Governor Mitt Romney

we welcome of the parents forum on AM six ADW mark Leo good morning governor Romney. Doing great Mitt Todd Feinberg and Abby Nelson here in the studio thank governor. Hey even on Election Day apparently you are giving it the the full throttle the Iran and you wait to New Hampshire around told to spend the day. Campaigning on behalf of John McCain and Sarah Palin.

That's exactly right at Jensen -- we're going to be up there read the -- mark our very best deter not -- vote India. Granite state where we're obviously hoping that people there will. Give some real brought to the future they want for their country.

What kind of ivory picking up on the ground are you buying into the presentation the media's been making that this thing's all over.

You know it it's very distinct I've been and I think probably about ten states now the last five days and the the people I'm speaking with their overwhelmingly Republicans obviously because you know it's a rally deterred out the troops. And they're very enthusiastic very positive you know I had expected that may be that the the polls and the and the pundits what -- convince them that this thing was all over but there. They're convinced that we're gonna win and so you know yes. You -- to take some heart and courage and the fact that the people on the ground are are feeling it's very much -- get a winnable. Elections.

Governor Tommy Nelson. You know we just turn that clip that is all a sudden gained currency about the Obama comment allowed bankrupting that the coal industry is at work. What do you hear. On the ground in terms of the bonds with regard to the issues what's resonating. At the very end of the campaign.

You know it and having -- that's one of the things most of it troubles me a good deal which is that. The the electorate has bounced from issue to issue. Because only a few weeks ago web when energy was the only think people cared about. And now because gasoline prices it's someplace is we -- gasoline as low as the dollar 85 Nogales amazing. You know we -- people I don't think about energy anymore it's just has had likewise national security. You know a few weeks ago Russia's invasion of Georgia had people very unnerved. And now we've moved down to only one thing which is who couldn't rebuild the economy that you would think. If you're talking about the economy people would recognize that raising taxes on employers. And and an imposing unions and small businesses which is card check program would do. That that these policies and anti trade rhetoric it's come for the Obama campaign these policies would. Would make people frightened. Pulling for Obama but nonetheless -- the desire for change of some kinda think this -- the idea that some change could be worse. And that we gotta move a direction that it's a positive changes.

Governor let me bring him back locally if I can't Tom Finneran -- lots of us thought. That there is a shifting changing scene he had Massachusetts political scene. Changing perhaps. If and if in fact as a Barack Obama presidency that may be our Governor Deval Patrick moves on May -- US Senator John Kerry moves on. As as Mitt Romney experience governor. The political scene here what she does sense as to who stands out should those musical -- two develop.

Well you know. I I certainly hope it will season's strong Republican candidates step forward and -- Charlie baker is certainly one of those that. Becomes -- of course Kerry Healey as well as the is that very astute and capable individual. You know those are two that that I think -- our side had to understand happened my guess is every person Tuesday. A congressman or congresswoman from Massachusetts. Will immediately take that they should become the next senator.

How about how about governor Mitt Romney does he want to become a US senator though I do about it. I play and that regardless of who's in the White House I planned to be outside the administration. Fighting for long term strengthening of our country -- about education. Health care our economic foundations. Those things give me some concerns so -- I'd like discernible change in Massachusetts I think you're probably going to -- But to you know public becomes more of a have a battle state that it has been.

Governor in terms of that follow on what you just said. That you're gonna be outside the administration regardless of who wins. What exactly are your plans when you say outside the administration what does that mean in terms of what you're gonna be doing in six months or twelve months.

You know idea I haven't it pretty been able to settle entirely of what this -- you look -- for me but. I anticipate doing some writings about Op Ed pieces. Speaking of around the country at perhaps associated with the think tanker to. There's just. And there's a lot I'm concerned about long term for our country I'm I'm really concerned that a as a look at Russia using energy -- to reassert itself. Globally I'm concerned about China's rise economically. And the fact that we seem -- to be able to deal with so long term problems like the failure it education. Our failure to deal with our entitlement. Problems our ballot sheet as a nation is looking terrible. These these kind of issues I think we're gonna have to deal --

How -- we deal with the fact that -- that nobody deals with these things.

Well I think in part we're gonna have to force the the media politicians to have to speak about them -- I thought that frankly establishing that. But there was virtually no discussion in this presidential race. About the issue of of our national ballot sheet and I mean entitlements Medicare Medicaid Social Security. Don't we'll talk about those things unless they're forced to. But but if you create and that's a public get interest in discussion about these issues that the politicians find it -- have to speak up but. I think this or gonna have to do education is that those areas are our kids are falling badly but.

I've got an education is controlled by Democrats -- Nixon when they're in power.

