Sarah Palin did what most other candidates have avoided, attacking Romney head-on over mandated health coverage in his Massachusetts reform plan. And she did it after walking the Freedom Trail in the state Romney governed for four years.
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, also in New Hampshire, continued stoking speculation that he will enter the race and said that New Hampshire would be crucial to his strategy. And a former top adviser to Romney suggested that former New York governor George Pataki enter the field and launch a campaign from the Granite State.
“It’s a busy day in New Hampshire,’’ said Steve Duprey, one of the state’s Republican National Committee members. “The race has started.’’
Romney, wearing black slacks and an open-collared shirt, made his announcement at a farm near the seacoast, where he continued to portray himself as a low-key man of the people. He walked from a house next door to the Bittersweet Farm hand-in-hand with his wife, Ann, and immediately began serving her special chicken-and-bean chili (made the day before with 36 crockpots at campaign headquarters in Boston).
“Who wants chili?’’ Romney shouted.
He roamed the crowd, where parents thrust their children toward him and a Vietnam veteran shook his hand and addressed him as “Mr. President.’’
John Deere tractors were placed around the property, and the bales of hay gave the candidate a stuffy nose from allergies. Aides raced around dressed in blue T-shirts with the campaign slogan, “Believe in America.’’
It was all a marked departure from four years ago, when Romney announced his campaign in Deerborn, Mich., and then flew by private jet to other announcements in several early primary states. It illustrated the importance that New Hampshire will play in his campaign and just how much he will court voters in a state that puts more emphasis on fiscal issues than on social issues.
