The Culture Clash Behind Mitt Romney's London Olympics Doubts

London might not have what it takes to host a successful Olympics, suggested Mitt Romney yesterday. The Republican presidential candidate, currently visiting Britain, questioned both London’s Olympic readiness and its levels of enthusiasm in an interview with NBC news yesterday. In remarks reported by The Telegraph newspaper this morning, Romney commented that "It's hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting: the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

As former chief executive of Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Games, Romney certainly knows about hosting the Olympics, but the remarks will do little to boost what is being seen as a slightly off-kilter charm offensive. Romney advisers have already done him few favors with comments (also reported in The Telegraph) on Romney and Britain’s shared “Anglo-Saxon heritage”, which were not only interpreted as a dig at Obama, but also sent out an exclusionary message to the millions of Britons who (like myself) aren’t Anglo-Saxons at all.