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Subscribe to RSSMANCHESTER, NH -- On a cold, clear New Hampshire morning, the Romney campaign today opened a blitzkrieg grassroots effort in New Hampshire, designed to show off the campaign's organizational strength and support in a state considered vital to the former Massachusetts governor's presidential aspirations.
The campaign said the new effort, entitled "Earn It With Mitt," included 500 volunteers fanning out to knock on doors, distribute yard signs, and make thousands of calls across the state. And he kicked it off with a rally, headlined by Romney and his former presidential rival, Tim Pawlenty, here in Manchester.
While Romney and Pawlenty stayed on message during the rally -- Pawlenty praised Romney's electability and values, and Romney attacked the president for his 17-day holiday vacation -- the day's brewing political news about the race's two Georgian candidates dominated the press availability that followed.
Asked whether he could claim any of Herman Cain's supporters should Cain drop out of the race (and hours later, Cain suspended his campaign), Romney was hopeful.
"I hope that they give us a good careful look, that they see the work we're doing and the commitment of our people and recognize that what America needs right now is a leader, and I hope that as they evaluate the various candidates they'll conclude that I'm the leader America needs," Romney said.
Romney was also pressed repeatedly to comment on the surging Newt Gingrich, and to offer criticism of the former House speaker. But Romney demurred, saying only that there would be time to draw more distinctions later, but noting that their biggest differences were in their backgrounds.
"I happen to think that the biggest difference between us is our life experience, and that that experience will be figured into people's consideration as to who should be the nominee," Romney said.
Following the rally, Romney hit the streets of Manchester, with a pack of reporters trailing him, to knock on doors and ask for votes. Although no one answered Romney's knock at the first three homes he visited, Romney remained in notably high spirits as more folks came out to say hello along the half-hour walk.
Throughout the walk, Romney chatted casually -- and somewhat uncharacteristically -- with reporters about topics as varied as his Christmas plans (Iowa, New Hampshire or Massachusetts), his French speaking skills ("still pretty good"), and even the challenges of making conversation with strangers while campaigning -- a skill Romney is often criticized for lacking.
"It's awkward to come up to people you don't know and start talking to them. I think probably having learned that with my dad back when I was just a teenager has steeled me to the rigors of a ... what can be awkward for some folks, of having someone come up and start talking to them. But you get over that," Romney told reporters as he walked down Chestnut Street. "I don't know any techniques. You just go up and say hello and hopefully strike it off. And by the way, there are always a few folks who are not happy to see you and let you know that. It's all part of the experience."
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This moron actually believes he is invincible!
I keep asking why Willard can't crack 30% in the polls after running for President for 6 years & no one wants to answer... lol
Careful Mitten's you've got Newtsie nipping at your heels!
I think Romney is in denial that he is now in some trouble. Much to my ever present amazement the fringe right wing finds Newtie acceptable as a candidate, regardless of his ethics problems over the years, and his inability to be faithful to his wives. You have to think that Callista (what is up with that name anyway?) keeps him on a pretty short leash.
The hypocrisy is stunning. Cain is out, because he can't keep his pants zipped, and Newtie is in, even though he can't either.
Would someone from the right PUHLEEZE explain the disconnect to me?
Careful what you ask for newday--the usual suspects will show up with the same old anti-Obama/anti-liberal/anti-Democrats/the left is "Marxist," toro doo-doo.
You are right about that,comfortablynumb. They do tend to throw words around they don't understand. But, I admit to being curious about the thought process.
Wait. That's the problem isn't it? There isn't one!
Romney not only is a social misfit (common among clique-type religions, the home-schooled, or Amish for example), but he is a spoiled brat who gets pissy when anyone questions him. Not only is Romney the 1%, he lacks the temperament, gravitas, and qualifications to hold the highest office in the land. But the bottom line is no one likes him.
Actually no likes Gingrich either. And wow, Newt's gut is even bigger than his head now. The choice will be snippy dweeb or snarky thieve.
newdayDAWNING...RETURNED -- Good point about the First Lady. The only one worse than Calista is Marcus!
You are the the moron look at who you are backing a total failure that makes you a total loser!!!!!
@feisty, newday et all: Are you people even paying attention, or do you just see everything through your dem colored glasses. Romney is obviously taking this seriously. Hence the whole 500 volunteer push. You don't like Mitt's politics, fine but he is anything but just a spoiled rich kid. That man works harder than anyone. I challenge you, even in the age of google, to find one article claiming Romney is lazy.
