ROMNEY TAKES THE PLUNGE TODAY – AT 8:39 A.M. ET:  Mitt Romney officially enters the presidential race today.  I have had some real doubts about Romney, describing him as someone who looks like the guy in the Brooks Brothers underwear ad.  He failed to catch fire, or even make it to room temperature, his last time out in 2008.

But Romney is a serious man with a serious record as a businessman and governor of Massachusetts.  We'll certainly hear him out.  His speech today, part of which is reprinted in advance at The Politico, is well crafted:

Government under President Obama has grown to consume almost 40% of our economy. We are only inches away from ceasing to be a free market economy. I will cap federal spending at 20% or less of the GDP and finally, finally balance the budget.

My generation will pass the torch to the next generation, not a bill.

I will insist that Washington learns to respect the constitution, including the 10th amendment. We will return responsibility and authority to the states for dozens of government programs – and that begins with a complete repeal of Obamacare.

From my first day in office my number one job will be to see that America once again is number one in job creation.

Okay, that's good.  Now let's see the rest of the campaign.  Right now Romney is ahead of the pack in most polls, but not by much.  However, he still doesn't beat Obama in most matchups.  It's early.  There may be others, like Governor Rick Perry of Texas, jumping in and changing the race.

I want the GOP race for the nomination to be exciting and newsworthy, taking attention from the Obama campaign, which will be expertly run, and a hall of mirrors.

June 2, 2011