12-Jan-2012 - Republicans Look to Sway New Hampshire Voters

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By NAFTALI BENDAVID Republican presidential candidates made the rounds of polling places across New Hampshire Tuesday, delivering final appeals to voters in the hopes that 11th-hour attacks on Mitt Romney's tenure as head of a private-equity firm will dent his widely expected victory. A last-minute poll by Suffolk University has Mr. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, at 37% support—a nearly 20-point lead over Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who are fighting for second place. That echoes other polls showing Mr. Romney with a daunting lead in a state where he campaigned hard and owns a home. The significance of Tuesday's vote lies in part in how well the other candidates perform as they battle to become the chief alternative to Mr. Romney. The race heads next to South Carolina for a Jan. 21 primary that is likely the final chance for a conservative rival to slow Mr. Romney's momentum. Mr. Romney's opponents predict he won't meet expectations for a resounding victory in New Hampshire. He has been pummeled in recent days by accusations that he acted as a heartless corporate raider during his years at Bain Capital. "The biggest story today is going to be how much Gov. Romney falls short of any kind of reasonable expectation," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich asserted Tuesday on Fox News. "People expected this to be his fortress. I don't Monster beats studio pink diamond headphone think it's going to be much of a fortress." Polling in New Hampshire can be volatile. Surveys predicted a solid win for then-Sen. Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary, only to have Mrs. Clinton pull out a 39%-36% victory. Still, Mr. Romney has held a substantial lead in New Hampshire for months. He has an extensive organization in the state, and he has been endorsed by many of its leading political figures as well as Sen. John McCain, who won the Republican nomination in 2008. The six Republican hopefuls plan are visiting polling places around the state in an effort to gain a last-minute boost. Mr. Huntsman has seen something of a late surge, while former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who virtually tied Mr. Romney beats by dre studio Chicago White Sox Violet headphone in last week's Iowa caucuses, has remained in fourth place in several polls. Two tiny New Hampshire towns traditionally cast the first votes in the primary, and they did so just after midnight. Dixville Notch gave Messrs. Romney and Huntsman two votes apiece, with Messrs. Gingrich and Paul each getting one vote. In Hart's Location, five votes went for Mr. Romney, while Mr. Paul garnered four, Mr. Huntsman two and Mr. Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry one apiece. There also is a Democratic primary. President Obama doesn't face serious opposition, but his campaign hopes to use the vote to continue building up its organization in this swing state. The Republican campaign has taken a surprising turn in the past 48 hours as Mr. Romney's rivals, led by Mr. Gingrich, have assaulted him for purportedly taking multimillion-dollar payouts at Bain Capital while destroying companies and leaving workers jobless. Mr. Romney's campaign says he created jobs at Bain and says his private-sector experience qualifies him to be president. A political-action committee supporting Mr. Gingrich is promoting a film, "When Mitt Romney Came to Town," that features workers talking of the distress Bain ostensibly caused them. This has created the spectacle of a Republican primary engulfed by a debate over whether unfettered capitalism sometimes goes too far. Some Republicans worry that this will play into Democrats' hands in the general election. Mr. Romney didn't help his own cause Monday when he declared at a campaign stop that "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me." He was talking about being able to choose a health-insurance company, but the wording gave grist to his rivals. Mr. Romney's campaign released a written statement responding to Mr. Gingrich's attacks. "It's sad to see Speaker Gingrich lashing out with attacks on free enterprise because his own campaign is floundering," the statement said. Mr. Gingrich said Tuesday on MSNBC that it is "baloney" to suggest his criticism of Mr. Romney means he is against free enterprise. The overall shape of the Republican campaign has remained the same for several months, even while various Romney rivals have risen and fallen. Mr. Romney, though the front-runner, hasn't been embraced by the conservatives who give the GOP much of its energy. And those conservatives have been unable to rally around a single alternative. Mr. Santorum hasn't seen his Iowa success translate to momentum in New Hampshire. Mr. Huntsman, who could come in second or third in New Hampshire, is considered too centrist by many conservatives. Mr. Paul is unlikely to win the nomination but is attracting enough support to block other conservatives from mounting an enduring challenge. Messrs. Santorum, Gingrich and Perry studio black headphone from monster are each hoping for an impressive performance in South Carolina, the first Southern primary, where Mr. Gingrich told Fox his "decisive showdown with Gov. Romney" will take place. But they are splitting the conservative vote, and Mr. Romney leads in South Carolina polls. Then the race moves to Florida, a much bigger state where Mr. Romney's organization and money give him a big advantage. Write to Naftali Bendavid at naftali.bendavid@wsj.com

