Romney's momentum

"President [Barack] Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. My promise ... is to help you and your family."

This quote from Republican candidate Mitt Romney's successful speech at the Tampa Republican National Convention on Thursday, officially accepting his nomination as the Republican candidate, demonstrates the big difference between the candidate Obama was in 2008 and the candidate Romney is in 2012. Obama promised to move mountains, or at least to change the world, but he didn't come through, or more specifically, the world didn't change. In contrast, Romney wants to help bring America back to its roots and improve life.

Romney doesn't have much choice. The U.S. is in need of treatment, from the roots upwards. On Nov. 6, Americans will decide whether to appoint a businessman as their "dentist," or continue with the lawyer.

Romney gave the speech of his life on Thursday night. The former Massachusetts governor is no political novice, but he is an introverted businessman who struggles to sell himself, which perhaps explains his electoral failure in the Senate race against Ted Kennedy in February 2008.

But the atmosphere was electric in the auditorium in Tampa throughout his speech. It was 37 minutes of sense stimulation. Romney did not come to pose as the messiah, but rather as someone who knows how to work. This is what excites Americans today. They don't want to be sold a dream, like in 2008. In 2012, Americans are more grounded. The landing has been painful. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said on the opening evening in Tampa that politicians need to tell the truth, even if it hurts.

There is no doubt that the Republican convention was a success. What hasn't been said about the Republicans? They are divided, which is true. The primaries showed deep rifts between the candidates. Romney is not able to attract the masses, and not just because of the Mormon church, but also because he has no ideas.

Suddenly, the U.S. is discovering the force of young Republican stars, a number of women, and a clear, creative economic plan from now through 2020. Romney knows how to give speeches. First lady Michelle Obama has a clear competitor in the image of Ann Romney. Suddenly, the word Republican is no longer dirty. Just the opposite: American values are changing style. The message was that the U.S. needs to be an unapologetic leader in the world. Another message is that the world has someone to depend on.

Democrats have something to fear now: Romney's choice of the young gun from Wisconsin, Representative Paul Ryan, as his running mate was a flash of brilliance. Ryan enhances Romney and turns him into a more determined competitor. Romney, despite his $250 million, seems like a family man after Tampa, one who can understand American sentiment.

Romney lacks former President Ronald Reagan's magic, but standing with his wife, five children and 18 grandchildren while hundreds of red, white and blue balloons land in the crowd did its job. America loves fathers. Whether they are the founding ones or just simply good ones.

Apropos Reagan, his spirit was also present in Tampa. Republicans admire him. They love to compare Obama to former President Jimmy Carter. Perhaps this is why Romney is being compared to a future Reagan, in terms of his abilities, not his character. Reagan, it is worth mentioning, lagged behind Carter by nine points leading up to the 1980 presidential debates. The debates, not Thursday's speech, are likely to determine the election. Who could forget Reagan responding to Carter during a 1980 debate, "There you go again ..."? The rest is well known.

Leaving the event hall in Tampa, I ran into actor Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie's father. "For the first time, I really think Romney is going to win," I said to him. "Finally, you're starting to get it," he told me with a smile.

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