'Iowa first' Romney's future may depend on results of 3 state contests
Thursday's caucus is a key test
Starting Thursday in Iowa, voters nationwide will begin gathering in caucuses and going to the polls to select the Republican and Democratic nominees for president who'll appear on the November 2008 ballot.
For Romney, the results of GOP elections in just three states Iowa's caucus Thursday, New Hampshire's primary on Jan. 8 and South Carolina's primary on Jan. 19 could determine his political fate.
Iowa and New Hampshire, traditionally the first states to vote, are where candidates see their campaigns either surge or sputter. South Carolina, the first Southern state up, is a test of a candidate's ability to attract the region's evangelical Christian voters.
Romney has campaigned hard in Iowa and New Hampshire, and he has courted votes in South Carolina, too, knowing that a dismal finish there could raise new concerns about the political impact of his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
One at a time
Even so, Romney's campaign is careful not to portray any race as a must-win.
"Nothing is certain in politics," Romney's national political director Carl Forti told the Deseret Morning News. "This is one contest at a time. There's a lot of room for redemption, so don't read too much into what happens in the early states."
Romney has outspent his competition in the hopes of winning both Iowa and New Hampshire and establishing the momentum needed to stay in a race that may not be settled until the Republican National Convention in September.
Now, though, Forti said Romney just needs to win either Iowa or New Hampshire.
Which one? "I don't think it matters," he said. "A win's a win."
As for South Carolina, Forti says the only goal there is "to exceed expectations." He's even hesitant to predict a win in Michigan's Jan. 15 primary, even though Romney's a favorite there because his late father, George, served as governor and he was raised there.
Political science professors interviewed by the Deseret Morning News said Romney still can win the GOP nomination even if he loses Iowa. Or New Hampshire. But, like Romney's own strategists, they say he needs a first-place finish in at least one of the early voting states.
"If he loses both Iowa and New Hampshire, he runs the risk of being discounted," said Jeffrey M. Berry, a political science professor at Tufts University in Boston. The real test for Romney, though, may not be until Feb. 5, the so-called "Super-Duper Tuesday."
Recent comments
In the most-watched speech of his political career, speaking on...
Romney's vision | Jan. 3, 2008 at 4:55 p.m.
Didn't Romney claim his father marched with MLK? Didn't a couple of...
re church teachings | Jan. 3, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.
Oh no!
Why does every subject always deteriorate in somebody doing...
Anonymous | Jan. 3, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.
- Lobbyist disclosure law hit & miss 11:22 p.m.
- State Am: More than golf for Stimpson 11:14 p.m.
- Sleepy Ridge offers much for many 11:09 p.m.
- Sentencing delayed in con man's case 11:07 p.m.
- Draper Days bronc riding 11:07 p.m.
- Ex-S.L. man pleads guilty in Florida 11:07 p.m.
- 2 W.V. men charged with lewdness 11:06 p.m.
- Defense prepares for murder case 11:05 p.m.
- Utah man gets 51 months for fraud 11:05 p.m.
- Man competent for trial in 2008 death 11:04 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - LDS seminary principal arrested
137 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Tough decision in my eyes. Yes it is a lot of money to pay for Milsap to sit...
The definition of "lie" is to make an untrue statement with the intent to...
why do people complain about the story vs. not story. If you don't think the...
Know your enemy: relax no one cares about the spelling. Anonymous: I agree...
I'm sure glad he saved us! No if we could just get those sea levels down...
I am supposing they were trying to get on the news, and in the newspapers....
What a great Idea, 12 years of hard labor vs. siting on your butt for 12...
There has been no evidence of a possible global collapse. The only evidence...
I just went to the Mormon myth busting site (great name, BTW!) but it needs a...
Jazz need to keep Milsap without a doubt! he did a lot for us. Trade AK and...


