Boston, MA—

Mitt and Ann Romney cast their votes today at Belmont Town Hall. Ann finished her ballot first while her husband seemed to labor over his a bit more. After they voted they got a sample ballot as a souvenir and Romney quipped, “That’s pretty fun. First time I’ve ever voter for myself for president.”

Media swarmed the Romneys as they left the town hall and ascended a small hill to talk to the press. He showed the ballot to the cameras and added that his wife, son, and daughter-in law are all on the ballot as members of the Republican town committee, “So we got to vote for a number of family members.”

Romney reflected on the experience of voting for himself and called it, “humbling”

“The opportunity to vote for yourself for president is really something I had never expected to be able to do,” Romney told reporters, “It was a great honor and very humbling to think that we’ve come to a point in life where our friends have rallied around us in such an extraordinary way that we have prospects of becoming the nominee of our party to be the President of the United States. We have a lot of work to do before that happens, of course.”

The former Massachusetts governor said it was good to be home for the first time since Christmas.

“It’s nice to get back and to scare the rodents out, and—not exactly—and open the mail. We have a lot of mail. And you know, a hot bath, what do you think Ann?”

Mrs. Romney replied, “Sounds good.”

They didn’t take any questions from reporters even though many tried to ask about his loss in West Virginia to Mike Huckabee.

Boston, MA—

Mike Huckabee has won the West Virginia Delegate Convention and has been awarded its 18 delegates—the first win out of Super Tuesday. This is a disappointing loss for Mitt Romney, who spoke at the convention this morning, and they are alleging that the McCain campaign cut a “Washington backroom deal.”

Fox News’ Jake Gibson reported that McCain delegates at the convention were “instructed by the campaign to throw their support to Mike Huckabee.”

Huckabee won in the second round of voting. Romney won the first round but did not secure the 50 percent needed to win on the first ballot. He got 41% and Huckabee received 33%. Gibson reported that the calls were made between the first and second rounds.

The Romney campaign responded sending out a statement from campaign manager, Beth Myers:

“Unfortunately, this is what Senator McCain’s inside Washington ways look like: he cut a backroom deal with the tax-and-spend candidate he thought could best stop Governor Romney’s campaign of conservative change.”

“Governor Romney had enough respect for the Republican voters of West Virginia to make an appeal to them about the future of the party based on issues.  This is why he led on today’s first ballot.  Sadly, Senator McCain cut a Washington backroom deal in a way that once again underscores his legacy of working against Republicans who are interested in championing conservative policies and rebuilding the party.”

The Romney campaign had an operation in West Virginia since July of 2006. Romney senior adviser in the state, John McCutcheon described the other campaign operations as “skeletal.” The camp had phone banks, radio ads, and events in 55 counties. Romney also had the most committed delegates going into today–280 out of 1,207, most of which are uncommitted—all underscoring what a searing loss it is for the campaign

Atlanta, GA—

Stop number two on the Mitt Romney cross-country trek was Georgia Tech where the presidential hopeful spoke to close to 1,000 enthusiastic supporters–he hinted that he might do better than expected in California and said that it was “fine” with him that John McCain was in his home state of Massachusetts yesterday:

“I’ve been spending my time in Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, and right here in Georgia where I can get delegates and so you guys are going to hand the liberals in our party a little surprise when we take California, take Georgia, take states across the country and we take this nomination.”

Romney is clearly focused on John McCain, not Mike Huckabee, but the former Arkansas governor has been going after Romney on a daily basis. After days of asking him about it, Romney finally responded with two words: “No whining,” upon hearing that Huckabee accused Romney of “voter suppression:”

“First a couple of rules in politics. One, no whining and number two you get them to vote for you and so I want them not to vote for Mike Huckabee and not to vote for John McCain and to vote for me,” Romney told reporters, “I presume that’s the way everybody feels in this race, in their own campaign. That’s sort of the nature of politics. I’m going to work real hard to convince people don’t vote for the other guys. Vote for me. That’s not voter suppression that’s known as politics.”

Next stop— a re-fueling stop and press conference in Oklahoma City.

Minneapolis, MN—

Mitt Romney has won the Maine caucuses this evening. The traveling press found out today from Romney himself upon landing in Minneapolis. According to the Associated Press, Romney won 52 percent of the vote with 68 percent of towns reporting. John McCain came in second with 21 percent, Ron Paul had 19 percent and Mike Huckabee had 6 percent.

