Romney, One Step Closer

Hey guys, I will be starting a State of Kansas Elect Mitt organization. Go to Americansformitt.com and join (if you are so inclined) the new national group to elect Mitt. Here is a recent article from Mitt's last trip to South Carolina.

By Dan HooverSTAFF WRITERdchoover@greenvillenews.comStepping up his soundings as a potential 2008presidential candidate, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romneytold Greenville Republicans on Saturday that thefederal government, without naming President Bush, isspending too much money and has "underappreciated" theterror threat's scope."Look at the numbers," he said of Washington'sspending habits, and warned that by 2020, entitlementswill consume 70 percent of the budget. "That wouldmean defense would get 15 percent. How can you be thesuperpower of the planet and only have 15 percent ofyour budget go into national defense?"Romney told more than 300 Republicans attending abreakfast before the county party's convention thatthe threat to America is bigger than many believe andis aimed at bringing down the nation, not just bombinga shopping mall.At the most critical period in U.S. history, whenAmerica and the world are under attack by "globaljihadists," not just a small group of terrorists,Romney said some leaders have "underappreciated andunderestimated" the threat's magnitude.Romney said America's foes' "global view is that theywere given a huge part of the planet for their people,and it's their job to go back and recapture all thatportion. One nation keeps all that from happening,from combining all those nations under one element:the United States."But Romney went on to express appreciation for Bushfor "being willing to declare war on terror."In recent weeks, Romney has emerged as a terror warhawk who supports increased monitoring of foreignstudents and shifting from programs geared to reactingto attack to those aimed at preventing them.He made no direct reference to the presidentialsweepstakes, but turning to South Carolina Gov. MarkSanford, said, "You're lucky to have this man as yourgovernor, and he'd make a good president, too."Sanford has sought to end speculation he's interestedin a White House bid of his own.Romney was followed by South Carolina Sen. LindseyGraham of Seneca who weighed in on spending by theGOP's congressional majority, saying, "We've forgottenwhat it's like to be a Republican when it comes tospending money. I want the president to start vetoingsome bills. Veto some," he added for emphasis.For Romney, the appearance was sandwiched between aFriday night dinner in Spartanburg and another speechThursday to the Lexington GOP convention, all part ofthe run-up to South Carolina's first-in-the-Southpresidential primary in two years.