As to his qualifications. Do I really need to go through this again? Double degree from Harvard and top 5% of his class. (Harvard does not just give out A's no matter how rich you are). Ran multiple successful businesses, saved the SLC Olympics, fixed Massachusetts, 42 year long FAITHFUL marriage. The man is qualified on every level imaginable. Please tell me how Obama was more qualified.
"You are the the moron look at who you are backing a total failure that makes you a total loser!!!!!"
My goodness! Such a cranky post...and look at all those exclamation points! Ol' Independent must think that adding extra punctuation will make his blithering ravings seem more reasonable. He is wrong, of course.
Rhino: You do not need to explain Harvard to me. Harvard is "family."
Your President has two Ivy degrees.
Romney is a spoiled brat rich kid that (partially due to his "religion") is convinced the the world owes him his due. And right now, he thinks his due is the Presidency.
You are a fool of the first order if you believe Romney has your interest at heart, or any other than his own.
Well said, Newday! Romney has nothing on Obama academically. On the other hand, Mitt has exposed himself as a cynical political hack.
Easy to be wealthy and successful, Sailcat, if you are handed wealth and given success. I heard that in a movie awhile ago, can't think of what it was, but it fits Mitt to a "t".
newdayDAWNING...RETURNED
I prefer the one where Henry Fonda was the popular candidate and Cliff Robertson was the shark, the one where it ends by Fonda pulling out and giving his support to the middle of the road candidate just to stick it to the shark.
One of the best political movies ever made, almost as good as "All the Presidents Men"
Mittney reminds me of the shark..... solely out for himself and f**k everyone else.
NewDay, Romney acts entitled because the GOP establishment has already told him that he is going to win the nomination (or be the nominee). Now we are going to see an offensive that will make the masses actually like (and vote for) Romney, and it will start with the next debate.
Romney is nothing more than an empty suit with a plastic head. The sooner we get thiss clown out of the race the better. Obama may have gone back on all his promises, but at least he made it look believable.
I agree with those who believe it is not in America's interest for Romney to be President. The American people turned to Obama because they understood there were serious structural problems in our economy that needed to be solved. For whatever reason, Obama has not tackled them. Romney is not the solution because he would just be a manager of the status quo. He has no heart for the common man. To me, the fact that Romney is always described by the media as the front-runner and presumptive nominee, when he has done nothing to earn that distinction, is reason enough not to vote for him.
I agree with you Pietro. Romney is next in line. I wonder what the powers that be in the Republican Party are thinking when he can't get out of the mid 20% for support?
Egilman: Could only happen in a movie, right? Can't see politicians really doing that now.
@newday: you know it's easy to say things like Romney does not care about the common man but it's a load of crap. He has done more volunteer work than any and all other candidates combined. He spent 30 months serving his church in France. He fixed the SLC Olympics and the served as Governor of Mass for free. There are litteraly hundreds of testimonials floating around from common people where Mitt stepped in to help them out. Everything from shoveling snow from their driveways to helping to dig out tree stumps. You don't serve people like that if you don't care about them.
I'm now ready to refute your next silly argument against him.
Yeah, NewDay, Romney doesn't care about the common man. He is a spoiled Frat-boy type that will do EXACTLY what the GOP establishment wants him to do.
And to Rhino, how about this for a 'silly argument' - Romney was a part of Bain capital, a vulture, er, I mean, venture capital company that would go after perfectly good companies, buy them, gut them, FIRE all of the employees, and sell off the pieces for their own profit.
Romney made his millions throwing people out of work.
Note the term THROWING people out of work, Rhino.
Does all of his volunteer work make up for THROWING PEOPLE OUT OF WORK for profit?
Your turn, Rhino.
Ah yes, the next ever false and silly argument. Romney was a job killer. The link below is to an article form the LA Times. The article does it's best to paint Romney in the same light you just described but do the math. Numbers don't lie. At the end of the day Romney, according to his harshest critics, killed 5,700 jobs. But he created nearly 90,000 jobs with Staples alone. When you start adding in the numbers from Dominos, Sports Authority, Monsanto and about 70 more successful turnarounds your argument starts to look pretty silly.
http://discussions.latimes.com/20/lanews/la-na-romney-bain-20111204/10
Rhino, I cannot see where, after 10 years, Bain capital 'only killed 5700 jobs'. I challenge you to prove that assertion.
OK, fair enough, Prove that Bain capital did 'save' jobs.
In the meantime, I also looked at the L.A Times article, and it seems that they are painting a completely different picture than you are.
