Joe McQuaid, 'New Hampshire Union Leader' Publisher, Slams Mitt Romney On Primary Day 2012

In a front page editorial in Tuesday's New Hampshire Union Leader, publisher Joe McQuaid slams GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and criticizes the notion that only the former Massachusetts governor stands a chance of defeating President Barack Obama in November.

McQuaid begins by outlining the popular narrative surrounding Romney's campaign. "The pollsters and pundits have told us what is going to happen today. Mitt Romney is going to swamp all comers ... because someone has decided he is the only Republican who can beat Barack Obama," McQuaid writes.

"But now it's New Hampshire's turn, and New Hampshire has this funny little habit of turning conventional wisdom on its head and deciding things for itself," McQuaid continues. "Voters here may decide that Newt Gingrich was right on Sunday to call Romney's claims of being a non-politician 'pious baloney.'"

McQuaid endorsed the former House speaker in November.

The Union Leader, the Granite State's largest newspaper, has been credited as a major source of influence in past elections. In 2008, the paper endorsed Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for the GOP presidential nomination, a move that some say helped propel him to victory in the state's primary.

For live primary updates, read HuffPost's New Hampshire blog.

Comments

[Mr Nightlinger]

12:23 PM on 01/11/2012

Which bank has told the AOL-Huffington-Time Warner Post closed comments for the following headline story:

"Ignoring Ron Paul: What We've Been Thinking About Instead (PHOTOS)"

[allencollinsa]

05:23 AM on 01/11/2012

romney is a piece of crap and america will figure this out very fast! OBAMA/BIDEN 2012'

[Mr Nightlinger]

12:24 PM on 01/11/2012

Is Biden still coming to work? I'd like to see Obama hire Matt Damon as VP.

[Clevelandinwi]

05:19 AM on 01/11/2012

willard, tell us about making millions off the misery of others. You have been very good at that.

[donmalone]

08:09 PM on 01/10/2012

Projections are in. Romney will win by double digits. My guess is McQuaid's dog doesn't even pay attention to him.

[rolavine]

06:56 PM on 01/10/2012

Romney has to juggle too many contrary knifes to win. He has to preach trickle down while comming off as a populist, he has to look religious while looking secular, he has to be both pro life and pro choice, a hawk and a budget cutter, all while looking like a political and Wall Street outsider . All Obama has to do to win is stay on message, that he is there for the little people and to stop the GOP from turning America into a monarchy of money. Short of some giant event, or Mitt actually being Superman, this is a done deal.

[Captain Leafheart]

07:02 PM on 01/10/2012

Why risk a contrary knife wound when it's far safer to flip-flop?

[rolavine]

07:59 PM on 01/10/2012

Yes, but he has a flip flop reputation now, so that isn't a way out either.

[fromperdink]

05:25 PM on 01/10/2012

I heard a major establishment political figure say yesterday that "If you do not allow some entities to fail, that is the essence of Socialism". I agree. However, he was connecting his comment w/ Bain Cap and criticism of Bain activities from conservatives. So - to the establishment - if you believes this Republican, then understand this as well: We Should Allow politicians to fail, based on the will of the people, not just because of a presumptive status blessed by the establishment. Why are voters being pushed to accept a presumptive anyone as the Republican nominee? Is the establishment Republican Party all Political Socialists now? Attempting to negate or stifle voters choices through the propaganda of unfounded fear about potentially losing the general election, when the people's choice may not be the establishment's choice, is specious and contrary to principles of Conservatism. Let the people decide. Let success be it's own proof.

[cyclops2020]

04:43 PM on 01/10/2012

I want Newt, so we can continue the failed subsidy for mandatory ethanol use. That anyone would lend backing to this corporate corn lobbyist agenda is amazing, but Newt spouted his support all over Iowa. Ignore the fact that this mandate and subsidy costs 1 and 1/2 gallons of fuel to produce one of ethanol. Costs you in lower mileage, premature wear to vehicle and tools and boosts the cost of corn which used to be reasonably priced. So much for energy independence! Death of free markets if you vote for any of these tools of the corporate lobbyists, and worse...you'll get more of the same and Rome will fall to the ignorant masses who only want bread and circuses. With Paul, you may have to stand on your own...Ohnooooooo, but he's a kook! Wants to bring our boys home and tear down the Fed and fire the Bernanke! Oh horror.

[Captain Leafheart]

07:17 PM on 01/10/2012

Fanned for keeping your eye open. As for ethanol, should it ever become economical to produce, the Monsanto Corn Cartel will control it all.

