N.H. senator says GOP 'arrogant, stupid' to punish Florida

Holding American flags and red poppies for Veteran's Day, about 20 residents of the Harris Hill Retirement Home in Concord were granted an audience this morning with the state's Republican frontrunner, Mitt Romney.

"I've been through these election hassles. That's the penalty for living in New Hampshire,'' quipped Vietnam vet George Hamilton, 83. "It's like the weather. If you don't like it, move.''

Romney was accompanied by U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg, son of the state's former governor. Gregg called the Republican National Committee's decision to punish five states scheduling primaries before Feb. 5 -- including New Hampshire and Florida -- "arrogant, stupid, and one of the reasons the national party is doing such a poor job representing Republicans."

The penalties haven't discouraged Republican candidates from waging competitive campaigns in the early states, but the harsher sanctions by the Democratic national party have prompted the presidental candidates to swear off campaigning in Florida, worth exactly zero delegates.

Romney said he wasn't taking his first-place showing in the New Hampshire polls for granted, but he hopes a strong finish will give him a "boost'' in Florida's Jan. 29 primary. New Hamphire hasn't picked a date yet, but state law requires it to be first. "I hope you support (Gov. Romney) in December or January,'' Gregg said.

Muriel MacLeod shakes hands with Presidential candidate Mitt Romey as he visits the Harris Hill Retirement Home in Concord, NH. Romey spoke to the residents and observed a Veterans Day ceremony.

CHARLES TRAINOR JR / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Video | Mitt Romney at a nursing home in Concord, N.H.

CHARLES TRAINOR JR./MIAMI HERALD STAFF