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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney delivers remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Marriott Wardman Park February 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Thousands of conservative activists are attending the annual gathering in the nation's capital. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney delivers remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Marriott Wardman Park February 10 (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

On February 13, I described how Mitt Romney's "Severely Conservative" line would be used by his opponents:

Four weeks from now, no one will remember the Maine caucuses. I'm guessing though that people will remember a phrase from Romney's speech to CPAC on Friday, in which he described himself as a "severely conservative" governor of Massachusetts.

That phrase provides the Obama campaign with the second half of a potentially powerful negative ad. The first half is contained in this video clip from Romney's 2002 campaign for governor.

In the 2002 clip, Romney tells a reporter:

"I think people recognize that I'm not a partisan Republican, that I'm someone who is moderate, and my views are progressive."

Now it is in a new ad.