Trying to build greater recognition in Colorado, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney conducted a signature “Ask Mitt Anything” forum to a packed hall at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law on Wednesday afternoon.
The former Massachusetts governor opened with a stump speech that cast America at a pivotal point in history requiring the pro-business, limited-government style of leadership he hopes to personify.
While criticizing the Democratic presidential field as too focused on “big government” solutions, Romney also chastised his party as having lost sight of GOP values with too much spending and deficits.
“If Republicans don’t act like Republicans, we’re going to lose,” he said.
Romney, who trails former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in Colorado polls but has locked up most of the state’s elite GOP politicians and fundraisers, told the crowd his goal was to continue to focus on the earliest delegate-selection states, like Iowa and New Hampshire, where his holding more than 460 events has made him a strong contender.
And though the crowd reacted warmly to Romney, discussions with attendees show the candidate – or any candidate – has work to do with this generation.
Many students see the distinction between the parties as “very blurry,” said Jonathan Keyser, 26, a first- year law student who asked Romney one of the opening questions. Keyser had recently returned from seven months in Iraq as an intelligence officer.
The Montrose native and graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs asked how Romney would handle the war in Iraq.
Romney thanked Keyser for his service, said he supported Gen. David Petraeus’ plan and said he lamented that mistakes were made after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Military planning meant to deal with the post-Hussein period was lacking, Romney said.
Keyser said after the forum that he appreciated Romney’s answer but remained neutral on which candidate he might support. Whichever person that is, he said, will be the one who convinces him he will be a strong commander-in-chief.
“Time will tell,” Keyser said. “I guess (Romney’s) lucky he gets another year to get another data set.”
Chuck Plunkett: 303-954-1333 or cplunkett@denverpost.com
