Romney "Convinced" Of N.H. Victory

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Mitt Romney

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- He says he doesn't like to make predictions, but Mitt Romney just made another one.

"I'm convinced we're gonna win tomorrow," Romney told a crowd of hundreds of cheering volunteers and supporters at his state headquarters.

The former Massachusetts governor, who has lagged behind John McCain in recent polls, seemed buoyed by the large and enthusiastic crowds that greeted him at his headquarters and at a town hall event in Bedford tonight.

"Boy, if I had enough voice left, I think I'd let out with a Howard Dean scream!" he joked in Manchester.

There has been a noticeable spring in Romney's step all day after his performance in last night's televised debate, which his campaign staffers are convinced he won decisively. There was a light moment when Romney's state chairman Bruce Keogh introduced the governor in Manchester tonight.

"Let's roll back the clock about 24 hours now," Keogh said. "And I don't know what you were doing, but I know what I was doing. And I know what Mitt was doing."

Romney then leaned into the microphone and said, "Waiting for Huckabee to answer his question," a reference to Mike Huckabee's refusal to answer Romney's challenge about whether the former Arkansas governor raised taxes in his state by half a billion dollars. The remark set off laughter across the room.

At the Bedford town hall, a crowd of almost 700 people listened to Romney hammer home his argument for why he'd be the best Republican to go up against Barack Obama in the general election. Romney forecasted what he might say to Obama at a debate:

"Barack, name something you've changed. Name a business you've changed. Name an Olympics or a volunteer effort you've changed. Name something in Washington you've changed. Name something you've changed. You think we are going to change, but you've never done it. I've done it. That's how I've spent my life."

Well known for his seemingly boundless energy, Romney said that the trait runs in his family, citing a book written by an ancestor.

"It says there's an old family saying that if a Romney drowns in a river, look upstream for the body," Romney said.

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by marinepatriot January 8, 2008 4:00 PM EST: Mike Huckabee has our vote!

Mike Huckabee was named as one of Americas top 5 governors in Time magazine!

Mike Huckabee consistently reduced taxes and left Arkansas with a billion dollar surplus!

Mike Huckabee was the most successful governor in Arkansas for over 10 years!

Mike Huckabee beleives in some things, and he stands for some things! And those things are what we common Americans believe in!

Mike is an authentic conservative, but more importantly, an authentic human being!

Mike Huckabee is from the people, for the people!

Mike Huckabee spent 1 doallar to Mitt Romney''''s 20 but still took more than 10,000 votes for a first place fisnish in Iowa!

Mike Huckabee has the largest support of military members!

Mike Huckabee wants to honor America and finish the job in the war on terror!

Mike Huckabee is a great guy, and the best choice for president I have ever seen!

We like Mike!

Dan Campbell
Sgt., USMC; Reply to this comment


by scottfromaz January 8, 2008 2:53 PM EST: Wouldn''t take his 350,000 senate salary for 3 Million dollar home in North Phoenix.

I respect his miltary service, but he has never worked in the private sector a day in his whole life buddy.

Send McCain back to DC. That Career politan will fix the problems.

Are you kidding me, McCain is like your Mother or Grandma is when you have to take away her license. Mom you can''t possible drive anymore with all the accidents you have been in.

Except as voters, we are going to have to take away his the license, because he is like Strom Thurman or Sen Byrd... They will not retire, they''ll die on the senate floor, passing crappy bills.

GET MCCAIN HOME TO WORK ON HIS GOLF HOBBY.

Signed most Arizona Republicans; Reply to this comment


by scottfromaz January 8, 2008 2:47 PM EST: McCain have integrity ?... LOL .

You must not be from the State of Arizona my friend and you must be a paid blogger for McCain, McCain would be very lucky if he won in Arizona today.

McCain hasn''t accomplished a *** thing and he should be preaching about integrity... Keating 5 is just the tip of the iceberg.

McCain is an effective jackass, if he was such a patriot, he would take a salary.

Do Not vote for McCain; Reply to this comment


by gumbystretch January 8, 2008 12:59 PM EST: Romney should really be playing down expectations, and this could be a mistake on his part. All of the polls show him lagging behind McCain (and most of those polls don''t include Independents, who McCain is likely to get a boon from). Prediction: this one isn''t going to be close. Apparently voters in NH would rather nominate a man of integrity and sincerity like McCain, rather than a phony like Mitt Romney.; Reply to this comment


by cbsespo January 8, 2008 4:11 AM EST: Don`t tell me ! Nah ! no kidding ? he had a vision and he "saw it " ??; Reply to this comment


by cbsespo January 8, 2008 4:10 AM EST: What , did he have a vision where he "saw" it ?; Reply to this comment


by gamama1 January 8, 2008 3:46 AM EST: With all due respect, I find Mitt Romney''s arrogance to be a huge factor in his inability to connect with the majority of voters.

The man is so calculating that he changes his values with the direction of the wind. That''s nothing but cold.

If nominated, the Dems will have a party all the way back to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. It''d be like throwing beads to the Mardi Gras crowds.

Granted, he''s proven himself as a successful corporate executive. But he''s cut from the same "global cloth" we''ve had hanging in the White House for decades.

America needs a man with a Heart for everyday, hard-working Americans. Someone who understands the regular guy and the problems that we face in our jobs, our families, even our bank accounts. Someone who''s so sure of who he is that he doesn''t have to check the mirror each morning.

That man is Mike Huckabee. Yes, he WAS a preacher-man! GET OVER IT! Last time I checked, a little goodness and neighborly-kindness weren''t such a bad thing.

Huckabee''s got a grassroots organization that''s on fire for his message. And America is listening.

He''s on TOP of the national polls. He''s highly electable and exactly what this nation needs for stability, security and sovereignty. www.mikehuckabee.com; Reply to this comment


by debrar3 January 8, 2008 1:53 AM EST: I LOVE this guy. What a great American President he would make. The more people I talk to, the more are looking at him with new eyes. He is winning, and the media is trying to hide the fact.

Mitt Romney for President 2008!; Reply to this comment


by bdribus January 8, 2008 1:31 AM EST: This was probably the point at which Romney''s campaign manager had just informed him that 51% of the state''s voters were now on his payroll.

YOU CAN''T BUY ELECTIONS!; Reply to this comment


by obama1289 January 8, 2008 1:23 AM EST: Obama supporters and everyone, here''s is a video that will send CHILLS down your spine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPev5sEdTjg; Reply to this comment