1-2. Maybe the problem is the messenger and not the
message. From the WMUR poll: Romney's likeability has slid 7 pts.
since June. His perceived ability to beat Hillary has also gone
south. He clearly wins though as the one best able to bring
change.
3. Regular church going and other indices of social conservative
strength are certainly lower in NH than Iowa. (And yes the influx
of voters from Romney's home state is ironically part of the
reason.)Does Romney's stress on social issues "hurt"? Maybe among
the "live free or die" set but more importantly it just doesn't get
him very far with many voters and emphasizing that message while
Rudy comes to roll out his tax plan(as he did in August) or while
McCain talks about never giving in to terrorists hasn't helped
him.
4. Rudy is going to have a field day in the next debate on the
crime issue. I suspect Romney isn't going to be raising the
sanctuary city issue for awhile (Rudy's response was : "I was busy
getting murderers off the street so I encouraged illegals to come
forward to report crimes.")