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney-bain-20111204,0,1945560,full.story
Rhino, your link points to the DISCUSSIONS page. My link points to the full article.
Now - my argument is - and still is - that Bain made their money by throwing people out of work. I have posted a link that supports my assertion. Can you post any links that prove YOUR assertion that Bain created more jobs than destroyed??
Your move.
Rhino,
I just read all of the comments that were on the citation I provided above. I see where you got your '90,000 jobs created' meme. it also explains why your post pointed to the OPINION pages of that article.
Look, man, it's OK to have an opinion about something, but you CANNOT refute arguments with opinions. You cannot PROVE that Bain created 90,000 jobs because you just read that in an opinion piece. I am sure that my ridicule of your 'research' will prompt you into doing some REAL research and not just parrot what you read in someone's post.
It's OK, Rhino. Maybe you can prove me wrong with a real citation (and I welcome that).
Until next time.
Well done Pietro! Game and set!
I am constantly amazed that people defend Romney, a man who is in this race for his own self interests. My favorite Mitty line? That none of his sons served in the military because helping HIM get elected was the more important thing to do.
That tells you all you need to know about Mitty.
See that's what I love about you libs. You read only what you want and ignore the rest. Game and set? That just made me laugh. If either of you had bothered to read the entire article you would have come across these little gems.
Now a front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, Romney says his
Bain experience shows he knows how to create jobs. He often cites Bain's
investment in a little-known office supply store called Staples, which now
employs more than 90,000 worldwide.
And this one:
In 1994 Bain invested $18.2 million in the start-up of a new steel manufacturing
company in Fort Wayne, Ind., called Steel
Dynamics that is one of the industry leaders in revenue growth. Today that
firm reports $6.3 billion in revenue, nearly 25 times the $252.6 million
reported when the company went public in 1996, according to Fred Warner, its the
company's investor relations manager. The company now employs more than 6,000 workers, and its sales growth has made it an industry star.
And last but not least:
Another example of employment increasing under Bain was Epoch Senior Living, a pioneer in the concept of linking nursing homes and assisted-living apartments.
Initially, Bain's investment in 1998 did not go well. But Bain stuck with Epoch,
which had just a few hundred employees. When Bain sold in 2007, investors had
more than doubled their initial $26.4-million investment, and Epoch employed
more than 3,000.
Now I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but by my count that is 99,000 jobs either created or saved under Romney's leadership. Feel free to comb through this article or any other to find where Romney laid off more than 99,000 people. Until you do you must accept the fact that Romney is a job creator. This is not my opinion, this is fact. Then keep in mind, once again that this only three of the 70+ companies that Romney successfully turned around. They are not even the biggest companies. Dominos and Monsanto are both bigger companies though we don't have exact data on how many jobs were created by Romney.
I believe that is game set match!
@ Pietro, & Newday. I just wanted to point out that so far in this thread you two have asserted that Romney is:
1. lazy
2. Does not care about people
3. Is a job killer.
I have proven all three of these assertions to be completely false. How many more do I have to prove before you agree he is a good man to be our president?
newdayDAWNING...RETURNED
I don't think there are any politicians today that would have the iron will to do something like that.
Paul would probably come close, but I don't think even he has that much fortitude.
In today's world with all the bought and paid for candidates, I agree only in the movies.
Feisty: I can't think of two more boring people. Romney and Pawlenty together! What a snooze fest!
No kidding!
It's like having to chose between white toast or bran flakes...
At least we will be talking about flexing another kid of muscle for a while.
Mitt Romney is better qualified to get this country out of the mess it is in than anyone out there. If he does not get elected, we will have more of the same problems we have now only much worse.
Hey Mike-4476664, if s-mitt-en was as well qualified as you claim, how come the g-oops-p's keep looking for someone that can stand up against President Obama and win???
Mike-4476664, all Mitt will do is break the country into little pieces and sell them to the highest bidder. Thats his specialty.
Well put, mike430.
Yep. The republicans have asseled around and gotten themselves a race for the Presidential nomination with the leading contenders being "Mitt Romney" and "Newt Gingrich". Hee,hee. Damn fine organization there GOP. A producer of "snake oil" and his "shy supplier".
"Earn It With Mitt"?
Earn what? The Republican nomination? The Presidency?
Romney is definitely going to have to earn those--too much flip-flopping, and doubts among conservatives to overcome along the way.
The article doesn't provide any explanation of the slogan, so I went to Romney's site, and there is no explanation there either.
Romney remains vague and opaque.
"Earn It" by protecting the 1% maybe?
