HOOKSETT, N.H. — Mitt Romney’s forceful claim to the front-runner mantle in a previously muddled GOP field was on full display Monday, just hours before a critical Republican debate in a state in which he is lapping all other Republican contenders for the White House.
The former Massachusetts governor, a known commodity with most New Hampshire voters, has maintained steady approval with a sizable swath of conservatives while candidates like Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann have come crashing down just as fast as they shot to the top among disgruntled Republicans still clamoring for a savior.
In Granite State town-hall events Monday, Romney was content to avoid political minefields by focusing almost entirely on President Obama’s largest liability — a slowly rebounding economy.
At a veterans’ post in Milford, Romney mocked Obama for creating a “Where’s Waldo economy” in which “finding a good paying job in this economy is harder than finding Waldo in one of his books.” And in a textbook display of retail politicking, speaking in front of a mom-and-pop store nestled between a modest fire station and railroad tracks, Romney said that Obama is “in over his head when it comes to the economy.”
Much to Romney’s liking, the next Republican debate on Tuesday at Dartmouth College will concentrate exclusively on economic issues, which analysts said would likely reinforce his strongest attributes with a public focused intently on job creation.
“Romney has carved out enough fiscal conservatives and establishment conservatives,” said Patrick Griffin, a senior fellow at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. “The one thing Republicans agree on more than anything else is they want Obama out. Romney is making a good case and my sense is that many in the party will want to end this [nominating contest] relatively early.”
A new poll released Monday by the Institute of Politics at Harvard University and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics reinforces Romney’s slow-but-steady strategy.
As a favored son of New England, Romney was favored by 38 percent of likely voters. Georgia businessman Herman Cain was chosen by 20 percent of respondents and Texas Rep. Ron Paul had 13 percent. None of the remaining candidates garnered more than 5 percent. Perry, who has plummeted in the polls since joining the race in August, got just 4 percent.
Despite Romney’s aura of electability, the former Bay State governor has yet to generate widespread excitement among GOP voters. In contrast, a swiftly rising Cain will replace Perry next to Romney at center stage during the debate at Dartmouth, where positions were decided by poll numbers.
And in recent days, Romney has been forced to defend his Mormon faith, a topic on which he spoke forcefully during his 2008 campaign but has largely avoided this time around. Last week, a megachurch pastor and supporter of Perry referred to Romney’s religion as a “cult,” igniting a firestorm in a conference for social conservatives in Washington.
But in New Hampshire, that dustup went largely unnoticed.
“I don’t care about that stuff,” Hooksett’s Nancy Pieretti said of Romney, who made millions running a private equity firm before entering politics. “He knows how to run a business. He’s strong on the economy. If anyone deserves a shot to turn this around, he does.”
