Despite being bested in three national polls this week by Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts looked to focus on the first two states that will determine the Republican presidential nomination in 2012: Iowa and New Hampshire.
Romney, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, had been leading in most polls before Perry entered the race earlier in the month. While he had ignored the Iowa straw poll in Ames -- an event he won back in 2007 -- Romney came in a disappointing seventh, behind Perry who had been a write-in candidate.
Romney looked to build his campaign in Iowa this week. While he may have played down the straw poll, a poll released from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to Democrats, found that Romney remained a contender to win the Hawkeye State. The PPP poll had Perry leading in Iowa with 22 percent while Romney came in second with 19 percent. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who won the straw poll in Ames, was right on Romneys heels with 18 percent, while U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who placed second in Ames, was in the mix with 16 percent.
Rolling out Endorsements in Iowa
On Wednesday, Romney announced that he had won the endorsements of Iowa Rep. Linda Miller, R-Betterndorf, Dallas County Recorder Chad Airhart and two conservative activists -- Kristin Moran of Sioux City and Jacqui Norman of Ames.
I am grateful to receive the support of so many great leaders in Iowa, said Romney. We will work together to turn around the economy, put Americans back to work and reverse the failed policies of the last three years.
Mitt Romney is the candidate we need to put this country back on the right track, said Miller. As governor, he balanced the budget and created jobs without raising taxes. He knows what is needed to get the economy moving again and has the private-sector and government experience to do just that.
Sights on New Hampshire
Romney also turned his attention to New Hampshire where he has been campaigning this week. Polls have consistently showed that the Granite State, which holds the first presidential primary, is a citadel for Romney.
Former New Hampshire state Senate President Tom Eaton announced on Wednesday that he was backing Romney and campaigned with him in Keene.
With 25 years of experience in the private sector, Mitt Romney knows how our economy works and how to promote pro-growth policies that will produce jobs, insisted Eaton. Mitt is the strongest candidate to take on President Obama and he has the skills needed to rein in spending, control our exploding deficits and bring fiscal sanity back to Washington. I am proud to support his campaign and look forward to helping him spread his pro-jobs message across the Granite State.
Romney used the Eaton endorsement to highlight his conservative credentials.
Tom Eaton has been a staunch supporter of the traditional New Hampshire principles of lower taxes, limited government and less spending, said Romney. I am honored to have Toms support and am proud to have him join my campaign to create jobs and turn around our struggling economy.
Romney also announced on Wednesday that he was getting the support of a former congressman who had backed him in 2008 but had supported former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlentys presidential bid. Pawlenty pulled out earlier in the month after finishing a distant third in the Iowa straw poll.
The Romney team announced on Wednesday that former Congressman Vin Weber, who had represented Minnesota in Congress from 1981 to 1993, would serve as a policy adviser to Romney.
I am proud to have Vins support, said Romney. Vin will be a trusted adviser and I look forward to working with him to help get our country moving in the right direction again.
It is an honor to again work with Mitt Romney, said Weber who was a co-chairman of the Pawlenty campaign. At such a critical time in our nations history, it is important that we have someone with his background to lead the country. After three years of failed policies, Mitt Romneys record of leadership is what we need to strengthen the country both at home and abroad.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