Interesting, Gingrich spins his flip-flops, Bachmann completely denies she ever said what is quoted, and Romney really believes he has always been consistent.
Romney has to be vague and opaque because there isn't anything there.
You sound like what you look like he haw!
comfortable - my concept of obama as well...
However, Obama does on occassion demand that his ideas needs to be passed right away, probably because once looking beyomd the rhetoric and looking at his rare written policies the shortsightedness of his ideas becomes apparent.
Almost reminds me of the politicians in europe and their soverign debt correction plans. The markets get all excted about that days rhetoric and when they realize what was actually said the markets go south again shortly thereafter.
@ "independent thinking atheist"...I've read several of your posts and I must respectfully request that you remove your middle name.
Romney said, "And by the way, there are always a few folks who are not happy to see you and let you know that."
Mitt will be seeing a lot of that sort of attitude in the primaries. He had better get used it.
Such is the life of a politician, they all have to understand this. I am pretty sure that it is taught in politics 101.
Beware. He's Got Bette Davis's Smile
By Bob Shrum:
In Mitt Romney's America, unemployment could escalate — or soar — as he prematurely slashed the budget and drained demand from a fragile economy. His long-term fiscal policy — which tracks Rep. Paul Ryan's draconian model — could turn the next recession into a depression; it would shred the social safety net and devastate programs ranging from college loans to research and development and environmental protections. (Listen to the cheers from the science-denying fringe.) The wealthy would never be asked to pay their fair share by a president who would never risk alienating Grover Norquist. And Romney's enmity toward regulation would invite a repetition of the 2008 financial crash.
And Mitt Romney's America would be a narrow and bigoted place, too. He opposed the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." He's proposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages. His Supreme Court nominees would tip the balance and overturn Roe v. Wade. And what about civil rights? Romney has become an immigrant-baiter who now wants to build that "danged fence" along the border. The co-chair of his Justice Advisory Committee is Robert Bork, who called the 1964 Civil Rights Act "unsurpassed ugliness". On issues of equality, Mitt Romney's America would look a lot like Ted Kennedy's famous description of Robert Bork's America, where "rigid ideology will tip the scales of justice against the kind of country [this] is and ought to be."
************************
Not a hit piece. These are just the facts.
So Willard, all the hard work by Americans for equality and social justice is not going to be undone by you or any other Norquist puppet.
You're an insult to all that has been good for American families for generations. We just work Mitt. We don't send our money off shore. We invest here in America. We build. We educate. We do charity work. We support local teams. We support local businesses. We educate ourselves.
And then we vote for whatever is best for struggling working Americans.
btw,
Mitt doesn't believe in the wealthy having their taxes raised to help the economy. Only he lies about it. He makes it sound as though we the working people are having our taxes raised. It's a lie.
And President Obama is, as we speak, seeing our troops come home from Iraq. A war that Mitt so gallantly felt our sons, daughters, husbands, nephews, nieces should have fought for no good reason.
How much did that war cost us? So much that he is now planning on taking away all the programs that have made this country proud.
We the people will have to pay for your mistake Mitt. That's how little you think of us.
You and Norquist and the rest of your rich GOP friends are cowards.
Mitt is a proven successful manager
WHAT HAS obama done ,
Never worked for Mitt or any of his minions, didya?
Buffaloes scored a solid goal without any need for an assist! Very well played!
Yeah like he proved how he could lay-off all those people in Indiana back in the day....Remember that when he ran for the Senate for Kennedys seat?
Romeny is not a proven successful manager. His corporation bought up ailing companies, laid off people, sent jobs overseas, and sold at a profit. How does that equate to running a country. Being a president means you have to care about the citizens of that country. Running a corporation does not give you that experience.
*Darrel Segers*
President Obama has kept this country from going down the tubes... or haven't you heard?
Oh, I got it!!! you just listen to the foxes grawling on tv.
Thank God that the country hasn't tanked yet, whether is be because of Obama's policies, or Congress's refusal to let Obama's policies through, just thank god it hasn't tanked yet.
Of course we must understand, that mittney is only trying to get into position to pull the plug.........to benefit himself, IF we let him.
Mitt is wasting his time. Tell him to stop putting shoe polish in his hair...makes him look un-secure with himself. peace
You're right, Romney is a good manager. But America doesn't need a manager, it needs a leader.
Because you are unemployed right?
President Obama is going to wipe the floor with romney. I'll bet he will NOT get anymore that 2% of the black vote. Blacks know what mormans think of them and he will never be able to talk his way out of that. BTW, ladies, read up on what mormans think of women also.
