Ambassador Edelman: Romney Will Renew U.S. Leadership, Sen Thune Praises Romney (VIDEO)

Eric Edelman, former Under Secty of Defense for Policy and former Ambassador to Turkey and Finland

Ambassador Eric Edelman weighs in on Mitt Romney’s debate performance last night:

Boston, MA
United States

Mitt Romney’s Special Adviser on Foreign Policy and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Eric Edelman, made the following statement after tonight’s debate in Washington, DC:

“I believe Mitt Romney clearly won tonight’s debate with a compelling presentation of a foreign policy based on American strength and resolve. The United States and the international system are at an inflection point as they face the prospect of new nuclear-armed powers like Iran and North Korea, a rising China, the continued terrorism of radical Jihadism, and a turbulent Middle East. Mitt Romney understands that this is a dangerous time for America to shrink our military, retreat from the world, or defer to other actors. All Americans can rest assured that Governor Romney will secure both our interests and ideals with a strong national defense, resolute diplomacy, and a renewal of American leadership.”

Background on Eric Edelman:

Eric Edelman was under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2005 to 2009. Edelman served as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey (2003 to 2005), U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Finland (1998 to 2001), and Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs (2001 to 2003).

Mitt Romney is pictured speaking at a fundraiser for Senator John Thune R SD in Sioux Falls, SD. Feb 2011. (Photo AP/Argus Leader/Devin Wagner)

Senator John Thune joined Mitt Romney in Iowa, on the day before Thanksgiving, to deliver a strong endorsement for the former governor of Massachusetts. Romney and Thune spoke at a townhall meeting at Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines. A Q&A session was also held (about an hour).

C-Span recorded the event; click here to enjoy.

Romney also held a telephone townhall while in Iowa yesterday:

Speaking to thousands of Iowans in a telephone town hall, Mitt Romney pledged Wednesday to be a visible presence in the state in the weeks leading up to its first-in-the-nation presidential voting contest.

“You’ll be seeing more and more of me as we get closer to the caucuses,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to convince almost all of you to go to caucus. I really do want your support.”

… Romney just opened a campaign headquarters in Des Moines and is visiting the state more frequently. He is expected to begin airing commercials soon, having recently videotaped one here.
[...]
Though his campaign has kept expectations low this time around, much has gone Romney’s way — the contest is more wide open at this point than in any Iowa nominating contest in memory, and the socially conservative and evangelical voters who thwarted him in 2008 have failed to coalesce behind a candidate.

If he can persuade his 2008 supporters to turn out for him again and the social conservative and evangelical voters who dominate the caucuses remain splintered, Romney could win on Jan. 3 despite spending a fraction of the money and time he spent here four years ago. That, coupled with an expected victory in the New Hampshire primary a week later, could seal the GOP race.
[...]
“We haven’t changed what we’ve been doing,” said David Kochel, Romney’s Iowa director. “We’ve been here several times, we’ll be back several times, and we’ve had small staff here, but they’ve worked hard and we respect the process and hope to do well here.”

(emphasis added)

There may be more in the works from The Hawkeye State…

► Jayde Wyatt