Mitt Romney's 2009

(This is the first in a series of year-end-reviews).

In January, Romney lauded Obama for picking General Jones, General Gates, and his economic team. He also expressed optimism over the tax cuts in Obama's first stimulus plan. On January 19, he praised Obama for reaching across the aisle and trying to find the center.

He came out with conservative suggestions for a stimulus. He testified about them before Eric Cantor's working group on Capitol Hill (pdf).

Later that month, he slammed Obama's abortion policies at a weekend retreat with House Republicans, but he also urged Republicans to present a health care plan before Democrats did. In February, he formed a tight relationship with Eric Cantor, and yelled at the TV during Obama's State of the Union.

He wrote checks to "The Undaunted Dozen" for their role in voting against the stimulus in the face of heavy Democratic pressure, and won a lot of publicity from it. He also gave a well-received speech (pdf) to CPAC and won its straw poll (while managing to diss Palin in the process). Ben Smith called him the clear front-runner for 2012.

In March, he took a surprising stand and urged that mark-to-market not be scratched, further showing his willingness to buck conventional wisdom (and we learned that strapping the dog wasn't such a bad thing, after all). But insiders said he flopped at a Club for Growth meeting that was closed to the press.

He pandered by slamming Obama for appearing on Jay Leno during the economic crisis. In late March, he praised aspects of Obama's plan for Chrysler and GM. He also showed he doesn't speak in cliches when he acknowledged that, yes, Republicans believe in regulations on the economy.

In April, he asserted his godfather status in the party at the NRSC dinner with a speech that brought in $2 million. He did the politically-safe thing and endorsed Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, who faces conservative grumbling.

Chris Cillizza interviewed Mitt and noted how calculated Romney's decisions have been. In response to the Iowa Supreme Court's decision on gays, Romney's spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom wrote an admirable, even-handed piece on the decision. The tone suggests Romney won't get into a Who Dislikes Gays More war during the caucuses.

Romney also started an increasingly aggressive response to Obama's foreign policy after O's tour -- which some have called the "apology tour" (Newt expressed his approval at Romney's direction). He hit the O Administration hard on the notion that some former Bush administration officials might be prosecuted in connection to interrogation memos.

Steve Schmidt called him the front-runner in April. Utahns showed they still loved him, preferring him by +20% over Huntsman in a 2012 match.

In May, he helped launch the National Council for a New America and called Democrats "monarchists" and Republicans "revolutionaries". He continued using this theme in an address to the NRA.

He also popped Palin for her book deal; then said he was joking. Michael Steele put his foot in his mouth and claimed Romney lost in 2008, in part, because he was Mormon -- Romney's spokesman said Steele shot from the hip. Then Steele agreed.

Romney started what became a recurring effort to elect Bob McDonnell governor of VA.

Two conservative Senators, Jon Kyl and John Thune, endorsed Charlie Crist for Florida's open senate seat. Romney's PAC remained neutral.

In late May, he made an interesting, new argument (whether intentional or not is unclear) when he used his handling of the 2002 Winter Olympics to buttress his security creds (as opposed to the more traditional, econ interpretation).

He was troubled by Sonia Sotomayor's nomination, but said Newt and Rush went too far in their attacks. And, importantly, he endorsed Chris Christie in New Jersey's gubernatorial primary.

He kicked off June with a speech to the Heritage Foundation, delivering his sharpest attack on Obama's foreign and domestic policy by linking the two (you can watch vid here). During an appearance on CNN, he called for "regime-crippling" sanctions on Iran, and on June 14 said the Iranian elections were proof that Obama's so-called "apology tour" wasn't working.

Matt Lauer praised Romney for nailing the auto situation: "Boy, you got this right".

He returned to NJ to headline a fundraiser for the party there. And he raised more money for Christie.

Near June's end, Rich Lowry suggested Romney's squeaky-clean Mormonism was looking good compared to Mark Sanford and John Ensign's evangelicalism (for obvious reasons). For his part, Romney said Sanford's situation was an issue for South Carolinians to work out.

