Text size +

Romney makes morning push for votes

Posted by John Yemma January 8, 2008 09:18 AM

By Michael Levenson, Globe staff

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- A buoyant Mitt Romney arrived with his wife at the polling station at the Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester at 7:30 a.m. this morning, talking about victory in New Hampshire.

"I'm convinced that it's going to be a close one today but that Republicans are going to vote for me and independents are going to get behind me and that we're going end up winning this thing," Romney told reporters.

A clutch of supporters broke into a chant: "M-I-T-T! Mitt's the man for me!"

Romney is locked in a tight battle in New Hampshire with John McCain and is trying to rebound from his loss to Mike Huckabee in the Iowa caucuses last Thursday. Since that loss, he has retooled his message, casting himself as an outsider and a problem-solver and McCain as an entrenched Washington politician.

"We got a huge boost from that last debate," Romney said, referring to Sunday's Republican debate, in which he criticized McCain's stance on taxes and illegal immigration. "We've seen that the undecided voters are breaking our way. It's very clear that people that have heard the message that sending back a long-term senator to Washington is not going to get things changed there. "

Romney spent about 10 minutes outside the church, shaking hands with voters and introducing himself with a "Hi! I'm Mitt Romney. I'm running for president."

He makes several more stops at polling stations today and plans to hold an election night rally in Manchester. Even if he loses in New Hampshire, he said he plans to campaign in the next state, Michigan, and will compete at least through the mega-primary on Feb. 5.

"Even if I were to come in second today, which I don't think will happen, but even if that were to occur, I will have received more votes than anyone else on the Republican side for president," Romney said. "That's a good sign. Now, I'm not a Don Quixote. If I got two votes, I wouldn't say 'Oh, let's go on to the next.' There's no reason to do that. But I'm in a position where I'm in a very tight race. I think it's going to be with John McCain."

7 comments so far...

  1. choose a party...not a personality.
    people are fallible, parties are too, but parties are based
    on sound, solid proven principles.
    please don't be swayed by charismatic speakers with 2 years
    senatorial experience. its just not right. if you
    believe in large federal government programs and large taxes
    to support these programs, then go ahead, follow the liberal democrats.
    if you like tight management, innovative solutions to social problems
    and a leadership role in geo-political events and our global future as
    the united states, then please read on and vote republican.

    which do you choose?
    again, if you want big government programs and large taxes, vote for the democrats. if you want a chance of lower taxes and decreased federal spending, vote for a republican.

    private industry is more efficient than government programs. government is over taxing us already, we do not need democrat liberals to further tax us for their inefficient programs. individual responsibility is closer to the values of republicans.

    stand up for freedom, liberty and earning and keeping your own money.

    on flip-flops:
    people can change and will change ideas based on changing circumstances. its healthy and good to re-assess positions. its also important for candidates to reflect the values of their constituents. sometimes it requires modifying original position to coincide with the people you intend to represent.

    all this being said, romney is the best choice for leading our nation into the future. he knows how to compete, to cut taxes, balance a budget, deal with friends and foes, he will be efficient and an outsider ready to modify the federal government, to decentralize.

    mccain has had his chances in the senate and has not reformed typical washington politics in the way we want it shaped. his ideas are better than the democrats, but romney is the person most capable to run the country like a business and to cut the tax burden on you and me.

    lets get it together nh and lets choose a man who ran the bluest state of massachusetts and its 85% liberal democrats in its state house and senate. he can make it work.

    please, do whats right for the country and vote a polished, fine man to the white house.


    Posted by richard January 8, 08 11:39 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. I'm for Romney too...he really is our best shot of re-alligning with the conservative principles that our party needs to maintain.

    If McCain wins today and gets the nomination, he will lose in the general election. Conservatives like me know this and its tough to think that we really don't want to vote for McCain in the general election. We may hold back our votes in November so our party gets the message.

    McCain is old...his ideas are old. And...I think he's a little bit crazy. Anyone get that sense? Barak, even Hillary will whipe the floor with him. He's just so uninspiring.

    Posted by Robert Black January 8, 08 12:13 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Go President Romney! Even if Romney loses a close one today in New Hampshire (which I believe he will narrowly win) he will, with the votes from Iowa, his win in Wyoming and the votes garnered from New Hampshire still have more votes at this point than any other candidate. While Huckster and MCain only play well in their "special" states, Romney plays well everywhere!!!!! That means he is the only one with a shot at getting enough support in all the states to win against the likes of Obama.

    Posted by maire thomson January 8, 08 12:51 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Vote for who is the best candidate to get things done in Washington, not for a party.
    There is no party difference in this day and age.

    Posted by David January 8, 08 01:51 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Yeah, private industry is much more efficient than government. 30,000 private businesses fail and close every year. Governments cannot fail and close up shop and declare bankruptcy. If you're not having a good quarter, a CEO can close a plant, fire 1000 employees, whatever. A President can't fire the poor, or those on welfare, or the unemployed. He can't slash those "inefficient" programs that conservatives like to complain about but then use everyday (interstate highways, interstate commerce, environmental protection, education, public transport, scientific R&D....). Running a government is NOTHING like running a business. Or perhaps you're pleased with the pathetic job our first MBA president has done since 2001......

    Posted by db January 8, 08 02:13 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Actually the reasons businesses fail, and Governments don't, is cause a business has to make a profit, whereas the govt will always get a steady income from taxes and tax increases. This govt for the last 60-70 years has not made a profit, but has steadily gone into debt, so your analogy of running a business = bad governing is moot. Romney is efficient and will cut a ton of crap that washington has, almost everything the man has touched has worked. He is an innovator; and is especially able to work across party lines (example massachusetts.) For America to run well, it takes people working together and no more of this Red state- Blue state that the Media keeps forcing down our throats. Mitt understands the economy, and that is what makes America great, along with our military, values, etc. But the terrorists on Sept. 11 didn't attack our military, (which they have no chance against) they went after our economy and put us in a recession for a time. The economy is very vulnerable and I think that in a world of global economy, we need to stay competitive, and the democrats have no clue about it, and McCain has said himself he clearly doesn't understand the economy. Go MITT!!!

    Posted by jaaron January 8, 08 03:36 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. How soon we forget recent history. The government WAS running a "profit" and not a deficit. When was that again? Oh yeah, right before Bush entered office. Governments are supposed to facilitate their citizens' lives, not turn a profit. That's something these businessmen-turned-politicians don't understand. (See Krugman's Op-Ed from 1/7/08 to see the failed labor/economic policy of the Bush regime)
    The terrorists didn't put us into a recession; the fear-mongering instilled by this administration that your everyday life is under constant threat 24-hours a day, combined with pathetic economic and monetary policy of the Bush administration strangled the US economy. And then, to make matters worse, Bush enacts perhaps the single most inefficient government program in history: the Iraq invasion and occupation. What do we have to show for that investment? Nothing but thousands of dead Americans, hundreds of thousands (if not millions) or dead, injured, or displaced Iraqis, a larger terrorist threat than before, and the hatred of nations we once called friends. Yeah, I'm sure golden boy Mitt will really solve all our problems. Just like in Massachusetts, where his one policy success is a watered down version of the Democratic contenders' health care proposals. Bravo.

    Posted by db January 8, 08 03:53 PM
    Reply | Report this post
add your comment
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

Send your comments to masspolitics@globe.com

archives

browse this blog

by category
by tag