Henniker, NH

Governor Romney campaigned at Pat’s Peak slope today greeting skiiers in this must-win state for the former Massachusetts governor. He told most of the customers that all five of his boys learned to ski here.

The New Hampshire frontrunner also addressed the press and continued his attacks on his rival here, Senator John McCain, slamming him on his illegal immigration record and not supporting the Bush tax cuts:

“Under his bill that he fought for, everybody who came here illegally could stay forever, and does he still believe that, or does he not believe that?” Romney said. “And likewise on taxation—he says well now he’s for making the Bush tax cuts permanent. Well, does he admit that he was wrong in voting against them before?”

Romney also addressed what he calls personal attacks from the McCain campaign. He said contrasting records are acceptable, but not engaging in attacks on a “personal basis”:

” I think it’s totally appropriate and part of the political process to compare and contrast positions on issues. I think it’s a different step if a candidate begins to attack a person on a personal basis. Sen. McCain here for instance in NH attacked me on a personal basis in a mailing he sent out. That’s in my view different than just talking about differences on issues.”

He admitted that there might be different types of advertising in the future acknowledging he might turn to personal attacks:

“I’ve had personal attacks launched on me both in Iowa and in NH, and at this stage I haven’t responded on a personal basis but I’m not making any guarantees. I haven’t decided what we’re doing down the road.”

John McCain responded to Romney’s comments in a statement holding nothing back:

“I know something about tailspins, and it’s pretty clear Mitt Romney is in one. It’s disappointing that he would launch desperate, flailing and false attacks in an attempt to maintain relevance. As the Union Leader said today, New Hampshire voters just aren’t buying his act, and these latest attacks won’t help him.”

Romney said he filmed ads this morning that express the “closing arguments” of his campaign to New Hampshire and Iowa voters. He described them as , “all positive and forward looking.”