Jonathan Martin wrote a piece suggesting Romney's campaign never really ended. Pretty much everyone agreed.

On July 1, Romney appeared on Fox and said he wouldn't rule out spending his money on a 2012 bid. He also expressed his most candid thoughts on running to date.

He began an aggressive push-back on his health care plan for MA in an i/view with Hugh Hewitt, an op-ed in USA Today, and an interview with Human Events.

After Sarah Palin resigned, he wished her and her family well.

In early July, Tim Pawlenty began what would be one of his many attacks on Romney's health care plan (here, here (pdf), here, here,); meanwhile Mitt said Obama should hit the "reset" button on health care, while Romney found a rare defender of his own MA plan.

In August, both Romney and Huckabee attended the Values Voter Summit. In his speech, Huck called MA's health care plan a "total disaster" and claimed a human life was only worth $50 in that state. Romney didn't respond, but did address Pawlenty's slams during a radio interview. He also defended his health plan on the Early Show.

It was also announced that Romney's new book would come out, March 2010 (he says the book's title isn't a direct hit on Obama, despite appearances).

A poll in New Hampshire showed Romney with a commanding lead against potential 2012 opponents.

He demurred when asked about Palin's death panel talk. He grieved with the rest of America when Teddy Kennedy died, but said he had no desire for replacing him in the Senate. He gave a keynote at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference (report here).

Jeb Bradley: "He's been busting his butt since losing more than anyone I have ever seen."

Romney started September with a flurry of fundraising and campaign activities in the DC/VA area (also later, here, here). He tells Sean Hannity that's his MO for the forseeable future.

In September, he slammed Obama's reallocation of missile defense resources.. He further hit the decision in an interview with Human Events.

He gave a major speech to the Foreign Policy Initiative, claiming Obama's foreign policy looked increasingly like a Hamlet act. He also said Jimmy Carter was out to lunch in an interview with NewsMax (we can all agree on that one).

Notably, John McCain co-hosted a fundraiser for Romney's PAC in Arizona. McCain's spokeswoman said it wasn't an endorsement, but that Romney was a top surrogate in 08.

He also notably endorsed Rep. Pete Hoeskra for Gov. of Michigan. He endorsed Pat Toomey, despite past scrums. Romney told a talk show host he's doing what's necessary to keep 2012 options open.

He eschewed petty partisanship and approved of Obama's decision to make a personal pitch for the Olympics.

In October, Romney hosted a fundraiser for NY gubernatorial candidate, Rick Lazio, even though it was rumored that Rudy Giuliani might oppose Lazio. He also hosted a fundraiser for Jim DeMint's reelection campaign.

Mitt swatted down the idea of a second stimulus, and said he's not moving from MA anytime soon.

Ramesh Ponnuru wrote an exceptionally good piece on Romney's advantages and disadvantages heading into 2012.

In a huge decision, Romney opts out of endorsing in a special election in NY-23. He explains. Kathryn Jean Lopez also explains.

He starts off November by slamming Obama's failure to make a decision on Afghanistan.

Romney celebrates election wins, and hits Obama again on Afghanistan at the Reagan Ranch.

His crusade against card check: Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Here,

His health care plan in MA: DC Examiner slams it. The Next Right slams it, WSJ slams it, Cato slams it, Philip Klein slams it, residents of MA don't think it's worked. WSJ slams it, once again. Red State slams it. American Spectator slams it. Ken Blackwell slams it. Paul Gigot slams it. Cato, again. Krugman... praises it.

Asides: Romney believes in evolution. Ambinder has a good break-down on Mitt's shift on gays, which I like to call Project Run-away. I wrote an extensive post here arguing that Mormonism isn't a cult, although it retains key differences with evangelical Christianity.

Free and Strong America PAC stuff: Not spending much on candidates; spending a lot on staff. The Fix noted his fundraising prowess in March. Hewitt touts the PAC. January 1-June 30 fundraising numbers. July numbers and analysis. More fundraising stuff. Ken Vogel finds Romney building donor rolls.