Re: having recently videotaped one here.

[mistikuss]

[image: http://allall.us/smail1.gif]




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mistikuss

[nerji524]

"You'll be seeing more and more of me as we get closer to the caucuses,"
he said. "Hopefully I'll be able to convince almost all of you to go to
caucus. I really do want your support."
The former Massachusetts governor, who had irked some Iowans by paying
little attention to the state for much of the year, is clearly stepping
up his efforts here. Romney just opened a campaign headquarters in Des
Moines and is visiting the state more frequently. He is expected to
begin airing commercials soon, having recently videotaped one here.
Until recently, the candidate was ostensibly ignoring the state, though
he had a small number of paid staffers quietly reaching out to his 2008
supporters. His staff was wary of repeating his approach four years ago,
when Romney spent millions of dollars on a flashy campaign and banked so
much on an Iowa victory that his second-place finish was a devastating
blow to his presidential aspirations.
Though his campaign has kept expectations low this time around, much has
gone Romney's way — the contest is more wide open at this point
than in any Iowa nominating contest in memory, and the socially
conservative and evangelical voters who thwarted him in 2008 have failed
to coalesce behind a candidate.
If he can persuade his 2008 supporters to turn out for him again and the
social conservative and evangelical voters who dominate the caucuses
remain splintered, Romney could win on Jan. 3 despite spending a
fraction of the money and time he spent here four years ago. That,
coupled with an expected victory in the New Hampshire primary a week
later, could seal the GOP race.
"A victory in Iowa and New Hampshire would likely decide the
nomination," said Tim Albrecht, a GOP operative who worked for Romney in
2008 but is unaligned this year, and who serves as spokesman for Gov.
Terry Branstad. "It's hard to see a credible, competitive candidate
emerging if Mitt Romney wins Iowa and New Hampshire."
The campaign says the effort is rolling out as planned, and that Romney
didn't need to spend as much time or money here because he has name
recognition that he lacked four years ago.




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nerji524