Mitt Romney woke from his photo-finish win in Iowa facing two new forces that will shape the next stage of the fight for the Republican presidential nomination: the rise of a fresh social-conservative champion in Rick Santorum and the emergence of a highly motivated foe in Newt Gingrich.It's going to be interesting.
With libertarian Ron Paul coming off his own strong finish and ready to join in the criticism, Mr. Romney now must gird for a multifront attack in New Hampshire and South Carolina, the next two states in the primary calendar and the places where he hopes to convince voters he is the party's best choice to go up against President Barack Obama.
Mr. Romney enters the next battle better prepared than any of his opponents financially and organizationally. Helping make the case that he has the confidence of the GOP establishment, the former Massachusetts governor won the endorsement Wednesday of Sen. John McCain, the 2008 nominee and a longtime New Hampshire favorite.
But Mr. Romney emerges from Iowa with only a faint wind at his back, beating by a mere eight votes a challenger, in Mr. Santorum, who was given little chance just days earlier. Mr. Romney barely exceeded his own losing vote tally in Iowa from 2008 and had limited success in winning over Iowa's young voters and independents, as well as some elements of its conservative Republican base.
The latest polls put Mr. Romney up by a wide margin in New Hampshire but trailing Mr. Gingrich in South Carolina. He now will be buffeted by his rivals, with several questioning the depth and authenticity of his conservative credentials from different angles. Added to that mix is the more moderate Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who has staked his future on a strong showing next Tuesday in New Hampshire and has blasted Mr. Romney there for weeks.
See also, "Gingrich super PAC to attack Romney."
0 comments:
Post a Comment