and as Willard, and recently as "Milt" Romney.
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Posted on 03/04/2011 2:38:18 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
When Mitt Romney returns to New Hampshire on Saturday to make his first public appearance since prior to the 2010 midterm election, he will have two key Republicans from the North Country and Lakes Region behind his likely presidential bid.
Veteran Executive Councilor Raymond Burton of Bath and state Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley of Wolfeboro told the Primary Status they will endorse the former Massachusetts governor should he run, as is expected.
They cited his background in the private sector and experience as governor as the best formula for growing the economy, creating jobs and reducing the deficit.
Neither endorsed in the 2008 presidential election. Burton kept a low profile in that primary race, while Bradley was in the midst of an election for the U.S. House, where he had previously served for two terms.
Romney on Saturday night is scheduled to keynote the Carroll County Republican Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner at the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel in Bartlett.
Bradley, the master of ceremonies, said it is virtually sold out with about 300 people expected.
Romney is not expected to make a formal announcement of a candidacy or even an exploratory phase in Bartlett, but will instead focus mainly on jobs and the economy.
His camp is ecstatic to have the backing of the two key New Hampshire Republicans as he returns to the state.
"Having the support of good people like Jeb Bradley and Ray Burton will be an important consideration for Mitt Romney as he thinks about running for president," said Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom.
Burton has been a fixture in North Country politics and at the State House for more than three decades. He is in his 17th two-year term as an Executive Councilor from District 1 and is an 11-term Grafton County Commissioner.
Bradley, after serving in the New Hampshire House, was elected to the U.S. House in 2002 and was reelected in 2004. He lost a bid for reelection to Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in 2006 and again lost to her in 2008.
Bradley then was elected to the state Senate in a special election in 2009 and then reelected last year, after which he was named majority leader by Senate President Peter Bragdon.
Both Burton and Bradley cited jobs and the economy as the reasons for backing Romney.
Bradley said he told Romney shortly after the 2008 election that he would endorse him if he were to run for President in 2012.
"He can best articulate and has the background to turn around our economy because he's a business person and understands the decisions that America is going to have to make in terms of global competitiveness better than anyone else out there," said Bradley.
"I've always thought that was his strong suit and I've always liked him on a personal level."
He said he also admired "the way he handled himself" after failing to win the GOP presidential nomination in 2008.
"He cares about putting the country in the right direction and not about his own personal agenda," Bradley said.
"He is the strong on the issues that are the most important to me and to most people, creating jobs and growing the economy so we can actually reduce our budget deficit," said Bradley.
"His background is as a business leader and that's what the country needs," said Bradley.
Burton also cited Romney's "experience and ability to create jobs, which we desperately need in the rural areas of New Hampshire. And, he can win in the primary and in the general election. Jobs, jobs, jobs."
Burton said he decided to make an endorsement in the upcoming presidential election "because we've got to get after the federal government. It is just pathetic, the layer upon layer upon layer of bureaucracy."
Burton said he will give Romney the same advice that he personally follows on the campaign trail:
"You're already two or three votes behind in my district so we hope to see you back at events like the North Haverhill Fair, Lancaster Fair and some of the old home days."
Bradley and Burton also said they do not believe that Romney will be hurt, at least in New Hampshire, because he championed what's become known as "Romney-care" in Massachusetts in 2006. That plan, like "Obama-care" calls for an individual mandate for the purchase of health care insurance.
Romney has taken heat on the issue from other Republicans, including Mike Huckabee, Haley Barbour and Paul Ryan.
Bradley said Romney "believes in state's rights and the 10th Amendment and that 'Obama-care' should be repealed and that states should have the opportunity to craft legislation that best meets their needs. I'm fine with that.
"In terms of votes in New Hampshire, as Mitt talks to people, they will understand what his position is on this issue and all issues," he said.
Burton said the health care issue "might cause a bump or two but I don't see it as a major hurdle given his experience and that he knows how to compromise with Republicans and Democrats and independents."
Also today, former state Republican chairman and former Gov. John Sununu said he is "looking at" endorsing Romney for president but is also considering governors Haley Barbour and Mitch Daniels and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
But he said it's too early for him to make a decision.
"I just started paying attention again," Sununu said. "And they haven't even announced yet."
He said he believes that outgoing Ambassador to China Jon Hunstman is "too liberal for the Republican Party," while former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich was wrong to cite climate change as a major issue in 2008. That's a charge a Gingrich spokesman has denied.
Has he got the Howard Dean endorsement in neighboring Vermont yet?
looks like the Quislings in Vichy New England will.
somebody will make a big challenge to MITTSTER in NH. Not sure it will be a conservative. NH likes a contest. And they like to upset the apple cart.
T=PAW wanted to play that role. Did not catch on, yet. If Palin skips NH, it opens the door for another conservative like MicheleB to get traction.
WRKO? Howie Carr.
Because of Captain Carr’s endorsement of
RINO Backstabbers Romney and Brown,
ALMOST NOBODY LISTENS TO CARR ANYMORE.
His and WRKO’s demographics have fallen like
road kill in Texas.
