A Granite State Home Base For Romney?
Former MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R), who is writing a book on the direction of the country and has signed on to be one of the national spokesmen for the upstart National Council for a New America, which aims to revive the GOP, appears to be taking a third step in possibly positioning for another run for the White House--making his primary residence at the family home in New Hampshire, the site of the first-in-the-nation presidential contest.
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said that the former governor is in the process of opening up the Lake Winnipesaukee house this month and "will be spending more time on the East Coast." Since last year's election, Romney has been busy selling houses in Utah and Belmont, MA.
Asked where Romney will establish a primary residence for the purposes of paying taxes and voting, Fehrnstrom demurred. "I have no announcements to make on residency," he said. "He just recently closed on selling his Belmont house and, as of now, he's still registered to vote in Massachusetts."
But sources familiar with Romney's activities say the Republican, whose 2008 presidential campaign fizzled, intends to make his primary residence at the family vacation home in Wolfeboro, NH, which is also a favorite vacation spot of Romney's children and grandchildren.
Romney is also maintaining a new home in the San Diego area, where his second eldest son, Matt, lives with his wife and four children; and his wife, Ann, enjoys the warm weather and riding, which is therapeutic for her multiple sclerosis, diagnosed in 1998. She is also recovering from a pre-invasive condition of breast cancer that was treated in December 2008.
Romney has already established a beachhead in the Granite State; in March, his Free and Strong America PAC registered with the NH Secretary of State's office. The PAC made a $1,000 contribution to former GOP congressman Jeb Bradley, who won a special election for a state Senate seat that includes Wolfeboro on April 21. Bradley did not endorse in the 2008 GOP presidential primary.
Meanwhile, Romney supporters from the 2008 New Hampshire primary--which he narrowly lost to eventual GOP nominee, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)--continue to stay in touch with each other. His state campaign manager, Jim Merrill, keeps up a busy e-mail communication with Romney supporters in the state and occasionally meets with them. "We stay in close contact," said Merrill, who added that he performs this task "on my own" and not in coordination with Romney's PAC.
"No doubt in my mind that they are doing the necessary maintenance to keep their network in New Hampshire together," noted veteran Granite State GOP operative Mike Dennehy, who was a senior adviser to McCain's 2008 campaign.
Establishing residency in NH could raise expectations for Romney's performance in the state's 2012 primary, but the state is also flush with important contests in the upcoming 2010 midterm elections, where Romney could lend a hand. First and foremost for Republicans, NH will host a critical Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Judd Gregg (R). At this point in the cycle, Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes is the only announced candidate, and with recent trends in the state, the seat is a top target for Democratic pick up. What's more, Romney's Wolfeboro home is in the 1st Congressional District, represented by Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, who is likely to face a strong Republican challenge by Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta. In both races Romney's help--and even his vote--could matter.
At the same time, a case could be made for Romney to establish residency in CA instead. Romney's loss to McCain in the Golden State on Super Tuesday last year was the death knell for his candidacy, given the state's large share of delegates. Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is a strong GOP contender for the open gubernatorial contest to replace outgoing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), while Democrats barrel toward a competitive primary. Whitman originally endorsed Romney and assisted him in his primary campaign before he ended his bid, and former Romney campaign staffers are flocking to Whitman's effort. And former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a top McCain surrogate, is looking seriously at a challenge to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA).
(ERIN McPIKE and JAMES A. BARNES)
Governor Romney and his wonderful family whom I met as one of his supporters during the last presidential primary would be welome here in New Hampshire. Maybe Governor Romney could make some history and run for Governor in New Hampshire in 2010. His strong fical policies are sorely needed in a State that currently has a $243M deficit and a democrat-controlled legislature that is unwilling to cut spending to be in line with current revenues. Instead they propose multiple new taxes including a 5% capital gains tax, an 8% "death" tax, 15 cent increase in the gas tax,a new 10% tax on gambling winnings over $600, 10% increase in the meals and rooms tax and a 25 cent increase in the tobacco tax. Governor Romney would not stand for that as our current Governor does nothing to reduce spending.
SoCal would be perfect for Romney.
Mitt rocks! How about a Senate run in 2010?
New Hampshire is necessary for any Presidential contender. I believe that the NH GOP would warmly welcome Gov. Romney with open arms. He has the NH Yankee values that our citizens understand and yearn for. Everywhere Gov. Romney goes he lights up the room with anticipation and excitement as he is a natural leader, something that our country desperately needs right now.
