It wasn’t a flawless event (at one point what may have been repetition for emphasis certainly looked a little bit like he had lost his place in the speech) but it was an enthusiastic Dearborn announcment, from the vantage point of a C-SPAN viewer.

He certainly brought the family message home, for what it’s worth. Everybody was almost a little too attentive to the grandkids — a sign of authenticity, unlike most perfectly scripted political events. It is always refreshing to see children at a political event and not have the impression they’re just there as props. At the Romney announcement, you kinda got the impression you were (one of 800 people) joining a Romney family reunion — like one of the sons took you home for Thanksgiving vacation with him (which I’m sure they did when they were in college). Watching him mingling (as he does so well) with the crowd after, it was impressive to see his humble reaction when he was presented with a supporter’s memory of his late dad, former Michigan governor. (The family them continued far beyond the speech.)

I suspect this is a good wrap-up of his message:

I believe the American people are the source of our strength. They always have been. They always will be. The American people: hard working, educated, innovative, ready to sacrifice for family and country, patriotic, seeking opportunity above dependence, God-fearing, free American people. When we need to call on the strength of America, we should strengthen the American people, not the American government!…. How is the American family made stronger? With marriage before children. With a mother and a father in the life of every child. With healthcare that is affordable and portable. With schools that succeed. With taxes that are lower. And with leaders who strive to demonstrate enduring values and morality.

I would have put some war in that latter graph, which may be a continuing problem. His next sentence was: “This was the agenda I pursued as Governor of Massachusetts. This is the agenda I will pursue if elected President.” Problem is: He’s not running for governor of the U.S., but president of the United States. Even aside from the questions conservatives have, I’m not sure people yet have a sense that he’s the right guy for that job.