USA: A day after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney clinched the New Hampshire primary, some Manchester locals say former Massachusetts governor's victory was no surprise

Record ID: 346513

  • Title: USA: A day after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney clinched the New Hampshire primary, some Manchester locals say former Massachusetts governor's victory was no surprise
  • Date: 12th January 2012
  • Summary: PERSON WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DICK IANNCONE, NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENT, SAYING: "No surprise, right? By now after all these months and weeks we know who the candidates are. I mean he was bound to be the leading contender." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIANE VANHOUTEN, NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENT, SAYING: "At this point, good luck to anybody. You know it's going to be a big job and the guy who is in there now it's too big for him. So I have to sit back and wait." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIM BOYLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENT, SAYING: "I just think he's electable, he's smart. I think he's a moderate and I think that's what the country needs." PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET ELM STREET IN MANCHESTER
  • Embargoed: 27th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6VJ2PFU8HFU4UH6PT4P68QCCL
  • Story Text: One day after a solid victory in New Hampshire, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney faces a critical test in South Carolina as he seeks to convince conservative voters that he is their best bet to defeat Democratic President Barack Obama.
    Romney took a crucial step toward the Republican nomination on Tuesday (January 10) with his win in New Hampshire, the second contest in the state-by-state battle for the Republican nomination. He won 39 percent of the vote and was well ahead of his nearest rival.
    "No surprise, right? By now after all these months and weeks we know who the candidates are. I mean he was bound to be the leading contender," said Dick Ianncone, a New Hampshire resident.
    The former private equity executive also won the Iowa caucuses last week. He may now find it easier to convince skeptics within his own party that he is the strongest Republican to take on Obama in November's election, despite qualms about the moderate policies he pursued as Massachusetts governor.
    Diane Vanhouten, a Manchester resident said Romney has his work cut out for him.
    "Good luck to anybody. You know it's going to be a big job and the guy who is in there now it's too big for him. So I have to sit back and wait."
    Tim Boyle said that if anyone can beat Obama, he believes it is Romney.
    "I just think he's electable, he's smart. I think he's a moderate and I think that's what the country needs."
    Victory in South Carolina's January 21 primary could derail rivals' hopes to consolidate a splintered conservative vote and set Romney on a steady march to nomination.
    With economic concerns topping the agenda, Romney has argued that his experience as head of investment firm Bain Capital, where he made a personal fortune, would make him the best candidate to put the shaky U.S. economy on a stronger footing.
    Romney gave perhaps the most dynamic speech of his campaign in Tuesday as he celebrated his victory in New Hampshire, outlining a stark contrast with Obama. Aides said it would set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register