N.H. May Be "Win Or Bust" For Romney

Reeling From Iowa Loss, GOP Candidate Goes After Rival McCain In Hopes Of Salvaging Campaign

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter David Miller.

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Mitt Romney, having suffered a crushing defeat in Iowa - a state in which he led the polls for months and invested millions of his own dollars - is now looking to rebound in New Hampshire, which holds its primaries on Jan. 8. Yet for all the differences between the two states, Romney is facing a situation in New Hampshire not unlike what he saw in Iowa, at a time when a victory there may be his only hope for salvaging his campaign.

Just as in Iowa, Romney, after dominating surveys for months, is now fighting off a stiff challenge in New Hampshire from a rival many pundits had previously written off. But instead of Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee, who won Thursday's caucuses with 34 percent of the vote to Romney's 25 percent, the challenger is John Mcain, whose maverick image made him a favorite of Granite State Republicans eight years ago.

Recent polls show the two men tied, with some even giving McCain a slight edge.

Romney is wasting no time in going after McCain. A new television ad set to air in the state features several New Hampshire residents - all Romney volunteers, the Associated Press reports - making critical statements about McCain's record after initially praising his military service.

"John McCain has been one of those Republicans that have been wrong on tax cuts," says one face in the ad.

"Opposing tax cuts that would have helped our family, supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants, taking jobs away from Americans," says another.

Romney started taking aim at McCain even before the Iowa campaign was finished. On the eve of the caucuses, he was highly critical of McCain's votes against President Bush's tax cuts, which the Arizona senator now supports making permanent.

“I think he was just wrong to vote against the Bush tax cuts twice,” Romney said Wednesday. “He continues to defend that vote. He continues to believe it was the right thing to vote ‘no’ on the Bush tax cuts, despite the fact that the Bush tax cuts helped working families, helped people meet their obligations.”

The ad and Romney's initial statements suggest that the talk of values and morals that formed the core of his Iowa campaign are set to be jettisoned in favor of tax cuts, immigration and other issues with an economic bent. Such issues are normally well-received in New Hampshire, where Republicans are often defined by their fiscal conservatism and support of limited government.

But Romney's moves also suggest he's sticking to the same strategy he used against Huckabee in Iowa - one based on "contrast" ads and critical remarks - even though it appears to have done him little good in the Hawkeye State, a fact McCain seized on in his post-caucus remarks, the Associated Press reported.

"One, you can't buy an election in Iowa," said McCain, who was campaigning in Manchester, N.H., Thursday night. "And two, negative campaigns don't work. They don't work there and they don't work here in New Hampshire."

Beyond the challenge presented by McCain, Romney cannot afford to disregard Huckabee, either. Iowa winners sometimes enjoy a brief "bounce" in New Hampshire, and because that contest is only five days after Iowa, Huckabee might be able to ride his victory there to a stronger-than-expected showing in the primary.

But New Hampshire offers Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, some reasons to be optimistic. The state has been kind to New England politicians in the past and Romney's Mormon faith is unlikely to be an issue in a state where a relatively low percentage of Republicans are regular churchgoers, and few are of the evangelical variety that propelled Huckabee to victory in Iowa.

However, the improved environment will come with heightened expectations. If Romney cannot score a win in one of the first two states in the nominating process despite having the largest war chest and most elaborate organization of any of the Republican candidates, his chances of winning the nomination will be put into serious doubt. This will prove especially true in South Carolina, where evangelical Christians make up a large part of the GOP base, looming on Jan. 19.

[dlounsbury1]

Don''t write Romney''s obituary yet. A first or second place finish in NH and a first place in Michigan and it is still up for grabs. The mainstream media''s groupthink lovefest propelled Huckabee. The guy is a total joke--Ross Perot meets Jimmy Carter. With his convict son and his IQ challenged wife, the Dems (and the media) are cheering this guy on. Those who are so suspicious of the media--evangelicals were all to willing to see the established media offer their guy up as the man of the hour. Oh how they will regret trusting in the Huck when Huckabee, if he goes forward, is absolutely scourged by the media in the general. Alternatively, they might push Guiliani (marriage/affair/divorce/marriage/affair/divorce/marriage /affair divorce or McCain whom they also despise for leaving his wife who waited for him while a prisoner of war for rich hottie wife who bought him a senate seat. I hope that Iowan evengelicals do not keep the most qualified presidential candidate of my lifetime off the ticket.

