperBoy just what does your candidate offer -- his stand on the war is enough to make me turn away. This country was built on principles of helping others -- where is his position on that?

Mitt puts his heart and soul into any endeavor which is proven by his past record.
Who could ask for anything more?

Yes, we are fortunate to have such a man to be willing to lead us.

To Paperboy: What polls are you talking about? Ron Paul is a looney who dosn't stand a snowballs chance. I would vote for John Edwards over Ron Paul. Lets get with it and support someone who can beat Hillary or Obama.
Go Mitt!!!

David,

Actions speak louder than words and it takes a lot of Ron Paul-like passion to be a good president. I can tell you this about Ron Paul though I suspect you will say what else has he done?:

1. He's fully invested to protect our freedoms and borders. Check out his voting record.
2. He's represented Texas for twenty years in the US House of Representatives.
3. He's supported life by delivering 4,000 babies as a successful Ob/Gyn. He's also protected life throughout his political career.
4. He's one of the few we can trust to honor the presidential oath: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
5. Among other positives Ronald Regan had this to say about him, (1) "Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense", (2) "As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first", and (3) "We need to keep him fighting for our country".

David, I'm not convinced you're talking about Ron Paul from Texas. You must be referring to another Ron Paul. I have never seen him lose his temper. He has always been under control every time I've observed him. Did you see him on Meet the Press? Every attempt by Russert to needle him with mischaracterizations was met with straight-forward honesty and passion, but never with anger. And what has he done? Look at his voting record and you'll find out. Check out his proposed legislation. His actions, if they had become implemented, would rescue the economy, revitalize the reputation of the U.S., and restore the federalist system as envisioned by the Founders. In short, his policies are precisely what this nation needs now more than ever. Romney, on the other hand, is nothing more than a continuation of the Bush debacle. He has offered nothing but more of the same, though done more efficiently. In other words, he may find an even shorter path to the edge of the cliff.

Everyone seems to assume Hillary will be the Demo nominee- though this is still a wide open race.
Romney wants his religion not to be an issue, yet he is popular in Utah ONLY because of his religion. He might be a formidable candidate, but will never get the republican nomination due to his religion. It will be interesting to see how Utah votes in the election if Huckabee is nominated.

Oh, let me take a moment to rain on this parade. Mitt won't get the nomination. Too much opportunism on his part. Christians on the right will oppose him more and more as time moves on and the congregations get focused in the Bible belt. SC will really show the deep division in the right wing of the party. Lots of name calling coming up. He simply has too much baggage, Mormonism's long record of telling others they are not the true Christians. Huck will not quit and will take his folksy act everywhere. He will throw as much mud as is needed. Guiliani will not quit, and has a bucket of mud ready for 2008. Thompson will quit in February. Ron Paul does not count. McCain will stay around and become the darling of the compromise set at the convention, getting the nomination, and then loosing in November because he looks and acts and walks like an old man. Close ups of his face costs him votes. Change is blowing in the wind. Look for a demo. year. No matter who is nominated.

Just another flip-flopping, say whatever it takes to ace out the other ultra-wealthy political clown.

That most Utahns have decided to support Romney is simply to say the Mormon bias factor has already been applied in his favor. What a surprise! So, while Utah accepts its sheep like religious position behind the Mormon candidate, the rest of the nation is learning exactly who Romney is, and the picture that develops is not flattering. In short, through the caucus and primary processes Romney is being exposed as a candidate who cannot tell the truth about the simplest aspects of his life and beliefs, much less his political and social positions, his record in office and his campaign practices. Additionally, his campaign is the most negative of any candidate in both parties. The democrats are probably salivating over the possibility of facing this truth barren candidate, but I doubt the Republicans will allow that to happen. So enjoy your Utah Mormon glee for the moment before candidate Romney crashes and burns. (For a better perspective, try reading about Romney from media sources beyond the Mormon empire.)

It saddens me to see so many of my LDS brethren fall all over themselves for Romney. He is a politician like they all are. Since is is from Mass he must have taken flip flop lessons from John Kerry. While in Mass he signed into law universal health care for that state, supported abortion and, gay rights. He embarrasses me as a fellow member of the LDS faith. He was caught more than once employing illegal immigrants but is against illegal immigration. He saw a march that didn't happen. He is a lifelong hunter but doesn't own a gun. He supported gay rights but now doesn't. He supported abortion but now doesn't.

He is the Republican version of Kerry and this doesn't embarrass anyone? I live in the midwest where not everyone on the street is LDS, how am I supposed to explain this to people when they bring up the fact that we are both LDS. I tell them he doesn't represent the church and they should hear the message rather than judge us on the basis of a phony politician.

Ron Paul 2:13 a.m.: would you care to give an example of a weird conspiracy theory or a "really bizarre idea" of Ron Paul's?