Did you see "Mitt's speech?" That was the question last Thursday and Friday. Everyone in my circle of influence--Democrat's included--was very impressed by Romney's message. I have to admit that I had grown tired of the discussion over the past months about whether he would give the speech, what he would say, and when he would give it.

I was also turned off by all of the media hype in the days and hours leading up to the big event. Despite my frustration, I believe that Mitt hit a grand slam. Even with the hype, Mitt managed to exceed my expectations.

I loved the fact that he reached back to the founding fathers to remind Americans that our country was founded on principles of religious tolerance. My favorite part was when he recalled the early days of the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774.

"With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiment,' what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics. Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot. And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God, they founded this great nation."

Romney certainly convinced his audience that he was both a man of piety and a patriot. The problem is that Romney does not need to convince Mormons from Utah that he is "the guy". Instead, he has to convince voters in Iowa--and I am not sure that they were listening. Mitt's whole campaign strategy rests on winning the Iowa caucus next month and becoming the front runner to sweep through the rest of the country. If he fails in Iowa, then the first domino will never fall.

Iowans neither know nor understand Mormons. My friend's daughter moved to Iowa last month.

When her landlord discovered she was a Mormon, he asked, "So how do you like having your prophet in prison?"

The fact is that Romney is playing to an audience that doesn't understand the difference between Gordon B. Hinckley and Warren Jeffs.

Mitt's other problem, all of a sudden, is Mike Huckabee. A year ago, the pundits announced that the race was down to six candidates, three on each side. The only Republicans who had a chance were supposed to be McCain, Romney and Giuliani. The only Democrats who mattered were Clinton, Obama and Edwards. Unfortunately for Mitt, Huckabee never got the memo. He is exceeding everyone's expectations, and has taken away much of Mitt's momentum. The big story last week was not Romney's speech, it was Huckabee's poll numbers.