After Speech, Ann Romney Takes On "Humanizing" Campaign Role
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Ann Romney has becoming a new star of her party and a powerful force to show that her husband has emotions, and her primetime speech that was beamed across the nation solidified her new campaign role. NY1's Josh Robin filed the following report. The ovations continue for the would-be first lady, as Ann Romney helped breathe life into her husband's image Tuesday night.
A few hours later at breakfast Wednesday, Ann Romney was trying to radiate the message that her husband gets the kitchen-table struggles engulfing so many of those he wants to lead.
"Mitt will be a person, when he's in the White House, that will be thinking about families,” said Ann Romney, “that will be thinking about women, that will be thinking about how we care for one another and about how he will never abandon you."
Before he gets there, he likely has to bridge the big advantage President Barack Obama has with women.
If he starts to do better, he has his wife to thank, and, via video address, he joked she should lead the ticket.
"And you think if Ann were the nominee, the press would write stories about how my job is to 'humanize Ann?' I don't think so," said Mitt Romney.
But the so-called humanization worry is real. For a culture steeped in reality TV and confessional books, Ann Romney fleshes out a fuller picture -- opening up, for instance, about he helped her overcome multiple sclerosis.
"Those were dark dark hours for me. It's amazing that I'm standing here today. I never expected to be," said Ann Romney.
While convention-goers here are not necessarily objective, she is is seen as a warm, natural contrast to her other half.
"I feel as though I could hit it off with her right away, that she wouldn't be reserved with me,” said Dee Hodges, a delegate from Maryland.
But for all the talk of family, Anita McBride, the chief of staff to former first lady Laura Bush, noticed there was no mention of the majority of American mothers who also work outside the home.
"You didn't hear that this morning, but I wouldn't underestimate the fact that in all the events she's doing around the country, and women that she's meeting with, she is hearing those stories, and they're not far from her mind,” said McBride.
In the two months left before Election Day, Ann Romney will hear more of those stories, and maybe weave them in her speeches to show she and her husband care.