Courtesy of the Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A squeaker of an Iowa victory in hand, Mitt Romney headed into the New Hampshire primary insisting that staying power sets him apart from runners-up Rick Santorum and Ron Paul and the rest of the GOP presidential field. Two rivals already looked shaky – last-place finisher Michele Bachmann canceled a campaign trip Wednesday and Rick Perry was heading home to Texas to think things over.
Romney shrugged off the promise of sharper criticism from his GOP rivals and President Barack Obama’s re-election team now that he’s narrowly carried the first contest of the nomination.
“I’ve got a big target on me now,” Romney said Wednesday, adding that doesn’t faze him. “I’ve got broad shoulders. I’m willing to handle it.”