Romney Takes the Tailgate in Tampa

Tampa, Florida, January 23, 2008
Ranger Eyewitness report.

The Alfano Center, owned by Deborah Cox, has been the host of the Hillsborough County Florida Republican Executive Club since the retirement of Margie Kincaid in 2008. The soul of the Republican party in Florida has always been the conservative women and their unfailing back office support. Old ladies in sneakers, the hands that rock the cradle, rule the world. It is women such as these who carry on the legacy of Ronald Reagan, and they are breaking in a big way for Mitt Romney. Ever since Deborah Cox saw Mitt speak last February 2007, Deborah has placed her personal resources in this key county at the disposal of the Romney camp. And in doing so, she has become fast friends to the legion of youthful Republicans who came of age long after Ronald Reagan left office, and now rally to the Romney banner.

Three hundred Mitt supporters gathered in the parking lot today to rally for Mitt Romney. Mitt had just left the Lee Moffit Cancer Center of the University of South Florida to meet his fans in the sunshine and the breeze. The Alfano Center is across Fowler Avenue from the University of South Florida main campus. At lunch, Mitt delivered a policy address on health care at the Cancer Center. Mitt stressed the free market solutions of the Massachusetts model of health care insurance, and the importance of maintaining the freedom of the American health insurance system from the onus of a government single payer system, which always trends to mediocrity and stifles innovation.

The exit of Fred Thompson from the Presidential race has offered a great opportunity to Romney. Fred and Mitt have staked out a territory of conservatism in this election more in keeping with the Reagan brand, and Mitt has been gracious to welcome the Fredheads into the campaign. The exit of Thompson from the race shows the wisdom of waiting to vote until election day. Last week, Thompson could almost be seen to be a viable candidate, until his defeat in South Carolina Saturday. Those who voted early or voted absentee for Fred Thompson will see their votes count for little except a lost cause.