Romney's New Radio Ad Features Ann Romney

A new radio ad airing in Iowa and New Hampshire today features Ann Romney describing the qualities she loves about her husband Mitt. Theirs was an All-American romance; high school sweet hearts; five children, ten grandchildren.

This ad promotes the Romney brand: a great father, devoted to his children, a stable relationship with his wife of 38 years.

Hillary Clinton is not the only candidate who can use her spouse to validate her campaign platform. Romney's metaphor of choice for the principles of the Republican base is a three-legged stool, with each leg representing one broad category of policy -- strong military, strong economy, strong family. Romney's none-too-subtle message: the way I've lived my life exemplifies these principles. (There's no need to draw contrasts with the lives of the other candidates -- they're already drawn implicitly.)

Here's the script:

ANN ROMNEY: "The most common question I get is 'How did you guys meet?' It's always so fun to tell that story."

ANNOUNCER: "Ann Romney talks about her husband Mitt Romney."

ANN ROMNEY: "We met in high school at a party, and we've been going steady ever since.

"We've been married 38 years. We have five sons, lovely sons, and ten grandchildren.

"I was always looking for that girl. I had to wait until my first granddaughter. Finally, I get to buy pink!

"Mitt says his greatest success is being able to say 'I've been a good father, and a good husband.'

"Sometimes, I'd be home with those five boys, and it was rough. They were, they were pretty crazy boys. And they were wild.

"He'd call home and remind me that what I was doing was much more important than what he was doing.

"Mitt says there's no work more important than what goes on within the four walls of the American home. And that's the way it was in our home.

"I'm Ann Romney, and if you see us on the campaign trail, please come up and say hello. Or, you can get on the website at MittRomney.com."

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message."

ANNOUNCER: "Paid for by Romney for President. MittRomney.com."

To listen to "Ann On Family," please see: (LINK)