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12-Jan-2012 - Republicans Look to Sway New Hampshire Voters

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By NAFTALI BENDAVID Republican presidential candidates made the rounds of polling places across New Hampshire Tuesday, delivering final appeals to voters in the hopes that 11th-hour attacks on Mitt Romney's tenure as head of a private-equity firm will dent his widely expected victory. A last-minute poll by Suffolk University has Mr. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, at 37% support—a nearly 20-point lead over Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who are fighting for second place. That echoes other polls showing Mr. Romney with a daunting lead in a state where he campaigned hard and owns a home. The significance of Tuesday's vote lies in part in how well the other candidates perform as they battle to become the chief alternative to Mr. Romney. The race heads next to South Carolina for a Jan. 21 primary that is likely the final chance for a conservative rival to slow Mr. Romney's momentum. Mr. Romney's opponents predict he won't meet expectations for a resounding victory in New Hampshire. He has been pummeled in recent days by accusations that he acted as a heartless corporate raider during his years at Bain Capital. "The biggest story today is going to be how much Gov. Romney falls short of any kind of reasonable expectation," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Beats by dre studio headphone black asserted Tuesday on Fox News. "People expected this to be his fortress. I don't think it's going to be much of a fortress." Polling in New Hampshire can be volatile. Surveys predicted a solid win for then-Sen. Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary, only to have Mrs. Clinton pull out a 39%-36% victory. Still, Mr. Romney has held a substantial lead in New Hampshire for months. He has an extensive organization in the state, and he has been endorsed by many of its leading political figures as well as Sen. John McCain, who won the Republican nomination in 2008. The six Republican hopefuls plan are visiting polling places around the state in an effort to gain a last-minute boost. Mr. Huntsman has seen something of a late surge, while former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who virtually tied Mr. Romney in last week's Iowa caucuses, has remained in fourth place in several polls. Two tiny New Hampshire towns traditionally cast the first votes in the primary, and they did so just after midnight. Dixville Notch gave Messrs. Romney and Huntsman two votes apiece, with Messrs. Gingrich and Paul each getting one vote. In Hart's Location, five votes went for Mr. Romney, while Mr. Paul garnered four, Mr. Huntsman two and Mr. White/Grey Pro Headphone from monster Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry one apiece. There also is a Democratic primary. President Obama doesn't face serious opposition, but his campaign hopes to use the vote to continue building up its organization in this swing state. The Republican campaign has taken a surprising turn in the past 48 hours as Mr. Romney's rivals, led by Mr. Gingrich, have assaulted him for purportedly taking multimillion-dollar payouts at Bain Capital while destroying companies and leaving workers jobless. Mr. Romney's campaign says he created jobs at Bain and says his private-sector experience qualifies him to be president. A political-action committee supporting Mr. Gingrich is promoting a film, "When Mitt Romney Came to Town," that features workers talking of the distress Bain ostensibly caused them. This has created the spectacle of a Republican primary engulfed by a debate over whether unfettered capitalism sometimes goes too far. Some Republicans worry that this will play into Democrats' hands in the general election. Mr. Romney didn't help his own cause Monday when he declared at a campaign stop that "I like being able to fire Philadelphia Phillies stuido headphone Claret/Deep Yellow people who provide services to me." He was talking about being able to choose a health-insurance company, but the wording gave grist to his rivals. Mr. Romney's campaign released a written statement responding to Mr. Gingrich's attacks. "It's sad to see Speaker Gingrich lashing out with attacks on free enterprise because his own campaign is floundering," the statement said. Mr. Gingrich said Tuesday on MSNBC that it is "baloney" to suggest his criticism of Mr. Romney means he is against free enterprise. The overall shape of the Republican campaign has remained the same for several months, even while various Romney rivals have risen and fallen. Mr. Romney, though the front-runner, hasn't been embraced by the conservatives who give the GOP much of its energy. And those conservatives have been unable to rally around a single alternative. Mr. Santorum hasn't seen his Iowa success translate to momentum in New Hampshire. Mr. Huntsman, who could come in second or third in New Hampshire, is considered too centrist by many conservatives. Mr. Paul is unlikely to win the nomination but is attracting enough support to block other conservatives from mounting an enduring challenge. Messrs. Santorum, Gingrich and Perry are each hoping for an impressive performance in South Carolina, the first Southern primary, where Mr. Gingrich told Fox his "decisive showdown with Gov. Romney" will take place. But they are splitting the conservative vote, and Mr. Romney leads in South Carolina polls. Then the race moves to Florida, a much bigger state where Mr. Romney's organization and money give him a big advantage. Write to Naftali Bendavid at naftali.bendavid@wsj.com

