Florida next on Campaign Trail
WHITFIELD: Welcome back to this special hour of the "CNN Newsroom." We're taking this time out every Sunday to let you hear from the 2012 presidential contenders in their own words, out on the campaign trail. Today, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney announced he will release his 2010 tax returns on Tuesday. He'll also release an estimate of his 2011 tax liability information. The candidate admits it was a mistake to hold off on releasing his returns calling the controversy over the issue a distraction in the race. After finishing a second place in South Carolina's primary this weekend, Romney took aim at rivals who have focused on his personal wealth.</s>MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Republican Party doesn't demonize prosperity. We celebrate success in our party. That's one of the big differences between our party and our president. He leaves the party of big government, he believes in ever expanding entitlement. He's wrong, we're right, and this is a battle we cannot lose. Those who pick up the weapons of the left today will find them turned against us tomorrow. That's the choice our party gives America. Or else we don't offer them any choice at all. And Americans in my view will demand a real choice in this campaign between those people who believe in prosperity and success and opportunity and those who believe in government. And I think they'll choose us. By the way, by the way if President Obama thinks you can compare his record of job losses with my record of job creation, that's a battle we're going to win. And if he thinks he can compare his record of crony capitalism, with my record of free market success, that's a battle we can win. And let me be clear. If Republican leaders want to join this president in demonizing success, and disparaging conservative values, then they're not going to be fit to be our nominee.</s>WHITFIELD: And so now the battle shifts to Florida. Joining us now, live from Washington, Danielle Belton with the blog "The Black Snob", Ann Marie Hauser, a former communications director for two-term Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Good to see both of you ladies.</s>DANIELLE BELTON, "THE BLACK SNOB": Great to be here.</s>ANN MARIE HAUSER, FMR. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR GOV. TIM PAWLENTY: Great to be here.</s>WHITFIELD: OK. So at one point, Mitt Romney seemed to be the inevitable GOP nominee, all that changed just really within a 24 hour period. He lost Iowa after a recount to Santorum and then lost handily in South Carolina. So as Romney heads now into Florida, and even after that, Nevada, are we about to see a candidate staying on message or making big changes in his campaign strategy? Ann Marie, you fist.</s>HAUSER: Sure. Yes, I think what we'll see is Governor Romney going into Florida. It is a new day for him. He has an opportunity to take his record on creating jobs, a successful governor, successful executive and I think he'll have an opportunity to connect with voters in Florida. It is very promising for him in Florida. They have the money and the structure to do very well there. So I think it is a new day. I think South Carolina was significant. Newt Gingrich had huge momentum. He did very well in the debates. And he really connected with the voters there, but, look, that's his backyard. He also had Perry's endorsement that week. So that was last week. We'll see what Florida holds in the next 10 days.</s>WHITFIELD: So, Danielle, how do you see it? More of the same from Mitt Romney as he heads into Florida or does he have to change strategy, maybe even staffing?</s>BELTON: I think it would be a dangerous thing for Romney to drastically change his strategy. He picked the way he's going to hedge, he's picked where he's going to go with focusing on the Republican emphasis in a free market and kind of, you know, celebrating his business person stance. I don't see how he could radically deviate that without once again being labeled with the whole flip-flopped Mitt Romney is inconsistent and kind of slammed that he gets hit with already quite a bit of frequency I think it is almost a dangerous thing for him to change tracks. He really has to hold hard to what he's doing right now, keep hitting back hard with what he has right now and essentially just double down on his strategy.</s>WHITFIELD: OK. Can the same be said about Newt Gingrich? He didn't use a whole lot of money in South Carolina of his own campaign money, but super pac money made a big difference possibly for him in South Carolina. So, Danielle, what about Gingrich? Might you see any changes as he approaches Florida?</s>BELTON: It is going to be interesting for Gingrich. Because I feel like he went a very aggressive and in some ways lean kind of track with South Carolina, which worked great for South Carolina. I could see why he would go that way with it. He really tapped into people's frustration with the media, he really hit the race angle really hard in a way that worked great in this particular race but kind of resonated differently depending which audience you're dealing with nationally. So in Florida, with the way Gingrich is, I see him in some cases continuing to hit really hard because he wants that applause line with the audience. He wants to get that kind of reaction from the live crowd and the more passionate parts of the Republican voter base but will that be at the expense of independents?</s>WHITFIELD: So, Ann Marie, do you look at this week where, you know, Newt Gingrich really has the upper hand or the advantage because not only is he coming off a South Carolina win, but there are two debates and he really rebels and relishes in the debates and he has a chance to appeal to Floridians or Nevadans or any one else after that in a very big way on that stage.</s>HAUSER: Well, that's right. I mean he clearly excels in the debates. As you saw, he just soared this past week in South Carolina after his debate performances because he tapped into two things. One, the anti- Obama frustration in this country and the anti-media frustration in, you know, in our primary. And so, yes, I think these two debates no doubt he will be again very strong. But debates matter. But it is about more than just debates. I mean there is going to be significant campaigning. There is a lot of time in between debates and talking about your record and honestly, if voters really take a look, you know, what Newt says, as saying he's anti-Washington, he is the Washington lobbyist and Mitt Romney is the executive, the job creator, the outsider who is running here. So voters are going to have to decide which one they prefer.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Ann Marie Hauser, Danielle Belton, thanks so much, ladies. We'll see you again a little bit later on in the hour. We're also going to talk about two of the other four contenders, how will Rick Santorum and Ron Paul gain momentum after a poor showing in South Carolina, the candidates reveal their future strategies coming up.