According to the Associated Press, Governor Romney was asked in New Hampshire "whether he would be capable of improving race relations as president." I think it's important that he included this in his answer:

Romney said one of his biggest concerns about race relations involves education.

"I'm really concerned that schools in inner cities are failing our inner city kids — largely minorities — and those kids won't have the kinds of skills to be able to be successful and competitive in the new market economy," he said. "The failure of inner city schools, in my view, is the great civil rights issue of our time."

Romney said he would work hard to improve schools but did not elaborate. When a woman asked him about how he would support arts and music programs that often are the first to be cut from tight school budgets, he said he was wary of too much federal involvement in education.

Recalling fondly his own high school glee club days, Romney said arts and music education spurs creativity that carries over into adulthood. But he said the federal government shouldn't mandate such programs.

He is also a big supporter of charter schools. And it's worth noting that the 2008 candidates disagree on the value of forcing taxpayers to fund increased arts and music education.