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12-Jan-2012 - Republicans Look to Sway New Hampshire Voters

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By NAFTALI BENDAVID Republican presidential candidates made the rounds of polling places across New Hampshire Tuesday, delivering final appeals to voters in the hopes that 11th-hour attacks on Mitt Romney's tenure as head of a private-equity firm will dent his widely expected victory. A last-minute poll by Suffolk University has Mr. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, at 37% support—a nearly 20-point lead over Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who are fighting for second place. That echoes other polls showing Mr. Romney with a daunting lead in a state where he campaigned hard and owns a home. The significance of Tuesday's vote lies in part in how well the other candidates perform as they battle to become the chief alternative to Mr. Romney. The race heads next to South Beats by dre pro Detox headphone black Carolina for a Jan. 21 primary that is likely the final chance for a conservative rival to slow Mr. Romney's momentum. Mr. Romney's opponents predict he won't meet expectations for a resounding victory in New Hampshire. He has been pummeled in recent days by accusations that he acted as a heartless corporate raider during his years at Bain Capital. "The biggest story today is going to be how much Gov. Romney falls short of any kind of reasonable expectation," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich asserted Tuesday on Fox News. "People expected this to be his fortress. I don't think it's going to be much of a fortress." Polling in New Hampshire can be volatile. Surveys predicted a solid win for then-Sen. Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary, only to have Mrs. Clinton pull out a 39%-36% victory. Still, Mr. Romney has held a substantial lead in New Hampshire for months. He has an extensive organization in the state, and he has been endorsed by many of its leading political figures as well as Sen. John McCain, who won the Republican nomination in 2008. The six Republican hopefuls plan are visiting polling places around the state in an effort to gain a last-minute boost. Mr. Huntsman has seen something of a late surge, while former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who virtually tied Mr. Romney in last week's Iowa caucuses, has remained in fourth place in several polls. Two tiny New Hampshire towns traditionally cast the first votes in the primary, and they did so just after midnight. Dixville Notch gave Messrs. Romney and Huntsman two votes apiece, with Messrs. Gingrich and Paul each getting one vote. In Hart's Location, five votes went for Mr. Romney, while Mr. Paul garnered four, Mr. Huntsman two and Mr. Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry one apiece. There also is a Democratic primary. President Obama doesn't face serious opposition, but his campaign hopes to use the vote to continue building up its organization in this swing state. The Republican campaign has taken a surprising turn in the past black/red studio over-ear headphone 48 hours as Mr. Romney's rivals, led by Mr. Gingrich, have assaulted him for purportedly taking multimillion-dollar payouts at Bain Capital while destroying companies and leaving workers jobless. Mr. Romney's campaign says he created jobs at Bain and says his private-sector experience qualifies him to be president. A political-action committee supporting Mr. Gingrich is promoting a film, "When Mitt Romney Came to Town," that features workers talking of the distress Bain ostensibly caused them. This has created the spectacle of a Republican primary engulfed by a debate over whether unfettered capitalism sometimes goes too far. Some Republicans worry that this will play into Democrats' hands in the general election. Mr. Romney didn't help his own cause Monday when he declared at a campaign stop that "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me." He was talking about being able to choose a health-insurance company, but the wording gave grist to his rivals. Mr. Romney's campaign released a written statement responding to Mr. Gingrich's attacks. "It's sad to see Speaker Gingrich lashing out with attacks on free enterprise because his own campaign is floundering," the statement said. Mr. Gingrich said Tuesday on MSNBC that it is "baloney" to suggest his criticism of Mr. Romney means he is against free enterprise. The overall shape of the Republican campaign has remained the same for several months, even while various Romney rivals have risen and fallen. Mr. Romney, though the front-runner, hasn't been embraced by the conservatives who give the GOP much of its energy. And those conservatives have been unable to rally around a single alternative. Mr. Santorum hasn't seen his Iowa success translate to momentum in New Hampshire. Mr. Huntsman, who could come in second or third in New Hampshire, is considered too centrist by many conservatives. Mr. Paul is unlikely to win the nomination but is attracting enough support to block other conservatives from mounting an enduring challenge. Messrs. Santorum, Gingrich and Perry are each hoping for an impressive performance in South Carolina, the first Southern primary, where monster beats studio headphone grey Mr. Gingrich told Fox his "decisive showdown with Gov. Romney" will take place. But they are splitting the conservative vote, and Mr. Romney leads in South Carolina polls. Then the race moves to Florida, a much bigger state where Mr. Romney's organization and money give him a big advantage. Write to Naftali Bendavid at naftali.bendavid@wsj.com

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