[gumbystretch]

A loss for Mitt Romney is a victory for America. Thank you Iowa! And with McCain finishing 3rd tonight, he''ll win NH and most likely get a Thompson endorsement. This is a win tonight for men of integrity like John McCain and Mike Huckabee, and deals a terrible blow to the biggest phony to run for president in my lifetime.

[patrick327]

hmm, mccaine has yet to place 3rd.

[lone-star5]

Totally agree with DLounsbury1. Mitt Romney truly is the most qualified presidential candidate. We are not voting for Mr. Congeniality, or Pastor-in-Chief. We are voting for President of the United States of America.

[samthetvcat]

I don''t see this ''defeat'' as THAT big a deal for Mitt.

The Democrats kind of had an in-fight of change versus experience, whereas the Republicans seem to be divided over religion versus fiscal conservatism versus the war versus domestic terrorism. And Iowa Republicans seem to be very different from New Hampshire Republicans.

So like the Evangelicals picked Huckabee in Iowa, and went for the fiscal conservative second; In New Hampshire the Iraq War hawks''ll probably vote for McCain, and will likely vote for Mitt second again.

So isn''t that maybe a good thing to be everybody''s second choice amongst a divided party rather than somebody''s first and somebody else''s third?

I think the big winner tonight is Rudy, who can still come into the picture in Florida because nothing may have been resolved internally by then . . .

[jetranger7]

JEFFERY SKILLING of ENRON Will break out of Prision, and go on a Rampage and assinate someone, thats my prediction for 2008 !!!!!! But then again, I''ve had a few too many Crown & Cokes tonight !!!!!! I jus luv dat chit !!!!!! Buurrpppp !!!!!!

[samthetvcat]

"I''ve had a few too many Crown & Cokes tonight !!!!!! I jus luv dat chit !!!!!! Buurrpppp !!!!!! "
Posted by JetRanger7

ROTFL too funny :D

[roger_inkart]

I think the big winner tonight is Rudy
Posted by SamTheTVCat at 12:11 AM : Jan 04, 2008

With 4%? Yup, that''s a reason to break out the champagne! He''s lucky Hunter kept him out of last place.

[samthetvcat]

roger_inkart - ugh, I''m talking big picture (as in winning Iowa does not equal a win in the whole country; nor does a defeat equal a defeat of one''s hopes for obtaining the nomination) :P

But just looking at the ''momentum'' trends over the long-haul of the entire primaries for the past year, aren''t Huckabee and Romney the only two who are on the uptick? So maybe it''s not true that the more people get to know Romney the more they dislike him (?)

I don''t know . . . don''t really watch the Repubs too much.

[roger_inkart]

Oh, I know - I was being snarky.

I''m a little surprised at Rudy''s poor showing, but also enjoying it very much. He''s a thug and his sense of entitlement sickens me.

[tyahlstrom]

Iowa wasted their vote on Huckabee. I like him as a person, but he is not the strongest candidate for president, and doesn%u2019t have enough support anywhere else to get him to the presidency. Iowa voted primarily on who shared their same values, if they wanted someone with values who actually has a chance at the presidency, they should have gone with Romney. If they would''ve done that it would have really been a boon to Romney and he would''ve surely won in New Hampshire which would really get the ball rolling. Romney is the only contender with enough support to beat Giuliani. Now, without Iowa, it looks much harder for Romney, looks like America will get a president with lower standards because of Iowa.

[person_man]

Mitt Romney is by far the best, most qualified candidate in the Republican field. He is the leader the country needs. McCain is unpredidictable, and lets just be honest, too old. Neither Guiliani nor Huckabee is conservative. Huckabee cannot beat a Democratic candidate. Please, New Hampshire Republicans, make the right choice for our nation. Vote for Romney.

[conspiracygirl]

Out where I live Christian hate radio was in full gear against Romney today, saying how God''s wrath would come done on America if a Mormon were elected. When I got home I hunted for the BYU channel to see what the Mormons were saying. Not a word of hostility towards anyone was spoken. Not one.

