NH-PPP Obama safe, unless Romney is GP's nominee

[Bull Moose Base]

Here's the thing.  Setting aside that the possibility of a favorite son thing for Romney who lives in NH these days, if it is Romney's moderate image that boosts him in NH (and keeping him closer in other states), will he be damaged as a general election candidate by his rightward tack needed to win the primary?  He had (calculated general) praise for Paul Ryan's budget yesterday.  He opposed the lame duck tax compromise in December instead advocating permanent Bush tax cuts and complaining about the extension of unemployment.  He opposed the new  START treaty, flouting the advice of foreign policy players in the Bush 41 administration.  If he has any kind of serious competition for the primary, or even if not, but Ron Paul or Michele Bachmann, or Grover Norquist (moderating a debate) force him further from the center, it's a good possibility, he'll increase his nomination odds at the expense of his odds in swing states.