Romney Extols Family Values in Bid for Iowan Hearts

Mitt Romney spent his last evening before today's caucuses trying to convince Iowans that he was the Republican they would like him to be: devoted to home and the American heartland.

On a night when other candidates tried to fire up their supporters and get them out to the caucuses, Romney's meeting in a suburban convention center felt more like a presentation by the executive he had once been - albeit one who would go to any lengths to impress a client.

His rambling talk, which ranged from Olympic speed skaters to terrorism, was even preceded by a corporate-style video, with testimonials from former partners at the venture capital firm where he made his millions.

Romney began by reminiscing about a summer he spent as a teenager on an uncle's farm in Idaho, describing their corn crop at length. If there was any doubt remaining that Romney was intent on pandering to local sentiments, he soon dispelled it with his paean to the fertility of Iowa's soil.

"The soil is black. I mean, dark beautiful soil," he said. "The corn grows tall and dark green and I said to myself: 'God must love Iowa.'"

Romney, however, must be wondering what he can do to make Iowa love him. The former governor of Massachusetts has spent more time and money in the state than any other Republican candidate, only to watch his slick campaign for the White House upended by the rise of Mike Huckabee.

A poll in the Des Moines Register this week gave Huckabee a lead over Romney. The former governor of Arkansas is also polling strongly in New Hampshire.

While Romney has the corporate credentials to appeal to the business community, Huckabee the folksy preacher has captured the imagination of evangelicals, who make up nearly half of Republican caucus goers, according to some estimates. Polls also suggest that Romney could be losing support because of his Mormon faith.

Tom Coates, who owns a local financial firm and hosted a party for Romney earlier in the campaign, agrees that Iowans were taken with Huckabee. But he believes they have begun to trickle back to the Romney camp. "I think Huckabee is on the downhill slide. I think additional scrutiny is not doing him well. He is really not a conservative," he said.

But Romney was taking no chances last night in his effort to impress Iowans with his commitment to the social conservative agenda. He extolled the importance of what he called "heartland values": marriage, family, and a strong military and economy.

On the stage with him last night were his wife, Ann, five grown sons and five daughters-in-law. "If we become the couple in the White House, Ann and I will do our best to serve you proud in the White House and will never dishonor that place in any way," he said, in a swipe at Hillary Clinton.

He got one of the loudest responses of the night.