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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



He knows a winner

Posted: Monday, January 07, 2008 6:21 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Ron Allen
Mitt Romney knows a winner when he sees one. The victor he's noticed is Barack Obama!

Romney came into New Hampshire riding a message of "Change." Sound familiar? To be fair, Romney says he's been talking about change and innovation since first  announcing his run for the White House from the Ford Museum in Michigan, a backdrop selected he says because it symbolized "change." I'll have to look back and see if that's what was said then.

With the Massachusetts Governor, as his rivals have pointed out, things do "change.". Sorry for that, I couldn't resist.

There's another indication that Romney sees Obama as a winner. Romney's now talking about how he's the best Republican hopeful to beat Obama. Barack, Romney warns, will do to a long-serving senator, like John McCain, Romney's chief rival here, exactly what he's done to a field of Democratic senators.

Remember Biden, Dodd? See what's happening to Clinton? That's Romney's latest pitch. That it takes a governor to beat a senator. But not a Governor from Arkansas like say Mike Huckabee, his other nemisis, he says, it'll take a governor from Massachusetts, him!

I can't help thinking back to one of those debates way back in 2007, when Hillary Clinton's name was mentioned as a punch line by the Republicans even more than Ronald Reagan's. Romney still has a stock line about how no one wants "Hillary-care" style health care. But now with Romney, it's all about besting Obama, how as a governor and corporate turnaround artist, Romney claims he's the true candidate of "change."

Whether it works for him or not, Romney does know a winner when he sees one.

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If Mitt Romney the Flip Flopper loves Barak Obama so much Please by all means Leave the Repulican Party and join the Democrat party where you belong, all your policies have been liberal. By all Means please leave this party.
Republicans against Mitt Romney, when we have a flip flopper in the party we need him out please check out our site and see why many Republican voters do not trust Mitt.

http://republicansagainstromney.blogspot.com
What is Romney changing from, Bush to Bush.
Romney has done nothing but, change and change.  Sorry Romney but, too much change is too much change.  Here's hoping Thompson surges overtakes both Romney and McCain.
So they pushed the "change" button on Romney Robot now. I wish they would just push the "off" button. How many times has this guy changed his message? If he says "fired up, ready to go" we'll know he is about to explode.
Republicans against Mitt Romney, when we have a flip flopper in the party we need him out please check out our site and see why many Republican voters do not trust Mitt.

http://republicansagainstromney.blogspot.com
Obama is bringing a message of hope, and Romney has the resume to prove he gets things done, even very big things. I would love to see an Obama/Romney ticket for the white house.  Wouln't that be awsome.  

Before you all snicker, in the early days of washington that is how it was done.  The VP was always from the other party.  
MCCAIN VS. HUCKABEE it looks like now it is just the two as Republicans we need to unite and pick between John McCain and Mike Huckabee and let us advance one of the two and get a Republican into office.

Hillary hasn't figured out how to campaign against Obama and I'm not sure the GOP will, either.  Oh, they'll try all right.  The question is whether they can get anything to stick.  So far it appears as if people are willing to overlook the short resume, which most people agree is his biggest weakness.  If that doesn't work, I don't know what else they can use.
Romney, you really are a perceptive little bugger aren't you?  Let me just tweak and clarify that thought if I may though.  I think the "change" that people are embracing is less warmongering.  You could still change your position on the war though.  Most people wouldn't be that surprised if you did.
Romney would not have a shot against Obama. He would get pummeled in the south.  States like SC and Georgia would vote Obama because Obama would win the evangelical vote.  He would probably lose state like NM and Arizona do to the Hispanic vote.  People may not like everything about McCain, but McCain is the only republican (besides Thompson) who could beat Obama.  Giuliani was the best option for a clinton/republican match up.  But Obama brings a whole new dynamics to the game.

How do you beat Obama?  National security, foriegn policy and the ability to attract moderates.  

Republicans need to understand.  This election is about who controls the supreme court for the next 15 years. You may not like McCain, but he is your best bet to win the general election.
James, sorry to disapoint but Huckabee will never get the nod.  Bottom line, he is not smart enough.  Every time he gets any heat he falls apart.  America can not afford someone who cracks so easily under pressure sitting in the oval office.  

McCain only cares about security, which is important but it is not the only issue.  And when you press him on anything else he just comes across as an angry old man.

Both of these guys will get eaten alive by Obama (and this is comming from a life long Republican)

Mitt is the only guy who can contend with Obama.  
Go Mitt Romney! We believe in you. Many of us do the research and have found that the media and others have "spun" the facts.  What a concept.

