nerji524
2011-11-26 02:21:01 UTC
"You'll be seeing more and more of me as we get closer to the caucuses,
he said. "Hopefully I'll be able to convince almost all of you to go t
caucus. I really do want your support."
The former Massachusetts governor, who had irked some Iowans by payin
little attention to the state for much of the year, is clearly steppin
up his efforts here. Romney just opened a campaign headquarters in De
Moines and is visiting the state more frequently. He is expected t
begin airing commercials soon, having recently videotaped one here.
Until recently, the candidate was ostensibly ignoring the state, thoug
he had a small number of paid staffers quietly reaching out to his 200
supporters. His staff was wary of repeating his approach four years ago
when Romney spent millions of dollars on a flashy campaign and banked s
much on an Iowa victory that his second-place finish was a devastatin
blow to his presidential aspirations.
Though his campaign has kept expectations low this time around, much ha
gone Romney's way — the contest is more wide open at this poin
than in any Iowa nominating contest in memory, and the sociall
conservative and evangelical voters who thwarted him in 2008 have faile
to coalesce behind a candidate.
If he can persuade his 2008 supporters to turn out for him again and th
social conservative and evangelical voters who dominate the caucuse
remain splintered, Romney could win on Jan. 3 despite spending
fraction of the money and time he spent here four years ago. That
coupled with an expected victory in the New Hampshire primary a wee
later, could seal the GOP race.
"A victory in Iowa and New Hampshire would likely decide th
nomination," said Tim Albrecht, a GOP operative who worked for Romney i
2008 but is unaligned this year, and who serves as spokesman for Gov
Terry Branstad. "It's hard to see a credible, competitive candidat
emerging if Mitt Romney wins Iowa and New Hampshire."
The campaign says the effort is rolling out as planned, and that Romne
didn't need to spend as much time or money here because he has nam
recognition that he lacked four years ago
--
nerji524
he said. "Hopefully I'll be able to convince almost all of you to go t
caucus. I really do want your support."
The former Massachusetts governor, who had irked some Iowans by payin
little attention to the state for much of the year, is clearly steppin
up his efforts here. Romney just opened a campaign headquarters in De
Moines and is visiting the state more frequently. He is expected t
begin airing commercials soon, having recently videotaped one here.
Until recently, the candidate was ostensibly ignoring the state, thoug
he had a small number of paid staffers quietly reaching out to his 200
supporters. His staff was wary of repeating his approach four years ago
when Romney spent millions of dollars on a flashy campaign and banked s
much on an Iowa victory that his second-place finish was a devastatin
blow to his presidential aspirations.
Though his campaign has kept expectations low this time around, much ha
gone Romney's way — the contest is more wide open at this poin
than in any Iowa nominating contest in memory, and the sociall
conservative and evangelical voters who thwarted him in 2008 have faile
to coalesce behind a candidate.
If he can persuade his 2008 supporters to turn out for him again and th
social conservative and evangelical voters who dominate the caucuse
remain splintered, Romney could win on Jan. 3 despite spending
fraction of the money and time he spent here four years ago. That
coupled with an expected victory in the New Hampshire primary a wee
later, could seal the GOP race.
"A victory in Iowa and New Hampshire would likely decide th
nomination," said Tim Albrecht, a GOP operative who worked for Romney i
2008 but is unaligned this year, and who serves as spokesman for Gov
Terry Branstad. "It's hard to see a credible, competitive candidat
emerging if Mitt Romney wins Iowa and New Hampshire."
The campaign says the effort is rolling out as planned, and that Romne
didn't need to spend as much time or money here because he has nam
recognition that he lacked four years ago
--
nerji524
