My thoughts going into this NH primary is that it seems we'll be looking at Obama for the democratic candidate.  While it is 100% certain by any means it is quite likely.  So when one of ours is up against him, who wins?  I know national polls show almost no one of our guys beating him, but that's because our guys haven't been played with him.  When it's down to 2 everyone will know very well the Republican candidate.  So the message I think that wins against Obama is this one:

Our Rep. Candidate has to be able to say:
"My fellow Americans, I agree with Barack Obama, we do need to change Washington and turn around this country.  With very few differences I agree whole heartedly with everything he says.  The only real difference between Mr. Obama and I is that I have already done that time and time again.  Not only do I believe in hope for this country but I can show from experience that I know how to get it done."

Who is the only candidate who has the record for doing that?  Who is the candidate that can take all of Obama's hope and speeches and claim them as his own personal record?  Only MItt Romney.  Rudy can claim to have cleaned up New York and led the state in some dark moments but Rudy is not the candidate that can take on Obama.  Romney's record stand alone, in the field of Rep. candidates, in showing that MItt can take all of Obama's strengths and roll them into a package he already owns.

My 2 cents.