Free Republic

Mitt Romney's speech to supporters in Des Moines Friday was cut short by a fire drill thanks to a bag of burning microwave popcorn. The former Massachusetts governor and soon-to-be official 2012 presidential candidate was fielding questions about his commitment to the first-in-the-nation state at Des Moines' State Historical Society of Iowa building when a fire drill forced him to cut his appearance short. "Discretion is the better part of valor," Romney said, urging people to head outside as the alarm sounded in the background. "I wasn't trying to get out of tough questions, I promise," he said later.

You might expect that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, one of the top likely candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, would cozy up to tea party followers anytime he can. But he’s actually steering clear of the movement, The Boston Globe reports. “Romney for the most part is inaccessible,’’ says Andrew Hemingway, chairman of New Hampshire’s Republican Liberty Caucus. “[Minnesota Gov. Tom] Pawlenty, I could call him right now and say, ‘Let’s have coffee.’” Romney has kept his distance from tea party activists in key primary states, including the state viewed as a must win for him – New...

Mitt Romney's visit to New Hampshire triggers questions about his stance regarding the Federal Reserve. This is partial raw tape; more vid to follow.

Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney predicted Thursday that Gov. Bobby Jindal will consider a 2012 run for the White House if John McCain loses on Nov. 4. “Bobby Jindal will certainly be taking a look at it,” Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, said on WWL-Radio. Jindal denied Thursday afternoon that he is mounting a presidential campaign despite multiple fundraising trips outside the state and an upcoming visit to Iowa. “I am not running for the White House in 2012,” Jindal said. He said he plans to run for re-election for governor in 2011. It is not his “intent” to run...