Well well again you created a public interest to discussion about it that. That that that people who write again and speaking to politicians and and managing debates saying hey we want to hear some some it -- about education besides the normal brought a brought -- which which frankly don't it isn't over it's very.

Sample if for example -- former governor a Republican governor Mitt Romney finds the present day Daniel Patrick Moynihan. To talk about. Education for example lost some other issue I agree with you governor I think there's a great opportunity from the outside to try to. Shift the direction and some of the discussion. On the inside but it it's going to take some very very impressive. Persistent voices.

Governor and his army Nelson hire a question for you. Regardless of what happens at the White House level I think it's wrote it's clear that Republicans are going to be hurt badly at the congressional level house and senate. What do you think the Republicans. Should do now to pick up the pieces and and reestablish some. And strengthened in the nation as a whole with the congressional level.

Well you know I I think. That -- that it has suggested that. That the that the party change its philosophy would be an enormous mistake. I'd I think the the problem for a party has been that we have strayed from. But what we've said. That that what we had that the rhetoric we used about believing in small government and at low taxes and encouraging entrepreneurship. Has been now overtaken by. The fact that that as a party we have stood by as it was massive spending growing deficits. And -- policies which did not lead to the output ownership and innovation that that so that we promote so. It's it is more returning to. -- to fundamental roots and destroyed by the new way.

So what -- what can you do next what do you plan to do next to seize this opportunity you you're a national leader now you've got a national limelight. And we've identified the voids in leadership that are only going to grow I think. As Democrats gain more control howry got are perceived so the you can seize this moment. And I've become more powerful leader for these issues we discussed.

Well what I'm looking forward for John McCain to win and obviously that's that's what -- Odyssey that's focused on the day is is getting him elected. And and returning voice is like Johnson it'd mean jobs and a new. Is one of the a PP probably the top five or ten United States senators in terms of intelligence capacity Independent thinking. This ordinary guy it's like it's like me. It's it's why he's been endorsed by virtually every paper in New Hampshire is an extraordinary meant to people like that a of course could have the public voice. It will be able to lead our party -- to be able to influence the outside but I you don't have a footnote compared to the guys who win and the -- big election that like disks.

Governor you just returned from several as you mentioned several battleground states including I believe Colorado. That is that seems to been historically in my recollection comfortably predictably Republican and yet we're told. That might be in the Barack Obama column what did you see and hear and feel out there on the ground in Colorado which you move around -- for John McCain.

Well you know -- give them the McCain troops are fired up that there was no work. No sense of you know foreboding have been of people very excited. You know it all I'll speak to a group of of 500 or -- thousand we have some very big groups in Colorado and Nevada and you know realized that a Pennsylvania. And and at least you know that that that the members of our party are very excited about the prospects of elected John McCain and Sarah Palin. So I -- I didn't see any any sense that that they feel this is is not going to be a victory forced out you know I know the pollsters have a very different view. But you know we we of course tend to focus on polls that are more encouraging that the mason Dixon poll for instance it John McCain. Is going to win Florida and Ohio it was within I think two or three points in Pennsylvania. And we're saying hey you know if if our folks turnout we can win this thing so. You know where with we got our fingers crossed some people are dialing and get French devote.

Does the -- comment on bankrupt in the coal industry the comment attributed to Barack Obama the past 48 hours. Does that create in European in any momentum particularly in Pennsylvania. In Ohio or really didn't come a little bit too late in the in the public discussion.

Yet how much I think it may have come too late. It's frankly I don't think it has as wide as eight. An awareness is I would have I hope frankly. -- idea. It I didn't know that among our Republican stalwarts I was speaking to when I mentioned that boy they I'll do it -- cheered. Abacus you know I put adapted to do it John McCain would use all of our our our resource as nuclear clean coal. Wind solar as well as offshore drilling to get its energy Independent. But that beat -- but the Barack Obama was going to bankrupt the coal companies and people you know they they they knew that they'd heard that it was not news to them but of course these are folks that are. Pretty plugged into the political process or you know they wouldn't be -- the into the rally spots. How how far it has penetrated the that this psyche of the average voter I just don't know. But I tickets to dedicate about so late it was not part of a habit of a discussion that this just. It I have to admit that a certain frustration elicited a Barack Obama -- a lot of Democrats talked about drilling and nuclear and coal. -- what they've been fighting these that these sources of energy and will certainly continue to do so if that you're able to be an office.

Well governor you've been great we get time and we know that you are run -- to a full full day -- flora John McCain Sarah Palin Johnson -- normal like. You've been great to join us Abby Nelson Todd Feinberg -- going to throw -- in -- well ha ha ha ha we appreciate very very much all the time governor you know the door is always open to.