I say welcome home to Governor Romney and family...
New Hampshire would welcome Romney because we are open and friendly people, but the days of a dominant Republican party are over. When places like Dixville Notch and Hart's Location went Democratic in the national election it was clear that political thinking had shifted. Remember, McCain has always been popular here, but Obama took every single county in the state.
Romney was respected and liked by many here as a known person from a neighboring state, but he is not a New Hampshire person. It would embarass him if he ran for Governor or the Senate because he would lose to much less imposing personalities.
If the GOP is serious about rebuilding in the Granite State they will frame themselves in a libertarian manner. We are of mixed opinions here, but there is a common thread of that philosophy especially among Independent voters, and they are essential now in any contest. That will require moderating policy on social issues.
Romney seems ok.
It would be nice if he wouldn't consistently slander his opponents and be a bit classier. He was a bit unfair to Huck and he seems a bit threatened by Palin. He really should focus on himself and figure out what he believes in. Comes off as a car salesman rather than a principled conservative leader.
Oh and try the Reagan conservatism not the Bush conservatism Romney. One's good for America, the other is for globalist sellouts.
I hate to say it, but as a Mass. resident and Republican who voted for Romney- twice (Sen '94, Gov. '02)- this guy has turned out to be little more than an opportunistic carpetbagger, with very few core convictions that can't be altered to fit in with whatever electorate he is attempting to ingratiate himself with. And an ineffective Governor to boot; far lesss effective than former GOP MA Govs. Weld and Cellucci, little more than acting Gov. Swift.
Don't buy the hype.
Mitt Romney is a political chameleon. He's reversed his position on virtually every major issue for his own expediency. I still can't understand how the most liberal state in the union could fall for it and elect him twice. It's one of the great modern political mysteries no one seems to comment about.
If we had Mitt Romney as President our Country would be far better off than we are today. The Obama administration has fumbled each and every opportunity to instill even the smallest amount of confidence in our economy. Mitt would have been a wonderful turn around specialist for the USA on this complicated problem. Instead, we ended up with a social "scientist" with zero business experince as captain of a ship rapidly taking on water. Experience matters.
Did Mitt Romney start a form of state health care in MA that is now almost bankrupt? I am sure I heard that somewhere. And we really want him for president. I for one would not want that. Of course, with Obama it's probably gonna happen before the next election anyway.
MITT ROMNEY WILL MAKE A GREAT PRESIDENT IN 2012 HE WILL GET THIS COUNTRY BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK NOT WAY OUT IN LEFT FEILD LIKE OBAMA ! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GINGRICH/ ROMNEY OR ROMNEY/GINGRICH IN 2012 ROMNEY EVEN LOOKS LIKE A PRESIDENT !
I'm leery of any so called "conservative" that can get elected governor of Massachusetts. The Dems own that place lock, stock and barrel. Given the chance the people there wouldn't even do away with their state income tax. Really the only news I want to hear out of NH is that they have switched to a closed primary. If NH is so important to Republicans why do we allow Dems and people who aren't even residents of the granite state to choose our primary winner?
Howeecarr
We have seen what Cadillac Deval has done for MA. Together We Can is now replaced with Incompetency We Can Believe In. Deval for comparison has been pretty much the absentee Governor with his Autobiography deals, campaigning for President Obama, Boondoggles in China, and paling out with his hollyweird friends in Hollywood.
All candidates, including Mitt, pretty much took off the two years prior to the National Elections to run for office. Look Obama spent 80% of his Senate career on the road campaigning. McCain was wondering around the country like an crazy old man and Hillary was out of her senate seat as well.
Putting all aside, I do like Mitt Romney. I am a conservative Democratic. I think he has learned a lot and can do a lot better than most of the boobs in office at the moment.
Plus look at Obama has been the Biggest Flip Flopper in history on the war on Iraq, Earmarks, campaign Financing, Tax Cheat Cabinet members, etc.. Change we can believe in or More of OBUSHma
NH is a no brainer for Mittens: no income tax.
Love that loyalty to Massachussetts he was bragging about last time around...!
We hear in Iowa (the other white state) seem to have dodged the bullet. First in the nation caucus, too blue for you, Mittens?
Get real, we NEED Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann in 2012. Or maybe a Palin/Wurtzleberger ticket. Romney is a lizard skinned liberal with a capital "L".
Palin/Bachmann are the winning ticket - the TRUE republicans and the successor to Reagan and Lincoln.