COMMENTARY | The New Hampshire primary race was predicted to be Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman -- and results were fixed in that position. Many placed Romney as the leader and there he stood firm. The big game changer between Iowa and New Hampshire was Huntsman, who vied for the Granite State's vote rejecting the Iowa caucus and firmly planting a base in New Hampshire.
Paul revved up the younger vote and splashed many highways and byways with homemade banners. The mild weather brought out many supporters to the polling places. Independent and undeclared voters came in droves: 47 percent of the electorate. Supporters came to vote and chant for their favorites; their way of owning the primary process.
Families brought out their children, myself included, to show them the process and to give them a sense of pride in the political system. I told my children that although I have just one small vote in a ballot box full of others, it's mine to give.
I love this about my state. When I was growing up in Delaware, my parents didn't take the kids to the polls and rarely spoke of the primary process. It seemed more of a clandestine cult than a point of pride for Americans. I could hear the arguments between the candidates and see the attack ads, but I never got to truly comprehend what the fighting was about. My children got to see the inner workings of the primaries and understand the bigger picture behind the fervor of each candidate with the open dialog this created.
The main thorns of contention for Romney were the misinterpretation of his "firing" comment on Jan.9 to the Nashua Chamber of Commerce, questions on his stands regarding social issues and the Romneycare comments with respect to Massachusetts mandated individual health insurance vs. Obamacare federally mandated health care.
He held his own and through door-to-door campaigning and meeting the people where they live from the rural Berlin to the bustling city of Nashua, talking with the every man and showing appreciation for each one's unique needs and situations.
Other candidates failed to get to the heart of the voters' needs and points of importance, while others polarized themselves with strong social issues such as Rick Santorum. Paul and Huntsman gained the second and third spots and ran a good campaign. Paul ignited the younger set to action. Huntsman gained momentum while stepping up his game.
The bigger question at this point is: Who will beat the Barack Obama machine? While it appears to be a battle among these three contenders, the Republican Party must, of course, have a strong candidate to defeat President Obama. I still feel Romney has the moxie to get it done as Obama's slogan of "Yes we can" seems to ring a little more like "Oh no he didn't" to me.
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