NH News: Sununu Gives Smack-Down, Romney Endorsed by Eagle-Tribune & Nashua Telegraph, Women For Mitt

Leading into the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary vote on Monday and the debates this weekend (where we expect feisty, fur-flying exchanges), let’s look at the latest NH polling from CNN and roll with some of latest Granite State news…

● Fresh off a third-place win in Iowa, the Ron Paul camp is fighting hard to come in second in New Hampshire. Congressman Paul is polling in NH at 17-18%.

● Head-fake Rick Perry, after spending $5.5 million in Iowa and losing badly there, announced he was heading back to Texas to assess his campaign. The next day, he tweeted a bandy-legged photo message:

And the next leg of the marathon is the Palmetto State…Here we come South Carolina!!! http://yfrog.com/odz8ujrj

So, he’s not out of the running, but he’s skipping New Hampshire. Smart… because he’s polling at 1%.

● What to say about Jon Huntsman? He shunned Iowa and has staked his entire Obama-Clinton-love-letters campaign in The Granite State. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had a good laugh hearing Huntsman say he is going to win NH. From the get-go, I’ve thought his efforts were to be a spoiler there for Romney while attempting to garner national attention for himself. Today, he’s barking that he’s the underdog and is pounding Mitt for being in South Carolina, while he and others are in NH. Gov Romney took a quick trip to the Palmetto State to campaign with SC Gov Nikki Haley (a very good move) and will be back in NH tonight to host a spaghetti supper. By the way, Huntsman is polling in NH at around 8%.

● Yesterday, when answering a social issue question from students at the College Convention in Concord, New Hampshire, ‘Game On!’ Rick Santorum became terse and was booed as he left the stage. Now, as he campaigns in NH, he’s turning himself into a pretzel trying to avoid social issue discussions and is taking jabs at Romney. Santorum’s favorite line today: “It’s a joke to call Mitt Romney a conservative.” Santorum now has money to play with (raised $2 million dollars in the last two days). We’ll see how agile his campaign is – what he distributes in the way of ads, flyers, etc. in NH. After being under the radar, now that his record will be brought out of moth balls, we’ll see who the joke is on. He’s drawing support at 11%.

● After two weeks of crying about vetting ads and his poor showing in Iowa, tight-lipped Newt Gingrich said yesterday on FOX News that he isn’t “particularly angry” (trying to hide ‘old’ Newt while the steam cloud coming out of his ears blurred his vision). With the help of the Union Leader, he’s lumbered fiercely into NH adding revenge to his baggage. Gingrich’s words belie his rhetoric; with a goal to ensure Governor Romney isn’t the nominee, he’s busy spitting lies about Romney’s record (albeit, in a professorial tone). Notice that Newt didn’t refute the content of the ads – just whined about them. A family from Portsmouth, NH, says Gingrich ought to “quit whining and man up“. See video.

Yesterday, Reuters reported Odd allies: Gingrich, Obama align in attacks on Romney: “The danger for Gingrich attacking Romney is it’s going to bring up all the old Gingrich flame-thrower baggage. Folks in Florida, folks in South Carolina who are watching cable news and following this stuff on the Internet are going to be exposed to the meaner, acerbic Newt as opposed to the professorial, idea Newt. I can’t see this helping him.”

As of today, Newt is polling at 9%.

● Former NH Gov John Sununu, a Romney supporter, didn’t mince words when he spoke today with FOX News’ Martha MacCallum about Gingrich, Huntsman, and Santorum:

Later, Sununu took on Judge Napolitano on FOX Business Network’s ‘Freedom Watch’:

“…[J]ust because you talk loud doesn’t mean you talk accurately. Half the garbage you just put forward is absolutely wrong.” ~Former NH Gov John Sununu

Can we clone Sununu and turn him loose?

★ Mitt Romney is polling around 41% in NH and, after winning in Iowa, is on track to become the first Republican to win IA and New Hampshire in an open-election year. Click below the fold to read more from The Granite State.

The editorial board at the Eagle-Tribune says “ROMNEY IS BEST CHOICE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE”:
January 6, 2012

Our nation remains mired in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Millions are out of work. In a climate of regulatory uncertainty, companies fear to make the decisions they must make to grow. Investors are hanging on to their money, unwilling to take the risks that fuel innovation and job creation.

This stagnation is a failure of government. It is a result of the false religion of Washington, the belief that, to be truly free, the American people and the nation’s enterprises must be corralled and contained, regulated and controlled by those who wrongly believe they know what’s best for the rest of us.

