by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
If you were paying attention Thursday morning in the auditorium at the Main Library, you learned that Mitt Romney saved scores of corporations from ruin when he worked as a management consultant in the private sector. He saved the Winter Olympics from scandal in Salt Lake City after Sept. 11. And, then he saved Massachusetts in several ways after he was elected governor in 2003. Now he’s ready to save America if he can get the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
At least that was the message Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sent to about 300 of the party faithful when he brought his campaign to Jacksonville Thursday. It was Romney’s first town meeting-style stop in Florida.
After an 11-minute video detailing Romney’s accomplishments that made the crowd erupt in applause several times, he strode on stage, laid out his platform and answered a few questions from the audience.
Romney said he supports lowering taxes so people would be able to save and invest more of their money, reducing government spending and then added he’s ready to “fix Washington” like he did Massachusetts.
He also made the point he believes families are important and further that family values depend on a man and woman being married to raise children.
He supports making heath care insurance available and affordable for all the country’s citizens and helping seniors pay for their medications.
Romney also told of his personal commitment to promoting a strong America that can fight terrorism and the Jihad.
Council member Lake Ray has already endorsed Romney’s bid for his chance at the Oval Office and said he’s not surprised the Florida debut of the town meeting format happened here.
“Mitt Romney’s people are a smart group,” said Ray. “They recognize that the pulse and heartbeat of the Republican party is in North Florida. After all, President Bush got 43 percent of Florida’s Republican votes from here. This area defines where the conservative republican movement stands.”