How is he a change? More corprate welfare while ignoring the middle class. Now I know why all the rich developers around my city have contributed the max to his campaign. More for the rich and keep the middle class down.

And he is your stereotypical corporate republican. Taxes, taxes, taxes scary scary taxes. Be afraid. ILLIGAL IMMIGRATION. There comein to get cha! The same BS they all preach. HOW IS HE CHANGE?
I don't know why everyone thinks Obama is so invicible.

So far he's won one state and hasn't had to answer any real questions beyond that "change" bullshit he's peddling.

If he wins Nh the gloves are going to come off in the Clinton camp.

If he wins the nomination the Clinton people will continue to savage him behind the scens all the way up until Nov because that's the type of people they are.  they put themslevs before party, before progress, before the nation, before everything.

In the general people will actually begin to scrutinze Obama instead of licking his ass24/7 and they will realize what an inexperienced empty suit heis.
Mitt Romney can get things done.  McCain tries to come together with his liberal friends and grant amnesty to all non-convicted illegal immigrants.  But the people rose up and said NO to McCain on amnesty, just like America will say NO to McCain as President.  He is un-electable.  

My vote is for Romney, who has a track record of getting things done!
Republicans for Change? Huh?
Oh Mitt!  When will your pandering end?  You see the tide turning towards Obama due to his campaign for change, so what do you do?  Change your position to be for "change."  For heaven's sake, who the hell are you?
I don't know why the media and everybody else is so shocked by Obama's "sudden" rise. I knew from day one he would be a force to contend with, especially after he got all that money. Where did everybody in the media think that came from. I've heard some pundits saying it's unfair how the media has suddenly attacked Hillary. What I wonder at is why they've propped her up so long. Too many people on both sides of the parties dislike her too intensely. The only reason the democrats were behind her were because the media told them she was the only electable candidate, despite what the polls were saying. I myself was ready to register as a democrat in the primaries (something I WOULD never consider otherwise) in order to vote for Obama, that's how much I want him. My father and my stepmother have already done so. And this was prior to the media frenzy and Iowa. Obama is a confluence of factors that are all equal: his optimism, his charisma, his politics, the economy, the need for Americans to feel hope again after seven years of fear, anxiety, and money problems that have been building building building. Wake up America and the republican party: the little guys sense it's our turn for the first time in a long while. Plus, as far as young people go: you forget, they grew up in the shadow of 9/11. It's poisoned their youth, their hopes and dreams. The young need hopes and dreams. Watch people under 30 come out in RECORD numbers for this election if Obama wins the democratic nomination.
"Mitt Romney knows a winner when he sees one. The victor he's noticed is Barack Obama!"
--I'm guessing Mitt never looks in the mirror, then, huh?  Or maybe he has a picture of B.H. Obama pasted over it.
I can see we must have a bunch of High School kids blogging here who don't really understand the issues! As rabonic1 from Charlotte, NC put it: Mitt Romney is absolutely a better leader than John McCain.  McCain has had his shot, and has largely failed to be conservative.  He is still stinging from the loss to President Bush in 2000, which led him to pass a bunch of liberal leaning policies.  Can anyone say McCain-Feingold bill?  Incidentally, I find it ironic that McCain is now out of money.  Looks like the campaign finance reform platform worked, huh?  There are polls all over the place saying that McCain is the clear front runner if he wins New Hampshire.  That is faulty logic.  Romney came in Second in Iowa, First in Wyoming, and even if he loses in NH, he'll still be a close second there.  Say all you want about Mitt's money, but no other candidate can boast the same record.  Romney is right to push his position as a Washington outsider.  At a recent "Ask Mitt Anything" meeting in SC, he was introduced by a local civic leader who said, "Mitt Romney is the only candidate in the field who has signed both the front and the back of a paycheck."  He knows what it takes to succeed in both the public and private sectors.  Romney is clearly the man to put up against Barack Obama in November.
James, Huckabee is not taken seriously outside of Iowa and maybe kentucky, and McCain was a very distant third in that state and even lower in national polls. Do you base your view on anything besides personal hopes?
I Agree with Barack.
The only time that critisism takes place is when you are insecure about your own abilities of the very thing you critisize.  

