Romney: Dynamics Of The Race Have Changed

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Mitt Romney

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

DERRY, N.H. -- As he greeted voters at his final polling precinct stop this morning, Mitt Romney made the case that even if he loses in New Hampshire today, he would still be a viable Republican candidate.

"The dynamics of this race I expect to change month to month," Romney said. "A couple of months ago, the whole idea was gosh, Mitt, I gotta be able to win Iowa and New Hampshire to be able to stop Rudy Giuliani. Now we're not talking about Rudy Giuliani or stopping Rudy Giuliani. It's an entirely different race."

Asked about how the campaign is shaping up for the January 15th primary in Michigan, Romney turned to his roots in the state.

"We're already running ads in Michigan," he said. "We've got a good ground team in Michigan. I was born there. I know the car industry — it's been something I care very deeply about … Michigan is very personal for me, and so I think I'll be able to do well there."

Romney was also asked whether he felt that Mike Huckabee has an edge in South Carolina, which votes along with Nevada on January 19th, due to the former Arkansas governor's evangelical base.

"You know, I think it gives him a good start in South Carolina," Romney said. "I can't tell you how it'll play out there. I believe the people of South Carolina will decide—as most Americans do—based on who they think has the experience and the vision and values to lead the country and to beat whoever the Democratic nominee will be."

Romney heads to Manchester this afternoon where he'll watch the New Hampshire results come in with his wife and sons by his side.

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by cbsespo January 9, 2008 3:43 PM EST: object width="425" height="355" param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xrfOdLqMogs&rel=1" /param param name="wmode" value="transparent" /param embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xrfOdLqMogs&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355" /embed /object; Reply to this comment


by cbsespo January 9, 2008 3:39 PM EST: http://www.antiwar.com/prather/?articleid=11104
Dad was an olympic class flip flopper too. The similarity when giving stupid answers to serious questions is scary. This answer cost his dad a run. His answers ( "I saw my dad walking with Martin Luther King"will ultimatley cost him this race. The apple didn`t fall from the tree.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xrfOdLqMogs&rel=1; Reply to this comment


by marinepatriot January 9, 2008 6:39 AM EST: Congratulations John Mccain.

I support Mike Huckabee 100%

You did good by defeating Mitt Romney, he is a bad man. Thats 2 losses for Mitt. 0 wins for Mitt.

Mitt is a flip flopper. One former female running-mate said "Mitt is not pro-life or pro-choice, he is multiple choice!" and Its true.

Well the polls were right both times. 1st prediction was Huckabee with a strong win in Iowa. Mike did win 34% to Mitt 24% to Mccain 13%

New Hampshire predicted the same by polling, Mccain to win, Romney 2nd and Huckabee 3rd. and that''''s what happened.

Now it shows a close race in Michigan with Huckabee predicted to get number one once again. Nation wide poll stats have Huckabee on top with a huge lead over all candidates.

Signs everywhere that Rudy is out of race completely, largely in part of the NY firefighters making the video calling him a fraud and blaming him for the 121 lost firemen in 9/11. Sad

If you listen to Mike, you know he is the candidate we want.

I endorse Mike Huckabee

Dan Campbell
Sgt., USMC; Reply to this comment


by trinitron01 January 9, 2008 2:32 AM EST: RON PAUL GOT MORE DONATIONS/MONEY FROM THE MILITARY PERSONNEL, NOT HUCKEBEE. 2ND WAS MC CAIN. LOOK IT UP ONLINE, THATS A LIE ABOU HUCKE GETTING MOST MILITARY PERSONNEL MONEY- WHAT A JOKE!; Reply to this comment


by bdribus January 8, 2008 6:45 PM EST: carolm62-

The only reason why Moneybags has gotten any votes at all is because he has tried to buy the election by running dishonest ads for months. He bought half the GOP officials in Iowa and still lost, even though they were running the caucuses wearing Romney pins and with his signs all over the wall.

As for Wyoming, I was born there, but if you think a caucus where poor Duncan Hunter gets 25% is representative, think again.

Vote for a man, not a wallet!; Reply to this comment


by dvdwinters January 8, 2008 6:28 PM EST: I find it amazing that all the pundits are saying that if Romney doesn''t win -- it''s over. So how does the guy with the most votes and delegates after three states come out the loser? Everyone else somehow stays in the game, but for Romney he might as well pack his bags and go home? It''s ridiculous. Clinton lost the first five races in 1992 and went on to win the nomination. The pundits would do well to remember that not-so-distant history.; Reply to this comment


by marinepatriot January 8, 2008 5:39 PM EST: The first results are in:

"On the Republican side, McCain received six votes, Mike Huckabee five, Ron Paul four and Mitt Romney one."

So far Mccain and Huckabee head to head!!! Romney in free-fall !!!

Get out here and vote New Hampshire! Your voice is important. You have until 8 pm in most areas, sooner in some areas, so go go go vote!!!!!!

Vote Mike Huckabee!

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 gigglefish January 8, 2008 5:07 PM EST: Mitt Romney has run one of the most aggressive, negative and nasty campaigns in recent memory. He has also flip flopped, misrepresented facts, history and endorsements from the NRA. I''m amazed that people have the nerve to come here and complain because the there are actually Americans that don''t like or trust Mitt Romney and not as easily fooled by him as apparently so many others are. It''s called a DEMOCRACY for a reason and there are a alot of Americans like myself who aren''t buying that America should be run like a corporation by former CEOs who have enough money to run enough ads to try to convince us otherwise!; Reply to this comment


by jordanbonnie January 8, 2008 4:54 PM EST: I want people to realize all of the negative ads that have been put out against Romney by not only McCain but Huckabee as well, and what Romney%u2019s response has been. Huckabee has an average of using the word %u201Cdishonest%u201D in interviews against Romney 2 to 3 times per interview. While McCain calls Romney a %u201CPhony%u201D! After these personal attacks occur what has been Romney%u2019s response each time? ( Something time and time again such as the following ) %u201CI feel sorry that they are resorting to personal attacks, they are both good men, but we just differ in political opinions.%u201D Who then, I ask, is the better man of the three? Who is being more %u201CChristian%u201D I wonder, to turn the other cheek rather than to retaliate with personal attacks? I believe Mitt Romney is a great man, and would make a great President, and that he shows it by staying true to his beliefs, no matter how popular or unpopular the media makes it out to be, and being enough of a man to campaign fairly and honestly. Romney should win this campaign, and even if he doesn%u2019t, it will be because he is the better man.; Reply to this comment


by conspiracygirl January 8, 2008 4:27 PM EST: BDRIBUS,

If people don''t like Romney, then why has he got a majority of the delegate votes?

I''d like the primary season to get around to my state, and not have Iowa and NH determine my vote, if you don''t mind? It looks like you forgot about Wyoming. Or don''t the voters there matter, the way Huckabee and McCain seemed to think?; Reply to this comment