A statement from the Romney camp below. Mark Halperin thinks it will be a big, emotional moment for Romney's campaign. Perhaps true enough. What it also is, is a chance to dominate the headlines in what is expected to be a positive manner, while appealing directly to the Christian Right. With Huckabee rising, that group is either going to consolidate behind a candidate, or see Rudy get the nod if Huckabee can't pull it off nationally.
I'm not prepared to say it's a total make or break moment for Romney, but it could be his best opportunity to shore up Iowa and keep his overall strategy on track. I'll add, it may also have the impact of freezing things as far as any Huckabee surge, at least until after the speech.
“Governor Romney has made a decision to deliver a speech titled ‘Faith in America.’
“The governor has been invited to The George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas to deliver this address on Thursday, December 6.
“This speech is an opportunity for Governor Romney to share his views on religious liberty, the grand tradition religious tolerance has played in the progress of our nation and how the governor’s own faith would inform his Presidency if he were elected.
“Governor Romney understands that faith is an important issue to many Americans, and he personally feels this moment is the right moment for him to share his views with the nation.”
“Governor Romney personally made the decision to deliver this speech sometime last week.
“While identifying a venue for this address, the campaign consulted with President George H.W. Bush’s office last week about Governor Romney’s decision. President Bush was gracious enough to extend an invitation to deliver the speech at the presidential library.
“The invitation to speak at the presidential library is not an endorsement of Governor Romney’s campaign.
-Kevin Madden, Romney for President campaign spokesman
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