Looking to reassure conservatives who have doubts about him due to his past positions, Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts attempted to tap into the legacy of Ronald Reagan on Thursday.
Romney, who is leading in new polls of key early states Iowa and New Hampshire, unveiled a new group on Thursday consisting of former Reagan aides and appointments who are backing his presidential bid. Gerald Carmen, former ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva and administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration under Reagan, will lead Reaganites for Romney.
These individuals were part of a movement that changed America and the rest of the world, Romney said in a statement. The smaller government policies of the Reagan era helped turn around a struggling economy and create millions of jobs. And the strong defense of freedom around the world led to the crumbling of empires and dictatorships. I am proud to announce this group of conservative leaders -- with their help we can re-create the robust job creation of the Reagan years.
Supporters of Ronald Reagan are supporting Mitt Romney because he is the best chance conservatives have to return to the prosperous Reagan years, Carmen said. His economic plan will unleash job creation in the private sector, his trade policies will open markets around the world, and he will stand up to countries that have pledged to destroy our allies. Mitt Romney will restore faith in our country in much the same way Ronald Reagan did 30 years ago.
Carmen was not the only distinguished politician in the new group. William Barr, who served as U.S. attorney general under President George H.W. Bush and worked as a domestic policy staffer under Reagan, also joined. So did Rich Williamson, a former Reagan assistant who rose to become an assistant secretary of state. They lead more than 30 other former Reagan staffers and Republican leaders who were active during the 1980s in backing Romneys presidential bid.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