[digitalpug]

04:22 PM on 01/10/2012

Sorry, not this time, McQuaid. The rich and powerful have decided and if a fair vote won't get their man elected they will just do what they did for Dubya Bush: steal.

[nnanciejean]

07:45 PM on 01/10/2012

Dems steal elections all the time all over the country. I guess turnabouts fair play finally.

[BurtonDesque]

04:20 PM on 01/10/2012

The Union Leader is a paleo-Conservative rag. Being attacked by them is a badge of honor.

[georgechevrolet]

04:22 PM on 01/10/2012

Even if you are a "paleo-Cons­ervative" yourself? You'll have to explain that one to me sometime.

[BurtonDesque]

04:25 PM on 01/10/2012

Mitt's a lot of things, but I don't think paleo-Conservative is one of them.

[andy2ca]

04:31 PM on 01/10/2012

Don't be lazy. Look it up YOURSELF.

[stephan67]

04:20 PM on 01/10/2012

Romney:''If you want to be a successful politician ,you have to lie all the time''

[georgechevrolet]

04:24 PM on 01/10/2012

But he does....he was for abortion but now suddenly he is against it....he was for health care but now he is against it, he isn't a career politician....er....because you lost Mitt....and on and on.

[G John Granath]

05:24 PM on 01/10/2012

"Truth becomes treason In the empire of lies." Congressman Ron Paul, R-TX, Candidate #1

[MrDoughnut]

04:19 PM on 01/10/2012

Maybe we need to lay off the politicians so they can't create any more trade deals?

[MrDoughnut]

04:17 PM on 01/10/2012

Where are the jobs? We do not want conversation and speeches we want jobs.

[nnanciejean]

07:46 PM on 01/10/2012

We got jobs from the trillion dollar payback and food stamp program.

[sw4eq]

04:15 PM on 01/10/2012

The only Republican candidate with a brain is Huntsman.

[TSRVT]

04:40 PM on 01/10/2012

And his only half works.

[G John Granath]

05:29 PM on 01/10/2012

They ALL have brains and, like computers, garbage in, garbage out. Candidate Ron Paul IS the ONLY one who has gone in depth to understand our money system, Austrian economic system AND the finer details of the HOW and WHY our Constitution and its Amendments came into being. He has authored over a dozen books on these subjects -- most of which address issues that are over the heads of his co-candidates.

[sw4eq]

07:52 PM on 01/10/2012

Ron Paul, a committed libertarian often called Dr. No, opposes virtually all government spending. However, there are issues libertarians might not agree with. He is pro-life and promotes states' rights. However constitutional it is to let states vote in various oppressive laws, voting them in is wrong and should be discouraged. The states-rights position can render governmental mandated racial segregation permissible as well as a state's banning of innumerable ways of exercising one's rights to life, liberty, and property. Would a war on drugs be fine if conducted in Connecticut but not if it is a federal policy? Why is states' oppression so different from that of the federal government? Both have cops who should focus only on protecting the rights of individuals and when their majorities insist on a different course that is every bit as much in violation of sound principles of human community as when the federal government does so, this is wrong. Paul claims that 9/11 happened "because we are there". Even if the American military presence in many countries where it has no business has contributed to anger at the U.S.A., does acting on that anger by murdering 3000 people not guilty of aggression toward anyone constitute a justified response? Even if the history of American military conduct gives evidence of similar injustices, that is no excuse for perpetrating similar injustices. Such military endeavors are intolerable unless carried out as a matter of defense. Ron's "blowback" theory is problematic.

[MrDoughnut]

04:15 PM on 01/10/2012

The republicans got 8 years to bring the jobs back from China and other countries nothing has happened

[G John Granath]

05:30 PM on 01/10/2012

"When the Republicans are in control, man exploits man. When the Democrats are in control, it's just the opposite." Richard Boddie

[cyclops2020]

05:45 PM on 01/10/2012

very funny

[Captain Leafheart]

07:24 PM on 01/10/2012

That would be zero sum as they spent eight years sending jobs to China and other countries.

[MrDoughnut]

04:09 PM on 01/10/2012

They sign trade deals then any created jobs are gone

[georgechevrolet]

04:20 PM on 01/10/2012

The Republicans won't vote on the Democrat jobs plans...The Democrats won't vote on the Republican jobs plans.....but they both came together to push through another free trade bill.

Don't kid yourself that only one side is the bad guy here, they are both as dirty as the other especially in this regard.