Mitt Romney invests money that he has to invest.  If he were only spending money then he would be as broke as Senator John McCain.  Shouldn't the question be how poorly Sen. McCain has squandered his millions only to extend himself into millions of dollars of personal debt to fund his campaign?  How does a person with such weak financial ability convince any voter that he can run the top democracy in the world?  McCain is a military mind, and that is where it ends. He clearly reveals his abilities outside of a hopeful Commander and Chief by the lack of ability he has to balance his own checkbook.  
If you want to put yet another twist on the word "change", why not ask Senator McCain if he plans on having any in his bank account after all is said and done?  How on earth can a presidential candidate convince the country that his financial sense will be better for an entire nation than they are for a personal campaign?  Senator McCain is in debt before even a chance at office, how clearly does this pattern need to be explained? It makes me question if truly Senator McCain has even considered what is required to be President of the United States.  I like Senator McCain's quote he brought back from the troops in Iraq: "Let us win, let us win"! The United States of America will not win on single mindedness.
Before we allow a presidential candidate to critisize someone intelligent enough to finance his own campaign, should he need to without being in debt, we ought to consider how this very candidate will spend this, the greatest nation under God's green earth, the United States of America's finances.  My vote is clear enough, as the content of my message evidences.  

Romney is intelligent, and strong.  He is being critisized for principles because he has them.  How often do we see anyone publicly or personally admit when they saw fit to make a change, and accept responsibility for it?  Then to be told that you are a "flip flopper" because you did what most won't.  Who's flip-flopping?  We want an honest candidate because we could all use more honesty in our own lives.  Why don't we accept that being honest requires admitting when we are wrong and then grow forward.  Honesty is the change, and it needs to start with the voters just as much as it does with the candidates.  Find the truth and you'll find your candidate.  
I fear you too don't know the issues, Cortese.  As Romney gets more petty and bitter his support falters. And in juxtaposition to Huckabee whose star has risen as he has disagreed with current policies, rubber stamp, Mitt, has seen his fall as he favors El Presidente's war policy {hmmm, wonder if that includes a future attack on Iran - just what we need to feel "safer").  Unfortunately he also favors and would most likely increase our current corporate welfare system.
Yes, I can see an Obama vs Romney campaign.  Mitt'll be eaten alive.
A vote for John McCain might as well be a vote for Obama.
There will be a NEW face in Washinton. It will either be Obama or Mitt Romney. The Democratic ticket will be Obama/Edwards and they would cream McCain. And, Huckabee? Give me a break!
I am sick to death of the media bashing Mitt Romney. He is the only candidate who has stayed firm to his moral values and tried to stay above the fray.  He has shown his commitment to family and the country. It is sickening watching people like John McCain showing off his  new trophy wife and no one even mentions the lack of moral conviction on the part of this candidate and others.  Do we really want to lower the expectations we have and elect just anybody?
HILLARY IS A KNOWN COMMIE, PUBLISHED BY HER THESIS OBAMA GOES TO A CHURCH WITH A RADICAL MUSLIM PRIEST   THIS IS YOUR STUPID DEMOCRAT PARTY, BABY KILLERS, SOLDIER HATERS, CRACK HEADS, MUGGERS, MEXICAN GANGS, BLACK GANGS, ALL MURDERS, WHITE TRASHY WOMEN MAKING ADULT STORES WEALTHY BUYING BLACK TOYS, SICKOS.
this candidate doesn't have one original bone in his body. he refuses to be himself. he has great business skills, but can't even be true to himself.
Patsy Hoard,
Oh my. Romney has "stayed firm to his moral values" ?? If the BS Romney pulled in Massachusetts is Romney sticking firm to his moral values, he can keep them.

gay/lesbian Sex-Ed to Kindergarteners and Grade School children with NO parental consent or notification    (more of those Romney "values").

PLEASE goto
http://www.massresistance.org
For in indepth, documented report on the Real Romney "Values" (if you can stand it).
This is a (real) Conservative group in MA.

Human Events' background check on Mitt Romney disclosed Romney was the MOST Pro-Abortion, MOST Pro-gay rights IN THE NATION for THE LAST DECADE.

This man is fickle. A facade.

Romney can keep his "values."
sane  you areINSANE HUCKABEE LEADS NATIONAL POLL FIRST IN S CAROLINA,  FLORIDA  GEORGIA  ALL SOUTHERN STATES  HALF NEW ENGLAND AND COULD WIN IN NEW YORK IF THEY WERE IGNORANT ENOUGH TO ELECT HILLARY


"Obama is bringing a message of hope, and Romney has the resume to prove he gets things done, even very big things. I would love to see an Obama/Romney ticket for the white house.  Wouln't that be awsome.  

Before you all snicker, in the early days of washington that is how it was done.  The VP was always from the other party."

Ryan, personally I love this idea.  They are my two current favorites... too bad it'll never happen :(  


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