Gaining ground
January 11, 2012
New Hampshire was a home game for Mitt Romney. The 64-year-old is no stranger to the state. He owns a vacation home in New Hampshire and was governor of neighboring Massachusetts from 2002 to 2006. So the actual question was not whether Romney would win the primary there, but rather by how much. He won 39.4 percent of the vote, well ahead of his nearest rival Texas congressman Ron Paul, who secured 22.8 percent. Romney was visibly pleased during his victory speech.
"Tonight we made history," he told his cheering supporters, which is actually true. Since 1976, no Republican contender for the presidential candidacy has won both Iowa and New Hampshire. The fact that Romney's win in Iowa was only by a margin of eight votes doesn't play a role anymore. With these two victories, he has considerable tailwind for the next primary in South Carolina on January 21 - and could win there, as well.
"If that happens, he'll be the de facto nominee," Andrew Smith, a political scientist at the University of New Hampshire, told foreign journalists.
Talking like a president already
Romney presented himself to his supporters in a truly presidential manner and didn't waste any time with his Republican opponents in his victory speech. Rather, he directly laid into President Barack Obama.
"This president takes his inspiration from the capitals of Europe. We look to the cities and towns across America for our inspiration," he said. "This president puts his faith in government. We put our faith in the American people." Romney repeated the conservative motto to reduce the influence of the government in Washington on the lives of Americans, as well as cutting the national debt.
"This president is making the federal government bigger, burdensome and bloated," he said. "I will make the federal government simpler, smaller and smarter. He raised the national debt. I will cut cap and balance the federal budget." Romney also touched on Obama's foreign policy.
"Internationally President Obama has adopted an appeasement strategy. He believes America's role as leader in the world is a thing of the past," Romney said. "I believe a strong America must and will lead the future. He doesn't see the need for overwhelming American military superiority. I will insist on a military so powerful no one would ever think of challenging it."
Paul hopes for influence
But the race isn't decided yet. Romney's opponents are all still in the running. Paul was visibly enthusiastic about his good results, as well. In Iowa, he had taken third place.
But his momentum could go up in smoke after the vote in South Carolina at the latest when the campaign machinery moves from the smaller to larger states. Then, it's the money that counts and not the enthusiastic supporters which Paul can currently count on. However, perhaps what matters more for the libertarian Paul is making his ideas heard.
"There is no doubt that this whole effort that we are involved in will not go unnoticed, let me tell you," he told his supporters in New Hampshire.
Paul, like the other Republican candidates, is in favor of cutting government influence, but is more radical in his views. And, as opposed to the others, he wants to cut the military budget and reduce the deployment of US troops to a minimum.
The third man
Jon Huntsman was happy about coming in third with 16.8 percent of the votes. President Obama's former ambassador to China wasn't really present in Iowa but rather placed all his cards on New Hampshire. It was a strategy that paid off.
"I'd say third place is a ticket to ride, ladies and gentlemen," Huntsman said. "Hello South Carolina!"
But for him too, it is unlikely that he will be able to keep up with the financially-strong Romney for much longer. Experts assume that he is only getting warmed up to run for president in 2016 or is seeking a cabinet post if a Republican does win the presidential elections this year.
Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich brought up the rear in New Hampshire, both winning some nine percent. Santorum, the Christian conservative former senator of Pennsylvania and surprising runner-up in Iowa, can consider his New Hampshire results a respectable success.
For Gingrich, it's the logical outcome of a strategic decision. He had resolved to focus his energy on the next primary in South Carolina. The former speaker of the House of Representatives is expected to have considerably better chances in the southern state. The same holds true for Rick Perry, the governor of Texas.
Romney could therefore face strong headwinds in South Carolina. He certainly hasn't won the candidacy yet. But Republican voters appear to be getting used to the idea of voting for a man who is not the most conservative among the candidates, but the one who could become the most dangerous opponent for President Obama.
Author: Christina Bergmann, Washington, DC / sac
Editor: Rob Mudge