Romney’s eldest son Tagg campaigned in Maine and was the one to call his father tonight to inform him of the win. He called it “a people’s victory” and compared his four wins: Wyoming, Nevada, Michigan, and Maine to McCain’s three wins: New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida saying it gives him the advantage:

“It is in my view also an indication that conservative change is something that the American people wanna see. I think you’re gonna see a growing movement across this country to get behind my candidacy and to propel this candidacy forward,” Romney said. “I think it’s a harbinger of what you’re gonna see on Tuesday. It’s coming kinda late in the process but not really too late. You know that there’ve been seven contests prior to Maine. I won three. Sen. McCain won three. With this, that gives me the edge, four to three, I don’t weigh them all the same of course.”

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Romney happily noted that he was able to win Maine even though McCain won the endorsement of the state’s two senators.

Miami, Fl—

Governor Romney addressed the Latin Builders Association today ahead of Mayor Giuliani, Governor Huckabee, and Senator McCain who were also scheduled to address the Association. With economic worries at the forefront of all the headlines, Romney has been campaigning on his business experience. But, during today’s speech he went into greater detail and talked about his background in venture capital:

“Now it takes a degree of chutzpah to go to someone and say give me your money and I will invest it for you and I’ll give you back 80% of the profit I make and I’m gonna keep 20% of the profit I make, I’m gonna charge you a 2% fee for taking your money and by the way if I lose your money, too bad, I don’t share in the downside, I only share in the upside.”

The presidential hopeful often talks about his background “turning around” failing companies or investing in start-ups that become great successes. His favorite example is the birth of the Staples company which he helped turn into a company that now employs just over 34,000 people. But, today he talked about one of the darker sides of business and how there is no way around it:

“I’ve had settings where I’ve had to lay people off. It’s an awful feeling. No one likes laying people off. Someone who thinks you’re a bad person if you lay someone off doesn’t understand,” Romney said, “You feel bad. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve done in business was asking a person to be let go. Letting somebody go. It’s awful. It feels terrible. It’s an indication the business isn’t doing well.”

 Las Vegas, NV–

Governor Romney responded to Governor Huckabee’s jab today that Romney supporters were donating to the Club for Growth, an independent group that consistently goes after the former Arkansas governor:

“I am not familiar with what my contributors do on my own. I have I don’t know 50 or 60,000 contributors and they are able to contribute anywhere they like,” Romney continued, “I think the Club for Growth has been around a long, long time. My understanding is they really take exception to Governor Huckabee’s record as a governor and they look at the fact that he has raised spending. That he raised taxes some 500 million dollars and they feel like that kind of record underlies an approach to  growth and spending and that would be a real problem in washington and I agree with them. “

Romney also commented on the pushpoll attacks against him lead by Pro-Huckabee group, Common Sense Issues. Click here to read the earlier blog post or click the video to see Romney’s response.

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Las Vegas, NV–

Governor Romney is going to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening, the night before the South Carolina primary and Nevada caucuses. He told reporters if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em:

“I figure it’s the only way I can be in South Carolina and Nevada at the same time. But in reality, Mike Huckabee did it before Iowa and he won, so maybe it will do the same thing for me.”

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Romney chuckled, but he was very serious when discussing the two states.” He has been criticized for leaving the Palmetto State, but has a strong lead in Nevada:

“I’m campaigning in 50 states not in two or three. I’m pleased to have the chance this week to spend time in South Carolina. We are fighting hard there to do well, and fighting hard to do well here in Nevada, and I appreciate the support that I’ve had over the last several contests.”

He also commented on the continued push polling against him in states like South Carolina, taking the opportunity to jab Huckabee:

“It does tend to be very complimentary of Governor Huckabee and it’s not complimentary of me,” Romney continued, “The information that has been shared about me is wrong. It’s not accurate. It is misleading and anyone associated with that in any way should take action to have it stopped.”

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Romney has been campaigning in the Silver State since yesterday, the only Republican here ahead of tomorrow’s caucuses:

“I think it’s going be real hard to win the presidency if by not showing up in Nevada you communicate that Nevada doesn’t matter to you as much as it does to the other guys.”

Romney will continue to campaign here tomorrow before heading off to Florida. He is also expected to roll out his short-term economic relief plan on Saturday. He told reporters today that it “has many similar features” to President Bush’s plan.

**UPDATE**

Las Vegas, NV—

Governor Romney was asked by a reporter today where he stands on the issue of displaying the confederate flag. This was in response to Governor Huckabee announcing that he would leave the decision to the state of South Carolina (see below). He refused to answer saying South Carolina had already made their decision:

“You know, I’ve said all that I’ve got to say about that. That’s been an issue that’s been settled by the elective representatives of South
Carolina. It’s a settled matter and I have nothing to add to it from what’s already been said.”

