Republicans Pile On Romney, Looking To Block Him
HANOVER, N.H. (AP) -- With eyes on Mitt Romney, his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination prepared for what could be one of their last chances to level a devastating blow to the former Massachusetts governor on his home turf.
Health care, the environment and immigration all were ripe targets for Romney's rivals and they hinted they were primed to contrast their records with his ahead of Tuesday evening's debate. With time ticking down for them to derail Romney's presidential campaign, the criticism was expected to take on a stronger tone.
"Gov. Romney personally insisted the government mandate requiring private citizens to buy health insurance be included in his Massachusetts government health care law," said Mark Miner, a spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, seizing on conservatives' disdain for Massachusetts' mandate.
"It is becoming more and more clear that I am the only tried and true conservative running for president in 2012," former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania told supporters ahead of the forum at Dartmouth College.
With the Republican presidential race moving closer to the first contests, scheduled around New Year's Day, the candidates are turning to a scattershot effort to deny Romney the nomination by any means necessary. They are using his reversals on abortion and gay rights, his support for environmental policies and even his character.
His rivals hope that, when taken together, it could be enough to stop his second presidential bid. Romney has a comfortable lead in New Hampshire polling after virtually camping out in the state since his 2008 loss and building a strong statewide campaign network.
The debate was designed to be on the economy -- voters' top concern in a nation that recorded 9.1 percent unemployment last month -- but there was scant chance Romney would be able to dodge questions about his record.
The criticism so far, though, has not thrown Romney off pace. Nothing, to this point, has started an exodus among his supporters. And time is running short for Romney's rivals to make that happen.
While New Hampshire has yet to schedule its primary, it is likely to come before mid-January. That means there are fewer than 100 days for the newcomers to make inroads in New Hampshire, a state where Romney is well known, owns a vacation home and won a second-place finish in his 2008 presidential bid.
Looking to soften the criticism, Romney's campaign announced that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was endorsing Romney. Christie, a conservative darling who had weighed a presidential bid of his own, was considered a top endorsement. Romney's team hoped it would cement his standing and planned an afternoon photo opportunity with the two leaders.
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, businessman Herman Cain, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were also set to join the debate.
© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
