My Man Mitt,

Great blog.

According to CNN's exit polls, some interesting info comes to light:

Romney wins the vote of those who approve of the War in Iraq (37% to McCain's 33%), whereas McCain wins the vote of those who disapprove of the war (44% to Romney's 19%).

Romney wins among those who identify themselves as Republicans (35% to McCain's 34%) and among those who consider themselves Conservative (38% to McCain's 30%).

Romney wins among Urban voters (34% to McCain's 32%).

Romney trounced McCain with voters who placed illegal immigration as the most important issue (56% to 19%).

Romney won among voters who don't want gay civil unions (36% to McCain's 32%).

Romney won among voters who had positive feelings about Pres. Bush (37% to McCain's 32%).

Romney won among those who think the next president should be more conservative than Bush (35% to McCain's 31%).

The strange data here is that Romney's wins the support of those who approve of the War in Iraq/War on Terror, whereas McCain overwhelmingly wins the vote of those opposed. Is this strategic voting on the part of liberal independents who don't want to face Romney in the general election, or are Granite Staters clueless about McCain's stance on the War?

The good news for Romney is that 80% of the country is urban (where he won), illegal immigration is the most important issue in many states (South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, California, etc.), which issue Romney won, and conservatives went with Romney (and very few states will have the liberal leanings of an heavily independent GOP New Hampshire vote).

Labels: New Hampshire

Labels: New Hampshire

Dear New Hampshire,

Join me today at the polls and let's support a TRUE REPUBLICAN, Gov. Mitt Romney. He's got the goods ... proven executive leadership, brains, business know-how, charisma, strong values, and a contagious optimism about our country's future. He has a core understanding of how to keep America strong. He'll strengthen families and lower taxes, so we're all self reliant -- not reliant on the government. He'll get our military back to Reagan-era strength and give us the resources we need to defeat Islamic Jihad. He'll solve immigration. He's a man of accomplishment and turns everything he touches to gold. He'll bring back luster and life to the Republican Party, and certainly to America's standing in the world.

I admit, Senator McCain brings some strengths to the table; certainly the skills to be a great Secretary of Defense. He's just not presidential...way too cantankerous a fellow to bring our country together. He's got his talents and guts, but he's too stubborn and abrasive, and with too much of a maverick liberal streak to be our president. Wrong on immigration, wrong to vote against the Bush tax cuts, wrong on the 1st Amendment (McCain/Feingold) ...and a personal pet peeve, he's gone a bit too far to hold up promotion and command of some very good officers in our Air Force. The list goes on and on. I know you're tempted to vote his way NH - I was pulling for him too in 2000 - but I've learned a lot since then. His time has past. Sen. McCain will let us down in November. He can't go the distance against the Democratic nominee.

Romney is the most gifted candidate in the bunch - Republican, Democrat, or Independent - and he's the best choice for America.

See you all at the polls!

Labels: New Hampshire

Labels: New Hampshire

Labels: New Hampshire, Polls

Thompson came into the GOP race late with the hope of winning over social conservatives unsatisfied with the rest of the party's field, and racked up a key endorsement from the National Right to Life Committee last week. But the former star of the television drama "Law and Order" has trailed the GOP front-runners in early voting states since entering the race in August, and his support in New Hampshire dropped from 13 percent in a September poll to 4 percent in November's survey.

By contrast, Romney's support grew from 25 percent to 33 percent over the same period; McCain held steady at 18 percent; and Giuliani dipped from 24 to 16 percent.

Labels: New Hampshire, poll

I realize everything can change fast in Iowa and New Hampshire, and some are rightly skeptical about the value of polling in a caucus state. I also recognize that some pollsters' methods of figuring out who's a "likely voter" are better than others.

But if I were a Romney guy, I'd be pretty pleased about the trends in those two primary states.

...

Even the South Carolina numbers are starting to look better across several polls — he's leading the field at 29 percent, up 6 percentage points on Giuliani in ARG (okay, really, how is Fred Thompson getting 10 percent in South Carolina?), tied with Giuliani and one point behind Thompson in Winthrop/ETV, in a three-way tie for second and five points behind Thompson in InsiderAdvantage, leading the previous ARG by 3, and down 9 percent in Rasmussen, and even that's five percent higher than the previous poll by that organization.

Labels: New Hampshire, Polls

Labels: Florida, New Hampshire, Polls

As recently as late September, Romney was polling consistently in the single digits and was typically in fourth place. But recent surveys show the former Massachusetts governor surging, as voters have gotten to know Romney and he has earned the endorsement of key evangelicals such as Bob Jones III, former Chancellor of the fundamentalist Greenville university of the same name.

Romney, who is Mormon, has spent considerable time wooing Christian conservatives here and elsewhere and convincing them he’s strong on social issues.

The effort apparently has paid off.

Labels: iowa, New Hampshire, Polls

• No GOP candidate has ever lost New Hampshire and Iowa and gone on to win the primary nomination.
• No GOP candidate has ever won both of these states in a primary election.

Labels: judd gregg, New Hampshire

Labels: New Hampshire, Polls

Labels: interactive, maps, New Hampshire

Labels: New Hampshire

Labels: bias, healthcare, New Hampshire, washingont post

CNN/WMUR/UNH poll.
Romney: 33
Giuliani: 18
F. Thompson: 13
McCain: 12

Labels: Marc Ambinder, New Hampshire, Polls

Labels: interactive, maps, New Hampshire

• Blizzards in NH didn't stop 150 people from attending a Sunapee event last week
  
• 400+ people crowded a Coraville, IA lunch on Friday
• 11 more Florida State Legislators and a FL Cabinet member threw their weight behind Romney

Labels: iowa, New Hampshire, south carolina, straw polls

This past Sunday I made a trip with my dad to Sunapee, New Hampshire to attend the annual Lincoln Day Dinner. Despite the Nor’easter storms, which are not unusual in New England but are this late in the year, there was a great turn out to listen to him speak. The conditions actually got really bad and the snow began to accumulate rather quickly. With well over an hour of driving still remaining, I was surprised my dad did not want to cancel.

We saw spinouts along the way, so we were not surprised to see tracks ahead of us at one point that veered into oncoming traffic. We slowed down and then noticed that there was a giant tree branch blocking the lane. We saw a couple of guys in a pickup just ahead of us get out and push the limb out of the road. Later that evening, my dad mentioned this in his speech. He correctly pointed out that this was typical of people in New Hampshire – they aren’t always looking for the government or someone else to solve their problems, but chipping in and taking responsibility for their community.

It was a treat for me to get to meet two phenomenal US senators, John Sununu and Judd Gregg. It was also fun to go back to Sunapee where my mom and dad had taken me and my brothers so many times when we were learning to ski in our early years.

Labels: blogs, campaign, fivebrothers, matt romney, New Hampshire

Click on the map below to get started

Labels: interactive, maps, New Hampshire, w

1. IA – 17%, 3rd place behind McCain at just 21% now.
2. NH – 25% tied for 1st with McCain
3. SC –14%, moving up to third, Rudy at first with 26%
4. MI – 21%, 2nd

Labels: iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, poll, Polls, south carolina