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Reno, NV

Governor Romney is coming under attack from a radio ad put up by a 527 group that supports both Governor Huckabee and his stance on the confederate flag. Another ad by the group also goes after Senator McCain. Both men have come out against displaying the symbol that represents racism for so many people.

The group calls themselves Americans for the Preservation of American Culture. The ad hits Romney and compliments his rival, Mike Huckabee:

“After Mitt, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s stand is a breath of fresh air. Governor Huckabee is a southerner who understands why southerners value our heritage. That honoring our flag is part of honoring our heritage and he says it is our issue, it should be up to us to decide. We have got a message for Mitt Romney: in South Carolina we are proud to be Southerners.”

A rival campaign tells me that, “It’s a tiny 2-day buy” that will air on South Carolina radio in Charleston, Columbia, Florence, and Greenville. The group spent $2,000 in each market for a total of $8,000. The ads will air from January 17th to January 19th.

According to Huckabee embedded producer, Serafin Gomez the former Arkansas governor said that the controversy is not something the president should weigh in on instead he would leave up to South Carolina:

“You don’t like people outside the state telling you how you ought to raise your kids, you don’t like people from outside the state telling you what to do with the flag,” Huckabee said,“In fact, if somebody came down to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we’d tell ’em where to put the pole.”

Romney Press Secretary, Kevin Madden responded to the ad:

“Governor Romney believes that the issue was settled by the people of South Carolina with the compromise in 2000.”

The compromise that Madden is referring to is the removal of the confederate flag from the dome of the South Carolina capitol and moved to the front of the dome, remaining on the capitol grounds.

**UPDATE**

From a rival campaign:

“Chip Saltsman, Huckabee’s campaign manager, was a special fundraiser for Bill Frist at the NRSC in the 2001-2002 cycle. Trust Huckabee is run by Patrick Davis, who was a co-deputy Political Director at the NRSC in the 2001-2002 cycle. Saltsman and Davis worked together in Frist’s NRSC for almost 2 years. But another interesting point that hasn’t yet been written: Who was the other co-deputy Political Director at the NRSC in the 2002 cycle with Davis? Jim Tobin, of the infamous New Hampshire phone-jamming incident, which took place in that cycle.” (see: http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=75089)

Las Vegas, NV–

The Romney campaign is reporting that they have had 500 calls from voters saying that they have received push poll calls from the pro-Huckabee group Common Sense Issues. The camp says that the phone calls ask the listener who they are voting for and then what issue is important to them as a voter.

One example they gave is if the number one issue of the person receiving the call is gay marriage then the automated voice says:

“Governor Romney wants to legalize gay marriage. “

They are not planning a corresponding attack.

According to our Huckabee Embed Serafin Gomez, Campaign Chairman Ed Rollins today denied having anything to do with the pushpolling:

“We have told them over and over not to do the pushpolling. I absolutely have nothing to do it.There is absolutely no connection between me and this group. I have met Patrick Davis only once and that was years ago. There is absolutely no coordination coming from me.”

Patrick Davis runs the pro-Huckabee group, Common Sense Issues that is behind the pushpolling.

Bluffton, SC –

Governor Romney lessened expectations in the Palmetto State today while campaigning here ahead of this Saturday’s first in the south primary. South Carolina has traditionally been the road to the White House for GOP contenders, but the former Massachusetts governor is only spending  a day and a half here before going to Nevada ahead of their caucuses, which are also on Saturday:

“There are 24 delegates in South Carolina and there are 34 delegates in Nevada, and my guess is that our time will be related to the fact that I’m fighting to get the nomination. I’m not looking for gold stars on my forehead like I was in first grade. I want delegates.”

Romney addressed 500 retirees here focusing on a “broken Washington.” But after the event, while talking to reporters he downplayed expectations saying this is McCain territory:

“I’m going to be campaigning hard here in South Carolina. I think Senator McCain has a very strong lead here. He’s the clear frontrunner. It would be an enormous surprise if we were able to win here,” Romney continued, “this is a state I’d expect Senator McCain has pretty well wrapped up, and so I’m going to spend time here to try and strengthen my position, but I’m also going to be spending time in Nevada and spending time in Florida and then we go on to 22 other states.”

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Romney was buoyant after last night’s victory in his must-win state of Michigan:

“It’s good to have another win under my belt. We’ve won Wyoming, we’ve won Michigan. We’ve got more delegates than anybody else, more votes for president than any of the republicans running for president.”

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