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Reforming America

Republicans Jump on the 'Change' Bandwagon

By Gregor Peter Schmitz in Nashua, New Hampshire

Change, change, change: The past few days of New Hampshire campaigning has turned up reformers on every streetcorner. Republicans like Romney, McCain, Huckabee and Giuliani are trying to promise what Obama seemed to promise in Iowa.

Standing at the corner of Main Street in Nashua, New Hampshire, Steve is hoping for change. Things haven't been going so well for him -- for some time now, judging by his tattered jeans and spotted, hooded sweatshirt. He's been reduced to standing on the corner and pandhandling passersby for "change."

But now Steve's got some unexpected competition. People all along the street are shouting for "change," too. Even people wearing the finest threads -- who would normally never even deign to look at him -- are uttering the words "change" as if their lives depended on it. They're Republican presidential candidates. "It sounds a little strange," Steve says -- even if, of course, the politicians mean something altogether different.

Just around the corner, Mitt Romney says: "I am the man of change." Wearing a glaring red sweater, John McCain says: "I want change." And this morning, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who once promised to clean his metropolis of homeless and beggars, rushes by. He visits a fast food restaurant with a pack of reporters in tow who ask him about his campaign strategy. Thankfully for Giuliani, it dawns on him: "I want change."

Calls for major change are the only constant at the moment in the Republican primary campaign that hasn't been presented as clearly as within the Democratic race, where a Barack Obama landslide victory appears to be taking shape.

Huckabee Struggling, McCain Ahead

Former Baptist minister Mike Huckebee may have triumphed among Iowa's evangelical Christians, but in New Hampshire, where more than 45 percent of voters describe themselves as independent and have no party affiliation, he is unlikely to do any better than third place.

In the latest polls, Arizona Senator John McCain has shown a decisive lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. And former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has a slight lead in national polls, is shaping up to be an also-ran. Nevertheless, he's still holding out hope for a victory in the larger primaries in states like Florida and California, where votes will first be cast in a few weeks.

More than anything else, though, the euphoria in the Democrats camp has deeply unsettled Republicans. It was already clear beforehand that George W. Bush and his legacy would put off voters. But the evident desire of voters for the new beginning that Obama is promising has prompted them to copy his rhetoric. "The change is catching on," Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, says. "Because in the last few weeks, everybody is talking about change."

More Than Anyone

The most radical about-face among the Republicans has been Mitt Romney's. His rivals have already painted him as a "flip-flop" candidate because of his shifting record on abortion and gay marriage. "My candidacy has been about change from the very beginning," he says. Romney rushes from place to place; no one holds more events than he does. For him it's about political survival – he was counting on victories in Iowa and New Hampshire. After all, he was governor for a long time in neighboring Massachusetts.

But he doesn't talk about that very much. He's rather talk about the sorts of changes he made as a successful businessman or as organizer of the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. The opposite of a Washington insider, in other words. He says Washington is in trouble. "We can't afford to send people to the White House," he says, "who have already flopped there."

One of the people he means is John McCain. He draws more people in New Hampshire than Romney, though. Around a thousand McCain fans mill in front of the steps of the State House in Concord, some holding signs: "Mac is Back."

McCain is making a double comeback: Eight years ago he beat George W. Bush in New Hampshire, and looked ready to become the Republican nominee before Bush overtook him in later primaries. Half a year ago, though, his campaign looked all but over. His positions on the Iraq war and immigration were too uncomfortable; he was also running out of money. But he was laying everything on another triumph in New Hampshire this year; so his avisors are working for free.

The crowd of old and young people adore his fighting spirit. Peter, from nearby Bedford, wears shorts in spite of the cold and has just finished college. He's 22, McCain is 71. "But he's cool," says Peter. "He just doesn't change his mind." And because he's an uncomfortable voice in Washington.

Maybe that's the reason McCain has reacted so angrily to Romney's attacks. When a reporter asks about Romney, the Senator looks full of scorn, as if Romney isn't even worth an answer. But he says he's always fought for change -- not for his own profit, but for patriotism.

At least for the moment, McCain has a faithful friend in his fight against Romney. Mike Huckabee, the victor in Iowa, stands in a crowded diner in Concord and bites into a "Huckaburger." The hamburger here was named after him yesterday. Simple food, and simple people come to Huckabee's events in New Hampshire -- more so, at least, than to other Republican events. Younger people, too.

His commercials about his faith, which excited Iowa's evangelical Christians, have been mothballed for New Hampshire. In his soft voice, with folksy anecdotes, he presents himself as a voice among Republicans for the little guy -- and an alternative to a big businessman like Romney.

Huckabee's message, admittedly, contrasts with his tax proposals -- which are entirely kind to the rich -- but it's almost a new tactic for a Republican. New York Times columnist Frank Rich has compared the ex-preacher, for this reason, to Obama. In a televised debate on Saturday, Huckabee gave the best answer to the question of how Republicans can hope to beat the best-loved Democrats this year. Huckabee simply said: "Obama has excited a lot of people who never voted before." He was talking about Obama, but also about himself.

In New Hampshire, though, Huckabee won't do much better than third. To go on competing he needs to raise a lot more money. So far his team has been so small that not a single professional photographer could snap the moment when Huckabee learned about his Iowa win. His wife had to provide the photo -- with a digital camera.

Rudy Giuliani doesn't have these problems. But he has a load of others. His original strategy of ignoring the early primary states has already crumbled. New York's ex-mayor turned up yesterday in Nashua. But reporters didn't ask him about the state. The questions were more along the lines of, "Rudy, when do you think you'll win your first state?" And a TV presenter standing next to him says into her camera: "Giuliani needs attention more than anything."

The Republican Revolution?

His lead has narrowed in national opinion polls. But Giuliani makes little effort to correct his image as a city slicker with little interest in America's rural regions. As soon as he's finished talking to reporters he disappears into an expensive jewellery store.

In the street his team is already surrounded by loudly yelling Ron Paul supporters. The 72-year-old doctor and congressman has a loyal circle of fans in the Internet and especially among young students. They've collected more than $20 million for him over the last three months, and they're appearing at rivals' campaign rallies all over New Hampshire to bang the drum for Ron Paul.

As John McCain starts speaking in front of State House, Paul's supporters holding up "Ron Paul" placards have already garnered the best spots. A girl with red-dyed hair holds up her sign next to a man wearing a hooded jacket and jeans. But their outfits are misleading, because their signs read: "Stop the Amnesty" -- no amnesty for illegal immigrants. Paul represents staunchly right-wing policies on immigration. His TV ads demand stopping welfare benefits for illegal immigrants, denying visas to students from "terrorist" states, greater border security.

An aircraft pulls a banner though the sky promising the "Ron Paul Revolution." Paul wants to abolish the tax system, pull all US troops out of Iraq. He holds angry speeches about the imperialist regime in Washington. No one can accuse him of not wanting change. But he's far behind in all serious polls. The Republicans evidently don't want quite that much change.