THE US REPORT

Gov. Romney received a warm welcome in Jacksonville for Lincoln Day. [File photo from Stephen Butters/Republican Party of Duval County.]Commentary by Kay B. Day

The Duval County Republican Party said that the Lincoln Day event on Nov. 9 was an “unparalleled success.” The annual fundraiser was themed, “An Evening with Governor Mitt Romney, Honoring Tom Petway.” Duval GOP leaders said the event ”topped all previous such events in Northeast Florida.” Days before Romney’s visit, GOP leaders had to expand the event space to accommodate demand for tickets.
 
In an official release Lenny Curry, the charismatic chairman of the RPDC said, “The local Republican Party is on fire! Everyone is energized and prepared to turn out the vote in 2010. Thanks to the generosity of our donors - many of whom have never given to the local Party before - and of course our mighty grassroots, we exceeded our goal and raised more than $250,000 even in these tough economic times. It’s a new day in the Party. Republicans are demanding victory in 2010.”

Obviously GOP groups with strong leadership are doing well.
 
State Committeewoman Cindy Graves, who chaired the event, reported record ticket sales. “Republican grassroots leaders from five counties turned out a sell-out crowd of more than 750 and still others clamoring for tickets on Monday. Ticket sales went through the roof after the sweeping victories in Virginia and New Jersey. Judging from the calls, emails and enthusiasm, local Republicans are energized in a way I have never witnessed,” she said. 

Graves is the newly elected president of the Florida Federation of Republican Women. Outgoing and outspoken, her dynamic leadership is likely to give an already influential group even more attention.

The Duval County GOP is viewed by many conservatives as a model for the nation.
 
Curry also praised the unique draw of the event’s keynote speaker and honoree. “Tom Petway is a legend both for his generosity to the GOP and his unwavering support of Jacksonville. Governor Mitt Romney has a unifying message of a strong economy and military coupled with a patriotic view of America. Joined by Republican leaders and elected officials from all over Florida, we celebrated our collective goal of an overwhelming victory for fiscally conservative Republican candidates throughout our state and our nation in 2010,” Curry said.
 
Romney was the candidate of choice for Duval County Republicans during the primaries and he remains very popular with the base. Most GOP voters did support Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) once he was named the official party nominee.

In hindsight, it might be reasonable to conclude, given Romney’s financial experience, he would have brought more skills to Washington in the economic realm than any candidate from either political party.

Romney has since founded the Free and Strong America PAC. He has worked diligently to support Republican candidates across the U.S.  with messaging based on fiscal conservatism, a strong national defense and a more efficient, cost-effective government. 

In an opinion column in The Florida Times-Union, Nancy Peek McGowan wrote, “Romney earned his ‘Mr. Fix-it’  reputation by closing a gargantuan $3 billion deficit in Massachusetts and a $379 million gap in the United States Olympic budget, which then  turned a profit of $100 million in 2002 in Salt Lake  City…Like Ronald Reagan, Romney is a free market, economic supply-sider. He believes in the greatness of the American people to overcome our economic challenges, not by mortgaging trillions of dollars in debt to future generations by expanding government bureaucracy… Our nation is facing the worst economic crisis since 1975. Florida’s unemployment rate is nearly 11 percent and growing.”

Romney’s message is timely. During the presidential campaign, President Barack Obama promised to go through the federal budget line by line and to do something about the deficit. Yet his administration and the current Congress are setting records for new spending and for future deficits. It is also likely record tax increases will follow.

Many conservative columnists questioned the impact of lack of experience in the Democrat nominee combined with a far-left Congress after Democrats won absolute control of the U.S. government. Branded national media completely failed to address specifics, focusing instead on theatrics and personalities of the Democrat candidates. Media also focused intensely on Sen. McCain’s age, despite the fact most Democratic leaders are older and do not enjoy the vitality McCain has. Media and Democrats resorted to gender-based and personal attacks on vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin, avoiding similar scrutiny of Democrat candidates.

The result of the 2008 elections has had an undeniable trickle-down effect on voters. The most respected polling group in the U.S., Rasmussen Reports, released on Thursday results of the Daily Presidential Tracking Poll: “The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 29% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-eight percent (38%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -9.” Rasmussen polls likely voters. Many other groups simply poll adults in general and this often results in a higher approval rating. Rasmussen has repeatedly proved itself the most accurate polling group.

The polling group also said, “Republicans have opened a six-point lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot.” Main Street’s loss of faith in the Democrat approach to governing stems from wasted so-called “Stimulus” dollars and record amounts of fraud in programs like Medicare. There has also been a lack of transparency, with members of Congress admitting they’ve voted on bills they have not had time to read.

Romney echoed the opinion of many voters when he told the Associated Press recently, “[T]he time has come to stop the economic stimulus program… it has not worked as the Obama administration planned.”

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For more information about the forward movement of the Duval Republican Party, visit: www.jaxgop.org or tune in on Thursdays at 5:00 PM to “What’s the Buzz?”  on ABC1320 WBOB. The program is the only NE Florida based radio show devoted to Republican politics.

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