[angelboy29-2009]

Iowa has just voted their new pastor-in-chief. It was a sabotage win. Not so impressive but anyway, congratulations to the winners.

But, it will be a different story outside Iowa. Mitt Romney will win the nomination. Mark my word.

[Con Mohrat]

This guy outspent Huckabee 15 to 1 and lost ??

And Huckabee has a scandal in his closet. He fired a man in his Administration for looking into Huckabee''s son''s hanging of a dog when the son was 17.

Do we have someone here who thinks his family is above the law and winning a presidential contest ?

[angelboy29-2009]

Evangelicals who voted for Huckabee are bigoted anti-mormons. They are so narrow-minded that they cannot see the whole picture of what is happening around them. They are blinded by wrong principles and it shows exactly of who they are. The win of Huckabee was a sabotage by these blinded bigots to block a Mormon from serving as a President.

To tell you the truth, America will be better off with a Mormon President than a bigoted pastor serving as the President.

[angelboy29-2009]

Praise the Lord, Alelluhia! Let''s celebrate for our new Pastor-in-Chief!

[angelboy29-2009]

You know, people around the world will see this win as a big joke. The biggest joke of the century! Authored by Bigoted Anti-Mormon Evangelical Christians.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Opposing tax cuts that would have helped our family,...

(That''s right, the Romney family, but precious few other families -b.)

"...supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants, taking jobs away from Americans," says another.

(The slave wage, manual labor jobs that haven''t yet, or can''t be outsourced -b.)

[jsilver2th]

Poor Mitt & Hillary all the slick perfect planning goes awry...

It humanized Bill & Hillary just a bit but Mitt looked PO like somebody stole his gym set.

[hwy71so]

That''s GOVERNOR Huckabee CBS. Quit dwelling on the religion thing. He''s not "running for president of a seminary".

[stewartmilleronline.com]

The real winner on Main Street last night was illegal aliens working in Arkansas meat plants using other people''s social sec cards. This is the record of the last 10 years for Huck (goosh he is just like me..). Don''t ask Huck any questions or question his record, just vote for him because Chuck is his side kick. What it has done is prolong the money having to be spent by Republicans to get a sane conservative elected. Since I said conservative that only leaves Romney, Thompson or Right Wing Ron. It will also put a democrat (McCain) over the top in the "Republican" New Hampshire primary. So we might have to wait for Michigan for Romney since that state is tired of losing high paying factory jobs to Japan and China since George Romney left Jeep.

[stewartmilleronline.com]

It is however, telling about how successful dumbing down of America really works. Iowa showed it with the liberal turnout. Obama and Huckabee would make the "perfect" liberal socialist "storm". Throw in Hugo Chavez from Venezuela who is also a populist and the world is so much better off. The ONLY thing Huckabee is conservative on is Abortion. Imagine Huckabee as the bible thumping president with Obama as the muslim Vice president. Golly gee. That would be something wouldn''t it? Maybe they could all wear red shirts and bring out the crowds. Just like Hugo.

[perception5]

Slick Huck had a "natural" base in Iowa and they turned out.

Mitt comes in second and our corrupt wolfpack press is now saying that he''s dead.

McCain comes in fourth in Iowa and our corrupt wolfpack press is now saying that McCain will get a boost for coming in fourth.

Does this make sense to anyone? or is our press using propaganda against the American people?

[christfllwr]

Huckabee is able to connect with people. Romney relies on his consultants and money machine. It is not about Mormon or Christianity. On top of that, Romney has run for Senate as a "moderate" in the past with some social liberal stands that he has a hard time convincing people how he has changed heart. The first sign was at the Value Summit and the Huckaboom just cannot be stopped.

People who actually tune in to watch Huckabee speeches will find that he is not the stereo type, rigid kind of bigot. He is probably the best candidate who shows biblical principle of loving one another (no neg campaign), loving your neighbors, help the widows, the sick, and the weak.

His humble background and up-bringing helps him to see regular people''s life struggles that rich CEOs and the their heirs cannot see. Do I want to vote for a guy who lays off people with no tears or do I vote for a guy who sees me as a person and cares about me? Your vote is your own pick. Mine is Huckabee.

