In some ways, it didn't matter much what Mitt Romney said today.

As long as he didn't goof up, today's major speech on religion was about regaining the ink as much as it was about clearing up questions about his faith.

For the record, he mentioned his own Mormon faith by name only once and spent only a few moments talking about the tenets of his faith.

By contrast, John F. Kennedy mentioned his Catholic faith at least 20 times in his famous 1960 campaign speech.

But for a man who has seen his lead in Iowa slip away, who has not made a move in the national polls and who has seen Mike Huckabee grab a giant slice of press attention, the speech gives Romney a chance to reset the public discussion and grab the headlines as would befit a front-runner.

His campaign treated it that way, sending out repeated advisories and teasers to reporters and even issuing photos of Romney preparing for his speech in the same way the White House will issue photos of the president preparing for a major address.

It also gives him a chance to play to one of his major strengths: He looks the part of a president, and today he showed he can occupy a podium and deliver a bully pulpit-style speech.

— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times