Romney’s New Hampshire Firewall Holding
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on November 22nd, 2011 5:39 am by HL
Romney’s New Hampshire Firewall Holding
A new Suffolk University/7NEWS poll in New Hampshire finds Mitt Romney way ahead of the GOP field with 41%, followed by Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich at 14%.
All other candidates were in single digits, including Jon Huntsman at 9%, Herman Cain at 8%, Rick Santorum at 3%, Rick Perry at 2%, and Michele Bachmann at 1%.
Notes pollster David Paleologos: “Every Republican candidate that surges in the national polls hits a firewall in New Hampshire. We’ve seen this with surges from Bachmann, Perry, Cain and now Gingrich. A Romney loss here is highly improbable, and Romney’s best insurance policy in New Hampshire is Ron Paul, whose fixed support takes 14 percent off the table.”
Obama in New Hampshire, Potential Challengers in D.C.
As the Republican presidential prospects arrive in Washington, D.C. for tonight’s CNN debate focused on national security, President Obama will travel to New Hampshire to push Congress to extend the payroll tax cut, according to The Hill.
“The White House brushed off suggestions the president’s trip to the Granite State, which holds the nation’s first presidential primary in seven weeks, was being made with an eye toward 2012… New Hampshire will be an important swing state next year. Obama won it by nine points in 2008, but Romney is practically a favorite son. He was governor of neighboring Massachusetts, owns a summer home in the Granite State and is campaigning heavily to win its primary… As it stands, the payroll tax cut and other provisions, like a patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax and benefits for the unemployed, are set to expire at year’s end.”
Gingrich Jumps Into the Lead
A new Quinnipiac poll finds Newt Gingrich jumping to the front of the GOP presidential field with 26%, followed by Mitt Romney at 22% and Herman Cain at 14%.
Key finding: 48% of Republican voters say that that among all GOP contenders he has the knowledge and experience necessary to be president, compared to Romney’s 22%.
Said pollster Peter Brown: “When it comes to the Republican horse race, the scenario hasn’t changed much over the past few months – just the players. Speaker Newt Gingrich is the latest GOP contender to rise to the top, powered by conservatives who remain skeptical about Gov. Mitt Romney.”
Meanwhile, in general election match ups, President Obama edges Romney, 45% to 44%, beats Gingrich, 49% to 40%, and crushes Cain, 50% to 37%.
Quote of the Day
“No, not, not interested… Done… What part of it am I not getting across?”
— Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D), in an interview on NBC’s Rock Center, repeatedly denying any interest in running for higher office.