[gkc99]

"Quit dwelling on the religion thing. He''''s not "running for president of a seminary"--Posted by Hwy71So


In that case, it sure is curious how Huckleberry keeps on running out Jesus like he has an endorsement from the guy!

[gkc99]

"He is probably the best candidate who shows biblical principle of loving one another (no neg campaign), loving your neighbors, help the widows, the sick, and the weak."--Posted by ChristFllwr

Especially the part about visiting people in prison--except he didn''t have time to actually visit the murdering rapist, so he just had him released to kill again.

[scottfromaz]

A Republican stronghold will now not vote Republican because of Huckabee, he insults Rush Limbaugh and every east coast Republican.

Pisses off half the Republican base in the west who are LDS and somehow he''''s going win the general election.

Let me you guys right tell right now, I will hire a company to distribute 100,000 flyers in 6 different states and the flyers will be about how he raised taxes in Arkansas, and let 12 convicted murders walk because they found Jesus, one later killed someone in Missouri, because Huckabee.

6 ethic violations by Huckabee that he was found guilty of. Guilty.

His son hung a dog from a tree and beat it to death. And Huck try to cover it up.

Wanted Quranteed AIDS patients in 1992 and stills stand by that.

And you annoint this guy because you hate Romney''''s religon so much you support this guy.


I will do the flyers in each of the following states Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming and Idaho

You want open borders and a bad economy vote Huckabee/McCain...

You want actions and things to get done vote Romney/Thompson 2008

[samthetvcat]

How much of a boost did Huckabee get over Romney from Evangelical men? Because the percentage boost from Evangelical women over and above that figure is probably more because women prefer conciliators and Romney likes to attack people.

But I''m not sure a conciliatory personality in and of itself is enough to get somebody to vote - like the person''s platforms still matter more (?)

[amazedd]

Remember when Clintonians used to say: ''It%u2019s the Economy, stupid''? That''s about the time they started grooming Romney to run, on the Economy. But that was then, now the Economy is belly-up.
So now, it''s the War, silly. It''s what''s hip, it''s the sign of the times. Are you in, man?

[amazedd]

Follow the man from S.E.N.A.T.E.

[liberalvet]

What a laugh riot, to read all these negative posts from Republicans about Iowa Christians. You hypocritical bastar*ds have loved them for the past 7 years. Now that you can not control them you want to blame all the worlds problems on them. ROTFLMAO.... it sucks when your attack dog turns on you isn''t it?????

[infidel_us]

It may be a ''win or bust'' for Edwards, Paul, McCain, Thompson, etc. Why single Romney out?

Also, why is it that Romney suffered a ''crushing defeat'' in Iowa, but Hillary got the bronze medal instead of the gold. The media is so freakin biased towards democrats it''s sickening!

[conspiracygirl]

Here''s the dirt that the Democrats and the media are waiting to spread -- if Huckabee ever becomes the nominee. He''ll be trounced, and after I read this, I will help them....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1947524/posts

[lone-star5]

Iowans, when polled, said that Romney was the only GOP candidate who could beat a democrat in November. Don''t know why they voted for Huckabee. If Romney doesn''t become the GOP nominee, republicans can kiss the election good-bye. He is light years ahead of Huckabee and McCain in intelligence and the ability to lead this nation through the economic and security problems that we currently face and will continue to face - especially if we vote for ''Most Likeable'' to lead us!

[conspiracygirl]

jh6379:

Rich guys are rich because they know how to be. Losing money is no skin off their noses because they''ll just make more. They don''t see wealth as a finite pie to be sliced up till it''s all gone. They see themselves as the maker of the pies.

[ljvostro]

People please wake up. Judge candidates on ISSUES and not on fables you are spoon fed by media owned and financed by corporate America which profits from globalization and shipping US jobs overseas. Restore The Republic - Say YES to Limited Constitutional Government - End the War on Drugs - End The IRS - End the Federal Reserve - Say YES to Liberty - Say YES to Freedom - Say Yes to Individual Responsibility! - Say Yes to policing the world - Say YES To Ron Paul and We The People!!! Go to ISSUES tab on Ron Paul web site.