In the 2012 election, the Republican Party must offer the American people a clear alternative to President Obama and the Democrats. On Tuesday, the people of New Hampshire will help make that choice.

We urge Republicans and independents to support Mitt Romney in the New Hampshire Republican primary.
[...]
Romney wants to lift the foot of government from the neck of American business. He wants to trim away the mass of regulation built up under President Obama and let the free enterprise system work once more.
[...]
We need a solid Republican alternative to the Obama presidency, a voice of optimism and true hope for a better tomorrow. We need a candidate who will draw a clear, bright line between where he stands and where Obama stands. Then let the voters decide in November which person can best lead our country.

We believe the best choice in New Hampshire for Republicans and independents is Mitt Romney.

Nashua Telegraph: “ROMNEY BEST CHOICE FOR GOP”
Editorial, January 5, 2012

[...]
[I]f Republicans are serious about reclaiming the White House – an office they have controlled for 28 of the past 40 years – it is imperative they get behind a candidate capable of reaching beyond the party ideologues and attracting the support of independents and disenchanted Democrats across the nation.

That candidate, who also just so happens to be the most qualified candidate, is Mitt Romney.
[...]
As a respected businessman, he was recruited by the governor of Utah to take over as chief executive of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and help save the scandal-plagued Winter Olympics of 2002.

Entering public service, he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002 at a time of fiscal crisis and worked with a Democratic Legislature to close a projected $3 billion shortfall.
[...]
A lackluster economy marked by snail-like job growth? Romney has private-sector experience in business management and job creation from his days at Bain Capital, the Boston investment firm he founded in 1984.
[...]
A lack of effective leadership in Washington? Romney promises to introduce a detailed economic program on Day 1 – five pieces of legislation coupled with five executive orders – to stimulate job creation.
[...]
[W]e do agree with him Washington is broken. That there is a leadership gap – more like a cavern – that imperils the nation. And that he is the most-accomplished Republican in the field to fix it.
[...]
When we put that all together, we can come to no other conclusion than Romney has the intelligence, business acumen, political skills and leadership ability to earn our endorsement as his party’s nominee for president.

And, with it, the right to compete head-to-head with our Democratic president come November, giving voters a clear choice on the future direction of the nation in the process.

On December 28, 2011, Governor Romney announced the formation of New Hampshire Women for Mitt:

Mitt Romney speaks to crowd at Geno's Chowder and Sandwich Shop in Portsmouth, NH. Dec 28, 2011 (Photo/John Wilcox)

Boston, MA – … The group of over 250 women will be chaired by Kathy Gregg (Rye), Nancy Sununu (Hampton Falls), Lisa Bass (Peterborough), Hillsborough County Commissioner Carol Holden (Amherst), Former State Senator Sheila Roberge (Bedford), Former State Representative Stella Scamman (Stratham), Former State Representative Maureen Mooney (Merrimack), Sharon Sykas (Stratham), Jan Glassman (Center Barnstead) and Juliana Bergeron (Keene).

“I am proud to earn the support of these outstanding women from across New Hampshire,” said Mitt Romney. “They share my vision of a ‘Smaller, Simpler, and Smarter’ federal government so that we don’t burden future generations with crushing debt and deficits. Their help will be necessary to spread my message of conservative economic principles to voters both in the Granite State and the rest of the country.”

Announcing her support, New Hampshire Women for Mitt Co-Chair Juliana Bergeron said, “Governor Romney is head and shoulders above the rest of the Republican field and clearly the strongest candidate to take on President Obama. He has spent his life as a conservative businessman and has the values, integrity, and stability to lead our country. Mitt knows how our economy works and how to put Americans back to work. We are proud to support his campaign and will work tirelessly to elect him as the next President of the United States.”

