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SALEM, N.H. – In yet another sign that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is on a roll, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) targeted him at an event here Monday afternoon just hours before the first votes in the Granite State’s primary were to be cast. Romney and the rest of the Republican field have spent most of their energy throughout the campaign harshly criticizing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) – and she was still a target Monday. But Romney embraced Obama’s theme of change, channeled Clinton’s assertion that a record of change is important and finished by saying that he could beat Obama in the general election. The former governor spoke of Obama’s victory in Iowa, saying “he surprised a lot of people.” “He beat them all because he talked about change in Washington,” Romney said to about 100 voters at the Elk Lodge here. Romney, sounding a lot like Clinton has in recent days, then said that he can beat Obama because he has a long record of producing change. “I not only talk about change, I can demonstrate change,” he said. Romney is locked in a tight battle with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in New Hampshire, but he only briefly criticized the Arizona senator Monday. Romney’s targeting of Obama represents a radical departure for the GOP field and is indicative of Obama’s momentum following his solid win in Iowa last week. Romney made a similar argument for taking on Obama at the GOP debate Saturday night, saying he looked forward to a “head-to-head” debate with the senator. |
