In pretty much every poll heading into New Hampshire’s Tuesday primary, the percentage of voters who say they will vote for Mitt Romney seems to be slipping, but so far no other candidate has managed to attract enough support to credibly threaten him.
In the Suffolk University tracking poll, Romney has fallen from a high of 43% before the Iowa caucuses, to just 35% last night. But over that same time frame, Ron Paul has only risen from16% to 20%. And Rick Santorum, who saw his support rise to as much as 11% after Iowa, has slipped back down to 8%. Jon Huntsman, meanwhile, has moved from a low of 7% to 11%.
The WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll shows some similar movement. Just after Iowa, they had Romney at 44%, Paul at 20%, Santorum at 8%, and Huntsman at 7%. Now they have Romney falling to 41%, Paul falling to 17%, and Santorum and Huntsman both rising to 11%.
All this is great news for Rick Perry. If Santorum had gone straight to South Carolina, he could have held on to his Iowa momentum through the January 21st contest. But now that he has fought hard in New Hampshire, his likely fourth place finish there will give him the look of a loser, if only temporarily.
Campaign 2012
Huntsman: The Washington Examiner‘s Tim Carney looks at Jon Huntsman’s record as governor of Utah and says he governed as a conservative, but looks at his rhetoric on the campaign trail and concludes he is running as a moderate.
Romney: A Wall Street Journal analysis of 77 companies Bain invested in while Mitt Romney was CEO, shows that 22% either filed for bankruptcy reorganization or closed their doors by the end of the eighth year after Bain first invested.
Santorum: The Wall Street Journal reviews Rick Santorum’s economic plan and concludes: “Mr. Santorum is essentially agreeing with liberals who think the tax code should be used to pursue social and political goals.”
Gingrich: Billionaire casino owner and Newt Gingrich supporter Sheldon Adelson will spend $5 million on a Super PAC ad in South Carolina helping President Obama attack Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital. “I don’t think a Milton Friedman or a Hayek would say to you, rich guys have to go and rip off companies and leave a wreckage behind,” Gingrich told The Washington Examiner‘s Byron York. “I think that’s plundering. I don’t think that’s capitalism.”
Florida: Quinnipiac University released a poll of Florida Republican primary voters showing Mitt Romney ahead with 36%, Newt Gingrich falling to 24%, and Rick Santorum rising to 16%.
Around the Bigs
The New York Times, Iran Trumpets Nuclear Ability at a Second Location: Iran’s top nuclear official announced this weekend that the country planned to start producing enriched uranium at a second site.
The Los Angeles Times, Renewable energy projects in California go unused: Millions of dollars in renewable energy projects intended to provide power to facilities in California’s national parks and forests are sitting idle due to federal regulation of electricity contracting.
Righty Playbook
Tony Blankley, former editorial page editor of The Washington Times, died late Saturday. He had been fighting stomach cancer for years.
RedState‘s Erick Erickson looks at Rick Santorum’s record and concluded he is “what a big government conservative looks like.”
AEI‘s James Pethokoukis asks, “Why is Romney doing such a lousy job defending his record at Bain Capital?”
Lefty Playbook
Talking Points Memo‘s posts the preview for Gingrich’s new Bain attack ad and comments: “It really is right out of the Swift Boat witch’s brew, the camp lighting, rumbling black clouds, the cinematography of 30 second hit ads expanded out longform.”
The Washington Monthly‘s Steve Benen collects a list of what he calls “the Republican frontrunner’s most offensive falsehoods.”
Daily Kos‘ Chris Bowers explains why Democrats are close to defeating Republican efforts to make Indiana a right-to-work state.
