Romney cites chance Healey will lose

He hogs the bill signings. He often walks a few paces ahead of her. And how many times has he handed her a mike?

Governor Mitt Romney has not exactly exhausted himself promoting his lieutenant governor, who is now running to succeed him. Yesterday, he did a little less than usual. He went on national television and all but said he thought Kerry Healey might lose.

Romney told CNN's Wolf Blitzer yesterday afternoon that he thought the Republicans, who now hold 28 of the 50 governorships, would lose ground on Election Day, because more Republican incumbents are stepping down this year than Democratic incumbents.

``Oh, sure. I don't think there is anyone who has looked at the poll numbers that doesn't think that will happen," Romney said. ``You have got states like New York and Arkansas that are blue states that have Republican governors."

``And Massachusetts," Blitzer said.

``And Massachusetts," Romney said. ``With governors not running for reelection, and so the math would say that's going to be pretty hard for us to hold on to all those states."

His spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, insisted in an e-mail later that Romney had not implied doubt about Healey's chances.

``The math would suggest that Republicans have an uphill battle holding on to their numerical advantage," he said. ``Massachusetts is a very competitive race, as it always is for Republicans, but Governor Romney believes that Kerry Healey is going to win."