Respectfully disagree. Bashing Massachusetts may prove to be a very smart tactic in Iowa and New Hampshire as Romney sets up a "me against the liberal Democrats" dynamic. Dukakis is likely mentioned as he was the last Mass. Democratic governor until Deval Patrick was elected in 2006 - 16 years after Michael left office. Dukakis is likely better remembered in Iowa as the '88 Democratic Presidential nominee than as Mass. Gov. and Romney has subtly linked the two. Wouldn't be surprised if Michael's Lt. Gov. in '83-'84 - some guy named Kerry - doesn't soon appear. While southern N.H. may be progressive, the Granite State gets steadily more conservative the further one travels from the N.H.-Mass. state border. N.H., in 2000, was the only N.E. state that went for Bush over Gore, remember? The ads in Iowa and New Hampshire are intended for Republican primary voters. In N.H., how many independents would give up the hot Hillary-Barack-John contest to select a GOP ballot? Anyhoo, Mitt Romney has effectively reduced expectations in both states. If he wins or places reasonably well, then he's a moderate-conservative Republican (as of 5/24/07, anyway) who can triumphantly slay the liberal Democratic dragons. If he loses, then the defeat is not unexpected as he's been fighting liberal Democrats for years and they finally won one.
