Laying out an optimistic vision of a “New American Dream” on Tuesday in a speech laden with 50 references to “America,” Mitt Romney became the latest aspirant to officially declare his entry in the 2008 presidential race.

Although the Republican is the former governor of Massachusetts, and has ties to Utah, he picked Dearborn, Mich., in the powerful heartland, to launch his bid.

Speaking at the Henry Ford Museum in front of a shiny Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, a classic Nash Rambler and an old DC-3 airliner, Romney exploited his Midwestern roots and the legacy of his father, George, a popular governor of Michigan who unsuccessfully sought the presidency in 1968.

“You know my father as a business leader, a governor, and as an advocate of volunteerism. But he came from humble roots. He laboured with lath and plaster. He never graduated from college. But like many other Americans, he made his dreams come true,” Romney said.

According to the Financial Times, Romney referred to his faith in God and the “sanctity of human life” but made no mention of his biggest political challenge: his Mormon religion.

Americans remain sceptical about the Latter-Day Saints.

A USA Today/Gallup poll on Tuesday found 72 percent of Americans would vote for a Mormon, as opposed to 94 percent for a black candidate and 88 percent for a female.

That’s all Americans. Evangelical Christians, a powerful influence in Republican primaries, have even more doubts about the religion.

Romney is polling a distant third behind Sen. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani in Republican polls (though the World Sports Exchange currently has him as the second strongest bet to win the nomination after McCain, in case you were wondering).

Regardless of polling, on the campaign trail Mitt Romney conveys a sort of presidential aura with a poise that exudes a calm, formal authority.

He lacks the immediate celebrity of Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor, and his charisma is low key. Yet at 59 and looking 39, Romney may benefit from physical comparisons with McCain, who would be 72 in January 2009.

He’s also taller.

Romney is also more advanced than these rivals in exploiting the internet. He is the first Republican to launch an official Facebook profile, a social networking website popular among students.

It notes his interests as “horseback riding with his wife, Anne” and “winning the war against the jihadists.”

The section on his career ends on the modest note: “Currently, I’m exploring a run for the presidency.”

In an indirect swipe at John McCain, a 20-year veteran of the Senate, Romney on Tuesday portrayed himself as a Washington outsider with a strong record as a business executive. In Boston, his name is practically synonymous with Bain Capital.

“I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician. There have been too many deals, too many favours, too many entanglements.”

Even so, Romney has been assiduous in courting official Washington, lining up big-time leaders for endorsements, such as Dennis Hastert, former House speaker. Vin Weber, a respected strategist and former congressman for Minnesota who in 2000 backed McCain, has become his policy director.

Romney’s prospects could benefit from fallout from McCain’s support for the Iraq war. As a governor, Romney was never called to vote on the war and he has supported it only in general terms.

His father’s presidential chances were undermined by remarks he made during another unpopular war, about having been “brainwashed” by generals and diplomats during a visit to Vietnam.

Romney said of the incident to the Financial Times:

“He never considered it a gaffe. The fact the president had lied to the American people about Vietnam is something Americans needed to hear and he proved being right too early is not good for politics.”

Romney is clearly trying to position himself as the true conservative in the field, a contrast from his years in the Massachusetts governor’s office. He’s changed his stance on some key issues.

The question is whether that will matter to many voters in the Republican primary. His reputation as a fiscal conservative was affirmed in his term as the Bay State’s chief executive. He offers a clear alternative to the frontrunners in the GOP field. He’s been preparing for this run (at the expense of running Massachusetts) for some time.

While many of his positions on social issues are unclear, or leave much to be desired, don’t think Romney can’t build momentum and position himself to stay in this race for the long haul with an appeal to the GOP base.

Whether he’s in touch with mainstream Americans, and how he’d fare in a general election is harder to say, but to use a cliche Mitt would approve of based on his listed hobby above, that’s putting the cart before the horse.