Romney faces tough road ahead
By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Mitt Romney, unable to refocus his message and prove his authenticity to New Hampshire's fiercely independent and fiscally conservative voters, today suffered a second crippling defeat in six days, leaving his presidential campaign strategy in tatters.
Rather than emerging from New Hampshire with two wins under his belt as he had planned for months, Romney will now be forced to campaign in Michigan and South Carolina amid mounting questions about whether he has the right platform and background to compete for the Republican nomination.
Today's loss to a resurgent John McCain -- the TV networks projected McCain tonight as the winner -- is particularly painful because New Hampshire should have been Romney country. Unlike Iowa, where social issues are paramount and evangelical Christians powered Baptist minister Mike Huckabee to victory last week, New Hampshire voters put a greater emphasis on fiscal issues and the brand of business-friendly conservatism that should have played to Romney's strengths.
Instead, Romney struggled to recast his message after Iowa, where he had spent millions of dollars and countless hours burnishing his image as a social conservative and champion of a greater role for religion in public life.
McCain -- and many of New Hampshire's newspapers -- pounced on Romney, branding him a phony for changing his positions on abortion and other issues to appeal to voters in Iowa. Even a late effort by Romney to recast himself as a change agent and problem-solver -- and McCain as a Washington dinosaur -- fell short.
"It played into this view that people don't know where this guy is, who he is, and what he believes," said Linda L. Fowler, a Dartmouth University political scientist. "He has an authenticity problem and he happens to be running against one of the most authentic politicians we've seen in the last 10 years -- John McCain. Nobody will ever accuse him of being a phony."
Romney said earlier today that he plans to stay in the race at least through Feb. 5, when 22 states hold primaries. He points to his victory in the Wyoming caucuses on Saturday as evidence of his national appeal. With a net worth between $190 million and $250 million, the former venture capitalist has the vast resources needed to keep his campaign afloat. As of Sept. 30, he had outspent his rivals -- dropping a total of $45 million nationwide, including $17 million from his own fortune. He has refused to say how much he is willing to spend.
Michigan, which votes next Tuesday, presents his best chance to begin mounting a comeback, though he will have to meet expectations for a resounding victory. Born and raised in suburban Detroit, Romney is the son of a three-term Michigan governor and he has already been running television ads. He plans to hold two events in the Grand Rapids area Wednesday, after stopping in Boston for a telephone fund-raising event similar to the one that brought in $6.5 million in one day last January.
"I think I can connect with Michigan," Romney said yesterday, before his loss to McCain. "Michigan is very personal for me."
Two silver medals, Iowa and New Hampshire and one gold in Wyoming
"Romney is still in "first place" with delegates.
It's about the delegate count. With the compressed schedule now, Iowa and
New Hampshire don't have the casche they once did.
For you who do not understand this, back to eigth grade civics for all of you. Romney is alive and well, with money to go the distance.ajarizona
This is pathetic journalism. We all know the Globe hates Romney, but if his campaign is in such dire straits, could you at least tell us to whom he is going to lose? John McCain, who barely got half as many delegates in Iowa as Mitt? Mike Huckabee, who trailed Mitt by eighteen percentage points in New Hampshire? Please! The truth is that the Republican Party is still a wide open race, and even Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul are going to have their moments in the sun before it's over. To claim that Mitt Romney is in trouble after two second-place finishes is absurd.
Romney is the biggest phony. I am glad he lost in Iowa and new Hampshire. He is the biggest flip-flopper of all on many important social issues and the voters have seen through his smirk and nice hair.
He would make a good CEO, but a lousy and dangerous president.
Good riddance!
Romney is far from out this race. At the end of the night, Romney will stil be leading the GOP with delegates heading into Michigan. Lets look at this objectively: Romney has had two strong 2nd place finishes and he won Wyoming. He is well financed and has strong ogranization. He is the only true conservative for the GOP and at the end of the day, he will be the establishment candidate. New Hampshire is not a huge loss due to the independent vote skewing the Republican side of the primary.
How can you connect, Mr. Mitt? Do you think they're losers like you? Do they have problems holding a position on anything?
Anyone who would be a good CEO would be a great president. No one hires phonies and pays them millions of dollars per year...
Romney will go to win it all, he is the best!
Anyone who would accept millions of dollars per year is on my blacklist. Too many people work hard just to make ends meet. I believe in a more even scale meant to engender cooperation on all levels to create successful companies. Those who think taking such big payoffs makes for valuable stuffs need to go back to the drawing board. Time to get those big corporate millionaires out of our government.
Can the Globe BE anymore biased against Romney? Also, Michael Levenson, genius that you are, its Dartmouth COLLEGE not University. I guess they dont teach that at hack journalism school.
"Anyone who would be a good CEO would be a great president. No one hires phonies and pays them millions of dollars per year..."
That has to be the dumbest comment ever made during this early primary season.
Hat's off to Mitt Romney, who can' t even carry a neighboring state. Ever think of that? He was Govenor of Massachusetts and you'd be hard pressed to find someone from Massachusetts that even likes him. That should set off a few red flags about the ability to lead and inspire others.
Name a successful politician from Massachusetts who publically supports his campaign. I know Cellucci does, but I said successful. You are defined by the company you keep. Who hangs with Mitt besides his wife and five boys?
Mitt is by far the best qualified candidate of the bunch. Those of you who think he has changed positions should look at the other candidates and find one who hasn't over their careers. As in "I voted for it before I voted against it". Sound familiar. Let's face it most voters change their positions and minds as much as or more than most of the candidates over the years for various reasons. How many people hold all the same opinions now as they did several years ago on many things.
The Globe is so negative with Romney. The title is so stupid. Who doesn't face a tough road ahead? Romney has three time the delegate count as McCain and people are wondering if he is damaged!
Why doesn't someone ask why Kucinich, Richardson, Paul and Thompson don't bail out of the race? They are far less likely to win, yet the MSM wants Romney to drop out, doesn't mention his win in Wyoming that had more delegates than NH, doesn't talk about him leading the delegate count with 30, don't mention that McCain barely won this one and did poorly in Iowa and Wyoming. The agenda by the MSM is amazing. They all hate that Romney has money.
There is something distinctly unlikeable about Romney and there is nothing he can do about it. Ask yourself "why does mitt want to be president?". To help this country? Please...to Mitt its just another notch in his belt. I hope he takes his millions and just goes away.
The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and The Manchester Union Leader all endorse McCain. The last two republican governors preceeding Romney each endorsed other candidates; Swift for McCain; Celucci for Gulianni. Those who know him best like him least.
The world will pay an individual what they think they are worth. Mitt has earned his money by being smarter, making tough and correct decisions. This nation needs to be run by someone who has good business sense and the persona to get things done and not be afraid to fight for it. I see Mitt as the only one who can beat Hillary or Obama. The guy has to fight for every vote, but it seems as he gets his message out he is able to convince the electorate that he is the man. He won me over. McCain - too liberal, Huckabee - runs on the shirt tails of evangelists too much and has a fiscally liberal record. Gulianni - where is he? all you hear about is how he saved New York. Fred Thompson - I like him, too little too late. I think he would be the perfect running mate for Romney.
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