2012 Watch: Romney to speak on missile defense, Pentagon budget

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) will speak in D.C. on the Pentagon budget and a missile defense program next Monday, the latest in a long list of issues that Romney has weighed in on recently.

From ABC’s “The Note”:

Coming Monday: Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., speaks to the Heritage Foundation on missile defense and proposed Pentagon cuts. From the release going out Thursday: “In this timely policy speech, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney warns against proposed defense cuts that will increase our vulnerability, imperil our allies and diminish the cause of freedom. In making the case for a stronger military, Romney will review current threats to American leadership and the challenges ahead.”

We’ve been keeping a close eye on Romney because he can pick and choose when he wants to step into the national dialogue. And Romney has spoken up on several issues recently. Last month, he chimed in on North Korea and criticized President Obama on foreign policy. More recently, he slammed Obama for his national security speech and called Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court “troubling.” He has also become involved in the Republican National Council for a New America and he will speak in opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act this week as well.

It seems to me that Romney is seeking beef up his credentials on several issues other than the economy, which was viewed as his strongest issue in the presidential race last year. He is also appealing to the conservative base of the party (check out this fundraising email and note he is speaking on Monday at the Heritage Foundation). That base, of course, is very important in winning the GOP presidential nomination.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com