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Subscribe to RSSLONDONDERRY, N.H. -- Mitt Romney sought to thread the expectations needle about how he must perform in Iowa's caucuses during his return to the campaign trail Tuesday morning.
The former Massachusetts governor downplayed expectations for his campaign's performance in the Jan. 3 caucuses, saying it wasn't a "must-win" contest, all while hinting that he'll be setting up shop in Iowa over the next week.
"You always want to do well in every state. I don't think there's any must win state for anybody," a relaxed Romney said at a cafe in southern N.H. "But for me, I want to do well in all the states and get a good start but I really can't set expectations. A couple of weeks ago I was a distant third in Iowa and you just don't know what's going to happen in this process."
Romney's sought to tamp down expectations about his viability in Iowa throughout the primary cycle. He skipped the Ames straw poll and several other key candidate gatherings in the state. But, with caucus-goers seemingly unable to rally behind a single conservative candidate, Romney's campaign has made a late push in the state, spending more time on the ground, and going on the air with television advertising.
But the Romney campaign has also been careful to hedge its bets in Iowa, mindful of the way Romney's candidacy was burned in 2008 by a poor showing in the caucuses after having invested a great deal of time and resources there. But a win or strong finish there, paired with a victory in New Hampshire, where Romney's campaign has been more intently focused and he leads in the polls, could come close to clinching the nomination early for Romney.
"Of course you want to do well in every state, you'd like to win in every state but that's not gonna happen. I hope to do well enough to 1,150 delegates. So I'm looking at a good start and an even better finish," Romney said of the overall race.
But in perhaps a sly hint of where he'll be spending the next week, he told Granite Staters as he left this morning's event: "See you January 4!"
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You know, I can almost understand why the GOP/TP wants anybody but Willard. But, then again, they do deserve him.
He even flip flops on whether he is trying to win in Iowa. Geesh.
Romney is the only repub with the problem solving skills to do the job. Cain is out. Newt has too much dirt. The others don't have enough real world experience.
Please. Romney cannot solve the problem of Romney. He needs to pick which one of himself is actually running.
has he decided yet whether he is in favor of continuing the Social Security tax cut?? Or is he the type that follows the policy if you ignore a problem long enough it will go away?
Dr Paul just picked up a MAJOR endorsement in Iowa...
ANKENY, Iowa – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul was endorsed today by renowned pastor, theologian, and prolific author Rev. Phillip G. Kayser, Ph.D.
Rev. Kayser is the Senior Pastor of Dominion Covenant Church based in Omaha, Nebraska. The Church has a national footprint including in Iowa where Ron Paul, the 12-term Congressman from Texas, is competing in the January 3, 2012 caucus.
In making his endorsement, Dr. Kayser mentioned he was doing so as a private citizen and not on behalf of his congregation and the organizations with which he is affiliated.
Dr. Kayser has degrees in education, theology and philosophy/ethics. He is the author of over 40 books and booklets.
Dr Paul is getting stronger and stronger all the time....
Mittens is a joke, anybody who thinks this man can do anything other than make more bankers rich, is a moron and they deserve him!!!
I thought Mitt was bad until I found out that Newt Gingrich introduced legislation (H.R. 41) in 1997 to extend the death penalty to consensual crimes. Mitt was right, Newt is ZANY! I'd like to see Ron Paul as president, but he doesn't stand a chance. The only practical difference between Mitt's big government and Obama's big government is that Mitt wants to invade Iran and Obama does not. Either way, we are getting a big government candidate in 2012. Four more years of big taxes, big government and big deficits!
Why does the liberal press and writers always print articles about Romney and Gingrich and not the front runner in Iowa which is Ron Paul?.......I can answer the question for you if you are too bashful to admit it.......Ron Paul will attempt to abide by our constitution that our forefathers gave to us, the liberals don't want that, they had rather see mealy mouthed politicians who promise but never produce, they had rather see the U.S. in debt so that the government can issue its hand out checks to everyone making them dependent on big government, and the liberals certainly don't want to see someone get rid of the Federal Reserve and the paper money it prints out of thin air holding us hostage to the Rothchilds, Rockefeller, and other old money dynasties who forced Wilson to sign it into law, politicians are deathly afraid that Ron Paul will turn our country around and make citizens again proud to be Americans.....
B. Stone-2197157
Don't lay it all on the Democrat/MSM doorstep, Fox News is leading the attack dogs trying to discredit the Good Dr. The establishment republicans dont like his platform either. (but they love usurping it to try and draw votes ;-0))
Just make up your minds and lets vote. I will vote for anyone not named obama.