Romney spent very little time actually IN MA, he was roundly criticized for such when the cement started falling off the big dig and killed someone, they said he knew there was problems and if he had stayed in MA and done his job the engineers would have had their feet held to the fire, instead he was off traveling to get known. If Palin had been gone from Alaska this much the number of complaints against her would be off the chart.
He not only allowed Romneycare to pass but praised his part in it -- not to mention the gay marriage issue there which he has tried to have both ways.