Romney is throwing good money after bad. He can't win the nomination. Would probably help him if he stopped putting shoe polish in his hair. peace
'Organizational muscle' is a euphemism for 'mormon church hierarchy'
"Earn sh't with Mitt"
The big question that nobody asked of these candidates is "Why do you want to be President"?
My take on Romney is the same of George Bush - George was decried by his Mom as not being the sharpest knife in the drawer and when his dad was a one term President went out to prove he was better than dad - look at me mom
Romney's dad ran for president and his moment of being "brainwashed" in Viet Nam even though he never served lost his election - another son out to prove a vindication of his dad
Sorry for being an amateur physiologist - (spelling) but that's my take on these two men
Both Fathers failures in the worlds eyes and both sons trying to vindicate or be better for their Moms
Somebody out there talk to me if I have this wrong
You have it exactly right. I am so glad that the American people seem to be getting it right about Romney's candidacy, as well. I wish him well, but he is not Presidential timber.
Romney attacked the president for his 17-day holiday vacation.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
After dealing with the greed, corruption and what's in it for me attitude of the organized crime family also known as the Republican party for 3 years President Obama has earned a vacation.
After all, it takes a lot out of a man to deal with so many morons on a daily basis.
George W literally set the record for days off during his 8-year tenure.
.
I suppose it didn't really count since Cheney was actually the one running things 24/7...
What goes on in NH stays in NH.
Why is the focus still on Mitt Romney? Don't you know that every article of this kind makes the American people even more disgusted and even less likely to vote for Romney? It is said that when the American people don't want their government any more, it is their obligation to get a new one. Well, I don't want the media any more, particularly biased rags like FOX News and MSNBC.
Ron Paul will only vote legally. He is the most trust worthy man in the field. If congress brings him a bill that is not supported by our constitution, as president he will VETO it. This is what Ron Paul is about. If the law is good enough to be supported by an amendment to our constitution, then he is all for amending the constitution. Congress needs to uphold the Constitution. Our founding fathers would be proud of this man. We have got to get all of these special interest guys out of office, and put people in that care about freedom and liberty! Ron Paul is a good guy. I hope his running mate is Rand! That would be awesome. If anyone one of these other guys that are running for president gets elected then our country will go bankrupt, almost immediately. The Amero will be the new form of currency in Mexico, United States, and Canada. Our constitution will no longer exist. This is a last ditch effort to save our constitution, before all that we have worked so hard for is lost. Don't let the men and women that have fought and died for our country, die in vain, to a socialist that doesn't care about our country and our way of thinking. LET FREEDOM RING! Ron Paul 2012!
Ron Paul peed in a horse once.
Medical FACT.
Mittens is getting nervous. NH is must win for him or he is finished. The Mittens line that always crackes me up is "I'm not a Washington insider". That is true but not for lack of trying. You have to win first. How can anyone like him when no one knows what he stands for? The right wing has a lot of good reasons to be nervous about Mittens. Newt will be a hard sell too. Women in general don't like him. Go figure.
Less goverment means more freedom for you and me to do as we please.
Vote Dr Ron Paul for President of the United States of America 2012.
Romney and Gingrich are the same book with a different cover as Obama.
Romney Ouote: "The older I get, the smarter Ronald Reagan gets."
The only thing Romney knows!!! Save the rich and destroy the middle class, the elderly, and poor!!
Today: THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER!!!
FACTS: Reagan was a Republican!!! Reagan cut the marginal tax rate on the wealthiest of Americans from 70% to 38%. He promised it would spur an orgy of investment and rocket the economy to new levels of production and prosperity. Instead, his supply side economics did the exact opposite. It produced the deepest recession since the Great Depression.
The comment above proves haw smart Reagan was!!!
Republicans are living in a dream world!!
This is the President that rocketed America to new heights!!!
Bill Clinton reversed Reagan’s course, raising taxes on the wealthy, and lowering them for the working and middle classes. This produced the longest sustained economic expansion in American history. Importantly, it also produced budgetary surpluses allowing the government to begin paying down the crippling debt begun under Reagan. In 2000, Clintons last year, the surplus amounted to $236 billion. The forecast ten year surpluses stood at $5.6 trillion. It was the last black ink America would see for decades, perhaps forever.
Now all Mitt has to do is get people to like him. He seems likeable enough, but he also reminds one of Thomas E. Dewey--stiff and unapproachable, not the sort of fellow you'd like to sit and have a beer with.