New Hampshire Women For Mitt:

Co-Chair Lisa Bass, Peterborough
Co-Chair Juliana Bergeron, Keene
Co-Chair Jan Glassman, Gilmanton
Co-Chair Kathy Gregg, Rye
Co-Chair Carol Holden, Amherst
Co-Chair Maureen Mooney, Merrimack
Co-Chair Sheila Roberge, Bedford
Co-Chair Stella Scamman, Stratham
Co-Chair Nancy Sununu, Hampton Falls
Co-Chair, Sharon Sykas, Stratham
Paula Agrella, Exeter
Britton Albiston, Bedford
Linda Alcorta, Rindge
Elizabeth Almstrom, Meredith
Dianne Arnheim, Exeter
Cheryl Ayer, Gilford
Adele Baker, Manchester
Deborah Balog, Jefferson
Carol Barth, Amherst
Beverly Benson, N. Sutton
Ruth Berg, Bedford
Barbara Berry, Keene
Catherine Blake, Durham
Vicky Bradley, Holderness
Barbara Bridges, Wolfeboro
Julie Brinkema, Amherst
Louise Brochu, Manchester
Ann Bross, Hollis
Deborah Brubach, Tilton
Sharayn Bryant, Wolfeboro
Sharon Buck, Hampton
Linda Bullis, Newport
Pam Cafasso, Bow
Betty Ann Callanan, Hampton
Alice Calvert, Alton
Beverly Cameron, Colebrook
Anne Caplin, Portsmouth
Joan Cassidy, Tuftonboro
Norma Champagne, Manchester
Monica Charpentier, Hooksett
Denise Christiansen, Barnstead
Susan Christiansen, Bedford
Barbara Clark, Nashua
Frances Cogan, Amherst
Melora Collette, Bedford
Janice Cook, Bedford
Joan Cornett, Amherst
Janette Coull, Alton
Tracy Coulombe, Chester
Stephanie Crain, Bedford
Shirley Crepon, New London
Doris Cupples, Manchester
Christina Cuzzi, Manchester
Linda DaBica, Wolfeboro
Miriam D’Angona, Bradford
Carol Day, Goffstown
Ellen Dearborn, Plymouth
Barbara Deguise, Amherst
Ruth Desmarais, Wolfeboro
Mary Dirago, Rye
Valerie Dodge, Claremont
Jody Dodge, Keene
Stefanie Donnell, Manchester
Stella Donovan, Rumney
Barbara Dutile, Haverhill
Valerie Earnshaw, Bedford
Lois Earnshaw, Bedford
Elisabeth Earnshaw, Bedford
Jackie Eastwood, Durham
Robin Felch, Center Harbor
Liz Feren, Manchester
Francesca Fernald, Portsmouth
Beverly Ferrante, Derry
Marolyn Fillion, Thornton
Patricia Fleck, Wakefield
Beth Flick, Keene
Caroline Flower, Orford
Hon. Sheila Francoeur, Hampton
Nancy Frost, Dunbarton
Joan Fulton, Litchfield
Heather Gagnon, Claremont
Judy Galluzzo, Salem
Laura Gandia, Litchfield
Marilinda Garcia, Salem
Deborah Georgevits, Concord
Elizabeth Getchell, Salem
Jan Glassman, Center Barnstead
Diane Godbout, Laconia
Elaine Goodall, Wolfeboro
Ruth Griffin, Portsmouth
Mary Griffin, Windham
Lori Guba, Exeter
Pam Hagan, Bedford
Joanne Haight, Sandwich
Susan Hamilton, Wolfeboro
Evelyn Erica Handler, Bow
Lucy Harrison, Concord
Ali Hattamer, Nashua
Judy Havenstein, Alton
Marilyn Hedstrom, Greenfield
Patricia Heed, Westmoreland
Shirley Hefele, Dunbarton
Rhonda Hensley, Merrimack
Judith Hess, Hooksett
Jensine Hilliard, Northfield
Marci Hills, Goffstown
Susan Holden, Northwood
Michelle Holton, New London
Barbara Hubbard, Hampstead
Karen Huchinson, Londonderry
Estella Hughes, Bedford
Elaine Hughes, Manchester
Donna Iacopucci, Belmont
Elizabeth Ide, Wolfeboro
Andrea Izzo, Bedford
Joan Jackson, Rochester
Ruth Jasinski, Manchester
Amber Jensen, Bedford
Sheri Jensen, Moultonboro
Carolyn Jernberg, Wolfeboro
Carol Johnson, Hooksett
Mary Ellen Johnson, Keene
Paula Johnson, Nashua
Jane Johnson, Swanzey
Suzanne Jones, Amherst
Phyllis Katsiakores, Derry
Becky Katsikas, Manchester
Lindsay Keith, Newport
Jocelyn Kerr, Hopkinton
Jane Kirk, Nelson
Colleen Kossakoski, Keene
