GOP rivals go hard after Romney, who goes after Obama

"Don't settle for less than America needs," said Rick Santorum, eager to capitalize on his second-place finish behind the former Massachusetts governor in this week's Iowa caucuses.

A heavy favorite to win New Hampshire's primary Tuesday, Romney all but ignored his rivals as he campaigned in two states. Instead, he criticized President Barack Obama as a "crony capitalist. He's a job killer."

Without saying so, the rest of the field appeared to share a common campaign objective - hold down Romney's vote totals in New Hampshire, then knock him off stride 11 days later in South Carolina.

Romney benefited handsomely from having several rivals split the vote in Iowa, where his winner's share was roughly 25 percent.

"Gradually you are going to see we have a difference of opinion about which will be the last conservative standing," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told reporters as he campaigned in New Hampshire. "But I think you'll eventually come down to one conservative and Gov. Romney and he'll continue to get 25 percent."

Also vying to emerge as Romney's chief rival were Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, while Texas Gov. Rick Perry awaited South Carolina.

"We can't afford to have a status quo president," Huntsman said in Durham, N.H. "We can't afford to have a coronation for president."

Gingrich unveiled a new television commercial aimed at voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina that cited one review of Romney's jobs program as timid and nearly identical in part to the president's.

Ironically, in a year in which polls show the economy is the top issue for voters, the first two contests are in states with low joblessness - 5.7 percent in Iowa and 5.4 percent in New Hampshire.

That changes a week later.

South Carolina's unemployment was 9.9 percent in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, worse than 41 other states.

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, managed to criticize Romney and most of the other Republicans in the race in a few sentences.

"I've never been for government-run health care," he said in a swipe at both Romney and Gingrich. "I'm not for no regulation; I'm not a libertarian," he added, a jab at Paul.

Yet he also fielded pointed questions from his audiences. In Tilton, N.H., he was pressed for his views on gun control, given his endorsement in an earlier campaign for former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, who favored restrictions. Santorum responded that he is committed to the rights of gun owners.

Later, in an appearance before college students in Concord, he was asked about his opposition to same-sex marriage, which is legal in New Hampshire. "So anyone can marry anyone else?" Santorum said, swiftly turning the conversation to polygamy. "So anyone can marry several people?"

The crowd objected and tried to talk over him.

"Stop. This is not participatory. We're not going to do this. I'm going to ask the question," Santorum said.

Santorum's aides say he has raised $2 million on the strength of his Iowa showing, and the campaign sought to show momentum by announcing the support of a New Hampshire tea party leader and Catholicvote.org, an online organization.

Gingrich sought to set a high bar for Romney. "It's probably one of his three best states, but we'll see whether he gets a majority here," he said.

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20120106_13_A8_MANCHE204731&rss_lnk=1

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