His conservative views and values, he explained, came from his family, his faith and his work as a businessman. “I know conservatism because I have lived conservatism,” he said.
His fiscal conservatism comes from his experience in business, where he said you either balance budgets or go bankrupt. He said his personal life — a marriage of 42 years, a father whose life embodied the American dream, a commitment to his Mormon religion — is testimony to his conservative values.
He used his single term in public office as evidence that he would be true to conservative principles as president. After describing his governorship as severely conservative, he said, “I fought against long odds in a deep blue state. I understand the battles that we, as conservatives, must fight because I have been on the front lines.”
No amount of rhetoric is likely to overcome the doubts that exist among many conservative Republicans about Romney. Friday’s speech aside, the former governor is no ideologue and never has been. He has been trying to win the nomination by being conservative enough, not by being the most conservative.
Santorum, in his appearance at CPAC, took direct aim at the lack of passion for Romney. “Why,” he asked, without naming his rival, “would an undecided voter vote for a candidate of a party that the party’s not excited about? We need conservatives to rally now, for a conservative.”
Romney can lessen the resistance to his candidacy among those who are most conservative only one way. He can’t do it by trying too hard to be something he is not. He is a conservative but not a movement conservative. He has taken positions in line with those of the tea party movement, but he is not a tea party conservative. He is Mitt Romney, a competitive businessman who likes challenges and solving problems.
The path for Romney remains what it has been, which is to prevail in a competitive nomination contest by making himself the most broadly attractive candidate. He can divide and conquer if Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul remain in the race indefinitely. He can show appeal across his party by winning majorities if the race becomes a two-person contest. It all comes down to the same thing. He must win and keep winning.
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