Deseret News Archives,
Thursday, March 3, 1994
Edition: Metro
Section: Today
Page: C1
How'd you like to begin your political career by running against Ted Kennedy, the third most senior member of the U.S. Senate — especially when only 13 percent of Massachusetts residents belong to your party?
That would probably not tempt most of us, but it's exactly what a friend of mine is doing. He is 46-year-old Mitt Romney, a prominent Republican, LDS stake president and highly successful venture capitalist, who heads Bain and Company, a Boston consulting firm.
Kennedy has held his seat for 32 years, and at 62 is still relatively young. He has really never been seriously threatened by a political opponent.
But this time, he is running in the wake of the Palm Beach rape trial of his nephew, William Kennedy Smith, who was acquitted in 1991. After that trial and the resulting publicity about Sen. Kennedy's personal lifestyle, his approval ratings reached a new low — although they have bounced back a bit since his 1992 marriage to Victoria Reggie.
Nevertheless, the senator is considered vulnerable this year, and Mitt knows it. On Feb. 2, he formally declared his candidacy at Boston's Copley Plaza, accompanied by his wife, Ann Davies Romney, and their five sons.
Romney was introduced by his 86-year-old father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, who was a 1968 presidential candidate. Evoking his famous evangelical ferver, the senior Romney told about 200 supporters, "This is the most important political race in America this year."
When Mitt took the rostrum, he looked at the audience with the dark, resolute eyes he inherited from his father and said, "It's time to come on home, Ted."
When I talked to Mitt, he said his father comes to Massachusetts to campaign "about every other week," and he considers him his most important asset, "right after Ann."
It was Ann who suggested he run against Kennedy. "I couldn't believe my ears, because she has always avoided politics. But she felt we were so blessed in our lives. I have three sons at BYU who are anxious to come to work full time for the campaign — and I have two other sons who are convinced I will win hands down because all their friends support me."
Mitt believes his 22 years in Massachusetts have established a "track record in the employment community for saving jobs. There's nothing like a good job to solve welfare abuse. I'm in the position to make a serious run."
He thinks Kennedy's approach has been "more government and more spending," while his has been "more jobs and more voluntary service."
He will not raise the character issue, although he will talk about "the decline of American values," a theme his father referred to constantly in his own presidential run. Both of his major Republican opponents, Janet Jeghelian, a former talk show host, and businessman John Lakian, have attacked his Mormon ties - but he is not worried, since both Boston newspapers have editorially denounced the criticism of a candidate on the basis of religious faith.
He is personally opposed to abortion but has no intention of trying to legislate his views and reverse Roe vs. Wade.
Mitt, who has a lot of natural charisma, has received broad support of party activists, as well as warm encouragement from the popular Republican governor, William Weld.
If elected, Mitt pledges not to serve more than two terms. In the meantime, "There is that satisfaction that comes with saying what you believe and letting the voters do what they want. If they say "no,' I'll be happy to be a successful businessman."
I chatted with him about some candidates this year who have withdrawn after finding campaigning distasteful. Mitt, who clearly has the fire in the belly, said, "You mean I have a choice to get out? I knew there would be mud thrown, and that it would be expensive and draining — but in this case, I think it's worth it."