As Expected, Romney Captures N.H.; Eyes South Carolina

(Newsroom America) -- In New Hampshire, it was all Mitt Romney, all the time.

In results that were wholly expected, Romney steamrolled his GOP rivals Tuesday in New Hampshire's first-in-the-country primary, winning by double digits over second-place finisher Ron Paul

Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, was long considered the heavy favorite in the Granite State, considered by his campaign to be more like his back yard since he has been a familiar East Coast figure for years. But now, Romney hopes to make a clean sweep of the first three nominating contests as he eyes the South Carolina primary Jan. 21, even as his rivals continue to jockey for position - and support - among an electorate that appears to be coalescing around him.

"Tonight, we made history," said Romney, in comments to reporters following the balloting Tuesday night. "Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we go back to work."

In his back-to-back victory, Romney captured 39 percent of the vote, followed by Paul, a Texas congressman, with 23 percent and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman with 17 percent.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania were essentially tied for fourth place, with each pulling about 9 percent of the vote. Texas Gov. Rick Perry finished in sixth place with 1 percent, according to polling results.

Despite his early showing - remember, Romney only won Iowa by eight votes - South Carolina is expected to be tougher, though not impossible by any stretch. Viewed as an outsider and a "Massachusetts liberal" by many in the southern stronghold, Romney will have to overcome the perception he has flip-flopped on some key socially conservative issues such as abortion and his previous support for an individual health care mandate, which he signed into law as governor.

But Romney isn't taking his victories - or his frontrunner status - in stride. He hit back at his Republican critics yesterday for bashing his record at investment firm Bain Capital the past few days, saying such criticism is only playing into the hands of his prospective rival, President Obama.

The president "wants to put free enterprise on trial, and the last few days we've seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him," Romney said at his victory party in Manchester. "This is such a mistake for our party."

He went on to say that the nation "already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy."

The other candidates seemed optimistic about their finishes, with Paul talking to core supporters afterwards about the virtues of "sound money" and "personal liberty," and echoed earlier criticism of the Afghanistan war.

Huntsman seemed to relish his third-place finish, telling his supporters it was "a ticket to ride," and adding, "hello, South Carolina."

Gingrich's camp, meanwhile, said the candidate would deliver a "major" speech described as "populist" at 9 a.m. EDT.

© 2012 Newsroom America.

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