Republican Presidential Nominee-to-be Mitt Romneys youngest sons brought their fathers campaign to the groggy ears of Floridas delegates Wednesday morning, expanding upon the moving personal narrative started the night before by their mother, Ann Romney, at the Republican National Convention.
How about my mom last night? Ben Romney, 34, a radiologist, asked delegates -- some of whom got in around 3 a.m. due to ongoing convention bus-related problems -- during the Fresh From Florida breakfast at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on Wednesday.
I knew she was going to be great, but I didnt know she was going to be that good, Ben Romney said, then later added he hoped his dad could match his mothers warm delivery.
Delegates said they were enthralled by Bens mother.
She hit it out of the ball park, said Cherie Billings, a delegate and chair of the Republican Party of Nassau County.
Shes got an infectious smile. When she smiles, you know shes smiling. Its not the artificial Miss America smile where they put stuff on their teeth.
All five of Romneys sons are acting as surrogates for their father. Craig is the youngest: Tagg, 42; Matt, 40; and Josh, 37. Craig noted that through campaigning, he has brought his son to 35 states by the age of 2 and some of his grandfather is rubbing off.
The Romneys mentioned the importance of Florida in the electoral layout, something that didnt need to be overly stressed in the room.
Craig Romney, 31, who is involved in real estate in San Diego, recalled his father learning the Skeleton -- face first sledding -- course as an example of how far hed go to promote the Salt Lake City Olympics, which he had turned around from a $3 billion deficit into a $1 billion surplus.
Hes not exactly a thrill-seeker, but he eventually got pretty good, Craig Romney said.
Success seems to follow my father whereever he has gone and I dont think that is a coincidence my dad has had tremendous success in business, at the Olympics, as governor of Massachusetts, but I think his greatest success is awaiting him and its waiting in the White House.
Once Craig recalled seeing his own son standing on his bed, surrounded by stuffed animals.
He was giving a stump speech, Craig Romney said. Ive never claimed to have a future in politics, but I cant say the same for him.
Ben Romney, 34, said he preferred to talk about his father on a personal level rather than his policies, which he obviously supports.
He recalled their fathers instilling a work ethic into his boys by requiring chores around the house.
Every week without fail we were in the yard doing some project, whether moving rocks from one side of the yard to the other side, and the next week moving the rocks from that side back to the other side, Ben Romney said.
Ben Romney said hes been trying to instill that ethic into his own 3-year-old daughter.
This is what makes America such an incredible land, its a land where you can work hard and take risks along the way, and you can do or be anything because of the opportunities that are here, Ben Romney added.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
