Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is ahead in the polls in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary -- and even won the backing of three key local sheriffs -- but former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich took a major prize in the Granite State this weekend.
Gingrich won the endorsement of the New Hampshire Union Leader, the iconic conservative paper that helped the likes of Ronald Reagan and Pat Buchanan to triumphs in the Granite State. Joseph McQuaid, the publisher of the paper, endorsed Gingrich in a front-page editorial that ran on Sunday.
America is at a crucial crossroads. It is not going to be enough to merely replace Barack Obama next year. We are in critical need of the innovative, forward-looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing, McQuaid wrote. He did so with the Contract with America. He did it in bringing in the first Republican House in 40 years and by forging balanced budgets and even a surplus despite the political challenge of dealing with a Democratic president. A lot of candidates say they're going to improve Washington. Newt Gingrich has actually done that, and in this race he offers the best shot of doing it again.
Romney supporters countered Monday morning by focusing on New Hampshire. Conservative pundit Ann Coulter took to Fox News on Monday and dismissed McQuaids endorsement, noting that he had backed John McCain for the Republican nomination in 2008 and noting that William and Nackey Loeb had been the publishers who backed Reagan and Buchanan.
The Romney camp unveiled its latest round of New Hampshire endorsements on Monday as three sheriffs -- Mike Downing of Rockingham County, Craig Wiggin of Belknap County and Michael Prozzo of Sullivan County -- backed the former Massachusetts governor.
I am proud to have earned the endorsements of these outstanding New Hampshire sheriffs, said Romney in a statement released Monday. I am grateful for their support and am pleased that they have joined my campaign to shrink government, cut taxes for the middle class and create jobs.
For three years, President Obama has failed to turn around our struggling economy. We have seen an increase in evictions and foreclosures. People need jobs, real jobs, to pay their rent and mortgages. Those that are released after being incarcerated have an even harder time finding employment and reintegrating into society.The cycle has to stop and people need results, not empty promises, said Downing. Mitt Romney has spent 25 years in the private sector balancing budgets, growing companies and creating jobs. He understands how our economy works and how to get our country back on track. Mitt has the experience, knowledge and skills required to lead our country and to defeat President Obama in 2012.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