Judy Krahulec, Laconia
Ann Krupp, Londonderry
Colleen Lake, Stratham
Lisa Lally, Hooksett
Nicole Lamanna, Mont Vernon
Kelly Lamanna, Mont Vernon
Allison Lamanna, Mont Vernon
Lori Lambert, Nashua
Rosalind Landers, East Wakefield
Ann Landers, Wolfeboro
Jane Lane, Keene
Enid Larsen, Dunbarton
Cassie LaVallier, New Boston
Marjorie Leber, Andover
Larraine Lencki, Manchester
Anne-Marie Letourneau, Derry
Pam Lindberg, Epsom
Beth Lindemann, Fremont
Liz Lindquist, Manchester
Sandy Lish, Nashua
Ramona Lockhart, Wolfeboro
Mary McGuire Lussier, Manchester
Gwen Mains, Wolfeboro
Betty Maiola, Newport
Evelyn Marconi, Portsmouth
Gloria Márquez-Sterling, Plymouth
Louise Marrama, Nashua
Bernadette Martel, Derry
Cynthia Martin, Bow
Jenny Martin, Greenland
Betsy McKinney, Londonderry
Karen McNiff, Tamworth
Irene Messier, Manchester
Martha Methot, Manchester
Amy Meyers, Jaffrey
Susan Mielbrecht, Moultonborough
Betsy Miller, Bow
Elizabeth Minickiello, Plymouth
Mena Mitchell, Strark
Barbara Mitera, Concord
Barbara Morrill, Manchester
Elizabeth Nelson, Concord
Teresa Noel, Hollis
Wendy Nolin, Sunapee
Kara Obey, Newbury
Doris O’Brien, New London
Susan Oliveri, N. Sutton
Lucy Opal, Swanzey
Becky Orton, Gilford
Beverly Page, Bow
Marie Paling, East Kingston
Veda Paoletta, East Kingston
Toni Pappas, Manchester
Sally Patenaude, Hopkinton
Catherine Perkins, Lebanon
Jan Peterson, Mirror Lake
Leona Pichette, Keene
Samantha Porter, Tuftonboro
Michelle Porter, Tuftonboro
Pam Price, Nashua
Lorinda Rausch, Derry
Patricia Raynes, Peterborough
Katherine Raynor, Durham
Janis Reams, Hampton
Michelle Reicher, Manchester
Elaine Riba, Monroe
Marion Rice, Newport
Beverly Rodeschin, Newport
Carol Rodrigues, Manchester
Sally Rosa, Newmarket
Margaret Roy, Merrimack
Sherrie Rudy, Gilford
Kathy Rush, Hampton
Terry Ryan, Nashua
Jeannie Sangenario, Exeter
Elaine Schaffner, Goffstown
Ronnie Schlender, Manchester
Helen Schweizer, Amherst
Cathy Sedler, Wolfeboro
Lorraine Seidel, Nashua
Faye Sell, Londonderry
Tallie Service, Manchester
Janet Shaw, Bow
Joann Sherman, New Boston
Rita Siegal, Milford
Susan Sinclair, Franklin
Pamela Skinner, Windham
Molly Smith, Hooksett
Jeanette Smolnik, Weare
Mary Smyk, Stratham
Patricia Spencer, Manchester
Ann Stark, Holderness
Amy Starr, Bedford
Kristin Stockett, Lebanon
Jill Stone, Hollis
Kathy Stroud, Merrimack
Mary Anne Sullivan, Manchester
Elaine Swinford, Center Barnstead
Donna Sytek, Salem
Diane Taupier, Berlin
Susan Temple, Moultonborough
Dana Thomas, Hooksett
Kim Thompson, Center Tuftonboro
Jeanne Thurber, Hooksett
Shirley Tinker, Concord
Alexandra Tokanel, Windham
Marian Vangel, Salem
Carol Varney, Belmont
Dottie Vattes, Manchester
Diane Vumbaco, Nashua
Kirby Wade, Epsom
Mary Weinert, East Andover
Marjorie Welch, Bow
Carol Welch, Kingston
Paula Whittier, Amherst
Kathryn Why, Wolfeboro
Jean Wilson, Wolfeboro
Lisa Withrow, Salem
Shelly Wolcott, Milford
Mary Wuellenwebber, Bow

That’s an impressive list! We’re grateful to these dedicated, hard-working women for all they’re doing to give Governor Romney a decisive win in NH.

Note on the Union Leader: They weighed in against Sen. Kelly Ayotte when she was running for office during mid-terms. She won.

Finally, let me just say that seeing Sununu say it like it is was the best part of my day!

(emphasis added to articles)

► Jayde Wyatt