Luntz: The Romneys capture that “first family look”


On the February 27 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Republican pollster Frank Luntz said of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) family: “If you've ever seen his wife and kids, this is a model American family. They're all attractive. ... [T]hey all got the look of the first family look, and the more that he brings that in, the more successful he's going to be.”

As Media Matters for America has documented, Luntz joins the ranks of numerous other media figures who, in recent weeks, have gushed over the former governor's looks. For instance, Newsweek senior writer and political correspondent Jonathan Darman and assistant managing editor Evan Thomas described Romney as “buff and handsome in late middle age.” MSNBC host Chris Matthews applauded Romney's looks, saying that the former governor “has the perfect chin, the perfect hair.” Roger Simon, chief political columnist for The Politico, wrote that Romney “radiates vigor,” noting his “chiseled-out-of-granite features, a full, dark head of hair going a distinguished gray at the temples, and a barrel chest.” Finally, Mike Allen, former Time magazine White House correspondent (now chief political correspondent for The Politico), touted Romney as someone who “looks like a president.”

From the February 27 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:

LUNTZ: He did even better by talking about his family. If you've ever seen his wife and kids, this is a model American family. They're all attractive. They all got the -- they all got the look of the first family look, and the more that he brings that in, the more successful he's going to be.

We want to vote for a family person. We want to vote for a family man or family woman. So, that was very effective communication.