New Hampshire State of Mind

Spending a few days with my family in Manchester, N.H., provides an opportunity to take stock of the political goings on ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary state. This post is the first in what will become an ongoing series of blogs from New Hampshire ahead of the primary.

Politico reported yesterday afternoon that Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to use a speech he is scheduled to deliver at a RedState conference in Charleston, S.C., on Saturday, Aug. 13, to announce his presidential ambitions. Perry is scheduled to attend a dinner at state Rep. Pam Tucker's Greenland home later in the day.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann had been scheduled to travel to the Granite State one day after the Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday, Aug. 13, but her campaign has apparently cancelled the appearance. She is scheduled to appear on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Aug. 14.

Meanwhile, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney spoke to the Concord Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Rotary Club before he attended a town hall meeting in Nashua. Romney repeatedly blasted President Barack Obama for his handling of the country's economy during the three appearances. And he stressed Standard and Poor's decision to downgrade the country's debt rating late on Friday, Aug. 5, only confirms this economic mismanagement.

“America’s creditworthiness just became the latest casualty in President Obama’s failed record of leadership on the economy," he said in a statement posted to his campaign's website. "Standard and Poor’s rating downgrade is a deeply troubling indicator of our country’s decline under President Obama. His failed policies have led to high unemployment, skyrocketing deficits, and now, the unprecedented loss of our nation’s prized AAA credit rating. Today, President Obama promised that ‘things will get better.’ But it has become increasingly clear that the only way things will get better is with new leadership in the White House.”