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The Boston Globe — Romney stays unscathed

''Romney's continuing strength could help explain why Democratic groups criticize him at every opportunity, often reviving the accusation that he will flip-flop on issues when to his political advantage.''

Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington is the founder and editor-in-chief of the liberal magazine, The Huffington Post.

''Arianna Huffington, a CNN Pipeline analyst and Democratic activist, was impressed with Governor Romney's answer on health care. She thinks the Democrats may have reason to worry.

'' "This is his advantage, he can speak well on a strong Democratic issue like health care," Huffington said.

''Republican strategist Michael Murphy agreed: "It's like the Democrats running Colin Powell - a candidate who can take away the other party's strength."

''Romney, while Governor of Massachusetts, instituted one of the first statewide, comprehensive health care plans.''

Arianna Huffington's concern that Romney is dangerous for democrats was real. Since then, the Huffington Post has done what it can to oppose Mitt Romney:

''If the Democrats want to hold on to the White House in 2012, they'd better sharpen their knives, and get to work on the tefflon candidate, Mitt Romney... Sarah Palin has served not only as an attractive dartboard, but as a great distraction from a heavyweight contender, Mitt Romney, who is already emerging as the teflon candidate.

''So, before the ever resilient Birchers, tea baggers, and Fundamentalists can get those "Romney in 2012" bumper stickers out, it might be helpful to get acquainted with the potential Republican candidate...

''Make no mistake, Mitt Romney, like President Obama, is a highly educated, Harvard man. Romney received both an MBA and a law degree from Harvard where he moved in the mid-1970's. But, it's what he did after he left Harvard that differs drastically to the current president.

''But, while Obama was a community organizer before going to Harvard, he was a Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the University of Chicago's law school where he worked on his first book. After Harvard, Romney went to work first for Boston Consulting, then as vice president of Bain and Company, and ultimately to found a high octane venture capital firm.

''In 1986, Romney co-founded Bain Capital, a company that currently manages $65 billion in assets. With Romney at the wheel, their rate of return on investments was reportedly something like 113%.

''Bain Capital is said to have acquired, invested in, or founded hundreds of prominent companies; to name but a few: AMC Entertainment, Staples, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Domino's Pizza, even The Weather Channel. It was thanks to Bain Capital that Staples grew from a start-up with only 1 store, back in 1986, to nearly 1,700 stores in 2006.

''Six years after founding Bain Capital, Romney was called back to resuscitate the ailing Bain and Company which he did, and so well that he earned the reputation of consummate businessman which served him well in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race. He left Bain Capital, his signature company, twelve years ago.''

Anderson Cooper, a CNN Anchor, agreed Romney would be a tough competitor for Democrats:

''Yes, he's a big military guy [John McCain]... But I would make a point, though. I think we might be making a mistake in the analysis. We're talking about an election that is 18 months away. And the world and politics and everything changes.

''And what might be the static pro-war, anti-war public opinion debate right now is an eon away in the real politics of what the decision will be next October [in the general election]. The world can change in a lot of ways. And a lot of what the campaign is really going to be about is who people are comfortable with to handle crises, to handle problems. And I thought -- I thought you saw McCain selling [military] strength, ... and Romney selling managerial competence, which could be a very, very big thing in the election.''

The day before, on Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees, political strategist Michael Murphy stated republican competitors will also see Romney as a strong candidate, and will therefore go on the attack:

''I think you'll see a lot of people trying to beat up on Mitt Romney because he's had some success... you'll see some of the other people throw some pretty sharp elbows to get into the race.''

''As I was waiting for the elevator Tuesday morning, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright passed by and Washington super-lawyer and power broker Vernon Jordan stood in animated conversation with a friend.

''While the hotel is filled with Obama forces, Republican surrogate Mitt Romney still caused a stir when he arrived at 11:30 Tuesday morning for a Monitor lunch with roughly 40 reporters. People standing in the lobby followed after him and called his name. News photographers snapped photos. Network crews milled outside the Onyx Room, where our meeting with him was being held.

''After losing to John McCain in the Republican primaries, Mr. Romney is here in Denver as part of a Republican operation to make sure the cable networks have a handy McCain spokesman to help fill the hours devoted to the convention.

Boston Celtics owner and managing partner Stephen G. Pagliuca (people.forbes.com), who also was a Duke basketball player (WEEI SportsRadio Network) supported Mitt Romney for president.

''As a Managing Partner and Chairman of the Basketball Committee, Pagliuca has focused on enhancing the development and improvement of the Celtics basketball operations. [The Celtics are 17 time World Champions.] Mr. Pagliuca also serves as a member of the NBA Board of Governors and the NBA Competition Committee... He is currently the Chairman of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children [MSPCC], Chairman of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Co Chair of the Inner City Scholarship Fund and serves on the international board of The Right To Play, a worldwide children's development group that utilizes Olympic athletes to promote children's health and safety. He is also a Trustee of the Bain Capital Children's Charity.'' (nba.com)

Ironically, Pagliuca, who was born in Brooklin, NY as the grandson of an Italian immigrant shoemaker, is a democrat who ran for the democrat nomination for Kennedy's senate seat in 2010. "Though a progressive and big donor to Democrats, he has contributed to the Republican campaigns of Mitt Romney, his former boss." (wsj.com)

When challenged in the democrat debates, candidate Pagliuca refused to express any regrets for supporting Romney. When asked if he could do it all again, he refused to say he would not support Romney again. (Because a Bush supporter gave Pagliuca $300,000 for the MSPCC childrens charity, Pagliuca said he felt obligated to make a donation to Bush's primary campaign, and that was a mistake, but indicated that it was no mistake to support Romney.)

Stephen Pagliuca lost to Martha Coakley in the democrat primary, who then lost to Scott Brown (who had supported Mitt Romney for president) in the general election.