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New York Times columnist makes the case for Romney
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On Tuesday, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni wrote that President-elect Donald Trump can ease some of Americas worries about his temperament by selecting Romney. - photo by Herb Scribner
Yet another columnist has made the case for Mitt Romney to become secretary of state.

On Tuesday, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni wrote that President-elect Donald Trump can ease some of Americas worries about his temperament by selecting the former Massachusetts governor as his secretary of state.

If Trump taps Romney, hell be sending a powerful message to an anxious world that hes not hostage to the darkest parts of his character. He needs to project that as much as we need to see it, Bruni wrote.

Bruni also said Romneys resume makes him qualified for the job.

However, there may be some holes in Romneys charge to earn the spot. Hes going up against Rudy Giuliani, whos been loyal to Trump since the beginning of Trump's campaign.

Other candidates, such as retired Gen. David Petraeus and Sen. Bob Corker, also have Washington experience that make them eligible for the position.

But Bruni argues that Romney can get the job done in ways the other candidates cant.

"With Romney, he would be taking a more inclusive, conciliatory approach that befits his lack of any mandate, tries to move the country past such a divisive campaign and reassures jittery allies," he wrote. "It would be an open-minded, big-hearted, self-aware move that challenges Americans to see him in a more nuanced light. It would help him govern, by signaling that hes bigger than his grievances."

Read more about Bruni's argument for Romney over at The New York Times.

Bruni is far from the first columnist from a major publication to advocate for Romney. The Washington Posts Kathleen Parker said Romney would be a smart choice for Trump since the two men are so different in their politics.

If ever there were a rarer pair think Doberman and Labradoodle I cant think of one, she wrote. Then again, how better to present a bad-cop/good-cop dynamic to a dangerous and fragile world? If Trump is perceived as unstable and potentially volatile, Romney is the face of calm, a steady hand to help guide the next presidents foreign policies.

Parker said Romney and Trump have different views about some foreign nations. For instance, Romney wants to be tough on Russia, whereas Trumps a little more calm about the Eastern European nation.

Meanwhile, Romney is less hard on China, but Trump has sought to change the way the United States deals with the Asian country.

And, like Bruni, Parker said Romney has experience Trumps administration needs.

Further to Romneys qualifications, hes an experienced dealmaker, a skill Trump obviously admires, according to Parker. Super articulate and fluent in policy (as well as French, for what its worth), Romney is a cool thinker and, not insignificantly, a non-imbiber, also like Trump. Not least, he is by all accounts a thoroughly decent human being. A wise man would look no further.