We don’t elect people to the presidency who’ve only been House members. It’s only happened twice (both in the 19th Century) and one was in a freak 5-way election in 1860. Does Rep. Bachmann know that?
the Garfield factor.
Not sure what happens if Palin skips NH. Who will conservatives back in a Romney-Daniels-Pawlenty NH race? The 3rd place guy usually nose-dives.
It’s tough to see Pawlenty not dropping out before that race. I also do not see much advantage to SP skipping NH. 3rd place is better than no place.
People who fought against ROMNEY in ‘08:
Conservatives for McCain Steering Committee
Former State Representative Nelson Allan, Nashua
State Senator Jack Barnes, Raymond
State Senator Peter Bragdon, Milford
Evangelical activist Pam Colantuono, Manchester
Former State Representative Pastor G. Michael Gilman, Littleton
Former State Representative Paul Laflamme, Nashua
State Representative Maureen Mooney, Merrimack
Evangelical activist Joanne Nash, Charlestown
Former State Representative Tony Soltani, Epsom
State Representative Kevin Waterhouse, Windham
http://blog.4president.org/2008/2007/08/leading-new-ham.html
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HUCKABEE’S TEAM:
former Senator Russell Prescott from Exeter
Executive Councilor Dave Wheeler, Huckabee’s “New Hampshire Homeschoolers for Huckabee Coalition,” and serve on his 2nd Amendment Advisory Committee.
former Commissioner of Transportation Carol Murray
State Representative Jason Bedrick from Windham
John Castelot, Vice Chairman of the Manchester Republicans
Cheryl Cataldo, will serve as Farmington Town Chair
State Representative Dan Dumaine, Rockingham County
State Representative Frank Emiro, Londonderry
State Representative Ryan Hansen, Milford
Dick & Linda Jazowski, Rochester City Committee
State Representative Connie Soucy, Manchester
former State Representative Rep. Nancy Wall, Hollis
Campaign Manager Debra Vanderbeek
co-chairmen, Fred Bramante and Cliff Hurst
Sen. Bob Clegg
http://blog.4president.org/2008/2007/08/mike-huckabee-1.html
I’ve never thought of Mitt or Brown as conservatives. They are, always, ever bigger gov, go a bit slower, Fabian socialists.
No surprise. Romney will easily take NH...magritte
How do you figure? In one four year term as Governor, with Brown's help in the state Senate, Romney instituted sodomite fake marriage, thoroughly homosexualized state government and the public schools, pushed through socialized medicine complete with $50 co-pay taxpayer-funded abortions, and banned guns. Among other things.
Near as I can tell, no one in American history has ever implemented socialism faster or more completely.
Romney was always just about getting his ticket punched. He needed some, one, elected office before His Saintliness assumed his destined office. All that you cite was done, long and well, by hard working leftist. Mitt just went along for the ride, which was fine for him personally, because that’s pretty much where he, his father, his mother were/are at.
Really now, many people, leftist/liberal people would be upset with the notion that Mittens was responsible.
What he was responsible for, was Romneycare. Even though the same people were involved, it was no were as far along. It could of well not have been done with out Mitt. So, in Romneycare, Mittens was the indispensable man. For that, he should get the lions share.
New Hampshire is NOT going to decide who the candidate will be, now will Iowa.
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Burton is a Republican TOOL, D-bag maximus, the NH Tea party knows that quite well. If the Urinal Leader is behind it or for it, then you know it is against the TEA Party.
The NH TEA party can not be lazy, the NH Republican Party is still chock full of Sununu RINO, Mc Pain types. Mittens Scumney will always be supported by the Urinal Leader especailly by that idiot DiStaso. DiStaso might as well have his office in John Sununu’s Hampton Falls living room or Exeter office. Ask Distaso to sit in a room with Craig or Denise Benson alone for 5 minutes......
Palin would do well to do one to zero visits to NH. The NH machines, both Republican and Demoncrat just simply hate Christians. Bachman will get slammed here.
In NH is it about being erudite, atheist, and highly educated with a ton of money. Hence Romney and his types pole well, as did Ayotte our new Senator, she is a flag waiting for politcal winds to blow. She played the middle big time and stands for nothing just like Judd Gregg. Unfortunately the TEA party is not strong enought here yet, NH has not suffered financially enought for people to wake up.
The absolute best thing that can happen in America is ensure some other state have the first Primary. NH always goes for the atheist middle and the conservative candidates get pounded by the lame stream media and implode from there. For the RINO’s in DC, having NH Primary first is a tremendous weapon to be used against the unchosen, like Palin or Bachmann. Hence the huge fuss everytime another state wants to be first. The machine in DC is not happy. Kind of like asking for a birthcertificate of a certain _resident. Until the 17th Amendment is repealled, conservatives are just screwed tax payers with no representation, a small stone in the shoe of the Washington DC elite.
well, somebody has to finish 3rd in NH.
1. Romney
2. the alternative to Romney
3. ???
If Palin doesn’t take 3rd, it allows a conservative competitor to get into the race, undermining Palin.
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